Picking up from part one . . .
Paul and his mother dwell with the Fremen in the deserts of Arrakis and plot their revenge. As they gain acceptance, the people ponder if he is in fact their Lisan al Gaib (prophesied Messiah), and Paul questions his role as he (with his foresight) sees possible futures (and catastrophes). Paul starts leading attacks against Harkonnen spice production, eventually bringing them into all-out war, as his mother (a Bene Gesserit) becomes Reverend Mother to the people. Tensions are high and escalating quickly . . . who will prevail in the world of sand?
Staying relatively faithful to the book, I was intrigued by the conclusion to this story.
- I didn't like the changes they made with Chani's character in particular, but felt the other characters were reasonable representations (though Paul was a bit more aggressive/less conflicted than in the book).
- As is typical, there were undercurrents/contexts in the book that were skipped on the big screen, which is understandable (yet disappointing). Even with a two-part presentation, aspects felt rushed.
- The film did a decent job portraying the machinations of the Emperor, Harkonnen family, and Bene Gesserits, but sold the Fremen a bit short, omitting the part about what they were doing in the south (which was hinted at in the book but not fully developed).
As I haven't read the other books in the series, it is hard to know if the differences in the films so far will create a wider departure from the books in the next movie (part 3, based on Dune Messiah, will conclude the film series and is due out in 2026). Overall, it was a solid effort. While not totally satisfying, it was far better than it could have been.
Rating: B+
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