Hi Readers,
One of the most anticipated sequels of the year has finally hit the cinema screens: Dune Part Two. It carries on the story of Paul Atreides and his various comrades and enemies as they move towards the fight for Arrakis. With the writers and actors strikes delaying the release, fans have had to wait longer than planned. Those who have read the original books will have known what is coming but nothing compares to seeing it on the big screen.
I chose to wait to see this film in IMAX and it was definitely worth it. The sound and quality of the film were amazing and the vast scenes of the desert really emphasised that the action is set on another planet despite being filmed in real life deserts.
As the film has been out a while, I will be talking about spoilers so if you haven’t yet seen the film and do not want to hear any plot details, turn away now.
Dune: Part Two (2024)
The film begins with Paul and his mother Jessica learning the ways of the Fremen. Paul fairly defeated their champion in the last film so they have now been accepted into the clan. Zendaya who plays Chani is there as his friend and mentor with romance sizzling between herself and Paul played by Timothée Chalamet.
Paul is anxious for his mother and her unborn child as they wait for the Harkonnen to hunt them down. Paul must come to terms that he could be the Fremen’s messiah – Lisan al-Ghaib, the prophet that they have been waiting for who is said to help them reclaim the planet from the Empire.
After his mother drinks the Water of Life and becomes the new Reverend Mother of the Fremen, she has the ability to speak to her unborn daughter voiced by Anya Taylor-Joy in a surprise cameo. Paul learns the ways of the Fremen including their fighting techniques, how to ride a sandworm and their rituals. Together with the Fremen he destroys the spice harvesters that the Harkonnen send to their territory. He is reunited with his old friend Gurney (Josh Brolin) who was believed to have been killed in the first film.
Elsewhere, Princess Irulan (Florence Pugh) suspects that Paul Atreides is still alive despite the House of Atreides falling to the House of Harkonnen. She has a visit from another Reverend Mother (Charlotte Rampling) who tells her of the prophecy.
On Arrakis, the Baron’s nephews compete to win more territory from the Fremen and to be elected as the next Baron and leader of House Harkonnen. Feyd-Rautha (Austin Butler) is a fierce fighter and when his brother does not succeed is awarded an army to bring down the Fremen. Lady Margot Fenring is sent by the Emperor (Christopher Walken) to secure an heir with Feyd-Rautha so they can stake a claim to House Harkonnen and gain control of Arrakis.
The final act comes when Jessica is revealed as a daughter of the Baron meaning Paul is both an Atreides and Harkonnen. The battle to take back the palace proceeds and when finding the Harkonnens along with the Princess and Emperor, Paul challenges them to a duel for the throne; Feyd-Rautha is chosen as the champion. After a tough fight, Paul is the champion but to Chani’s dismay asks Princess Irulan for her hand in marriage. Chani goes back to Fremen territory in the north on a sandworm.
The main questions that we are left with are:
- Now that Feyd-Rautha is dead, will the Emperor use his unborn child with Lady Margot to challenge Paul for the throne?
- Will Paul reveal his Harkonnen blood to make a claim for the House of Harkonnen as well?
- Does he still love Chani and this was all a political move? Will she forgive him?
- Will Paul still be on the Fremen’s side as the Lisan al-Ghaib and work as an inside man to give the planet back to them?
I really enjoyed Dune Part Two, I liked the first film and this definitely lived up to expectations. With so many characters and the different names and lore of the Dune universe, it could be a film that is hard to understand, but the emotions and story felt very human.
The visuals were stunning with the vast open desert scenes and clean lines of the Harkonnen compound. The colours were very basic with the Harkonnens wearing black with a pale white skin tone and the Fremen with many skin colours and dark grey outfits. The contrast with the sand really made these stand out. The planet felt very futuristic yet there was no modern technology such as phones or cars. It was as if they had evolved beyond that.
The cast were very well chosen being some of the most talented and attractive young actors in Hollywood at the moment. I thought Timothée Chalamet did a great job as Paul as always. In this sci-fi world, he is the most relatable character having a very human experience and being a fish out of water in the Fremen culture. I thought that Austin Butler was a very convincing villain with his bald cap and intimidating demeanour. You didn’t often see cracks but his most vulnerable moment was when Lady Margot was seducing him and you could see he felt empowered to be sought after in that way.
The twist at the end about Paul being part of the House of Harkonnen and then asking Princess Irulan for her hand in marriage was not something I saw coming but I am sure all will be explained in a third installment. There have been many Dune books, with the story being continued after the original author’s death.
Due to the film’s delay it missed out on being eligible for Awards Season but I hope we get it see it win something next year. The sound and visual effects definitely deserve something but the acting was up there as well.
Overall, I give this film 5/5
Happy Watching,
Robyn