Zendaya is Chani in “Dune: Part Two” (Photo Credit: Alon Amir/Warner Bros. Pictures).
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(“Dune: Part Two” trailer courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures)
It is hard to directly follow a classic or a legend.
In sports, commentators and journalists often say coaches and quarterbacks should want to follow the guy that follows THE GUY because many will not make a direct comparison to the legendary coach or quarterback if they are once removed.
But immediate movie sequels do not have that luxury.
And luckily for “Dune: Part Two,” the follow up to the 2021 classic does not need such grace or time delay because it is better than the original, with very detailed scenes and a climax that has “Black Panther” vibes.
Many religions and demographics believe in a singular messiah -type figure.
Although their demographic or population might suffer at the hands of an oppressor, making it difficult for them to fight back, many find hope that the universe or God will send them a savior to punish their enemy and return to them all that they have lost.
In religion, Jesus Christ is such a figure.
In Black America, many saw Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X and Marcus Garvey as those type of individuals.
In politics, many seem to believe that one particular candidate will lead them to the promised land.
In “Dune: Part Two,” the jury is still out on Paul Atriedes (Timothee Chalamet).
Some like Stilgar (Javier Bardem) of the Fremen wholeheartedly believe, while others believe that Stilgar is just thirsty for a savior that will deliver his people from the oppression of a common foe.
Religious doubters would say that believers attribute everything positive to the messiah, while ignoring the negative that might cause them to lose faith.
On the other hand, believers will say that nonbelievers are just without faith and without faith it is impossible to please the messiah or God-like deity.
In “Dune: Part Two,” Paul does not even know his role in the conflict with their common enemy.
He simply wants to fit in with the Fremen, not become some deity that they worship and follow.
To make his dilemma even more difficult is that love has entered the picture for him in “Dune: Part Two.”
Paul has found the love of his life in Chani (Zendaya).
However, when he begins to see visions of what awaits the Fremen and all the oppressed groups of the land, it puts all his wishes in doubt.
People often say to whom much is given, much is required.
Others often say, heavy is the head that wears the crown.
Even the Messiah Jesus Christ did not have an easy road in saving His people from sin and destruction.
Therefore, if Paul is truly their messiah, he might have to put his plans and wishes to the side to lead his followers to that desired promised land.
That might mean leaving love on the backburner.
That might mean becoming the type of leader than many, including Paul himself, despises.
Or he could stay the same meek Paul that everyone loves, but no one fears.
What is the best form of leadership?
And what is needed to finally overcome the oppressor, the House of Harkonnen?
“Dune: Part Two” is an epic movie to say the least.
Sure, the sequel drags a little too much at approximately three hours of run time.
But the movie is so-detailed oriented, maybe that long run time is needed.
“Dune: Part Two” is so detailed oriented that it even showcases Paul’s dirty fingernails.
Lazier filmmakers might not have paid that much attention to something so unimportant to the storyline.
However, a critical eye would have noticed clean and manicured fingernails as completely out of place for a movie that takes place in the deep desert.
Furthermore, “Dune: Part Two” gets the messiah details correct too.
Paul must leave the Fremen temporarily to prove that he can survive in the desert before he can actually lead the people of the desert.
Similarly, Jesus Christ needed 30 years of life experience before he could lead His disciples for three years.
While Chalamet is the obvious star, and Zendaya is nothing to ignore, moviegoers should not sleep on Austin Butler’s sinister performance as Feyd-Rautha.
After becoming Elvis Presley for his star-making performance in “Elvis,” Butler’s evil role in “Dune: Part Two” is the perfect choice to show film lovers his range and versatility.
If a person does not know that Butler is in “Dune: Part Two,” he might, at the outset, look unrecognizable thanks to the bald head, which so contradicts Presley’s signature look.
Butler is so demonic in “Dune: Part Two” that his frail self easily punks Dave Bautista who plays the character Beast Rabban.
But it is the climactic scene in “Dune: Part Two” between Paul and Feyd-Rautha that will have many remembering a certain scene in “Black Panther” with T’Challa (the late Chadwick Boseman) and Killmonger (Michael B. Jordan).
Sometimes, family feuds make for the best fighting scenes in real life and in cinema as well.
But when all is said and done, many will remember “Dune: Part Two” the way sports fans remember Jimmy Johnson, Aaron Rodgers, Steve Young and even Jordan Love.
Johnson succeeded Tom Landry as head coach of the Dallas Cowboys and ushered in a new dynasty.
Aaron Rodgers succeeded Brett Favre and the Green Bay Packers did not miss a beat, just like the San Francisco 49ers did not skip a beat when Steve Young replaced Joe Montana.
Love has even made Packers fans happy that Rodgers left town for New York.
Because like R&B group Shalamar said, the second time around is sometimes better than the first.
REGAL RATINGS
FOUR CROWNS=EXCELLENT
THREE CROWNS=GOOD
TWO CROWNS=AVERAGE
ONE CROWN=POOR
