Weirding Module
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The Weirding Module is a fictional device introduced into the Dune movie to replace the Bene Gesserit martial art referred to by the Fremen as the Weirding Way.
This device is a sonic beam weapon that translates certain specific sounds into attacks of varying potency. The sounds that the device translates into attacks are presented as being somewhat rare. For that reason, everyone is startled when, during the training of the Fremen in the use of the Weirding Module,[1] a devastating beam shoots from the weapon when the warrior wearing the device speaks Paul's Fremen name, "Muad'Dib," while wearing it.
This prompts Paul to think "My own name is a killing word. Will it be a healing word as well?"[1] Originally in the novel, this line referenced the holy war beginning in Paul's name, however, in the context of the name being a trigger for the modules, it became somewhat more literal.
The Weirding Modules are infamous amongst certain fans of Dune because their introduction is a significant departure from the novel. In the later Dune mini-series, the Weirding Way is somewhat closer to its description in the novel, and the Modules are not used. Director David Lynch's decision to use modules was taken because he found the idea of the Weirding Way unworkable on film, stating he did not want to see "Kung-fu on sand dunes".[citation needed] The Weirding Module was later seen in the computer games Dune, Dune II, Dune 2000 and Emperor: Battle for Dune, albeit indirectly in the form of 'sonic tanks' deployed by House Atreides in the cases of Dune II and Dune 2000.
