DUNE, PART 2

US, 2024, 166 minutes, Colour.

Timothee Chalamet, Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, Javier Bardem, Josh Brolin, Austin Butler, Florence Pugh, Dave Bautista, Christopher Walken, Lea Seydoux, Stellan Skarsgaard, Charlotte Rampling, Roger Yuan.

Directed by Denis Villeneuve.

Denis Villeneuve’s 2021 version of Dune made quite an impact. The Dune novels by Frank Herbert had been popular for decades. David Lynch had made a version in 1984 which was not favourably received (except by this reviewer!). So, in a sense, Villeneuve’s version was a vindication of the power of the novel, its characters, its imagination, its mythical vision of the future.

Now, here is Dune Part 2 – and, in its immediate release, it seems to have pleased almost everyone, quite a number of bloggers relying on the word “masterpiece”. Whether that be the case are not, the film is certainly visually impressive as was the original. And, this review is based on an IMAX screening, which is thoroughly recommended. The landscapes, the endless mounds of dunes, the craggy mountains, the canyons provide a vastly impressive setting. And, the musical score, the brass instruments and their resounding make the cinema seats reverberate.

And, with this kind of tale-telling, kingdoms, battles, futuristic weapons and armaments, vast buildings and interiors, including an enormous gladiator arena filmed in black and white, hundreds of thousands of spectators, there are what we might call state-of-the-art… Effects.

For those familiar with the novels and the films, there is no need to wonder about the House of Atreides, the fate of the ruler, his young son, Paul, his mother, Jessica, the conflict with the Emperor, the hostility towards the Harkonnens. Those not so familiar may have a lot of moments, especially in the battle sequences, as to who is who and why it is all happening at this moment.

As before, Timothee Chalamet is Paul, Rebecca Ferguson his mother, Zendaya is Chani.

In the first part of this this film, we focus on Paul and his mother, the bond with Chani from the previous episode, the hiding from enemies in the desert (who have enormous sky vehicles and have the power of levitation up the sides of mountains), then some combat with hostile locals. However, the local leader, Stilgar, Javier Bardem, welcomes the foreigners, and, with echoes of biblical/Islamic traditions, a reliance on prophecies and fulfilment, a hope for a Messiah.  Stilgar puts Paul to the test.

Then we go back to the spice industry, the villain, Beast Rabban, Dave Bautista, his ruthlessness, but also his defeat, his return to his master, Baron Harkonnen, Stellan Skarsgaard, who is grooming his nephew, Austin Butler, whom he describes as psychotic, who combats three remnants of the House of Atreides.

There is further drama concerning Paul’s mother, her later discovery of who her father was and what that means in terms of Atreides versus Harkonnens, and her becoming the new Reverend Mother.

New characters in this film include Christopher Walken as the Emperor and Florence Pugh as his Princess daughter, who has been trained by the sinister Reverend Mother, Charlotte Rampling.

Which means that it all has to come to a head, the power of the Emperor, his plans, Paul as the new saviour, Battle confrontation mano a mano between Paul and the psychotic nephew.

While there is some resolution, the way is now open for a climax in Dune Part 3

1. The long popularity of Frank Herbert books? 1984 version? The impact of Part 1?
2. The continuation of the story, life on the planet, Arrakis, the house of Atreides and its destruction, the Harkonnens, the Emperor and his family, the setting in the 10,000s?
3. The landscapes, the dunes in the desert, the mountains, canyons, the cities, the interiors, the vast buildings, the gladiatorial arena? The colour photography? Black-and-white photography for the Harkonnen world?
4. Action sequences, the range of special effects, in the desert, the worms and movement, the winds, the aerial machines, the Army sequences and battles, the hand to hand final combat?
5. The musical score, the instruments, the booming and reverberating sounds?
6. The situation, the destruction of the House of Atreides, Paul surviving with his mother, the previous bond with Chani, hiding and the attacks in the desert, aerial surveillance, the ability of the soldiers to ascend and climb the mountain sides?
7. Paul and his mother and Chani, brought to her people, the issue of the combat, the defeat of their warrior, the response of the crowds, the men, the sceptical women? The funeral?
8. Stilgar, his status in the community, the Biblical/Islamic traditions of written words and prophecy, the hope of a saviour? The men and their beliefs, their prayer? The women critical including Chani? Stilgar and his personality, leadership, influence on the others, belief in Paul? Fulfilment of prophecy? The range of tests, the crossing of the dunes, Chani and her advice and help, the big test, going out into the dunes, the soundings, the worms emerging, giant, Paul and his abilities, the hooks, and riding the worms? Acclaim?
9. The solemn place of the Reverend Mothers, Jessica, her bond with her son, chosen to be a Reverend Mother, the rituals, the old Mother and succession, the transfer of knowledge, the abstract colour visuals for these sequences? Her tattooed face? Her role with the women, knowledge and advice? Her wanting to go south, to return home, with Paul? His refusal? Seeing her off with the entourage?
10. The episode with Beast Rabban, the initial caption about the power and the power with the spice? The spice industry, cause of conflict? The farming of the spice, collecting it, financial issues? The Beast and his autocratic behaviour, slitting the throats of his advisers? Falling foul of the Emperor, the aerial sequences, his defeat, having to kiss the feet of Fayd-Rautha?
11. The tradition of the Harkonnens, the Baron, in the bath, his size, bloated? His relationship with the Emperor? Helping the Emperor to defeat the House of Atreides? His plans for his nephew? The description of the nephew as psychotic? Everybody with shaved heads? Preparations for the gladiatorial combat, the black-and-white photography, the visuals of the arena, the special effects for hundreds of thousands of spectators, the three final warriors from the House of Atriedes, the confrontation with Fayd-Rautha, the fights, his arrogance, the blood, the knives, the final foe giving him a fight? Arrogant Victor?
12. The return of Gurney, the story in the past, smuggling? The friendship with Paul, their bonding? Chani and her suspicions? Gurney and his participation in the insurrection, present at the end?
13. The scenes with the Emperor, his rule, under threat, his assertion? The scenes with his daughter, his hopes for her? The Reverend Mother, her manner, influence in the past, training the daughter, ambitious, controlling, her strategies, her ruthlessness?
14. The buildup to the confrontation with the forces of the Emperor, Paul, the Fundamentalists from the south, the attack, the air vehicles and their destruction, on the ground, the firepower, the skills of the fighters and their disguise, rising from the sands? The visuals of the vast confrontations?
15. The victory, the confrontation with the Emperor, Paul and his assertions, the killing of the Baron, revenge? The Emperor, defiant? Fayd-Rautha as his champion? Paul and his conditions, speaking of marrying the Emperor’s daughter, peace, Chani and her reaction?
16. The Mano a Mano fight, strategies, techniques? Paul being wounded? Turning the tables on his opponent, his death? The Emperor, having to kneel before Paul?
17. Stilgar, everybody rejoicing, Paul as the saviour? His mother and her response? The defeat of the Reverend Mother and the Emperor’s entourage?
18. The ending, the openness to the reassertion of Paul Atreides and his leadership?