Dune Part Two Spoiler Review

"Dune: Part Two" is a robust piece of filmmaking and an engaging epic sequel. The movie is a visual delight and made for a big-screen experience.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Director: Denis Villeneuve

Screenplay: Denis Villeneuve and Jon Spaihts

Based on Dune by Frank Herbert

Cinematography: Greig Fraser

Music: Hans Zimmer

Main Cast:

Timothée Chalamet as Paul Atreides
Zendaya as Chani
Rebecca Ferguson as Lady Jessica
Javier Bardem as Stilgar
Austin Butler as Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen
Josh Brolin as Gurney Halleck
Florence Pugh as Princess Irulan
Christopher Walken as Shaddam IV, The Emperor
Dave Bautista as Glossu Rabban Harkonnen
Stellan Skarsgård as Baron Vladimir Harkonnen
Charlotte Rampling as Gaius Helen Mohiam
Souheila Yacoub as Shishakli
Léa Seydoux as Lady Margot Fenring
Anya Taylor-Joy as Alia Atreides (Guest Appearance)

Release Date: March 1, 2024

Runtime: 2 hours 46 minutes

Rating: PG-13

Dune Part Two Synopsis

"Dune: Part Two" is the highly anticipated sequel to 2021’s blockbuster adaptation of Frank Herbert’s beloved novel "Dune". The film picks up closely on the heels of the first film, continuing the saga of Paul Atreides and his journey on the desert planet Arrakis

Dune Part Two Plot Summary (Spoiler Ahead)

In her private records, Princess Irulan Corrino hints at the possibility of Paul Atreides’ survival, while her father, Emperor Shaddam IV, is left disheartened by the downfall of House Atreides. As they journey to Sietch Tabr on Arrakis, Stilgar’s Fremen forces, including Paul and Lady Jessica, encounter a Harkonnen attack but manage to triumph over it. Upon reaching the Sietch, doubts about Jessica and Paul being undercover agents emerge. However, some Fremen trust them, holding onto the prophecy of a mother-son duo ushering in an era of prosperity on Arrakis.

Stilgar reveals to Jessica that their Reverend Mother is on her deathbed, persuading her to succeed the dying mother by consuming the Water of Life, a lethal toxin deadly to males and those untrained. By altering the poison within her, she survives and gains access to the memories of all her female forebears. Only known to Paul, Jessica is expecting his sister; the Water of Life triggers an early mental awakening in her unborn daughter. Following this, Jessica starts having spiritual dialogues with her unborn child and believes that the inhabitants of North Arrakis should be the first to be convinced of the prophecy, starting with the most impressionable. Chani and her companion Shishakli are skeptical of the prophecy, but Paul’s declaration of not desiring power and his wish to fight alongside them earns him Chani’s admiration.

Paul wholeheartedly adopts the Fremen customs and masters their language, successfully passing challenges such as sandworm riding. He kindles a romantic bond with Chani, evolves into a Fedaykin warrior, and aids in raids on Harkonnen spice harvesters, earning the titles “Muad’Dib” and “Usul” from the Fremen. Jessica, now a significant figure in their religion, spiritually mentors his rise. Rabban, struggling to maintain control over spice production, escalates attacks on the Fremen to appease his uncle, Baron Vladimir Harkonnen, who has returned to his home planet of Giedi Prime. There, the Baron’s other nephew, Feyd-Rautha, indulges in gladiatorial combats as his favored pastime. The Baron relegates Rabban for his inability to quell the Fremen uprisings, appointing Feyd-Rautha as the new sovereign of Arrakis. Margot Fenring, a Bene Gesserit disciple dispatched by Reverend Mother Gaius Mohiam, seduces Feyd to preserve his genetic lineage should Paul’s prove irretrievable.

Jessica accomplishes her spiritual mission in the North and heads South to merge with the fundamentalists there. However, Paul, enraged by her actions, fears that a prophesied holy war will erupt if he ventures South as a messiah; he chooses to stay in the North to continue his battle against the Harkonnens. Paul reunites with Gurney Halleck, who had joined the smugglers following the Atreides’ collapse. Observing Paul’s war preparations, Gurney guides him to House Atreides’ concealed atomic warheads. Jessica soon discovers that the Water of Life is a fluid secreted by a young sandworm when it is submerged. Feyd’s forces assault Sietch Tabr, resulting in Shishakli’s death and compelling the survivors, including Paul, to migrate South. Despite Chani’s objections, Paul ingests the Water of Life; he loses consciousness but is revived by Chani with a heightened understanding of the past and future, envisioning his sister Alia and recognizing the Baron as his maternal grandfather.

Leaders of the Southern Fremen anticipate Paul to contest Stilgar for supremacy, but Paul dismisses this notion. Embracing his prophesied role, Paul proclaims himself the Lisan al Gaib and refuses to forcibly unseat a formidable warrior like Stilgar. He assumes complete control over the Fremen and challenges the Emperor, who lands on Arrakis accompanied by Irulan, Mohiam, and his Sardaukar soldiers. Paul disrupts the Emperor’s face-off with the Baron by launching atomic warheads at the fortress stronghold of Arrakeen. Mounted on sandworms, the Fremen overpower the Sardaukar forces and penetrate Arrakeen’s defenses; Gurney eliminates a retreating Rabban.

