'Dune: Part Two': Old Wine in a New Bottle Spoilers

Very fortunately, prior to the release of the highly anticipated blockbuster "Dune: Part Two," I had the opportunity to get a sneak peek in the screening room of its production company. After signing a confidentiality agreement and surrendering my phone, a lengthy two and a half hours unfolded. Only after exiting the office building could the other guests, whose professions remained unknown and I engage in discussions. Aside from myself and a young lady who admitted to feeling drowsy during certain segments of the movie (which was attributed to fatigue) the vast majority of the fortunate viewers expressed admiration, saying, "It was just too thrilling!" and "There was some satisfying correspondence between parts one and two of the movie, such as when Paul shouted 'shut up' towards the end." Based on this somewhat incomprehensive survey, those who found it thrilling outnumbered those who felt drowsy. Therefore, it seems that "Dune: Part Two" is likely to receive positive reviews and perform well at the box office.

I personally am not part of the dedicated fanbase of the "Dune" IP, having neither read the original novel nor watched the 2013 documentary of "Jodorowsky's Dune" or David Lynch's uncredited 1984 movie. I merely followed the media and fan discussions and am aware of the immense challenges involved in adapting this sci-fi masterpiece. For renowned directors, their bold attempts may end up as a Waterloo, or they may not dare to try altogether.

In September 2021, when Denis Villeneuve's "Dune: Part One" premiered, I found myself watching it in a small county town that surprisingly had an IMAX theater. As the closing credits rolled up, I experienced a sensation reminiscent of watching "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring" for the first time 20 years ago. Back then, I was like, "How could the movie end here?" The story was captivating, the visuals were spectacular, and the battles were gripping, so the two and a half hours just flew by unnoticed. Looking back now, the reason for my astonishment at that time was precisely because I knew nothing about "Dune." Consequently, it effortlessly conquered me with its world-building, ecological intricacies, tribal settings, and character abilities.

If, like me, you had jumped on the "Dune" bandwagon without being a fervent fan of the original work and can't recall its characters, factions, and relationships between the film personas after two and a half years since watching "Dune: Part One," I'd recommend taking a quick five minutes before diving into the sequel to read a its summary—Wikipedia is a good platform for that. Of course, "Dune: Part 2" also begins with a concise overview of the first part, featuring a voiceover by Princess Irulan Corrino, a character that was previously not present. It succinctly outlines the tragedy of House Atreides, that is wiped out by a joint force of the Sardaukar and House Harkonnen, and Bene Gesserit’s breeding program, set as a subtle groundwork. The narrative's clarity and efficiency showcase Villeneuve's professional expertise, ensuring the audience is never left disappointed.

With a somewhat adequate recap of "Dune", I followed the footsteps of the protagonist, Paul Atreides, into the vast deserts of the planet Arrakis. Amidst scenes of gunfire and bare-chested brawls, with the characters entangled in a web of intrigues, I found it difficult to recapture the jaw-dropping thrill. Even during some of the grandiose moments and transition scenes, I felt myself drifting toward a state of lethargy. The reason behind this lies in the fact that having previously embraced the incredibly fresh worldview and universal settings in "Dune: Part One", my initial excitement had faded. Subsequently, the sequel’s story reverted to a familiar framework—themes of growth, revenge, and power struggles. While the underlying meanings of these themes may be profound, they still boil down to the well-worn lessons expounded by human predecessors—the aphrodisiac nature of power, the transformation of the evil slayer into evil, and so on. Of course, it's crucial to emphasize that this diminishing sense of awe and surprise is purely a personal perspective. At least for me, it's just another old wine in a new bottle.

I haven't read any extended discussions about the world of Dune, but I believe that most viewers, as long as they are willing to think a little more, can correlate this world, which doesn't have too many sci-fi elements, to our real world. The essential and rare substance known as the "spice," which maintains interstellar travel and unlocks unknown potential, is evidently akin to oil. The endless stretches of sand dunes naturally evoke thoughts of the Middle East, a region rich in oil but also plagued by constant conflicts. If one further relates to the current situation in the Middle East, especially in the Israel-Palestine region, many factions and powers can find corresponding relationships. Frank Hebert’s 1965 novel "Dune" may probably have parallel references and representations of reality. The colonizers left a mess behind since Israel's founding in 1948, no change to the situation has practically been seen. In "Dune: Part Two," Paul, the outsider, becomes the leader of the Northern Fremen and leads them southward to unite with more orthodox and broader tribes against their common enemy, the Harkonnen colonizers. Doesn’t it sound like the current attitude of different religious Arabic factions toward Israel?

The emergence of an outsider as a messianic figure has tangible precedents in the history of Latin America and Southeast Asia during the Spanish colonization era. In the "Dune" franchise, the character development and narrative arc of Paul and his yet-to-be-born sister Alia bear similarities to these historical events. The Bene Gesserit, which is secretly practicing mystical powers and scheming in the presence of the Emperor, can be likened to the Jesuits in history, who often found themselves in a power struggle with Spanish monarchs and the Catholic Church.

Of course, beyond the plot of the movie, these aforementioned connections are more grounded in real-world parallels and historical contexts. The following may involve spoilers, so proceed at your discretion.

Compared to the now-familiar world of Dune that lacks surprises, what I personally find hard to accept in "Dune: Part Two" is the portrayal of Paul's descent into villainy. In narratives centered around power struggles and conflicts, the sinister transformation of the main character is something one can empathize with and even anticipate. In this new film, Paul's conversation with his mother directly conveys the idea that they must become the Harkonnens to survive. The evil slayer turning evil is, in a way, Paul’s inevitable fate. However, this entire process of turning evil isn't driven by the plot but rather by the incessant and somewhat tedious manipulation of the so-called "prophecies," particularly by the tribal chieftain Stilgar. These prophecies are driven by superstitions and eventually transforms the Anakin Skywalker of the Dune World into Darth Vader.