The epic finale that begins The Dune Universe…or, the Duniverse!
Three years ago, our screen were blessed with a rare gem that critics called the sci-fi spiritual successor to The Lord of The Rings (though Tolkien himself might have had some heavy criticism of such a comparison). An epic tale of Emperors, Barons, Lords and Fiefdoms. A story of brave warriors, mystic witches, prophecised leaders and giant monsters.
When last we left Paul Atreides he had just slain Jamis and proven his place as one who could live amongst The Fremen. Know, it is up to Paul to convince Stilgar and the rest of the Dune natives not only that he belongs, but that he is the prophecised leader worth following.
Paul however sees the danger in following this pre-determined path. He sees the violence and the death that will result. Though with the Harkonnens pushing even more brutally into the dessert and the threat of The Emperor hanging over his head, Paul might have no choice but to embrace his destiny as the Kwatz Haderach and the Emperor of Dune.
Part 2 really adds a pace to the slow set up that is Part 1. Less of the political back and forth and plotting and more action. Paul and The Freman, including the return of Stilgar and the newely introduced Chani, played fantastically by Zendaya, give a fresh feeling to a story that, in its time, lacked the depth that director Denis Villeneue provides.
After all, this is a story that is very much about power and the totally corrupting nature of it – especially from those who reap the resources from where they don’t belong. Paul is the colonial invader made to be a heroic figure of prophecy, a sure metaphor for western invasion into The Middle East.
This aside, the film is fantastic. Perhaps the greatest adaption of Frank Herberts works to date. Whilst it carefully navigates the world that Herbert has created in his novel, it also removes the more tedious and entirely ridiculous elements that could not be properly adapted to the screen. For example, there’s no talking two year olds in this film, instead Jessica communicates to Pauls sister Alia via telepathy in the womb.
There are also some necessary changes that give muych needed depth to the modern adaption. There is a clear divide between the Freman of those that believe in the Bene Gesserits manufactured prophecy such as Stilgar and those who recognize how it holds power over the Freman such as Chani.
The tension between those even on the same side, mirrored with the Harkonnens with the introduction of Austin Butlers Feyd-Rautha, shows a real sense of division which makes each character feel like their own separate entitiy.
There are elements to the film which feel as though they could deserve more attention – particularly the Emperor Shaddim, played by Christopher Walkin, and Princess Irulan played by Florence Pugh. Whilst the inclusion of their characters and the plot surrounding them keeps the story mostly faithful to the novel it does feel as though this takes away from the Harkonnen-Atreides rivalry.
Overall however, Dune Part 2 is a fun and intriguing sci-fi film that has both deep incites into the nature of power and wealth and a fantastic cast led by a brilliant together which makes even moving piece in this film work with precise perfection.
I very much look forward to watching the next installment when it releases, and also look forward to Dune:Prophecy, a series set 10,000 years prior to the events of Dune releasing later this year on HBO Max.
