So is Star Wars, but I see the conservatism in that as well. The Force (faith in God) and the deception used by the dark side to use gov't power to control the universe are perfect examples of liberalism.
Philip K Dick was a bit crazy but as good a Sci Fi writer as there was, up there with Heinlein and Herbert.
The movie is an adequate retelling of the book but it is hard to translate a great Sci Fi book to the screen, witness all the attempts at Dune and things like Starship Troopers, which were butchered.