If you liked DUNE, you’ll love DUNE: PART TWO. If you didn’t, I don’t think that PART TWO will convince you to blindly follow Muad’ib. But for me, at least – I know my road leads into the desert.
DUNE: PART TWO is a stunning film; visually, thematically, and in scale. Unsurprisingly for Denis Villeneuve, this movie is jaw-dropping, capturing the essence of the titular planet of Dune, with sweeping vistas of the endless, arid landscapes. The themes of Frank Herbert’s novel are fleshed out much further in this installment; we gain a much better understanding of our characters’ motivations, fears, and desires.
In DUNE, we see the beginning of Paul Atreides’ rise. To use an inappropriate analogy, the first movie feels like he’s riding a ski lift to the hardest run on the mountain. Paul gets a taste of the things to come, takes in the views, and his imagination runs wild picturing his road ahead. DUNE: PART TWO is him getting off the lift and heading down – the thrills, excitement – and, most importantly, the fear of losing control.
The sequel is structured similarly to its predecessor; a pulsating build-up spanning the known universe, a few deep dives into Arrakeen lore, an amped-up closer, and a subtle promise of more to come. There’s just more of everything; more spice, more sandworms, more Fremen, more conflict, and more story. And if that excites you, grab your Shai Hulud popcorn bucket and enjoy the next chapter of Paul Atreides’ odyssey.
DUNE: PART TWO is now playing in theaters.
