Lawrence of Arabia in Space Part Two: Paul becomes a mouse terrorist in this one. Remove every scene or shot of Zendaya scowling and this film would be shorter by about an hour. The never-ending struggle and conclusion of galactic geopolitics will hopefully continue with adaptations of Dune Messiah, Children of Dune, and God Emperor of Dune. Inshallah, the Mahdi, Lisan al Gaib Muad'Dib will lead the Fremen jihad to true freedom.

~ Edit of a more serious note: including some rough uncollected messy thoughts and opinions that have been jumbling around in my head for awhile that I don't really know how to structure into an easy tidy and linear entry. Unsure exactly if these could be described as conflicting feelings. More of a general sense of being slightly underwhelmed and wanting to like it more than I do where gut feeling doesn't agree with or isn't entirely on board in love with it. (Probably textbook definition of conflicting feelings right there.) Perhaps this could be attributed to the film's newness and expectations I may have had beforehand. But, I don't believe that to be the case or among any factors, being as I wasn't really paying attention to a lot of details and reactions surrounding the film's release and more or less went to see this on a whim, surprised with how quickly the release came.

1. The ending is abrupt or unceremonious to say the least, quietly bowing out right after the climatic confrontation, leaving no time to touch upon any final thematic words, aftermath, implications, or consequences hearkening back to all the actions that have unfolded in the past 2+ hours. Never feeling like it truly wraps up or takes in full note of concluding story arcs such as the defeat of the Harkonnens and stranglehold of spice production, Paul's struggle into obtaining recognized footholds of power, prestige, and legitimacy amongst the Fremen and the Empire, or Jessica's spiritual victory over the Bene Gesserit.

It's not necessarily the open-endedness that bothers me (that was bound to be obvious for a series like Dune and nothing's wrong with having stories leading into another story to tell), but the treatment of leaving with barely any overall resolving act or closure for this particular chapter of the overarching Dune storyline. It has me feel like Dune: Part Two, the Harkonnen-Arrakis War, never really ended at all. Only that it's runtime just simply ceased. It could've gone on for another 30 minutes or 1 hour and I wouldn't have minded as broader pacing wasn't really an issue. I really hope an extended cut release changes my mind and puts my enjoyment of Part Two on par with the setup and betrayal of Part One.

2. The romance between Paul and Chani could've been highlighted more. Chani's role as is in Part Two is just fine. But, only just fine. She creates contrast for Paul's actions by showcasing the unease, doubt, and fervor within the other side of the Fremen population opposite to Stilgar. Giving her own reactions and questions, allowing characters like Paul, Stilgar, and Jessica to react and interact in ways that give insight as to motivations, reasoning, thought processes, and beliefs that would be lost by not including inner monologues and avoiding exposition.

As far as their relationship and some of their interactions go, I am still left with some confusion and scarce details as to why they treat and react to each other as they do, obviously not having, but wishing I had some access to what more that they are thinking. Leaving some frustration when there is tension or spats between them that comes off as a surprise, melodramatic, insincere, or has me questioning how much they actually trust and love each other when they act reluctant to share mutual . Like on again off again hook-up lovers who easily become at odds and never seem to genuinely confide in each other. It has me wondering what there is that draws their personalities and similarities together, to want to be with one another aside from being of the opposing sexes. Then maybe some surface elements and concepts related to being exotic foreigners, potentially dangerous strangers, love in warring factions ala Romeo & Juliet.

(Also the heavily cropped somewhat implied sex scene is an extreme personal nitpick, as I just dislike stuff like this in general in movies. It adds no further intimacy or meaningful development/characterization/traits to these characters that I couldn't already interpret or infer as an outside bystander who doesn't need to pry this deeply into this sort of detail. It's a waste of time.)

3. Okay, complaints and nitpicks out the way. This is still as great as the first part to most of it's extents. Great action, great visuals, great concept. Especially watching the included mythos build around Paul as a messianic figure, but sadly skimming over the military strategy, exploits, and hard details in Paul's war against the Harkonnen Spice production. Causing the sense of timeline to feel a little jumbled, linking together occasional battles and operations more as a montage. Nearly everything I've liked and described within my review of that first half is still rightly applicable, as Dune: Part Two does play out as a true Part Two continuation than more akin to a sequel. Which may make it somewhat tough to get back in the swing of things if it feels like you watched Dune 2021 ages ago, but Part Two also does a fantastic job carrying it's own weight, reminding you of the events or keeping you in the know without having to do much if any slight recaps or refreshers at all.

Sometimes the pacing or interactions come off as a bit light or dry, but for a movie of the this length and caliber, it gets by doing everything that is needed, completely necessary, or required of it. Even if at the end of the day I feel somewhat unsatisfied, still wishing very deeply that I would've been able to see more. Being treated to a great time only before that satisfaction is fully complete to hear "Sorry folks, we're out of time." Hopefully with an extended cut, I will be able to see more of the Harkonnens, more of Feyd Rautha, more of the Bene Gessereit, more of the Emperor. And very mildly disappointing is the lack of inclusion of things like the Spacing Guild and Guild Navigator. For the most part, this largely hones in it's focus on Paul rather than the overall interconnected web of politics and characters in the Dune universe, but for the sake of brevity and creating a more accessible streamlined experience, it is by no means a bad thing.

(Might include more as thoughts solidify and continue. I suppose like Dune, this review itself will be never-ending as I figure out more to add.)