Dune: Part Two is an iconic cultural text in the making, a modern classic being birthed in front of our eyes, a genuine revelation. The runtime was filled magnificently with luscious visuals, Hans Zimmer’s perfect score and an enthralling narrative. Timothee Chalamet has solidified himself as a great actor in this film, his performance is incredible, the development from young lost prince to a fanatical war hero is done so well. 

This sci-fi story is inherently an audio-visual warning. It is siege of anxiety against religious fundamentalism, fanaticism, ecological destruction, capitalist/ colonial imperialism and the allure of consolidation of power. Hubert’s prowl into Islamic history and doctrine allowed this movie to reflect such intimate parts of my religion I did not expect to be displayed back to me, especially the concepts of Jihad and Fana. The former being about personal and spiritual struggle and the latter being the destruction of one’s self in order to align oneself indubitably with the divine and the mercy of the Creator.

Paul Muad'Dib Atreides wrestles with his fate of becoming the messianic leader of man made prophecies. Paul is met with many tests and trials which destroy his sense of self and instead create a space for a charismatic and superhuman leader who is able to lead with blind fealty. Hubert criticises religious fundamentalism as absolute and intrinsically totalitarian. In the world of Arakis, cultural and political reformation are repudiated and instead syncretic and anachronistic tradition is restored and venerated. Tradition and prophecies however are unscrupulous sites of chaos. Our hero is on the path of destruction, his soul is tarnished but he will burn the whole universe for glory and the fake promise of divinity.

In the shadows, stands his mother with her powerful voice and the whisperings of his unborn sister. The women in this movie were next level but if I started to write about them, this review would never end. 

Anyway, I need to read this damn book now.