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+++
title = "Dune: Part Two (2024)"
author = ["Michał Sapka"]
date = 2024-04-15T23:49:00+02:00
categories = ["brainrot"]
draft = false
weight = 3003
abstract = "My review of an adaptation of the second part of an amazing book"
[menu]
[menu.brain-rot-dune]
weight = 3003
identifier = "dune-part-two-2024"
parent = "denis-movies"
+++
It's here, it's finally here.
_Dune_ joins the few SciFi books with amazing adaptations.
When _Part One_ hit the screens, people were amazed that it was so good.
Now, with _Part Two_, we hear that it's even better than the first one!
But I was very skeptical.
The trailers released before the release seemed to indicate a train wreck.
They were full of explosions, angry screaming guy and the taglines all towards war.
Dune was never _about_ war.
War was in there, but it was never the point.
But cinema, SciFi especially loved special effects, and big-booms are amongst the most used.
I dislike a lot of SciFi movies from the USA, as the (so called) spectacle is all there is[^fn:1]
But what the hell, I chose an IMAX experience nevertheless.
The first _Dune_ was breathtaking, so why not?
And the movie started, and my worries were replaced with anger.
What the hell is this?
Soldier banter?
Puppy-eyes?
Joking?
It's a SciFi war movie.
_Dirty Fremen Dozen_!
_Independence Day of Arrakis_!
{{< img-c "dune-part2-001.jpg" >}}
Arrakis 90210
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But, just as the action moved to Giedi Prime, the movie completely transformed.
What was mediocre, became absolutely marvelous!
Now, after seeing and rethinking the movie it makes sense.
It's a not _sequel_ to _Dune_, but _part two_.
It doesn't start in act 1, as it occurred in the last movie.
The first part of this movie is a cool-down after the ending in of _Part One_.
And therefore, both Dunes should be treated as one long movie.
Much more than Kill Bill, as we have no clear _ending_ between the two.
_Part One_ ends with finishing of the Harkonen attack plot, which only ignites events of this movie.
And one big movie, I have to say: wow!
They made some changes to Herbert's text, but I like them.
Fremen are no longer a singular force that Paul uses.
The movie version of them is divided, having different cultures.
Maybe it's too black and white, but it's a nice change.
Similarly, Chani become a multidimensional character.
And while yes, Jessicas portrayal makes Chanis character shine much less, it's a great change.
But the way Rebecca Ferguson plays Jessica is nothing short of wonder.
She starts scared, but loyal to both Paul and Bene Gesserit.
After becoming the reverent mother however she becomes menacing.
With this comes another change - Alia is not born here.
She is talking with her mother telepathically, but at the end of the movie she is still to be born[^fn:2].
That's a dangerous change, but it works perfectly because the tone Jessica uses when talking with her - calm, silent, almost a whisper, yet still menacing.
I can not stress it enough - Rebecca is perfect here.
But the biggest change is introduction of scenes from _Dune Messiah_.
You see, _Dune_ was often seen as a savior story.
Paul was to be the good guy, who comes and helps.
This is as far from what Frank Herbert envisioned as possible, so he wrote a short sequel book.
This movie vision introduces plot points and scenes taken directly from that movie, so the meaning behing the story is obvious.
I think it's a good change, as we already see folks arguing against _Dune_ due to this misconception.
This way it defends itself.
{{< img-c "dune-part2-002.jpg" >}}
Jessica in all of her glory
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Luckily, this movie is much weirder than _Part One_.
While last time Dennis omitted a lot, here he shows more things[^fn:3], but still there is no context.
We see the finger of the Baron, but we never learn what is there.
It comes as Easter eggs for old time fans, which is nice as it takes nothing from the story.
But then there is Geido Prime which is monochromatic, empty and cold - in the scariest way.
I'd love to see more of this side the world, but we got it spot on.
And Fayd?
Where Lynch gave us half-naked Sting, Austin Butler is a psychopath.
This is the Beast we all deserve!
This is the stuff nightmares are made of
So, _Dune Part II_ is an excellent movie, but _Dune_ the complete story is a marvel.
It's the greatest thing I've seen in American SciFi.
It's what it should be.
While not flawless, it's a close to what I'd imagine as a _perfect_ _Dune_ as it comes.
The movie gets a 4.75 (same as the first one), but as a single movie?
Then it goes to a 5.
I don't think we will get anywhere close to this level of quality anytime soon.
What _Baldurs Gate III_ made for cRPG, _Dune_ makes to _SciFi cinema_.
btw, I love that Christofer Walken is once again in the Dune universe.
He warned us about the Worm years ago.
{{< img-c "dune-part2-003.webp" >}}
Jessica in all of her glory
{{< /img-c >}}
[^fn:1]: I still remember how bored I was when I watched _Iron Man 3_.
The last decade of the movie runtime was filled with a non-stop battle.
The movie stopped and all was left was CGI.
[^fn:2]: Kinda fitting.
_Arrival_ had a very similar take on what a human is.
[^fn:3]: No chairdogs though
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