Dune: Part Two
Warning : contain spoilers for Dune : Part Two .
Summary
sand dune : Part Twoperfects the story that George Lucas told with theStar Warsprequels , showing just how bright they could have been . DuneandStar Warshave long been comparableprojects . Lucas was inspired by Frank Herbert ’s 1965 novel , and that ’s fairly exonerated to see across his movies . That ’s true at the airfoil level : desert planet , place travelling , spice , and sure character archetypes . It ’s also on-key when you dig deeper into the sand to find what ’s beneath , with explorations of spiritual fundamentalism , war , and the monomyth .
Now thatDunehas its true adaption , the comparison become readable than ever . In the steer - up to Denis Villeneuve ’s sequel , Christopher Nolan comparedDune 2toThe Empire Strikes Back . That ’s true , to an extent : it ’s bigger , dark , and more ambitious . ButbyDune 2 ’s ending , the movie it ’s most like isStar Wars : Episode III - Revenge of the Sith , with a bit ofStar warfare : Episode II - Attack of the Clonesthrown in for good measure . It ’s a fascinating comparison for both the law of similarity and the differences , highlight the profusion of the idea Lucas was striving for and the flaws in his slaying .
Dune : Part Two adapts the 2nd part of Frank Herbert ’s novel , and Denis Villeneuve ’s subsequence changes the Dune book account and characters many time .
Dune 2’s Paul Atreides & Star Wars’ Anakin Skywalker Are Both Dark Chosen One Stories
While Paul Atreides has often been compared to Luke Skywalker , the truer analogue is with Anakin Skywalker . The two are the figure of great prophecy , seen by the powerful factions who seek to ensure them as a potential savior .
Conceived by the will of the Force itself , Anakin Skywalker was the prophesy Chosen One , fate to bring the Force into equilibrium . Anakin struggled to balance vie attachments to the Jedi Order and his wife Padmé Amidala , and in the end fell to the saturnine side , becoming Darth Vader . For old age he served as Palpatine ’s right hand man , but he was at long last redeemed by the faith of his son , Luke Skywalker . Now a Force Ghost , Anakin continue to act as an agentive role of balance .
Each configuration bond and relationships that will force them to challenge their worldview , support vision of terrible things to add up , and while they ultimately lead off down a heroic course with noble intention , are twisted one way of life or another . Some images inDune 2 , such as Paul lead Fremen fighters against the Emperor in Arrakis , finger like a deliberate homeage to Anakin . Each has the power to get so much death and destruction , a way of life they finally select to walk , but the dispute is in how they get there .
Paul’s “Dark Side” Turn In Dune 2 Is Better Than Anakin’s In The Star Wars Prequels
BothDune 2andRevenge of the Sithleave no room for doubt that the chief “ Heron ” is now a villain , but the former is much more hearty a finis for how it gets to - and take in that endpoint . Across the twoDunemovies , but especiallyPart Two , audience really get to understand everything Paul does and feel the full exercising weight of the decisions he makes and the path he chooses to take the air down .
Cast
Star warfare : Episode III - Revenge of the Sith details the fall of the Jedi Order and Anakin Skywalker ’s shift under the influence of Darth Sidious . Released in 2005 , the movie explores Anakin ’s internal conflict and the shifting political landscape painting , leading to the advance of the Galactic Empire .
In contrast , Anakin ’s arc - despite having more picture - cease up palpate more race , less develop , and on the whole less satisfying . Part of the problem lies in the decision to beginStar Wars : Episode I - The Phantom Menacewith Anakin as a nine - year - old , which leaves him rather peaceful in the report that ’s supposed to be laying the groundwork for his total arc . Paul has more way from the get - go , but that ’s just the beginning of the trouble and strengths of the movies .
There are obvious advantages in terms of performance . Timothée Chalamet brightly leadsDune 2 ’s cast , and he interpenetrate Paul with so much of the complexity that ’s take to make his journey figure out : he ’s by turns empathetic , likeable , magnetic , vulnerable , intimidating , vengeful , and going fully off the rails by the ending .
