Dune: Part 2

 Dune: Part 2 (2021) directed by Denis Villeneuve (Sicario, Blade Runner 2049) is a soaring  interplanetary story that deserves a big screen watch.  The book Dune published in 1965 is regarded as an inspiration to the Star Wars story and the comparison is apt:

• An Emperor striving for  galactical domination by control of the trade routes

• A conflict between two related families

• An epic showdown between the two sides

Here’s a recap of Dune: Part 1 (2021).  Paul Atredies (Timothee Chalamet) is an exceptional child, the son of the Caladan planetary leader, Duke Leto Atredis (Oscar Isaac) and Lady Jesssica (Rebecca Ferguson), who is a member of the mystical order of the Bene Gesserrit.   The legend is that the Bene Gesserrit will bear a son who will become a great leader.    

While Paul is being tested by the Bene Gesserrit, the opposing House Harkonnen seeks to kill Duke Leto Atredis but agrees to spare Paul and Lady Jessica, who make their way to the planet Arrakis.  They encounter the natives, the desert dwellers known as the Fremen, led by Stilgar (Javier Bardem).  Stilgar believes that Paul could be the Lisam Al Garib, the long awaited savior, and so he takes Paul and Lady Jessica under the Fremen protection.  

As Part 2 begins, House Harkonnen seeks to take control back of Arrakis now that Duke Leto Atredis and Paul appear to be out the way.  There are a lot of stars in Part 2  that were not in Part 1:  Florence Pugh (Princess Irulan) , Austin Butler (Feyd-Rautha), Christopher Walken (Emperor Shaddam IV)   Plus we have returning:  Josh Brolin (Gurney), Javier Bardem (Stilgar), Dave Bautista (Rabban), Stellan Skarsgard (Baron Harkonnen) with larger roles than before.

gly accepted into the Fremen tribe. 

As Part 2 continues, Paul learns the ways of the Fremen to survive in the desert.  He proves his worth by fighting alongside Chani (Zendaya) against raiders.    Chani grudgingly goes along with Stilgar to allow Paul into the tribe.  Stilgar, recognizing that the planet needs a Reverend Mother from  the Bene Gesserrit, convinces Lady Jessica to ascend to that role, otherwise she is of no use to them.  In a final test, Paul shows that he is a real Fremen by riding a sandworm. 

 Ultimately Paul and Feyd-Rautha square off in a duel to the death.  But is that the end or just a new beginning?  Who will control the valuable spice, or tame the inhospitable planet, which before it was named Arrakis, was called…. Dune.

Confused?  Good!  It’s a  complex plot, based on a 600 page science fiction book weaving an interplanetary story with many references to both Chrisitanity and Islam.   And there is a lot of material to acknowledge:  5 book sequels, one 1984 movie directed by David Lynch and one 3 part TV miniseries (2000) in those Pre- Netflix days.

Stay tuned for the expected Part 3, whereby Paul’s unborn sister Alia, may shed more light on the future.  As I would expect the last dying words of the book’s author Frank Herbert (1920-1986) to be, “I’ll tie this all together somehow.”