Muscat: If you have been mesmerized by the transportive frames spun by ‘Blad Runner 2’, travelled beyond through ‘Arrival’ and were mind-blown by the concept of ‘Enemy’, then you know what Denis Villeneuve was capable of when he took charge to tackle the mammoth-like concept of Dune. With resounding success on the technical aspects and delivering a true-to-the-source script with Dune: Part 1, Denis is back to charm us with Spice and the beauty of the world he envisioned with his craft.

Dune: Part 2 starts off right where Part 1 ended, with Paul Atreides (played by Timothée Chalamet) and his mother, Lady Jessica (played by Rebecca Ferguson), on the run after the house of Atreides falls prey to the hands of the Harkonnens and the massacre that led to the murder of Leto Atreides I, leaving the most powerful military force in shambles, turning over the helm of Spice production to the ruthless Harkonnens. 

Paul and Lady Jessica find solace in the Fremen, the nomads who are the real watchmen of Spice, and the harsh desert regions that create these magical elements. To capture the mystery behind this element is as challenging as it sounds, but Denis managed to capture its beauty with every grain and shade that could fit in the frames we observe. 

The Fremen accept Paul and Lady Jessica as most of them believe that Paul is the foretold Messiah, now come to stop the over-exploitation of Spice and lead the Fremen to the promised land, filled with water and greenery. However, from Dune: Part 1, we know that the premise for this myth/prophesy has been spun by the Bene Gesserit, a group of female spies, nuns, theologians, and scientists who inch toward their goal of elevating humanity through the creation of a messiah known as the Kwistatz Haderach. Through their influence and power of superhuman capabilities, they have trained women and shaped the face of the houses. 

Part of the script’s charm is its capability of bringing a rather unsettling doubt in the minds of the viewers, whether a prophecy is after all possible since Paul did rise to power and proved his mettle with the Fremen, or if this was all mind games played by those hiding in the shadows, behind dark veils. As you are swayed by Spice and the hallucinogenic visuals of Dune: Part 2, you can’t help but fall in love with the drama and political tonalities embedded in the film.

Having won over the Fremen, Paul rises to power, led by Stilgar, who is adamantly in love with the hope of a messiah who will lead them to glory, envisioned and now visible through Paul Atreides. Lady Jessica, carrying the last of the Atreides lineage in her stomach, probes the Fremen to believe that the myth is indeed the only truth as she is asked to become the Reverend Mother of the Fremen. Having vested the memories of pain, learning and sorrow of all the Reverend Mothers before, Lady Jessica is led through the rite of passage as she drinks the ‘Water of Life’, the poison extracted from the sandworms of Arrakis. Now, having the power to foresee the past and future, she lets the power take over her, heading to the south to spread the tales of a messiah and sway over the fundamentalists for the cause of Paul becoming the next Emperor.

Greig Fraser, known for his work in Dune: Part 1, The Batman, The Creator, has expertly taken the vision that Denis had and made it a reality for all of us to witness and marvel at. Every sunset feels real; the warmth of the setting sun and the harsh winds of the desert wash over you with every shot. Hans Zimmer, a visionary in music and arguably the last of an era weaved with magic and music, expertly makes you feel every thump and roar throughout the movie. The infamous cry of the woman whenever Paul enters the frame resonates deep within your soul, giving you goosebumps every single time.

As Paul and Chani (played by Zendaya) become close, the Fremen, who were from the North, also start getting swayed by the mystery of the prophecy as they see a natural leader in Paul, leading them with every ambush against the Harkonnens, causing political unrest among the houses. Having been accepted as their own, the Fremen give Paul a unique name that will go down in the accolades of history as Muad’Dib (meaning a small, timid creature often underestimated) Usul (strength of the base of a pillar).

Attention to detail is vital to honour the art of filmmaking and keeping your viewers a part of your make-believe world. Rabban (played by Dave Bautista) is pursuing the Fremen on a copter, and what should ideally seem like a rather straight-forward chase sequence is exemplified when the copter faces the harsh sun of Arrakis, and the visor on one of the pilots’ helmets automatically comes on. It’s little moments like this that add depth to the art of filmmaking.

As prophesied by Lady Jessica, Paul Muad’Dib Usul turns to the south to head to the fundamentalists for refuge and aid to fight the Harkonnens, one he never thought he would do as he dreamed of famine and destruction if he went ahead with this decision. As Paul reaches the south, he has no option but to follow the prophecy of the Reverend Mother and drink from the ‘Water of Life’, which was impossible according to the Fremen’s belief system as only women can accept the burden of the poison. But as the claimed Messiah, Paul overcomes the poison and is granted the power to see the future and find the path leading to his imminent rise as the Emperor. As power shifts from Rabbon to his younger brother Feyd-Rautha (played by Austin Butler), the more ruthless beast of a character who only wants to prove that he is the rightful heir to the empire. 

The cast of Dune meticulously adorns the characters vested in them. Timothée Chalamet, often viewed as soft, charming and delicate in many roles, steps up and delivers an outstanding performance. Austin Butler slithers into the vicious role of Feyd-Rautha while Rebecca Ferguson communicates it all through her eyes. Zendaya, although playing a subdued rebel in the books, is more vibrant as ‘Chani’ in Denis’s interpretation.

As the rise of a new rule beckons across the harsh deserts of Arrakis, Paul rises to power, ambushing the Emperor (played by Christopher Walken) and killing Feyd-Rautha in combat to disarm the reign of the two houses at the helm of the empire. With the final shot, a warcry for battle against all those who disobey to bend their knee before Paul Muad’Dib Usul, and an arsenal of atomic warheads that can wipe out a planet, we are left to wonder who Paul really is. He may or may not be the Messiah, but he has proved he is the natural ruler.

With a delicate balance of religion and fantasy, Dune: Part 2 is a prime example of great cinema, passion for art, and the brilliance of a good script. A story that will make you wonder what it means to believe, what lies behind power, religion, and substance of faith.