Within Arrakeen, Paul enters the throne room, slays the Baron while addressing him as “grandfather”, and commands the Emperor and others to be relocated to the Residency. Here, he threatens to obliterate the planetary spice permanently with the remaining atomic arsenals unless the Emperor relinquishes the Imperial throne to him. Feyd-Rautha, in the Emperor’s name, challenges Paul to a duel wielding the Emperor’s blade, but is defeated. Irulan then proposes marriage to Paul to acknowledge his triumph. Left with no alternatives, the Emperor succumbs to Paul’s demand by bowing before Paul’s signet ring. Chani, upset by Paul’s decision to marry Irulan, departs the Residency, preparing to ride a sandworm elsewhere. Above Arrakeen, vessels carrying numerous Great Houses reject Paul’s ascendancy, prompting him to command his Fremen army to “lead them to paradise.” Meanwhile, Jessica and the unborn Alia contemplate that this marks the commencement of Muad’Dib’s holy war.

Dune Part Two Ending Explained

"Dune: Part Two" concludes with Emperor Shaddam IV arriving on Arrakis to address the Fremen rebellion and reprimand the Harkonnens for their failures. Paul Atreides, along with the Fremen, utilize the sandworms and the Atreides family atomics to invade Arrakeen, the capital city of Arrakis, and reclaim power.

In a deviation from the book, Paul's army is reinforced by Fremen "Southern Fundamentalists," which amplifies the religious dedication his followers have in the book. After capturing the capital, Paul kills the Baron, effectively eliminating the current ruler of Arrakis. Paul then asserts his rightful claim as the Duke of Arrakis, arguing that the invasion of Arrakis that led to his family's massacre was illegal.

Paul also announces his intention to ascend to the throne by marrying Princess Irulan. By doing so, Paul essentially declares that he already owns Arrakis because it was rightfully his, and also, he will take over the entire Empire because he controls the spice.

Feyd, the defacto heir of the Harkonnens, is called to fight as the champion of the Emperor. This means that if Paul kills Feyd, he gets the throne. In the book, this feudal tradition is called "Kanly," and it's a way that major disputes among the Great Houses are resolved by knife duels. Paul defeats Feyd, thereby winning Arrakis and the throne.

The ending sets the stage for future conflict and explores the consequences of Paul's rise to power. It suggests that his journey is far from over and that he will face even greater challenges in the future. The movie hints at the next installment, which will delve deeper into Paul's reign and the repercussions of his actions.

Overall, the ending of Dune Part Two leaves viewers eager to see what happens next and how Paul will navigate the complex political landscape of the Dune universe.

Dune Part Two Review (Our Verdict)

Dune Part Two picks up right where Dune Part One left off, which was my only real criticism of the first film that the ending was half-cooked. The ending had Paul Atreides and Lady Jessica barely escaping being murdered, supposedly exiled after House Atreides was decimated by the Harkonnen on the orders of the Emperor. All this manipulation is orchestrated by the all-female order of the Bene Gesserit, who planted a false prophecy among Dune's natives, the Fremen, suggesting Paul Atreides is a Messiah leading them to paradise. Now, Paul and Lady Jessica must convince them that this prophecy is real, not only to stay alive but also to seek vengeance against the Harkonnen, the Emperor, and others involved in House Atreides' destruction.

The film's budget of around $190 million is well spent, especially on special effects. Scenes on Giedi Prime, the Harkonnen's home world, are particularly impressive. The effects, production design, and music are all top-notch, deserving a viewing in a theater-like IMAX or 4DX.

Director Denis Villeneuve's work shines here, possibly his best yet. Despite adapting what's considered an unadaptable book, the story holds up well. Condensing three years into six months was a clever move, utilizing Lady Jessica's pregnancy to show the passage of time. Acting is generally strong, with standout performances from Timothée Chalamet as Paul and Rebecca Ferguson as Lady Jessica. However, Javier Bardem as Stilgar provides much-needed levity, while Austin Butler's Feyd-Rautha steals the show with his calculated cruelty.

The film boasts excellent battles but suffers from pacing issues at the beginning and a rushed ending. Character-wise, there are only a few worth rooting for, and some actors, like Florence Pugh and Christopher Walken, are underutilized. Additionally, Anya Taylor Joy's appearance is brief, appearing in a blink-and-you'll-miss-it dream sequence where she plays Paul's sister. Zendaya's portrayal of Chani feels lacking in depth, reminiscent of her previous roles. Despite these flaws, Dune Part Two is arguably one of the better sci-fi movies of the last decade.

In conclusion, Dune Part Two is a must-see, offering a long-overdue boost to theaters. Grab your pocket sandworm popcorn bucket and head to the theater if you're a fan of the genre.

Dune Part Two Movie vs Book

"Dune: Part Two" does have some differences from the second half of Frank Herbert's novel "Dune". Here are some key differences:

1. Time Frame: The time frame of "Dune: Part Two" is much more condensed than the events of the novel, which take place over years rather than months.

2. Character Changes:
- Chani: In the movie, Chani plays a greater role in the story and is unafraid to push back against Paul, unlike in the book where she and the Fremen are fast followers.
- Leto II: In the book, the relationship between Paul and Chani progresses much faster and she becomes pregnant with a son after Paul joins the Fremen. Paul names him Leto II after his late father. In "Dune: Part Two", the pair move at a much slower pace.
- Thufir Hawat: Thufir Hawat, the Mentat of House Atreides, is played by Stephen McKinley Henderson in "Dune: Part One", but the character doesn't appear in "Part Two". However, Hawat has a role to play in the second half of the book.
- Alia: In the movie, we only see Alia as an adult, played by Anya Taylor-Joy, in one of Paul's visions.

3. Omitted Characters: "Dune: Part Two" differs from the original novel by omitting characters like Alia and Leto II.

These changes are common in book-to-screen adaptations, especially with a hefty epic like "Dune". The novel is nearly five hundred pages long and, even when split into two movies, it's a significant task to condense the politics and battles of Arrakis into a feature-length film.