The ConluDUNEtion.

 And the Oscar for stupidest blog title of the year goes to...

Anyway,

I was planning on seeing Dune Part 2 in the comfort of my home, as a film of this length requires access to a pause button and facilities at my current age.

However, I was alone and driving home from work, Rosa (who was out of state) told me she got a notification that the power was out.

I figured if I went to a long movie, I wouldn't have to deal with the issue.

I was right and the film was fantastic, so double win for me!

Because much of the background exposition was given in the first movie, this one had more energy, but it wouldn't mean nearly as much without the introductions. However, the Dune universe is vast and complex, meaning more layers needed to be peeled away in this part of the story as well. Patience is important, and well rewarded.

The movie functions on many levels. Like it's predecessor it looks gorgeous, showing multiple different environments on various worlds. 

There are huge action set pieces, befitting the tale of the formation of a fanatical and unstoppable fighting force that first takes back their own planet, and then is used to conquer the entire galaxy.

However, there are also powerful, personal emotional moments about connections between people, and the sacrifices of personal morals to reach goals which destiny (or at least the defeat of dangerous enemies) requires.

The cast is huge, and outstanding. A few high caliber performers had characters that did not return for Part 2, but a swath of new characters, all played by excellent actors, more than made up for it.

The two leads lived up to the requirements of that station. 

I have seen Timothee Chalamet play determined, whimsical, naive, and multiple other emotions. I was not prepared for the level of terrifying he brought once Paul embraced his role as the Lisan al Gaib. (or the Mahdi, or the Kwizatz Headerach... honestly, its a good thing Lord of the Rings prepared audiences not only for long, multiple part movies, but for multiple fictional languages.)  He was utterly believable as the one who would inspire and lead a galaxy changing jihad. 

Zendaya (who, honestly, is fantastic in everything) was given a weightier role as Chani than in the books. Due to audiences being kind of dopey, many readers felt like Paul's final role and the conclusion of the novel was a happy ending. This was not the intent. (in spite of how the 1984 film handled it) This misunderstanding led to the tone and content of the sequel books. Zendaya perfectly conveyed how dark everything had become through her reactions as she watched it unfold. 

The effects, sets and action scenes were amazing, but they wouldn't mean anything without the cast infusing real emotions into everything that occured.

If the villains, both the obvious antagonists and those pulling strings behind the scenes, weren't believable as the local and global (galactic) threats they were, the dark choices of Paul and his allies could not have been seen as necessary, yet they are.

The human interactions, conflicts and bonds feel real as we learn the fate and destiny of Arrakis, the Fremen, and the various houses. That's what connects the audience to this already fantastic story in this new interpretation.