Frank Herbert’s extraordinary novel “Dune” from 1965 combines science fiction and fantasy, enthusiasm for technology and esotericism. After the six-time Oscar winner “Dune Part 1”, the French-Canadian director Denis Villeneuve is now telling the second part: star-studded and full of pictures – with Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, Javier Bardem, Stellan Skarsgård and many others.
“Dune 2” continues the story seamlessly
“Dune: Part Two” continues the story of prince’s son Paul Atreides, played by teen heartthrob Timothée Chalamet. He teams up with the beautiful desert princess Chani (played by Zendaya) and the desert people of the Fremen to avenge the conspiracy that destroys his family Faced with a choice between his love and the fate of the universe, Paul must fight to prevent a terrible future that only he can foresee.
The cult books of the hippies: “Dune” and “The Lord of the Rings”
The cosmos of Frank Herbert’s “Dune” novels is more fantasy than science fiction or superhero cinema; it is a bit “steam punk” in its infatuation with steely retro technology. Otherwise: martial, messianic, medieval and mythical – and always undemocratic his despotic, elitist corset of values. One wonders what once motivated the hippies to choose this fantasy epic, of all things, along with the ultra-reactionary “Lord of the Rings” as a cult book. In view of the cultural, commercial and film industry impact, the comparison with the most popular second part of Star Wars to date – “The Empire Strikes Back” – is justified.
At the end of the first part, the planet Arrakis is the scene of a brutal attack – the result of an intrigue between the Emperor of the Universe Shaddam IV and the Harkonnen people. (Stellan Skarsgard as Baron Vladimir Harkonnen)
“Dune 2” leaves you wanting more
In terms of content and its function for the overall story, everything is more reminiscent of “The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers”. Because this is also a film that is based entirely on what we already know about the characters from the first film, without which it cannot be understood. The feeling of a constant stopover, a waiting room for the action and a permanent, but always latent, lurking danger dominates.
As with both films, a third chapter seems inevitable. While the first part introduces the characters, the second part corresponds to an anti-imperialist epic in which the desert people of the Fremen take the historical place of the natives in the conquest of America or the division of Africa, opposite which stands the exploitative front of the Harkonnen, a parody of the industrialists Revolution of the British Empire.
Survive on the desert planet in a world full of intrigue
In this world of intrigue there is no white or black, only moral shades of gray. Between efficient community and egoistic dictatorship, this work of cinema equally rejects scientific reason and fundamentalist priestly rule and combines feudalism, trade wars, aristocratic power and the idea of metaphysical-Nietzschean super-humans into a brew that was called “oriental despotism” almost a hundred years ago: how The “Mad Max” films are about energy and scarce resources. On the desert planet, nothing is more precious than water if you want to survive.
In “Dune 2,” filmmaker Denis Villeneuve tells the next chapter of Frank Herbert’s acclaimed novel “The Desert Planet.” The cast was once again strengthened with numerous international stars. Director, writer and producer Denis Villeneuve with Javier Bardem and Josh Brolin on set.
“Dune 2” is cinema beyond good or evil
One also has to think of the desert epic “Lawrence of Arabia” by TE Lawrence. This is also a fable about the pitfalls of domination, which leads to a departure from pure humanism, which Zendaya embodies perfectly as Chani in “Dune”.
So this film is cinema beyond good or evil. Commercially, it is likely to eclipse previous fantasy and superhero science fiction of the 21st century. A third part is hinted at, which is likely to develop the hero Paul’s already emerging tyrant potential.
Trailer “Dune2”, from February 28th. in the cinema
2024-02-29 02:54:41
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