Dune: Part Two
IT WAS AN ALASKAN BULL WORM!!!! (again).
Okay, quick question? Who was doing more dick riding: Stilgar or DJ Drama on CMIGYL?
This movie, like the first movie, is once again, beautifully shot. Some scenes are extremely grand, like the Feyd Rautha colosseum-esque battle and when Paul rides the worm for the first time. However, the scenes that will probably stick with me the most are a bit smaller-scale (if anything can even be classed as small-scale in this titan of a movie).
First, it's Paul as he's preparing to ride the worm. He just sticks out as a dot in a vast land of sand and the contrast between him and the vast barren wasteland of the desert is so striking. Second, I'd have to mention the scene where the Fremen ride in on the worms to attack the emperor's troops. Nothing else to say here other than it was cool and seeing the worms pop out on screen like that gave me a real jolt! Finally, I think the magnum opus for visuals and entertainment was the fight between Paul and Feyd. What it lacks in the grand scale of the arena it makes up for in the importance and for lack of a better word, aura within the moment.
I'd also like to give some props to Timmy post-worm piss for that performance. He really hits those lines well and you feel his presence on the screen both visually and with the power with which he yells his lines as he towers above thousands. Also, shoutout to Austin Butler for giving this, off-kilter, powerful, maniacal stint as Feyd; anytime he was on the screen he demanded your attention.
I also really like what's going on thematically here. Part Two hammers home the idea that Paul isn't the good guy and we have significant evidence which supports this idea. Although very on the nose, Chani forces the viewer to thoroughly examine Paul's position as the Lisan al-Gaib and warns against blindly following prophets/charismatic figures. Paul himself even says he doesn't believe in said prophecy and that the Fremen simply choose to see him as this messianic figure (Stilgar). Overall, it's a subversion of the usual hero's journey which I don't think I've seen before. Or at least, I haven't seen it executed this well.
Building off of the idea of false prophecies/prophets, a lot of what makes this movie interesting is seeing Paul struggle and grasp what potentially being the Lisan al-Gaib means. Paul only gets to fully understand this role by looking into the future. By doing so, he ironically binds himself to the path he so strongly denounces. The steps you take to avoid something only lead you closer to said destination.
With that being said, I think two big things need to be explored in the third movie. First, if Paul doesn't fulfill his future and fails as the Fremen prophet, then who is the real Lisan al-Gaib? Secondly, considering the Bene Gesserit are the ones scheming this whole thing, they really need more screen time. They've been holding the seat of the throne for the past two movies and it feels like they've been side characters. Hopefully, they become more significant players in the third movie. Plus, it’d mean more Florence Pugh screen time (which I'll never complain about!).
Overall, very cool movie. I don't think it's the best of the decade, but I'm not the biggest sci-fi guy so I guess there's a little bias. Cool that I got to see this movie in its heyday though, cause you can tell it's a huge landmark moment.