It feels like we just left the desert world of Arrakis yesterday. For those who need a refresher after the epic that was 2021’s Dune, here’s a quick recap. Based on Frank Herbert’s classic sci-fi novels, Part One followed young Paul Atreides and his noble family as they took over control of the remote desert planet and its precious export, the mind-enhancing spice melange. But they were soon betrayed and attacked by their rivals, the ruthless Harkonnens. After his father was killed, Paul escaped into the desert with his mother Lady Jessica. Which brings us to where Part Two picks up.
Denis Villeneuve’s eagerly awaited sequel wastes no time throwing us right back into the action. Paul and Lady Jessica have taken refuge with the Fremen, Arrakis’ tough desert dwellers. But the vengeful Harkonnens are consolidating power and trying to wipe out the Fremen resistance.
As Paul gains favor among the Fremen and starts embracing his foretold destiny as their prophetical messiah, an epic showdown begins to take shape. Will Paul choose compromise or all-out war against the forces that destroyed his family? And can he control the jihad he sees in his apocalyptic visions? Gorgeously filmed and pulsing with tense drama, Dune: Part Two delivers the thrills with a mythic scale befitting the endless sands of Arrakis.
A Visual Feast Across the Stars
It’s no secret that Dune is one of the most gorgeous sci-fi film franchises ever made. Denis Villeneuve somehow manages to top himself in Part Two, delivering breathtaking vistas and visually imaginative sequences that live up to the first film’s Oscar-winning cinematography and production design.
Cinematographer Greig Fraser finds clever ways to portray the immense scale and tactile reality of Herbert’s worlds, from the blazing orange vistas of Arrakis to the stark obsidian architecture of the Harkonnen home planet. The exterior shots make us feel insignificantly small under the expanse of sky and sand, while close-ups of weathered faces and hands evoke gritty texture. Villeneuve deftly alternates between macro and micro visual language. When not bathing his sets in natural light, he creates striking color palettes for each faction, from the Harkonnens’ hellish red infernos to the Fremen’s earthy umbers.
Fans eagerly awaiting more action won’t be disappointed. The movie packs exhilarating battles between Harkonnen harvesters and Paul’s guerilla Fremen, who burst from the sands wielding knives and spears against armor and lasers. It’s a brilliant blend of ancient and futuristic modes of combat. The celebrated sandworms also make memorable appearances, such as during a ritualistic ride that cements Paul’s godlike status among the Fremen. Even quiet scenes like Paul and Chani’s moonlit walk crackle with tense chemistry.
With so many competing visual signatures across the Dune universe, Villeneuve harmonizes them masterfully while saving the best for later. I already can’t wait to see what he dreams up for Part Three!
Standout Stars Anchor the Saga
Any blockbuster lives or dies by the strength of its performances. Luckily for Dune fans, the cast delivers in spades again. Leading man Timothée Chalamet anchors the film with a muscular turn as Paul Atreides. The young actor portrays both Paul’s charismatic messiah side and his conflicted inner turmoil with equal aplomb. One moment he’s rallying the crowds with righteous conviction, the next he’s brooding over the bloodshed to come. His chemistry with Zendaya’s Fremen warrior Chani adds tender notes to temper Paul’s hubris.
The supporting players also impress. Rebecca Ferguson expands Lady Jessica’s steely cunning as she ruthlessly maneuvers all the pieces into place. Stellan Skarsgård, meanwhile, grows ever more grotesque as the floating, sap-addicted Baron Harkonnen. His scenes drip with decadent menace. Of the new additions, Austin Butler makes a striking impression as the feral baddie Feyd-Rautha, while Florence Pugh’s calculating Princess Irulan promises to play a bigger role later.
By populating his space opera with distinct, multidimensional characters portrayed by pedigreed talents, Villeneuve ensures that the human drama resonates as much as the visual feasts. We believe in these people and their high stakes journeys, which makes their triumphs, betrayals and sacrifices cut all the deeper. It’s a principal ingredient that elevates Dune above hollow CGI spectacle into the realms of classic mythology.
Expanding the Saga’s Ideas and Emotional Resonance
While the visual craftsmanship steals the spotlight, Dune would be mere empty spectacle without the thoughtful themes that give its imaginative world depth and nuance. Part Two continues expanding the intricate lore and sociopolitics of Herbert’s universe. We visit new planets and factions, getting a sharper picture of the complex dynamics vying for influence. But the film also makes time for more personal arcs.
