Product Details:The Spectacular Sci-Fi Trilogy Based on Frank Herbert’s Cult Fantasy Novels. Open the door to an interstellar empire! (Disc 1 – Episode 1) The universe is ruled by an empire where noble houses compete for planets and favours, the religious order of the psi-gifted Bene Gesserit nuns attempts to shape the future by genetic selection, while the ever-powerful spacing guild jealously guards its monopoly on space travel. The element that makes space travel possible is ‘spice’, a rare, mind-enhancing substance produced by giant ‘sandworms’ and harvested from the hot deserts of the sand planet Arrakis. The ‘spice’ must flow – it is the very key that keeps the Empire together. Emperor Shaddam IV gives administration of Arrakis to Duke Leto Atreides (William Hurt), while the Evil Baron Vladimir Harkonnen (Ian NcNeice), who formerly ruled the planet, vows to get it back. Together with his wife Jessica (Saskia Reeves) and son Paul (Alec Newman), Duke Leto moves to Arrakis. Despite the harsh conditions on the barren planet and acts of sabotage, the Atreides family seem to be able to make everything work out. All hope for improvement is shattered when, through an act of devious treachery and betrayal, Baron Harkonnen invades Arrakis, kills Leto and forces Jessica and Paul to flee into the desert. (Disc 2 – Episode 2) The Dune Saga continues . . . Baron Harkonnen hands Arrakis to his brutal nephew Rabban, who immediately tries to establish his order with an iron fist. Everyone believes that Jessica and Paul are dead – but they survived in the desert and are given asylum by the Fremen. Paul, through his natural authority and special mental powers, soon establishes himself as the Freman leader Muad’dib. He learns how to survive on Arrakis, while the permanent contact with ‘spice’ strengthens his powers. For the Fremen, it becomes clear that Paul is the man their legends promised would come to free them from oppression. Paul is struggling to come to terms with what fate seems to have in store for him. Meanwhile, the Emperor’s daughter Princess Irulan learns that her very own father backed Baron Harkonnen when he attacked Duke Leto. (Disc 3 – Episode 3) The Thrilling conclusion to Frank Herbert’s Sci-Fi masterpiece . . . Paul has united the Fremen and made them into a guerilla force that wreaks havoc on the ‘spice’ harvesting operations of the Harkonnen. The flow of the rare substance threatens to stop and both the Emperor and the spacing guild press Baron Harkonnen for a solution – even the Bene Gesserit are pressing for war, since they fear that Paul, Muad’dib, will challenge their position. The final confrontation is unavoidable. A massive fleet of spaceships circles the desert planet – imperial troops land on Arrakis. Paul tests his strength by drinking from the ‘Water of Life’ – another substance linked to the ‘sandworms’ . . . and he realises who he really is and accepts what his destiny is going to be. With the support of the Fremen and through brilliant use of the sandworms, Paul is able to win this bloody and cruel battle against the invading Empire. The last, decisive fight is yet to come, when Feyd Harkonnen, the Baron’s favourite nephew, challenges Paul to a life-and-death duel. After killing Feyd, Paul is finally able to dictate the terms of peace and to free the Fremen, while a defeated Emperor leaves his daughter on Arrakis as Paul’s bride to be, because the ‘spice’ must flow or civilisation will cease to exist.
