Movie Review: Dune: Part Two
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- March 16, 2024
I think I’ve just seen a film that belongs in the ‘Best Sequel of All Time’ discussion along with The Empire Strikes Back, Terminator 2: Judgement Day, and The Dark Knight. Seriously.
Every once in a while, there comes a film that I classify as ‘perfect’. Be it from the cinematography (Greg Fraser is very quickly becoming a big enough draw to have his own section on the film’s poster. His last five films in a row are: Dune 2, The Creator, The Batman, Dune 1 and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. Unreal run. ), to the soundtrack and sound design (Hans Zimmer outdid himself again somehow), not to even mention the plot, which is a cunning, sinuous piece of storytelling. I really can’t lavish enough praise here. This film about space worms and interstellar politics will make a billion dollars. Easily too.
Dune: Part Two picks up literally where Dune: Part One ends and takes you on a wild ride. Everything you saw in Part One has been cranked up to 11. Bursting with colour from the seams, every scene here could be a wallpaper. The scale of the ships and the size of the worms are even more outlandish; the costumes are ever more preposterous, and it’s clear no expense was spared in bringing director Denis Vilnueve’s vision of Frank Herbert’s books to life. I’m trying to avoid spoilers here, but I can’t tell you how many times I sat up in my seat in awe of what I was seeing on screen. My absolute favourite sequence here is a scene shot in this gorgeous monochrome, unlike any other I’ve ever seen (Greg Fraser!). It gives a unique feel to the Harkonnens that inhabit this planet, differentiating their level of absolute evil from the more nuanced shades of grey of all other characters in this film. I can’t get enough of it.
The plot of the movie revolves around Paul Atreides (an even more impressive Timotheé Chalamet), who is still reeling from the decimation of his entire family in Part One and his quest for revenge. This quest leads him into the desert of Arrakis and leads to his eventual assimilation and leadership of the Fremen. This section of the film makes up the bulk of the first hour, and seeing Paul and his mother, Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson in all her glory), go from rank outsiders to the political and religious leaders of the Fremen people is just a delight. This section is also where we get to see Javier Bardem’s Stilgar, the best character in the film by far. His descension from steely leader to devout believer in the “prophecy” is wonderfully played by the actor who was clearly having the time of his life. Chani (Zendaya), previously only seen in Paul’s visions in Part One, is an integral character here. Her relationship with Paul grows so organically across the 2-Hour 46 Minute runtime that the way that strand of the plot is tied up at the end is all the more gut-wrenching.
Paul’s quest for revenge (and Jessica’s prodding) leads him to do something that completely changes the course of the character. From that moment on, the film has a new, machiavellian, almost sinister energy. From this point, Paul is a less charismatic leader than he is a blue-eyed warlord. Timotheé Chalamet deserves much more credit for this part of the film because he may not be the most physically imposing, but his intensity smoulders through the screen, making this version of Paul completely believable.
This film asks a lot of questions. There are inquiries on determinism vs free will, religion, associated fanaticism, the dangers of messianic figures and the manipulation of religion for political gain. It is a dense film but is paced excellently, allowing for all levels of analysis. It’s also pretty damn fun. This one needs to be seen in theaters. Let the rumble of the cinema speakers vibrate through your body as you feast your eyes on the spectacle on screen. As the film’s credits were rolling, I just sat in my seat. Dune: Part One was an out-of-body experience for me. I’d never experienced anything like that before. I didn’t go into Dune: Part Two expecting that to be topped. Somehow, it has been.
Long Live The Fighters
10/10 Movie of the Year.
Boluwatife Adesina is a media writer and the helmer of the Downtown Review page. He’s probably in a cinema near you.