At the core lies Timothée Chalamet’s emotional performance as Paul Atreides. His messianic rise among the Fremen sees him wrestling with questions of vengeance versus compromise, pragmatism versus idealism. Mystical visions show him the religious crusades that could spring from his actions. Paul must weigh his loyalty to family legacy against the greater good of Arrakis’ natives in determining how to oppose the imperialist Harkonnens. It’s a balancing act full of compelling shades of gray.
Indeed, Part Two avoids simplistic “white savior” tropes by emphasizing the Fremen’s indelible ties to Arrakis that Paul can never fully inherit as an outsider. Zendaya represents this perspective well as Chani, urging Paul not to arrogantly assume leadership but earn the Fremen’s trust. Villeneuve could still dig deeper into the implications of Paul and Lady Jessica usurping the tribe’s spiritual traditions, but he allows some nuance and criticism.
As the centerpiece to Villeneuve’s intended trilogy, Part Two also has tricky narrative duties. It can’t just retread the beats of Part One, yet it can’t rush to a definitive climax when Part Three must follow. Overall it strikes that balance well, keeping interest high and saving the real fireworks for later without an overly awkward cliffhanger. Once the full arc sees completion, this middle chapter should feel right at home.
Sonic Landscapes as Epic as the Visuals
A true theatrical experience engages all the senses, and Dune understands sound’s crucial role in immersing us within onscreen worlds. Oscar-winning composer Hans Zimmer returns to gift Part Two with another enveloping score that amplifies the emotional stakes. His mix of Middle Eastern-inspired textures, heavenly choral tones, and thunderous percussion grounds us amidst the shifting desert sands.
The music paints tonal contrasts between factions. Scenes in Harkonnen strongholds simmer with industrial mechanizations and ominous choirs, the diesel-punk sounds matching their stark hellscape aesthetic. Meanwhile lilting woodwinds score the Fremen’s agile battlefield movements with twirling, mystic energy. It’s a compelling clash of civilizations audibly rendered.
When not leaning on Zimmer’s compositions, the film foregrounds natural ambience to heighten realism. The desert winds, creaking machinery, and dialog shouts sound crisp and directional rather than drowned in cacophony. Every step and swish of a blade cuts through with visceral clarity. Foley artists even craft signature sounds for the crackling energy beams and creature growls.
These audio details demonstrate the all-encompassing care that Denis Villeneuve invests into articulating his vision of Herbert’s universe. Dune: Part Two doesn’t just look and feel real, it sounds real too, and that palpable authenticity makes buying into its expansive fiction that much easier.
An Imperfect yet Rapturous Middle Chapter
As the bridge between Denis Villeneuve’s series-opening act and its upcoming climactic conclusion, Dune: Part Two has its flaws. Certain characters like Florence Pugh’s Princess Irulan still feel underserved. The film could have more fully addressed thorny themes about imperialism and indigenous rights. And with another chapter still to come, the story can’t yet deliver definitive closure or catharsis.
Yet most of those quibbles fade away when weighed against everything Part Two accomplishes. Visually and sonically, this is world-building craftsmanship at its most refined. The performances lend psychological depth even when the script brushes past opportunities for complexity. Viewers new to the saga may still feel occasional confusion, but moments of grand spectacle should inspire seeking context. And for devoted fans of Frank Herbert’s novel, Part Two marks an affectionate translation rather than the hatchet jobs of old.
Whatever reservations one might harbor about the ending, it leaves the trilogy perched for a monumental finale. Major pieces are perfectly placed across Villeneuve’s cosmic chessboard. As we eagerly await the director’s endgame maneuvers in Part Three, Dune continues feeling like the proverbial “unfilmable” epic finally done justice on a suitably grand canvas. Given the scope and skill evident so far, I suspect the best is yet to come.
The Review
Dune: Part Two
With gorgeously realized visuals and high drama befitting its epic scope, Dune: Part Two delivers an exhilarating middle chapter that expands the saga’s vision while leaving fans eager for a powerful finale.
PROS
- Breathtaking visuals and cinematography
- Hans Zimmer's stirring musical score
- Strong performances by Chalamet, Zendaya, Skarsgård, etc.
- Expands worldbuilding and lore of Dune universe
- Ambitious themes related to power and destiny
- Exhilarating action sequences and set pieces
CONS
- Underserves some new characters like Irulan
- Could dig deeper on imperialism commentary
- Ending leaves story unfinished without full closure
