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Dune II

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We are watching Dune II, and I wonder if it’s in the original books that all the good dudes are “people of color” while the evildoers are all so white that even fireworks on their planet have zero color. Beyond white, obviously. Was it meant to be about a conflict between skinhead Nordic Nazi types and sub-Saharan types? Because, sheesh, how tedious.

We are halfway through the movie, and, God, is this second part ever so boring. The first part was good but the sequel just drags and drags.

No spoilers, please. I’m still hopeful it will pick up in the second half.

13 responses to “Dune II”

  1. Stringer Bell Avatar
    Stringer Bell

    I actually liked the sequel better than the first part. The first part felt lifeless, like a perfume ad set in space. Too much telling and not enough showing.

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  2. cliff arroyo Avatar
    cliff arroyo

    “watching Dune“

    I saw the David Lynch movie (very caucasian) and years later read the first book in the series and don’t remember any racial aspect though my mental image of the characters was influenced by the movie….

    Of course the whole thing is a metaphor for the Middle East (desert planet) and oil (spice that makes long distance travel possible).

    In very rough terms the Fremen are Bedouin Arabs, the Empire is the West intent on exploiting the desert. The Atreides are Anglo Saxons (as the russians like to say) and the Harkonnens maybe Germans (more industrialized, brutal and extreme than the anglo-saxons).

    The hero is essentially Space Lawrence of Arabia (without the original’s attraction to young desert dwelling men).

    Overall the series is also a bit like a metaphor of Islam with Paul as Mohammed who becomes more unhinged by success and more violent and less tolerant of unbelievers…

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  3. cliff arroyo Avatar
    cliff arroyo

    “fireworks on their planet have zero color”

    I’ve watched the scenes that take place on the black and white planet on youtube and those look like the only interesting ones….

    The fireworks as inky implosions is very cool as is the look of the picadores in the arena fight.

    I have no desire to see the rest of the movie.

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  4. Ed Frey Avatar
    Ed Frey

    I thought the second Dune book in the series was the weakest of them all so the movie would not have much to work with.

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    1. PaulS Avatar
      PaulS

      The movie is the second half of the first book. The third movie will be the second book.

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      1. cliff arroyo Avatar
        cliff arroyo

        “The movie is the second half of the first book”

        I thought the mother was the most interesting character in the book but the excerpts of the movies don’t seem to do much with her….
        And I understand they don’t have the little girl abomination… is she likely to show up in the third movie?

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        1. PaulS Avatar
          PaulS

          The girl had a very minor role. They might expand her character in the third movie.

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        2. methylethyl Avatar
          methylethyl

          Little girl abomination was in utero in the first movie. I expect she’ll show up eventually.

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          1. Clarissa Avatar
            Clarissa

            She is in utero in Dune 2 but she is fully conscious and communicates from the moment if conception. They even show the tiny fetus developing. Very pro-life is this movie.

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      2. Clarissa Avatar
        Clarissa

        Oh, there will be a third movie?? Jeez. Will this become one of those Star Wars things that go on for decades? And we’ll see Paul getting geriatric like Biden?

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        1. PaulS Avatar
          PaulS

          Three was what the director signed up for. After that, who knows.

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        2. PaulS Avatar
          PaulS

          Paul’s story finishes in the second book. The sequels are about his children.

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  5. methylethyl Avatar
    methylethyl

    Cliff’s right about the book. But I don’t remember the baddies being hairless albino freaks in the book.

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A conservative literary critic and college professor

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