It seems like a lot of y'all liked it, and it felt pretty reactionary to me so I'd love to hear an alternative perspective.
Beyond the idea that it's a film about imperial colonial extraction from which we only get the perspective of the empire, it really feels like the presentation of the lifestyle of the royals seems very sycophantic, very deferential.
Like the royals don't experience lavish personal consumption or luxury, no sex slaves, no hedonism, no fun at all really, they're all just earnest and stoic hard workers. The representation of the ruling class is that maybe your bedroom might be a little bigger, but they're just as put upon as the rest of us because of all this duty they're so concerned with. It seems like the take-home message is that any material benefit of being in the ruling class is trivial, but the accompanying responsibly is a terrible burden.
(I haven't read the books and don't plan to btw.)
So can someone explain why they liked it as a leftist?
The first book is steeped in reactionary takes and chosen one mythmaking, but ironically enough it's a cautionary tale against this sort of thought, but it doesn't become apparent until much later in the series.
spoiler
Paul would eventually go on to be the catalyst for a major war that kills billions of people, eventually even the Fremen turn on him. Iirc he gets blinded and is left to wander the desert alone, fallen from grace