A few weeks ago, Legendary Pictures released the second part of Dune in theaters and blew audiences away around the world.
Dune Part 2 is the sequel to Dune, a movie that was released in 2021, starring Timothee Chalamet, Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, and many more famous actors. Additionally, this movie was directed by Denis Villeneuve, who is famous for directing other sci-fi blockbusters, such as Arrival and Blade Runner 2049. Dune was a remake of an older movie that was released in the 1980s under the same name, based on what is known as one of the best sci-fi novels of all time, written by Frank Herbert.
Dune is the first of the Dune series and has inspired many other stories in the sci-fi genre. Star Wars is heavily influenced by Dune, partaking in the same underlying themes of a chosen hero to save the galaxy from an evil galactic empire, while also sprinkling in elements of destiny and fate.
Dune Part 2 picked right back up where the first movie left off, with Paul Atreides and his mother Jessica, escaping into the desert of Arrakis, and learning the ways of the Fremen, the indigenous people of the planet. The story continues to focus heavily on Paul’s destiny, and whether he is the so-called “Lisan Al Gaib,” the Fremen’s version of a messiah foretold to save them from their oppression.
Dune Part 2 has received an overwhelmingly positive response from audiences, being the first movie of the year to reach over $500 million at the box office, taking over the domestic haul from the first film in just one week. Audiences were floored at the stunning visuals, memorable soundtrack, and outstanding performances from the entire cast.
José Garcia, a sophomore nursing major, believes Dune will live up to its hype because of the amazing performances from the cast, and will stand the test of time and be this generation’s version of Star Wars.
Since Dune Part 2 is the conclusion of the first book from Frank Herbert’s franchise, there is hope for another movie to round out a Dune trilogy in the future. There are six books in total that Frank Herbert has written, and Denis Villeneuve is working to make “Dune Messiah,” the second book, into an even better adaptation than Dune Part 2.
If you have not taken the time to watch either of the Dune movies, now is the time to do so while Dune Part 2 is still in theaters. If you have become a fan of the Dune universe and don’t want to wait a few years to find out the rest of Paul Atriedes’ story, you can go ahead and read the books.
Picture by Dan Grinwis on Unsplash