“Religion, too, is a weapon. What manner of weapon is religion when it becomes the government?“ —Dune: Messiah

Paul’s “terrible purpose” has come to a head. Dune: Part Two picks off where the brilliance of Dune: Part One ended, and carries us to the openings of the jihad. This movie did an exceptional job highlighting the power of religion, and the weight it carries. Jessica plays more of an orchestral hand in this plot for the movie, but not one that I am mad about. 

While facets of the book are lost to avoid the five year time jump, Dune: Part Two does well to preserve the integrity of the story, expertly laying the foundation for Dune: Messiah.

My heart aches for Chani. I struggled seeing the effect of the avoided time jump on her character. I am curious to see how the omission of her and Paul’s marriage, her and Paul’s son, affects the next film. Chani donned a blue scarf on screen, her apparent Nezhoni scarf, but the movement of the scarf from her head to her arm raises the question of how the reconciliation Paul foresees occurs.