Dune: Part Two SPOILER Review Focusing On Changes From The Book
As far as what I think of Dune: Part Two, I can echo Kat Chinetti’s spoiler-free review we’ve already published — it’s absolutely an amazing film, an incredible adaptation of the novel, and one of the best science fiction movies ever made. In fact, I would bump her score from 4 out of 5 to 4.5 out of 5.
So, I don’t need to explain why it is a movie you should absolutely go see. Instead, I’ll focus on some of the changes director Denis Villeneuve made from the novel, and how I feel about them. That means, as the headline says, this article will be full of SPOILERS. If you don’t want to have the movie spoiled for you, you shouldn’t read any further.
Count Him Out
One of the most minor changes from the novel Dune to Dune: Part Two is the omission of one of the most interesting, if very minor, characters. His wife is in the movie, Lady Margot Fenring, played wonderfully by Lea Seydoux. But the fascinating Count Hasimir Fenring is nowhere to be found. It was assumed ever since his casting announcement in 2023 that Tim Blake Nelson would be playing the Count, although his role was never revealed. Nelson is given “Thanks” in the credits, so I assume his role was either completely removed from the franchise, or might only appear in a possible third movie, adapting the book Dune Messiah. I won’t reveal why I think the Count is so fascinating, as it would be a spoiler if he does appear in a third Villeneuve movie.
Baby On Board
I really like the way Villeneuve portrayed Jessica’s unborn daughter Alia in the movie. But man did I miss the big encounter between her as a toddler with full mental and emotional maturity — and with full Reverend Mother powers — and Baron Harkonnen. In the novel, Paul’s time with the Fremen takes place over the course of years before the final confrontation between the Fremen and the Baron and the Emperor. Alia is born and is a toddler by the end. The fact that we see Anya Taylor-Joy as a mature Alia in one of Paul’s visions implies she will be in a third movie if one is made, but man do I miss the terrifyingly mature toddler known to the Fremen as St. Alia of the Knife. And I don’t think she was left out because of how difficult it would be to show her (David Lynch did it pretty well with the wonderful Alica Witt in her first acting role at the age of 7). I think it’s part of the changes that will continue into an adaptation of Dune Messiah.
Many Voices
One of the best changes from the novel is the idea that the Fremen are not some sort of monolithic block of beliefs and cultures. One of the biggest criticisms that can be laid at Frank Herbert’s feet as an author is that, while the worlds outside of Arrakis are portrayed as varied and complex, the Fremen are almost a single cultural monotype. By portraying the Fremen as a people with many connecting but distinct cultures and levels of belief, Villeneuve made them even more realistic and believable than they were in the book. And this leads nicely into my next point, since Chani is shown as one of those Fremen who don’t believe the prophecies about the Mahdi that Paul uses to build his army.
Chani Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes
In the novel, Chani is mostly a support system for Paul in his struggles to decide if he can change his fate to be the leader of what amounts to interstellar genocide. While she is very hurt by Paul’s decision to marry Princess Irulan and become a part of the Imperial family, she stands by him. I think Villeneuve’s decision to change Chani’s character to one with much more agency is a good one, as it makes a character vital to the story much more interesting. She is a Fedaykin warrior and commander in the movie, and straight-up leaves Paul to his empire building to return to the desert at the end. Which means, unless Villeneuve has her change her mind off screen between movies (and he’s too smart to do that) a possible third movie will have to spend a fair amount of time getting them back together, assuming he wants to have Chani’s story continue as it does in the novels. I wouldn’t be surprised if her story doesn’t take that path, as the birth of the twins Leto and Ghanima would necessitate a fourth movie, and Villeneuve has said in interviews he would like to adapt Dune Messiah to end Paul’s story properly.
Those are the big changes that I felt needed to be discussed. I’m sad about some of them but not angry or even disappointed. The changes make a lot of sense, even if I do miss the scene where the toddler Alia gets her Fremen holy title. Sure, it upstaged Paul in the final confrontation, but man, what a jaw-dropper it was in both the book and Lynch’s 1984 adaptation. Even with that, Dune: Part Two is still a near perfect movie, and a masterpiece of visual science fiction.
