70mm IMAX

Oh don't mind me, just an absurd amount of clarity and takeaway after a 3rd viewing that had me feeling like I was on my own spice trip!

Quick aside; this is quite possibly one of if not the best film post conversion I've EVER seen. Greig Fraser is a god damn cinematography messiah himself. This thing is shot in such a fucking God tier way that organically allows the texture to break through even more when converted to film. This is how you maintain the feeling of celluloid, the feeling of cinema, without having to shoot on film.

First of all, the fact that his vision of Chani being a casualty to nuclear holocaust is what drives him south, his fear of losing her drives him South and then right before he decides to actually go, he has a vision of the past of Jami's basically telling him to go to "the highest point" to see everything he needs to see and it's guided by the words his mom said earlier (which is something that continues to be a factor throughout, he's taking pieces of his visions and having them play out differently from how they happen in his vision). What's so great about that scene of him basically realizing he has to accept what in his mind is the lesser of two evils (nukes vs accepting the prophecy and MAYBE saving Chani in the process), is it's preceded by the scene of Feyd (the very thing Paul his but refuses to acknowledge) basically saying, "I've seen and learned all I need to. Only pleasure remains." As he fucking torches the Freman (if that isn't a microcosm of what Paul is doing on a grander scale idk what is. AND THEN when he drinks the Water of Life, he's essentially consuming the life force (the process kills the worm) of another the desert (Shai Hulud), in order to grow stronger. The other thing that got me this go around was Gurney basically having his own religious awakening to Paul when Paul says "I am Paul Atreides, Duke of Arrakis." And he fucking gets all giddy because it's going to allow him to get his revenge, he becomes almost just as indoctrinated. It really felt like in that moment, he was speaking directly towards Gurney as a means to ratify his belief in him but also, keep him around so that he can utilize the nukes.

It's also telling that Gurney is a smuggler who refuses to leave the desert until he's had his fill of bloodshed from the Harkkonens, until he's taken everything from them that they took from him (starting with their profit) and had his revenge. But then, obviously, that's not enough for him as he basically gives into the Holy War, just like Stilgar. Having a free Arakkis isn't enough anymore, doesn't quench the thirst for revenge because revenge is unquenchable. 

Also with Gurney, yeah, he's there to remind him of his lineage as an Atreides and the power he wields, but also he essentially confronts him with the reality that no matter what path he chooses, it all leads to war. So with that now buzzing about in his head, he feels he has to choose the one which he believes will allow him to hold onto Chani AND the Freman he's sorta fallen in love with by extension. And then, when he realizes he's nothing more than a colonizer, a Harkkonen it just further causes him to spiral towards the worst possible outcome for his future. 

I also REALLY fucking feel that final encounter where Irulan and Chani look across the room at one another and Irulan almost acknowledging how Chani has been used, is waking up to how she's been used just as Irulan has. It's just a glance, but she pity's her so deeply. The yin and yang of some of these characters who are reflections from different worlds. Again, Paul and Feyd, Irulan and Chani, Stilgar and Gurney. I especially love how Feyd just calls it like it is to Paul's face where he's like "is this your pet?" Talking to Chani. Obviously it's to get under his skin, but it's also so obvious that that's how Feyd views these women he lusts over and has sticking around but aren't people that give him power (as Paul KINDA did to Chani before he met her). 

Also, I know pretty surface level, but this is a story about defiant children trying to have everything they want no matter what and the irony of this is just as Paul is a defiant child in many respects, he almost learns that from his mother. Jessica is as defiant of a child to the Bene Gesserit as Paul is. 

The thing with Paul is that he doesn't actually choose a path. I mean he does but he essentially tries to take all of the possible futures and align them into one in order to make sense of it all. He's Freman, but he's also the Duke's son. He's gaining power through prophecy, but maintaining it through his family's nuclear arsenal. He's securing his power through marriage to the emperor's daughter, but right before is telling Chani he loves her. He's contradictory, he's all consuming, he is...the sand worm devouring everything in his path as a means to satisfy his conflict. He doesn't pick and choose, he sucks it all dry. It leads to oblivion because he loses everything. The only thing that remains is him ("only I will remain.") and the devastation he brings about on the world because of revenge. 

Just a fucking awe inspiring masterpiece.