Dune sequel is one for the ages

Like a whole lot of people last weekend ($82 million worth of people), I saw Dune: Part Two. I can’t remember the last time I was this excited to see a movie; I’ve been looking forward to this one since the first film hit 2 1/2 years ago. I’m a big fan of the franchise, having read 10 books so far, and counting. Did this one meet my expectations?

The sequel picks up right where the first left off. Paul and his mother Jessica are on the run from the Harkonnens, who had hoped to kill the entire family (with the backing of the Emperor) and take control of the planet Arrakis (Dune) and its valuable spice harvesting operations. The Bene Gesserit, a secretive society of women that Jessica herself belongs to, have spent generations spreading rumors on Arrakis of a coming messiah-like character, the Lisan al Gaib, and the locals (the Fremen) believe that Paul is that savior, meant to free them from the “interlopers” from other worlds. The problem is, the more that Paul does to fight back against the Harkonnens, the more the Fremen see as signs that Paul truly is the one to fulfill the prophecy. Jessica, who has risen in prominence herself among the Fremen to become a Reverend Mother, is doing her part to spread the legend of Paul, against Paul’s own wishes, in hopes that Paul will get enough power to fight back against the Emperor himself in vengeance for killing her husband, Paul’s father Duke Leto.

Jessica heads to the southern hemisphere, where many of the religious fanatics among the Fremen live, She urges Paul to come with her, but he hesitates. In consuming more spice in his food with the Fremen, Paul begins to have more visions of the future, and one of them fills him with fear. He knows that if he goes south and declares himself the Lisan al Gaib, he will start a holy war with the Empire that will lead to the deaths of billions of people across the galaxy. But Paul may not have a choice, with the deadly and determined Harkonnens hunting him and all of the Fremen people on the planet.

Honestly, about 2/3rds of the way through this movie, I was liking it a lot, but started to think that the first film was better. Sometimes the anticipation of what is to come (the setup from the first movie) can be greater than the ultimate payoff (the second movie). But that final third…. Wow. An epic battle that gives you everything you could have hoped for. The two movies together have done original Dune author Frank Herbert proud, with a sweeping, true-to-tale experience that awes and inspires. Honestly one of the most epic films you will ever see, even if you aren’t a big sci-fi moviegoer. There’s some talk of a third movie if this one does well (and it looks like it will), and you can sign me up for more right now. ★★★★★