THE FOLLOWING REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS OF THE DISCUSSED FILM. READERS DISCRETION IS ADVISED.
Adapting Frank Herbert’s sci fi novel Dune is not an easy feat because you have to ensure every moment matters and all the details are told right. David Lynch dealt with this in the 80s when the studios held him back on creativity. Thankfully, Denis Villeneuve got that advantage to do it justice. Part One got the ground going on what the environment is all about, while Part Two is able to nail it in making a grand atmosphere.
PLOT
The 2024 sequel continues after the events of Part One in which House Harkonnen launched an assault on House Atreides in Planet Arrakis to regain control of the spice operation, orchestrated by Emperor Shaddam Corrino IV and Princess Irulan. Duke Paul Atreides and his pregnant Bene Gesserit mother Lady Jessica are taken in by Fremen Stilgar to a major sietch known as Tabr. Most Fremen suspect them to be spies due to Paul defeating Jami’s in combat, but Stilgar believes his actions to be the signs of an outer world prophet that will bring prosperity to Arrakis called ‘Lisan Al Gaib’, similar to the Bene Gesserit’s prophecy of Kwisatz Haderach, one that will more powerful than all Bene Gesserits combined. Jessica becomes accepted by becoming the Fremen’s Reverend Mother successor by drinking the toxic liquid extracted from sand worms, the ‘Water of Life’. Surviving the drink, she is able to inherit solely memories of preceding Reverend Mothers, but it also awakens the mind of her unborn daughter Alia. Paul proves his worth by learning to ride worms and become a Fedaykin fighter via raiding Harkonnen spice operations. His time with the Fremen would earn him the nicknames ‘Usul’ and “Maud’Dib” that represent his inner strength and wisdom. Within his raids, he would reunite with his mentor and friend Gurney Halleck. His actions would also impress the Fremen Chani because despite not believing in the prophecy the way Stilgar does, she does believe the Duke is not fighting to rule them, but to fight alongside them, thus sparking an intimate relationship between the two. With his nephew Glossu ‘Beast’ Rabban failing to contain the spice raids, Baron Vladimir Harkonnen assigns the former’s younger brother Feyd-Rautha in charge of the operations. Upon recruitment, the young Harkonnen is evaluated by Bene Gesserit Margot Fenring (Lea Seydoux) via Gom Jabbar to be deemed in the eyes of Reverend Mother Gaius Mohaim (Charlotte Rampling) a prospective Kwisatz Haderach which secures his genetic lineage. Jessica travels south to unite Fremen fundamentalists, but Paul stays north as his visions make him worry holy war will occur if he goes with her. Despite finding an atomic warhead stockpile, Feyd-Rautha destroys Sietch Tabr, which forces Paul and the Fremen to go south. Initiating himself to a higher level of consciousness, he drinks the Water of Life and survives the ordeal when Chani mixes the liquid with her tears. As he wakes up, he gains clairvoyance across space and time where he not only sees an adult Alia grow up in a water filled Arrakis, but discovers Jessica is the illegitimate daughter to Vladimir, making him half Harkonnen in which his mother didn’t know until she drank the Water of Life. Upon this discovery, he accepts the mantle of Lisan Al Gaib and challenges the Emperor, rallying the southern Fremen council to fight by his side. Shaddam does arrive with not just Irulan, but also the Bene Gesserit coven and Sardaukar reinforcements. By the time the emperor arrives, Gurney takes part of the Fremen’s offensive attack in which he kills Rabban. As that happens, Paul kills Vladimir and captures the emperor to challenge for the throne, as well as demand Irulan’s hand in marriage for political protection. When the other Great Houses arrive in orbit, as previously summoned by the now slain Baron, Paul threatens to destroy the spice fields with his warheads if they intervene. In turn, he defeats his illegitimate cousin Feyd-Rautha in a duel for the throne who volunteered to be Shaddam’s champion. Irulan accepts his proposal under the condition that her father is spared. Although the emperor surrenders, the Great Houses reject his ascendancy, causing him to order the Fremen to attack the orbiting fleet. As Stilgar leads the Fremen onto captured ships, Jessica and Alia reflect that holy war has begun. The film ends with Chani departing alone on a sandworm as she refuses to bow to Paul, disappointed with his decisions.
