Dune: Part Two

I got to be honest with you all, I have no idea where to start with this post. I just went to see Dune: Part Two the other day, and after 24 hours of thinking, I still have so much on my mind about the film. I will start off by saying this... Dune: Part Two is the best movie I have seen in theaters this decade. That may be far fetched to some people, but I find very little, if any, flaws in this movie. For two hours and almost 45 minutes I was througholy entertained and on the edge of my seat trying to figure out what was going to happen next. So let's dive into this film shall we? Also, SPOILERS AHEAD.

Summary

Dune: Part Two picks up right after the ending of Dune: Part One, something different from how the original novel was written. If you recall at the end of the first film, Paul and his mother Jessica, are with the Fremen people on Arrakis as the Harkonnens have made their way back onto the planet to resume spice production at a high efficiency. The first 30 minutes or so of the second film is all about Paul learning the ways of the Fremen. But while doing this, about half the Fremen believe Paul is the Lisan al Gaib or the Messiah. But the other half think that is a bunch of crap and he is someone who should not be trusted. Lady Jessica is also there and as we learned from the first film, is pregnant with Paul's sister. But what is really happening this entire time, is Paul and Jessica are working to gain the faith of all the Fremen people so they can use them to help attack the Harkonnens and the Emperor. While this is going on, Paul is building a connection with Chani (Zendaya). Chani is one of the Fremen people who does not believe in the Lisan al Gaib, but her feelings for Paul are there and they build a strong relationship throughout the film. As the Harkonnens struggle to mine the spice due to the constant attacks from the Fremen, Baron Harkonnen, the leader of the Harkonnens, sets out to recruit Feyd-Rautha (Austin Butler). Feyd-Rautha is an animalistic and crazy Harkonnen who is put in charge of raising spice production at whatever cost and in return he is told he will get the throne. I don't want to spoil too much so I will generalize the rest of the film so you have to go and watch it. Essentially, Paul has become extremely powerful and gets all the Fremen to follow his lead as he starts a war with the Harkonnens and ultimately making some very questionable decisions along the way. A final fight scene occurs between Paul and Feyd-Rautha, which is wonderful to watch. Then we start to really learn what Paul's intentions are for not only his family, but for the other 7 houses.

My Thoughts

Zendaya as Chani is Dune: Part Two

I am not the only one to say this, but this film is Director Denis Villeneuve's Empire Strikes Back. The films are eerily similar and Paul remind me a lot of Anakin Skywalker. You will totally get what I mean when you see it. Also, Chani to Paul is what Padme is to Anakin. We still need to see more if that is truly accurate, but in Part Two that is all I could think about. Chani is also one of the best characters in this movie. She totally stands true in what she believes in, no matter how much love she has for Paul. She even makes a comment late in the film where she says she is fighting for her people and not for Paul. Then we get one, no cut scene of her fighting and its brilliant.

Enough cannot be said about Denis Villeneuve. This man is consistently putting out top tier film after top tier film, and this one, may be his best yet. Villeneuve creates a world that the audience gets sucked into. Using color palettes, textures, and tones, the world of Arrakis is something to admire. The sets are fantastic and the film flows so well together. I don't even notice when the film cuts to a new scene or shot, it all just feels like one story from start to finish. The fighting scenes are well choreographed and the sandworms look amazing! We get much more of the sandworms in this film and rightfully so, they play an important piece in the story. This film proves that Villeneuve is one of the top directors in the industry today.

Timothee Chalamet as Paul Atreides in Dune Part Two.

I have wrote so much and haven't even mentioned the name Timothee Chalamet yet. I think he does great in his portrayal of Paul Atreides and by the bac k half of the movie he owns the screen. By the time he gets the Fremen to follow him and drinks the Water of Life, he is commanding, passionate, and diabolical. By the end of the film, whatever he tells the Fremen to do, they do it without hesitation. But, is this the sign of a leader or the Fremen truly believing he is the Lisan al Gaib? I continued to find myself rooting for Paul throughout the film, even though it wouldn't surprise me if you find yourself doing the complete opposite by the end. Nevertheless, Chalamet does so well in this role and I cannot wait to see how the story of Paul continues.

I could mention everyone who starred in this movie because I liked them all. I thought Javier Bardem was world class as Stilgar and I really liked Rebecca Ferguson as Jessica. She started to become very twisted by the end of the film (kind of like Paul). Again, another important note is she is pregnant in the movie and still is by the end of it. Let me touch on one more star in this film who I wanted a lot more of.

Austin Butler as Feyd-Rautha in Dune: Part Two.

Austin Butler tip your hat. Butler plays psychopath and Harkonnen Feyd-Rautha and is put in charge of taking over spice production on Arrakis. He will do whatever he wants and will get spice production back on track however it must be done. He then runs into Paul at the end as Paul challenges the Emperor to a duel and the Emperor has his choice of who he wants to fight in his place. In steps Feyd-Rautha without anything even being said. The fight between Paul and Feyd-Rautha is so well done. For the first tie all film, the sound/music goes silent and we just get to list to the two of them fight to the death. It isn't a short fight either, it takes some time and the fight itself will find you questioning who to root for. I skipped over so much with Austin Butler's character, but he was not in it enough. It wasn't until probably an hour into the film that we first get to see Butler. I found myself waiting and waiting for Feyd-Rautha to make his way onto the screen. However, Butler makes the most of the time he has on screen and he nails his character. Initially you are led to think Feyd-Rautha is the main villain against Paul, but at the end is he really a villain in this story? Let me know what you think in the comments section.

Closing Remarks

As someone who love film and cinema, this is a movie I will never forget. I would put it in the category of a masterpiece and I do not think that is an exaggeration. From the world building, to the acting, to the story, this film has it all. We see the themes of war, politics, love, and family at display from start to finish. Villeneuve has even come out and said that the script for Dune: Part Three is almost complete, telling everyone that he is full on board for creating the next phase, and what I think is the last, in this trilogy. If he nails the third film, this trilogy will be discussed as one of the best trilogies ever made. Please go see the movie because Dune: Part Two is why people should go to the theaters, it is truly one of a kind experience I hope to have again someday.

By Nick Kuster