Film Review: ‘Dune: Part Two’

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In 2021, after years of development and delays, Denis Villeneuve’s adaptation of Dune took the world by storm. It was regarded as a visual masterpiece, as well as a faithful adaptation of Frank Herbert’s novel. One smart decision on Villeneuve’s part was splitting the story into two films, as the novel itself is a dense piece of literature. As many Dune fans will point out, David Lynch’s notorious adaptation tried to cram the entire novel into one film, and took many liberties with the story. That, along with studio interference, resulted in a catastrophic mess that even Lynch himself infamously disowned. As for Villeneuve, in making Dune, he kept the book’s spirit intact while making his own story changes. More importantly, he left enough room for the story to breathe, as well as for building the Dune world. Now, the much awaited second part of Dune, titled Dune: Part Two has made it to cinemas. So, was it worth the wait?

Picking up almost immediately from the first film, Paul Atreides and his mother have taken refuge with the Fremen following the destruction of their home at the hands of House Harkonnen. They embrace the culture of the Fremen, with Paul wanting to help them regain their freedom, as well as control over Spice, the most valuable resource on their planet, Caladan. He learns to become one with the desert with the help of his love, Chani, and the Fremen leader, Stilgar, who instills upon Paul that he is the messiah who will lead them to their victory. As tensions begin to rise amongst the Fremen and the house of Harkonnen, and Paul struggles with his growing messiah complex, he must step up and lead the rebellion that will determine the fate of the planet, and to that extent, the Universe.

What should first be noted is that Villeneuve’s visual style has not lost its flair. The world of Caladan remains vast and vibrant, and the scale is exactly what is expected of an authentic Hollywood blockbuster should be. Not since Laurence of Arabia has a desert appeared so cinematic and so alive. The way the sand moves on screen indicates the level of thought that went into making the desert feel a character. This is one of those films where every movement feels important. Whether it be anticipating the appearance of the iconic sandworms or just allowing the characters to bask in a moment, the cinematography captures the serenity and beauty of the desert. Even the opening shot, with its burnt orange desert landscape, accompanied with the blue Fremen eyes and pitch-black uniforms, evokes the book cover and everything one associates to the world of Dune. When the iconic sandworm flight is given its magnificent cinematic treatment, even with clouds of sand clouding the area, it feels so serene.

Of course, visuals are not the only aspect of the Dune films that make it stand out amongst Hollywood blockbusters. The sound design is the kind that would make even the most passive viewer take notice. That, accompanied with Hans Zimmer’s astonishing musical score, make the visuals leap off the screen and immerse the viewer into the desert. Even the machines and ships used by the Harkonnen move in such a way that makes one think about the human hands that built them. From the intimate moments to the battle scenes, watching this film in a theater with a good sound system will leave an indescribable impact on viewers.

All this being said, the impact of the story itself does not feel entirely up to par. Part of this could be attributed to the acting, which feels weirdly restrained in many areas. Most of the actors do a good job with their roles, particularly Javier Bardem, Dave Bautista, Rebecca Ferguson, and especially Zendaya. The weak link, ironically, is Timothée Chalamet as Paul Atreides. Chalamet has proven before to be a capable actor, but he seems to be letting his charisma overtake his sense of performance in his more recent roles. He did well enough as Paul in Part 1, but here, at least in the first half of this film, he seems more relaxed in scenes where he should be more emotive. His performance, however, improves at the point in the film where he accepts his “messiah” role, but is that due to his current celebrity status? As is written, perhaps.

Newly added cast members in this sequel include Florence Pugh as Princess Irulan and Christopher Walken as Emperor Shaddam IV. These two actors are practically acting legends,  Walken especially. Their roles, however, feel surprisingly arbitrary in the grand scheme of the story, as their screen time feels weirdly limited. Fans of both actors will be truly disappointed to not see enough of them. Anya Taylor-Joy’s role, which would be a sin to reveal in this review, is even shorter, and leaves much to be desired. Perhaps this is attributed to their level involvement in the story, or maybe it is to set up future follow-ups and spinoffs? Given how vast the book series itself is, the latter is a likely possibility.

On the other hand, Austin Butler, brings a whole new level of “over-the-top” to his portrayal of Feyd-Rautha (who some might remember being played by Sting in the 1984 film.). What makes this performance interesting is how is stands out. Though actors like Bautista and Skarsgård give exaggerated performances that complement the tone of the film, Butler’s feels like it belongs in a completely different, more “out there,” film. It is almost as if he was given full range to make his character exaggerated and didn’t know where to draw the line. While it may be entertaining, it stands out in a way that I am not sure that the filmmakers intended.

What also might put some viewers off is just how much material there is stuffed into the story. As previously stated, Dune is a book packed to the brim with detail. The fact that this 896-page book is only one in a 6-book set is telling enough of how expansive the world can. Villeneuve’s previous film introduced many characters that carry over into the follow-up.

What is most significant is the ending. The ending may feel off-putting for many people who are expecting a grand conclusion. Those who have read Dune in full know that even though it appears inconclusive, it is accurate to the text. It is the type of ending that will linger in the viewers mind long after leaving the theater. While some aspects of the story could have been simplified a bit more, the themes all come to ahead in the final sequence. The ending has the kind of mind-activating power that many big budget films wish that they had. Maybe it is to set up a spin-off, but even on its own, it has the power to bring life to a halt and question human nature. Many viewers compare Dune to Star Wars, and while they do share some similarities, story-wise, they are a sandworm of a different color. Orange, black and blue, to be precise!

So, should one rush out to see Dune: Part 2? The short answer is yes, but preparations must be made. Die-hard fans of the book, as well as the first film, will appreciate how it finishes the story of the first book with plenty of spectacle and room for more world-building. Newcomers will need to see the first film and be prepared to take on more complicated story elements. Lastly, one must see this film on the biggest screen they can find, and with a surround-sound system. And one more thing! If one decides to see this film on a whim, they should take the sandworm to their local theater. As is written.