Story: Now that the young Paul Atreides has met the Fremen, and been taken into their mountain home. But does he have what it takes to become one of them? Meanwhile, his Bene Gesserit mother Jessica is heralded as a seer by the Fremen, which could help Paul achieve his dream of revenge on the corrupt House Harkonnen. But once Paul’s visions show him that his quest could cause destruction on a galactic scale, he begins to rethink his path. Can his new Fremen love, Chani, help him forge his own way? Can anyone?
Genre I’d put it in: Blockbusters With Deep Thoughts And Stuff
Release Date: 2024
Remake, Sequel, Based-On, or Original: Based on the book of the same name, and the Dune Chronicles.
Gotta say: I really, really wanted to title this review DUNC 2: SPICE BOOGALOO. But one, I’m sure The Boogaloo will be done to death in other reviews. And two, this sequel is too much of a gorgeous existential think-piece of a film to be saddled with that kind of silliness. Part blockbuster, part surrealistic art piece, this two hour and forty-six minute (yep) film gives you a feast for your eyes, and themes to ponder once your popcorn bucket is empty. And if you managed to snag one of those popcorn buckets? I am outrageously jealous. Post pics and tag my no-bucket having tuchas.
Many will compare 2 to Denis Villeneuve’s Blade Runner 2049, and that’s apt. The focus here is on emotions, imagery, and theme rather than beat-by-beat storytelling. Oh don’t worry, you’ll be able to follow Paul, Chani, and the gang easily enough. But Villeneuve wants you to feel the film, grok the message, and come away with the big picture. Which is damn, prophecies about messiahs can be horrible for not just the messiah, but all living things. The surreal, dream-state vibe of 2 is good fit for this story, as messages and motifs are what Herbert focused on. Dune (both the books and Villeneuve’s films) is a treasure trove of themes and motifs, and I’m absolutely sure I’ll muck up many of them. Apologies to my writing teachers and profs.
In 2, we get fate, power, free will. Religion, belief, fanaticism. Allegiance, saviors, abuse of power. Technology, colonization, corruption. It’s an onion of messages and concepts. Layers upon layers. And cramming all of that into a film series can be a helluva task. 2 tells its audience that the typical heroes journey narrative is ultimately not empowering, but a horror show. Villeneuve is intent on showing us that rabid fanaticism and the quest for power/revenge is ultimately a corrupting influence that destroys everything in its path. Paul is terrified of what he will unleash, should the images in his mind come to be. But he’s helpless to stop it, as fate has a way of twisting his good intentions. Plus, Chalamet plays Paul as someone who both fears and desires conquest. So when that climax hits? It’s powerful and heartbreaking.
About these performances. As with Dune, they’re excellent. Casting director? You nailed it. Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya have a wonderful interplay as Paul and Chani. There’s a push-pull between the aristocrat and his hardscrabble love, and the way they treat each other as equals in all ways is conveyed beautifully by these two. Rebecca Ferguson balances fanaticism and love as Paul’s mother Lady Jessica, her quiet zealotry a stark contrast to Javier Bardem’s desperately hopeful Stilgar, who wishes for a paradise rather than the desert his world has been for millennia. Special shout-out to Florence Pugh as Princess Irulan, daughter of the Emperor and Bene Gesserit trained historian. 2 gives this intriguing character more agency than the books do – Irulan is barely more than a transcriber of history in the novels. Though there are some similar vaugity here, Irulan does get scenes where she stands on her own two feet. It’s a welcome change to the source material, which is definitely helped by powerhouse that is Pugh. Her performance brings a subtle strength to the role that I hope I’ll get to see more of in later films. Fingers crossed.
Many will watch this with one eye on their phone, and come away thinking this is just another empty pew-pew, white savior hero’s journey. That would be a shame. As Herbert did in the original Chronicles, 2 is intent on showing us that rabid fanaticism and the quest for power ultimately leads to suffering. The cast and crew do an excellent job of providing a clear-eyed look at colonization, religion, and inequality. For folks willing to dive into the gorgeous art direction, cinematography, and imagery as the sequel plays out? This film will reward you with a a think piece that sinks its (maker) hooks into you.
#Protip: Wanna know when’s the best time to go use the facilities during this over-3-hours-with-trailers bad boy? When Paul decides to take a particular Fremen water test. We all know he’s gonna survive, so you don’t need to see him go through it…as long as you make it quick. Missing 3 minutes or so ain’t bad, but more than 5? You’ll know what’s going on, but you’ll kick yourself for missing a prime Zendaya scene.
