With countless awards and media buzz, Dune: Part One was undoubtedly one of the largest films of 2021. Upon the release of its sequel, Dune: Part Two, we were all left to ponder how this desert epic would be taken to new heights. I, for one, had my doubts on Dune: Part Two’s ability to deliver the magic of its predecessor. However, I quickly realized that this subsequent film is superior in every aspect.
Dune: Part Two is once again set on the sandy desert planet of Arrakis, the only source in this futuristic universe for spice, the key to interstellar travel. The film follows Paul Atriedes (Timothee Chalamet), heir to the throne of House Atreides, as he seeks to avenge his father’s death and regain power over Arrakis from the bloodthirsty Harkonnens. Allied with the desert tribe of the Fremen, Paul and his mother, Lady Jessica begin to clash. Lady Jessica believes Paul to be the Lisan-al-Gaib, a prophesied messiah who came to save the Fremen and restore them to their rightful paradise. As faith in the Lisan-al-Gaib begins to spread through the Fremen, Paul is forced to face his true identity and deal with the consequences of idol worship.
Dune: Part Two is, more than a blockbuster film, an audiovisual spectacle. Its nearly 3-hour runtime may appear daunting, but every second spent in the theater is put to good use. The film somehow manages to achieve the impossible, shocking the viewer at every turn, but still providing a sense of doomed inevitability. Dune: Part Two is not just a story, but a prophecy in itself, a cautionary tale on the violent and blindly faithful aspects of human nature.
Director Dennis Villeneuve’s clear vision and direction for the movie are apparent in every shot. The cinematography alone is a complete work of art. The masterful usage of light, color, and scale is apparent, especially in a shocking sequence where all color is stripped away. One of those films that must be viewed in a dark theater, with the all-encompassing IMAX screen and sound system, Dune: Part Two made me feel all but the grains of sand against my skin.
One of the biggest critiques about Dune: Part One was its convoluted plot line, difficult for even the most experienced moviegoers to follow. It seemed as if only people who had read the novel it was based on (Dune, by Frank Herbert) fully understood the film’s meaning. Dune: Part Two utilizes the base knowledge provided by its predecessor to form a complete, powerful narrative that requires both films to be properly understood.
Dune: Part One was also heavily criticized for its perpetuation of the tired Hollywood white savior trope. This trope is completely subverted in the sequel, however. As the film unfolds, we come to understand that Paul is not the Fremen’s messiah, come to save them from their oppressive rulers. The desert tribe’s desperation, which translates to easily manipulated religious beliefs, leads them to discard their culture in favor of this newcomer. “This prophecy is how they enslave us,” Fremen soldier Chani (played by Zendaya) protests, as thousands of Fremen neglect their self-preservation to fight in the Atreides’ holy war. Paul’s rise to power on the backs of Arrakis’ indigenous appears eerily similar to the history of nations across the globe. Frank Herbert’s tale of blind worship is almost Shakespearean in its ability to depict human nature, how desperation will lead to dangerous, irrational beliefs.
Dune: Part Two, plays out like a prophecy, as the viewer watches each aspect of the intergalactic epic come together in a tale of love, power, lust, greed, and revenge. However, as we have come to know, prophecies do not always play out in the way we expect. If there’s any movie you watch this month, let it be Dune: Part Two.
