“Dune: Part Two,” the highly anticipated sequel to the 2021 cinematic adaptation of the classic sci-fi novel, recently continued the trilogy. As a fan of the first “Dune” movie, I eagerly anticipated its sequel, which was released on March 1. However, after watching “Dune: Part Two,” I left the theater with mixed emotions.
While the final product was visually stunning, it lacked character development and general plot structure to make the sequel stand out from its predecessor. It set the series up adequately for a third film, though the sequel itself seemed to put the future of the franchise above everything else.
“Dune Part Two,” picks up right where the first film left off, with
Paul and his mother in the deserts of Arrakis, now living amongst the Fremen people, including Chani, Paul’s literal dream girl.
Timothée Chalamet reprised his role as the protagonist Paul Atreides, an intense, quiet and principled young man from the noble house of Atreides. This followed Chalamet’s performance in “Wonka,” which received a lot of positive acclaim and increased his fanbase.
Paul’s visions, in reaction to his raw exposure to Spice, connect to his family’s past and reveal his true heritage. From this, he realizes his only path forward is to follow the “Golden Path” to defeat the Harkonnens, the other noble house.
Additionally, Zendaya came back in her role as Chani, the mysterious Fremen girl, and Rebecca Ferguson also returned for the role of Paul’s mother, Jessica Atreides.
In this film, it seemed like Paul and Chani suddenly entered a romance without knowing much about one another. Paul clearly fell first, as demonstrated by his almost-obsessive visions and dreams about Chani in the first movie; in the sequel, though, it was obvious how much she ended up falling for him as well. Following the sequel, one can hope that their romance becomes better developed as the story further progresses in the third film.
The filmmakers seemingly did not provide much effort to develop the new characters or make them more than a little bit likable. Specifically, those who joined the “Dune” cast for this sequel are Florence Pugh as Princess Irulan, Christopher Walken as Padishah Emperor Shaddam IV, Austin Butler as Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen and Lea Seydoux as Lady Fenring.
The only new character I felt much of anything for was Princess Irulan, though she had insultingly little screen time in this movie. However, it is safe to assume we will be seeing more of her in the third installment; her role in “Dune: Part Two” was likely just meant to be an introduction to her personality and a suggestion of her potential.
Despite its flaws, the film was still a visual treat, featuring breathtaking desert scenery and an eerie yet suitable soundtrack. Fans, including myself, can hope that the third movie will tie up loose ends and develop a more concise plot structure and character arcs.
Abby Dreistadt, Editor in Chief