Conceived by the will of the Force itself, Anakin Skywalker was the prophesied Chosen One, destined to bring the Force into balance. Anakin struggled to balance competing attachments to the Jedi Order and his wife Padmé Amidala, and ultimately fell to the dark side, becoming Darth Vader. For years he served as Palpatine’s right hand man, but he was ultimately redeemed by the faith of his son, Luke Skywalker. Now a Force Ghost, Anakin continues to act as an agent of balance.
Paul Atreides has many dreams and visual sense of the future in Dune : Part Two , providing teases of events that will or could materialize to the universe .
Hayden Christensen ’s carrying out , especially inAttack of the Clones(he does a little better in the third movie , and better a mickle in his income tax return inObi - Wan KenobiandAhsoka ) are more stilted , dull , and ineffectual to bring the same range . Anakin is whiney and vexatious and , while part of that may be by plan , it means that there ’s not enough reason to root for him , and so his fall does n’t comport the same impact .
The problem is not just Christensen ’s though , but Lucas’ . TheStar Warsprequels swear far too heavily on a “ tell , do n’t show ” form of storytelling , which is in particular problematic when some of the negotiation is so flat . audience are told of his fears , of his great love for Padmé , of his trade union with Obi - Wan Kenobi , of his increasing suspicion of the Jedi , of his burgeoning trammel with Emperor Palpatine , but these elements are n’t fleshed out or shown enough .
By the end , Paul is someone who is much easier to empathise with and understand , while being aghast at his despicable choices , and it truly sells the tragedy of his tale in a way the prequels do n’t for Anakin .
In contrast , Dune 2(like the first film ) has a bright mix of showandtell , crucially understand the note value of both . Paul tell viewer over and over , how much he dread the future and that he wo n’t go south , and the pic pee-pee this percipient through a visual language as well , alongside doing the exact same for why he transfer his mind .
His core human relationship that factor into his choices - Chani , Stilgar , Lady Jessica - each have room to wave . By the conclusion , Paul is someone who is much light to empathize with and understand , while being aghast at his despicable choices , and it rightfully sells the tragedy of his story in a way the prequels do n’t for Anakin .
Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith details the fall of the Jedi Order and Anakin Skywalker’s transformation under the influence of Darth Sidious. Released in 2005, the film explores Anakin’s internal conflict and the shifting political landscape, leading to the rise of the Galactic Empire.
Dune 2 Handles Its “Chosen One” Prophecy Better Than The Star Wars Prequels
TheDunemovies and theStar Warsprequels are not distinctive Chosen One narratives - despite initially being plant up that way - but a subversive activity of them . And as a mean of deconstruct that trope and fully reckoning with the issues of the monomyth , Dune - Part Twoin particular - succeeds far more .
The strength of the choose One in Villeneuve ’s flick - referred to as both the Kwisatz Haderach and the Lisan al Gaib in Dune 2 - is how it concentrate on Paul and those closest to him in that prophecy .
The metier of the pick out One in Villeneuve ’s movie - touch on to as both the Kwisatz Haderach and theLisan al Gaib inDune 2- is how it centers Paul and those close to him in that prophecy . Paul is not just a figure of inspired destiny : he may be chosen , but by real peoplewith exonerated motives , not by luck or prospect . The movie properly explains and explores what being the Lisan al Gaib means , the power he will exert , the lives he could hold open and the billions he could cease .
Because of that , then there is a very potent sense of Paul ’s journeying to prophesy savior to destroyer of worlds . And while he may be manipulate along the way by the Bene Gesserit or pushed by Stilgar ’s belief , it is Paul whochoosesto number .
Dune : Part Two nicely sets up what ’s to number in Denis Villeneuve ’s Dune Messiah . We unwrap down what to expect next in Dune 3 found on Dune 2 ’s finish .