THOUGHTS
Part One was epic before anything could even happen and here, Villeneuve re-defines the word when things actually get in motion. With this feeling, everything we got before was instantly topped. Hans Zimmer’s compelling score nailed every bit of tension that was going on. The visual effects and production design enhance significantly to where you still feel how realistic this setting is. I mean it’s hard to not be in awe of seeing people ride giant sand worms. And you don’t even see one at a time, you eventually more at once and more is always scary. Every second captured by cinematographer Greg Fraser is compelling because it all feels alive as if we’re there. Even the costumes and makeup look tremendous on the cast to become the characters. The reason that it’s easy to prefer this over Part One is because it is straightforward in spreading Herbert’s original message to not always trust leaders to be right. We can’t always do this because the people we trust are bound to make mistakes that may or may not affect us exponentially. Had it not been for the fantastic array of characters, I would’ve not been able to understand such meaning. Timothée Chalamet gives his most mature performance because he goes from a son who is unsure what path to take to a man who has to calculate every decision to minimize consequences. He wants to bring prosperity like his father Leto wanted but with chaos excelling around him with every day that passes him and discovering the bombshell that he’s related to the enemy, he started to feel that fire should be fought with fire in order to reach a harmonious future. He is sure he can get there when seeing the future that his sister Alia will grow to be an adult, as the vision shows her to be portrayed by Anya Taylor Joy, but he only becomes more mad with power the stronger he gets which leaves us speechless by the time he threatens to strike. By the time he makes said threat, his morals fell before he could even know it. While he might not think the way he assumes he does, we know exactly how it affects his loved ones. Rebecca Ferguson is again captivating as Jessica because she’s being the master planner the way Mohaim always acted. Rather than fulfill the prophecy’s sake for her own gain, she’s doing it to make sure her son can fend for himself. She doesn’t hesitate the way she used to because she knows the enemies won’t, thus not denying the opportunity to accept the Water of Life. She may have not prepared for a holy war to have gone off from her son’s decisions, so all she could do is watch it all u fold. Josh Brolin is still great as Gurney because his sternness comes from pain, as he confirms Rabban killed his family. Since that will always make him on edge, his experience is what also guides Paul to what he goes on to do. He doesn’t side with him because of loyalty per se, but more off of how he sees his potential the way Duncan did. The only thing that isn’t sure is if the latter would show support the more bold Paul became with later decisions. Javier Bardem really gets my attention as Stilgar because this time, he’s someone who finally has something to live for that is hope. For years, that feeling was small and that changed when House Atreides came his way. Seeing how humble Paul started off as they first met, the religious optimism he had rose more than he ever could. He wanted to live in an era where he can be in peace and followed Paul because he was sure he’d guide him to it. Had he knew unnecessary bloodshed would occur to get there, he probably would think it through more than he already did. Zendaya gets the chance to step us as Chani because we see her as one who sees through religion. She grew up fighter and knows that more than optimism. She doesn’t see Paul as a messiah the way others do, but only a man who fights well. The two become one because they only see each other for their humanity and not their power. Sadly for her, heartbreak strikes when he goes through a political marriage without warning her. Whatever she does in the future, I don’t doubt it could be the right thing. When you look back at the Harkonnens, you want to assume that the absolute worst was the Baron because Stellan Skarsgård continued to make him a gluttonous man who brings dread wherever he goes and has no shame in his schemes. Another answer would be Rabban off of how Dave Bautista being a brute whenever he chooses to be. The true answer however is always going to be Feyd-Ratha because Austin Butler is terrifyingly great. His charisma is menacing because he’s cunning 24/7 due to relishing off of pain whether he receives or gives. There’s truth said in calling him a polar opposite to Paul because he doesn’t hesitate in comparison when it comes to doing the absolute. Whatever the Bene Gesserit coven do with his offspring, the ripple effects could be uncannily awry. With House Corrino shelved in Part One, it only guaranteed their debut would be special and I think it was. In their given time, Christopher Walken and Florence Pugh are able to give an accurate depiction on leaders who act before they think. Walken shows the Enperor as a paranoid man who set up his own fate in losing his own fire before he could even see it coming. And as for Pugh, she does present Irulan to be ambitious in supporting her father’s actions yet independent enough to think ahead which is why she accepted Paul’s proposal rather than die when cornered. With two powerful families married together, it can be hard to tell what or who will be left in the aftermath of the Holy War. This movie is overall stunning, but it doesn't excuse some issues I picked up on during my re watch. Like why didn't Jessica ask Stilgar about how the Fremen initiate Reverend Mothers before Paul even asked her? I mean even though she survives the initiation, she should've either done her own research before Part One or just asked as Stilgar recruited her. And ain't it embarrassing one Harkonnen had a gun on him on the ground during a spice operation when they know the Fremen have foiling past operations. I don't care if you're the bad guy and think you got an advantage on the ground, be prepared. And let's be honest, I don't believe Stilgar heard Paul calling for him while he was riding a worm. Then it made me wonder on how the other Fremen didn't overhear Paul's conversation with Jessica on what hope is supposed to be. I would've at least turned a cheek if I was one of them. And how do they a whole group on top of a worm for transport when it's already a challenge for one to figure out how to ride it? If Jessica used the voice on it, that would've been cool to know. Moving on, how the hell did Paul not know where the stockpile was before Part One? If he was groomed to follow his father's footsteps as a Duke, he should've known before ever reuniting with Gurney. And if only an Atreides can open it due to a genetic lock, I don't see the point in hiding it. Also, why was Rabban late on being informed Feyd-Rautha was gonna take his place? He should've seen it coming with the constant mistakes he was making. The climax lives up to the hype with all the action that ensues, but it's so dumb for the Sardaukar to not have guns on them when the Fremen charge. It's like they want to lose at this point because they were so dominant in Part One. It even feels super dumb how the other Harkonnens allow Gurney to have a chance against Rabban when they could've ganged up on him. Ignore this, then you'll still appreciate this movie for what it has done. In conclusion, Dune: Part Two is easily the best movie of the year for living up to the hype as the true sci fi epic it deserves to be recognized for. If Part One intrigued you, this other half will satisfy you as well.
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