Disclaimer: This article may contain spoilers.
In a science fiction world with various planets and advanced technology, “Dune: Part Two” can be summarized into the following: two sides of an intergalactic battle fighting against each other in the heart of the desert. As the protagonist Paul Atreides (Timothee Chalamet) allies with the Fremen on the desert planet Arrakis to gain revenge for his father’s death, his character’s interesting development throughout the movie truly brings Frank Herbert’s 1965 novel to life.
The movie starts with Paul and the Fremen attacking the Harkonnen, a historical enemy of House Atreides, after Paul killed Jamis (Babs Olusanmokun), a Fremen who challenged Paul to a duel in the first movie. Although met with disapproval from the other Fremen initially, Paul soon finds his place amongst them. As he integrates into their society, he falls in love with Chani (Zendaya), who is also a Freman. He enjoys his time with the community and earns a secret personalized Fremen name from them. The Fremen eventually come to believe Paul is a legend because the Bene Gesserit (Rebecca Ferguson), Paul’s mother, spreads a prophet to the community as Paul coincidentally accomplishes the feats described in that prophet.
“Dune: Part Two” does a phenomenal job of portraying religious and emotional manipulation. As the movie progresses, Paul becomes more and more driven by power and revenge as the Fremen place more faith in him. Chani is against Paul’s desire for power because she wants everyone to be on an equal status. The more Chani disapproves of Paul’s actions, the more Paul loses the morals and ethics that Chani initially liked about him. Viewers slowly feel disassociated with Paul towards the end of the movie because although Paul proclaimed his love for Chani, it was not the kind of love in which he would give up his power for her.
Regarding the visual elements of the movie, the cinematography and graphics truly capture the setting of “Dune: Part Two.” Just like in the first movie, there are a lot of advanced futuristic elements with multiple types of aircraft and weapons displayed through CGI. For example, the flying ships in the movie were purposefully designed to resemble a dragonfly to bring the setting to life. What sets “Dune: Part Two” apart from the first movie is the graphics that are used to depict the Fremen’s life, such as riding a sandworm. Despite primarily being filmed in the desert, the movie had many eye-catching scenes, such as fight sequences or the color contrast between the Harkonnen and Fremen.
“Dune: Part Two” does Frank Herbert’s vision justice with Paul’s very well thought out characterization accompanied by clear and futuristic graphics. It brings up an interesting debate between the lines of a hero and villain, with Paul having a mix of good and evil characteristics. The portrayal of such scenes makes the movie worthwhile to watch, as the audience can get carried away with the emotional experience and see the transitions for themselves.
