Dune 2 takes theaters by storm

BY ASHTYN HANSARD / Multimedia Journalist

Dune: Part 2 hit the theaters March 1, causing a wave of people to see the second movie in the trilogy. As a film lover myself, I was curious about Dune: Part 2 and how it would compare to the first movie. 

To give a recap, in Dune: Part 1, the audience learns about Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) and what it means to be the future Duke of House Atreides after his father, Leto Atreides (Oscar Isaac), is given control over House Arrakis. Paul begins to have visions of a Fremen girl. 

Wondering what these visions could mean, Paul’s mother, Lady Jessica Atreides (Rebecca Ferguson), decides to help him by having him meet with Reverend Mother Mohiam (Charlotte Rampling). Lady Jessica Atreides discovers that Paul is considered “the one” and is seen as a “messiah” among the Fremen due to their religion. House Atreides and Arrakis are attacked by Baron Vladimir Harrkonnen (Stellan Skarsgård), the leader of the rival house that wants to take over the planet. 

Harrkonnen kills Leto, leaving Paul to be Duke of House Atreides. However, Paul and Lady Jessica are kidnapped by Harrkonenn and dropped into the desert, left to fend for themselves when they come across the Fremen. After Paul defeats Jamis (Babs Olusanmokun), a Fremen soldier, in a challenge, he and his mother are accepted into the Fremen tribe, signaling the end of the first movie.

In Dune: Part 2 the audience is able to see much more action and battles between the houses plus watch Paul’s powers grow stronger as he gets closer to becoming the Kwisatz Haderach, or the “chosen one.” 

Paul’s character development in Dune: Part 2 could be compared to Anakin Skywalker in the Star Wars series or even to Coriolanus Snow in Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. As Paul’s powers grow stronger, his actions become less ethical, making some Fremen, like Chani (Zendaya), start to lose their trust in him. His actions are more careless and demanding as he becomes a major religious figure amongst the people.

In Dune: Part 2, the audience is introduced to new characters. We are able to see the emperor (Christopher Walken) and his daughter, Princess Irulan (Florence Pugh). We’re also able to meet Harrkonenn’s nephew and Glossu Rabban’s (Dave Bautista) cousin, Feyd-Rautha Harrkonenn (Austin Butler).

Each of these characters play an important part in keeping the movie going, giving new points of view and understanding in the world of Dune. Through Feyd-Rautha, the audience is able to see more of the Harrkonenn family dynamic and how much honor means to them.

Through Princess Irulan, the audience is able to learn more about how unstable the emperor is and how the Bene Gesserit, a group of women with mind control powers, are important. The Bene Gesserit preserve certain bloodlines to ensure there will be an heir to each house.

Dune: Part 2, although set in the future, creates tensions within the government and houses that can be correlated to many events in history today. It exposes problems within its government while also showing how complicated fixing these matters can be.

In my opinion, Dune: Part 2 is well worth your time and lives up to the previous movie, if not outdoing it. Dune: Part 2 is playing in all regional theaters.