It ’s not just that he is define by divination , but that the prophecy is defined by him , gift it form and intent . The mantle of Lisan al Gaib is one he feels hale to accept , a use he has to play because he sees it as the only manner to avoid the darkest future he has seen despite knowing just how much it will cost , but it ’s also a will he then pull onto others too .
The Chosen One prognostication inStar Wars , however , is a pot more faint . It ’s never fully explained in exact terms on screen , and there ’s no real sentiency of Anakin himself work out with circumstances in the same mode Paul Atreides does .
When Obi - Wan screams “ you were the Chosen One , ” at Anakin in Revenge of the Sith ’s ending , it does n’t hold anywhere near the same weight or deport the same profoundness of significance as Paul standing up in front of the Fremen declaring himself that .
When Obi - Wan screams“you were the choose One,”at Anakin inRevenge of the Sith ’s ending , it does n’t contain anywhere near the same weight or extend the same depth of meaning as Paul stomach up in front of the Fremendeclaring himselfthat . Dune 2is the tolerant cautionary tale of messianic image that theStar Warsprequels only skirt around , and it makes Paul ’s fall a lot more brawny and dramatic as a result .
Star Wars : The Clone Warsflesh out Anakin ’s discharge substantially , and make his entire news report a lot impregnable and more meaningful .
Dune 2’s Fundamentalism Is Stronger Than Star Wars’ Jedi Dogma
Hand in hand withDune : Part Two ’s geographic expedition of its take One prognostication are the religious - like faction that have embedded that notion and carry on it over the long time . This isthe Bene Gesserit , who planted in on Arrakis and watched it prosper among the Fremen in the south .
This meansDune 2displays the true extent ( and dangers ) of spiritual fundamentalism and fanaticism , and again it crucially does this through the lens of Paul ’s journey . The sexual love for his mother is paired with fright and outrage at what the Bene Gesserit did ; his worries over being worshiped by the Fremen and where that will lead is balance against his love for Chani , his tutorship under Stilgar , and his desire to help the Fremen to exemption .
Frank Herbert ’s Dune is notoriously hard to accommodate thanks to its dense history and root . Accordingly , some movies have been better than others .
Lady Jessica and Stilgar are both crucial to this . There ’s little doubt of the incorrectness of the Bene Gesserit ’s actionsand manipulation over the age , of how they weaponize the Fremen by giving them something to hope for and believe in . Rebecca Ferguson plays her part like an expert , turning Jessica into someone truly terrify . Then there ’s the Fremen themselves , or at least those in the south who so strongly purchase into the approximation of the Lisani al Giab and , thus , Paul himself .
WhatDune 2does in particular well is use Stilgar ( with Javier Bardem arguably the MVP ) as both a mentor to Paul and a source of humor . This is not only important to avail cater lightness in what ’s a obtuse , heavy movie , but to specifically lay up the shift in Paul ’s part . Stilgar is likable , he ’s funny , his insistency in the divination toy like a joke . But when Paul actually reverse , and he and Stilgar move together down a way of destruction that will lead toDune ’s Holy War , it is something else entirely . This is the great power of religious fundamentalism and messianic worship .
TheStar Warsprequels have their own spiritual - like sect in the Jedi Order , but they are unambiguously the good guys . That ’s middling in a sentience - the Jedi ’s intentions are fundamentally estimable ; the Sith an wickedness that postulate to be defeated . But what the movies only really begin to scratch the surface of is how the Order ’s tenet and their refusal to allow attachments , and of their nonstarter or inability to manage with the warning sign of the zodiac around Anakin , instantly contribute to his downfall .
Yoda warn of how veneration run to wrath , anger leads to hate , and detest leads to the dark side , butthere ’s not enough reckoning about how the Jedi themselves instill fearfulness within Anakin . Again , this is better handled inThe Clone Wars , specially with Ahsoka leaving the Jedi Order and the shock that has on Anakin , but it is n’t give enough depth in the motion picture . If it had been , then Anakin would have been a more empathic figure , and it would have made his downfall more tragic .
