‘Dune: Part Two’ a First-Rate Sequel

by Tribekah Jordan

“Dune: Part Two” is the 2024 sci-fi film you don’t want to miss. “Dune: Part Two” has an all-star cast, striking visuals, an industrial soundtrack, and important messages that we can apply to our own world.

Director Denis Villeneuve took on the challenge of adapting Frank Herbert’s 1965 “Dune” science fiction novels to a film series.

Villeneuve's 2021 “Dune: Part One” takes place thousands of years in the future on neighboring planets. It follows the main character, Paul Atreides (Timothee Chalamet; our generation’s Leonardo DiCaprio), son of Duke Atreides (Oscar Isaac), as his destiny unfolds before him.

In the first movie, Duke Atreides (Oscar Isaac) is assigned by Emperor Shaddam (introduced as Christopher Walken in “Dune: Part Two”) to relocate his family to the desert planet Arrakis. They need to harvest the currency “spice,” which extends life, expands consciousness, and is vital to space travel. Paul learns a lot on this journey about what it means to be a duke, how to train to become a fighter, controlling the power passed down from his mother, and the ways of his respected neighbors.

The highly anticipated “Dune: Part Two” sets the scene for fierce Paul and his brave, pregnant mother, Lady Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson) to seek revenge against the enemies that destroyed their family. They are introduced to territory inhabited by the desert-dwelling Fremen and become accustomed to their culture. Paul is anointed as the Fremen’s Messiah by the leader Stilgar (Javier Bardem). Lady Jessica takes on the title Fremen Reverend Mother.

Chani (Zendaya), a born and raised Fremen, observes cautiously as she shares her world with Paul and his mother. As time together passes -- romantic sand-walking, sandworm riding, sharing meals of spice -- Paul and Chani inevitably fall in love. Paul faces a choice between the love of his life and the fate of the universe, while needing to stop a destructive future only he can envision.

Like our own world, the “Dune” characters (played by Josh Brolin, Florence Pugh, Austin Butler, among others) face challenges in their society. There are leaders in power with opposing ideas, repressed religious fundamentalists, and those who seek social justice. These differing ideologies leave the world of “Dune” in chaos.

Two questions come to mind, questions that go beyond this movie:

Who deserves to lead?

What will this world become?

Paul motivates the Fremen with the message of independence: “Long live the fighters.”

“Dune: Part Two” concludes with unanswered questions.

I eagerly anticipate “Dune: Part Three.”

Timothy Chalamet and Zendaya star in "Dune: Part 2." (Warner Bros. Pictures)

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