“This clear time of seeing embers—
A gold-bright sun’s lost in the first dusk.
What frenzied senses, desp’rate musk
Are consort of rememb’ring”
—from Frank Herbert’s Dune: Book Two
People say they like reading the book before seeing the movie version of something, but I actually tend to prefer watching the film before indulging deeper into the original story. Plus, having a visual for the characters of Dune by Frank Herbert doesn’t hurt either, especially as creatively adapted and well-thought out as portrayed by director Dennis Villeneuve and cinematographer Greg Fraser.
Almost every scene in the second part of the series (aka Book Two “Muad’Dib”) will give you chills (highly recommend seeing it in iMax if you can); there is just not enough words to describe how much of a cinematic masterpiece Dune: Part Two truly is (and though that might sound redundant at this point I promise that is no exaggeration). I mean, hell: I had to see it twice and read the book to even feel the least bit worthy to write this review.
Within the first minute Dune: Part Two wastes no time in grabbing your attention; the perfectly shot silhouettes of the Harkonnen enemy landing on otherwise foreign orange-skied desert lands in their floating black suits will leave you speechless as Paul and his mother are hiding while they wait for the perfect moment to counterattack, showcasing Paul’s rather impressive fighting techniques, just as his father and mentors taught him.
Hans Zimmer’s score is expectedly flawless and vigorously intense to fit every character’s move and every single moment perfectly (I may or may not have listened to the “Harkonnen Arena” battle song over 20x); there’s also something to be said about the quieter lulls of Paul and Chani just sand-walking through the dunes that coincide with the time in between storms, showing how bipolar living in the desert can really be.
Timothée Chalamet stole my heart a bit as Paul makes such an epic transformation from an innocent boy who did not fathom how powerful he truly is inside with his visions to ultimately leading the Fremans to their Green Paradise—even if it means waging a holy war. Chalamat’s essence will captivate you with the ultimate dedication he has to bringing Paul’s character to life in a really spectacular and unforgettable way.
The visuals for this stunning masterpiece—everything from the harsh black sun world of the Harkonnen planet Giedi Prime to the gorgeous landscapes of the desert planet Arrakis aka Dune—will leave you entertained throughout every single second of the entire 2 hours and 46 minutes; I almost guarantee you will be back for more (don’t judge me if I happen to see it again for a third time).
You must be one with the desert which is a mix of beauty and horror
Only the Freman can survive in the desert—which will also determine your fate—so when Paul is put to the test by Stilgar he must pass certain milestones to prove he can make it past the summertime to officially become one of their people and lead the way.
No rest for the Harkonnens until House Atreidis is no more!
One of my favorite characters is Glossu Rabban; his uncontrollable rage and angry outbursts played by Dave Bautista had me shook—and even though he might be despicably evil, you can’t help but secretly love him.
Those who can ride the spice worm hold much power
Riding a space worm is no easy feat, so when Paul calls the “mother of all space worms” to conquer and ride, it proves to himself and the Freman that maybe he really is The Prophet they’ve been waiting for.
Do NOT embarrass the Harkonnen name
If you cannot control spice production and let Harkonnens die in the desert, then you are unfit to rule. When Baron Vladimir Harkonnen (Stellan Skarsgård) lashes out on Glossu Rabban for failing him, you might understand why his nephew is so darn angry all of the time.
It’s all about the blade
One of the darker and creepier parts is when Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen (shoutout Austin Butler who might have given one of the best performances I’ve ever seen) is preparing for his birthday “celebration”; his sword is delivered and required to be even sharper after testing it on his own tongue—after all, a fighter’s blade is the only way he can prove his worth in becoming Emperor.
There’s always plans within plans
The Bene Gesserit’s games have been known to wreak havoc in families and cause entire wars, so when something happens expect an ulterior motive behind the scenes (like you know, securing the Harkonnen bloodline by seducing an otherwise sociopathic man with his sexual vulnerabilities).
The truth will hurt you to the core
Paul finding out things about his family having Harkonnen blood and his previously unknown past and future gives him a clearer direction and purpose despite the pain it has caused.
A fine line between false prophets and our emperors
Chani’s rebellion in the film is relatable as she simply refuses to worship any God; she is for her people and her people only, because who is anyone to say what’s real or just a made-up story? Zendaya’s character does not back down and she really lives up to Chani’s rebel soul in a way that feels incredibly powerful.
The Bene Gesserit will make you a believer
One must bear witness to the mysterious powers of the Bene Gesserit in order to believe their mystical stories and tales. The best scene that left me in awe was when Jessica drinks The Holy Water and becomes the Freman’s Reverend Mother—a really pivoting part for the entire movie.
Long live the fighters!
One must always be prepared to fight on Arrakis, no matter your mood. Those who fight for their people will be honored and remembered forever, and if they die their souls will be kept by extracting the sacred water that not even a starving Freman can drink.
