“Dune: Part Two” was easily one of my most anticipated films of 2023. I loved the previous one from director Denis Villeneuve and was eager to get the next installment of the “Dune” franchise. The strikes then happened and “Dune: Part Two” got delayed until March of 2024 and like many of you, I was definitely devastated. But after seeing “Dune: Part Two” the wait was one hundred percent worth it and it lived up to even the highest of expectations that I had about the film.
“Dune: Part Two” picks up directly where the first one ends off, with Paul Atredies (Timothée Chalamet) and Lady Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson) continuing to live in the desert, living and fighting alongside the Fremen as he grows closer and closer to Chani (Zendaya). He continues to try and seek revenge against the galactic conspirators who destroyed his family. The second part of Villeneuve’s story readapting Frank Herbert’s 1965 novel “Dune” is really where we see Villeneuve shine as he dives deeper into the emotional storytelling and delivers absolutely exhilarating action sequences.
The world of “Dune” was set up in “Dune: Part One” as this vast and quite impressive world, truly a sci-fi epic. In this film, the world is even more expansive and we even get a look into further character motivations and developments. Denis Villeneuve and co-writer Jon Spaihts are able to craft a story with deep thematic resonance. Not only with the love story between Chani and Paul but also as it relates to politics, religion, and more. The political nature of the film is thrilling and when you throw in the themes of religion and mythology and considering the time we are in the themes are significant. Many people, felt that the first film lacked any actions and made it tough for them to sit through. I am happy to report, that if you were one of those people, this film is the complete opposite. There are a lot of intense and thrilling action sequences delivered by Denis and the crew that you will never be bored. This film plays like an epic war film where the personal stakes feel high as you are emotionally invested in the characters as well.
The entire cast absolutely levels up to new heights for “Dune: Part Two”. First, Chalamet performance is one of his best performances easily since “Call Me By Your Name” as he portrays a charismatic yet frightening leader. There was one scene, specifically in the third act where his performance gave me chills. Zendaya also gives a great performance as she continues to be the heart and soul of the film. Her character in particular lets us see Paul’s transformation from a leader who is reluctant to lead a group of people, to someone much more powerful. The supporting performances from Austin Butler, who plays Feyd-Rautha, and Javier Bardem who plays Stilgar were the performances that stood out to me the most. The entire ensemble cast really gives great performances all around and adds to the grandiose nature of the film.
The world of “Dune” that Denis and the team have crafted is something few sci-fi franchises have dared to do, and even fewer have been successful at it. Everything from the cinematography, production design, score, and more are firing on all cylinders and help create a world where the audience feels immersed and emotionally invested in the story. First, the cinematography by Greig Fraser is absolutely stunning and may be some of the best desert photography in film, besides maybe “Lawrence of Arabia”. Each shot captures the beauty and scale of the world of “Dune” and the different locations visited during the film. The production design by Patrice Vermette is once again incredible and the sheer scope and scale of the set pieces are stunning. When I talked with him during my interview (which I will link below), he said that there were 40% more sets and there were no pre-existing sets. Each and every one of those sets were epic and each detail of the production design was great. This film deserves to be seen on the biggest screen you can find, preferably an IMAX screen in order to soak in the stunning cinematography and production design. Each one of those sets was unique and gorgeously crafted by him and the production design team. Finally, the score from Hans Zimmer elevates the whole film and is quickly becoming one of my favorite Hans Zimmer scores. Ever since I watched the film February 25th, I have had the score on loop and have been constantly listening to it.
So, where does “Dune: Part Two” and the “Dune” franchise so far rank amongst the all-time greats of sci-fi achievements? I would say, pretty high up there. “Dune: Part Two” solidifies that the “Dune” franchise is one of the best sci-fi franchises at least in a while and possibly ever. You could make the comparison that it is on par with films such as “The Dark Knight” or “The Empire Strikes Back”, and I personally would not argue with you because I believe all those films could be comparable, especially in the future as the “Dune” franchise continues to grow and become more popular. With the first book finally being told by Denis, and now many wonder if Denis Villeneuve will adapt Frank Herbert’s second novel and the conclusion of Paul Atreides trilogy with “Dune: Messiah.” I personally haven’t read “Dune: Messiah” but many people have said that it would be challenging to adapt. However, if anyone can adapt a book to the level the “Dune” franchise has been adapted, I would trust Denis Villeneuve. “Dune: Part Two” was a masterpiece of a film, a redefining of the science fiction genre as we know it. “Dune” is the career-defining achievement of Denis Villeneuve's career and likely his magnum opus. This film is easily one of my favorites already of 2024 and will easily be in the Top 5 films of 2024 if not my favorite of the year. I look forward to Denis potentially adapting “Dune: Messiah” with his epic style of filmmaking in the future! Long Live the Fighters!
Review: 5/5 Stars
If you are on a Dune Craze, feel free to listen to my interview with Oscar-winning production designer Patrice Vermette discussing Dune: Part One here:
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