Chani’s Dune 2 Role Is What Padmé’s Should Have Been In Revenge Of The Sith
One of the big succeeder stories ofDune 2is Chani . Zendaya was do in inDunewith a small persona , but the sequel more than spend a penny up for it . Her involvement and grandness are both exponentially increased , conduct to one of the better performances of Zendaya ’s career , a of the essence case in Paul ’s arc , and a compelling , in full - rounded individual in their own right . One who , by the end of the picture , actually feel like its biggest hero .
If Stilgar is its soul and Lady Jessica its nous , then Chani is the beating heart of Dune : Part Two .
Chani is a decisive component in Paul ’s storyfor a brace of intellect . The first is their romanticism , yield the movie one of its strongest pairings and Paul something to both fight for and to fear losing . The shots of Chani in battle , acting out a vision Paul had of himself , and a vision of her marred and burned from his use of atomic weapons , are among the most stirring in the moving picture . She helps Paul open up , prove to keep him in check , and makes audiences root for him more since her fate rests upon the decisions he makes .
With that , Chani becomes a full of life counterpoint . While Lady Jessica and Stilgar urge Paul to embrace destiny , to accept prophecy and lead the Fremen to warfare , Chani is the one send for bulls**t . The firstDunemovie open with her wondering who their next oppressor will be;Dune 2is the tragedy of her learn it is Paul , powerless to prevent him from doing so . If Stilgar is its someone and Lady Jessica its mind , thenChani is the beating tenderness ofDune : Part Two .
Chani ’s decision to leave alone at the end of Dune : Part Two was enshroud in closed book , and it has massive implication for the future of the story .
This feels particularly stark in dividing line to Padmé inRevenge of the Sith . While she was a stronger character in the first two movies - though the chemistry between Natalie Portman and Hayden Christensen was miss , another negative compared to Chalamet and Zendaya - her role is reduced in the final moving picture . She is little more than a honey interest , with stronger scenes testify her involvement in the fledgling rebellion cut from the film , and she has much less authority .
If Padmé had been able to have a exchangeable role to Chani , then again Anakin ’s precipitation , amount from what he call up is a place of love for her while so plain discount what ’s actually best and most probable to protect her , would have been a lot more poignant .
Dune: Part Two Shows How Good The Star Wars Prequels Could Have Been
It ’s not just thatDune 2is a better motion-picture show thanRevenge of the Sith , or that the enfranchisement as a whole is stronger than theStar Warsprequels ( even allow for the re - appraisal of them that ’s happened in recent year ) . This also is n’t completely to put down the prequels , which are entertaining in their own right ( but do have clear flaws ) . No , whatDunereally highlights is that the prequels could have been incredible : some of Lucas ’ ideas were genius , it was the execution that was lacking .
It ’s not as simple as saying Villeneuve is a good movie maker or storyteller- after all , Lucas is responsible for for arguably the greatest saga in cinema history , But he was , perhaps , weighed down by having such a curious vision for the prequels ( write and directing all three himself , vs. the greater collaboration of the original trilogy and input of Marcia Lucas as editor in chief ) . What ’s also specially interesting in the departure , though , is how Paul ’s report is always foregrounded , when Anakin ’s is n’t .
Dune 2does include some of the world ’s political relation and there ’s a clear aspect of its machinations and the broken system of rules that rule it , but it ’s done through the lens of Paul ’s story , with Villeneuve playing down things like the Spacing Guild or CHOAM ( an economical body from the books ) . Lucas played up those ingredient , but somewhat at the disbursement of foregrounding Anakin ’s tale . Through these many factors and decision , it mean there are much greater issues with the prequels , andDune : Part Twoshows a different , practiced way to border on a similar storey .
Dune : Part Two proceed the heroic saga of Paul Atreides as he allies with Chani and the Fremen . Pursuing retribution for his family ’s devastation , Paul grapple with a significant decisiveness impacting his personal desire and the creation ’s time to come , attempting to stave off a dire destiny that only he previse .
