Dune Part Two is a stand out sequel that far exceeds its predecessor & stands out as a breath of fresh air for big-budget blockbusters.

Contrary to what most people think, I’m actually not a big fan of 2021’s Dune. Outside of the stellar cinematography & acting talent on display, Denis Villeneuve’s outer space epic doesn’t have much ground to stand on, as it mostly feels like a setup for an even bigger project to come. So here we are, three years later, and one strike-induced delay later, and the fanfare is even higher than the previous movie, and media outlets are going off like it’s the second coming of the Messiah. But is this praise justified? Yes, but also no.

Canadian-born director Denis Villeneuve has built a name for creating expansive but also personal stories from Prisoners, Sicario, and his well-noted entry into the science-fiction genre with Arrival and Blade Runner 2049. All of these stories prioritize the human element & behaviour amongst a well-diverse narrative background, ranging from a cyberpunk dystopia to a Mexican drug war. With Dune, we were introduced to the world of Arrakis & given the backdrop for the franchise to follow, yet I feel like that’s all that Dune achieved. Provided, the cinematography was absolutely jaw-dropping & the performances were great (especially from Oscar Issac), yet outside of the sandworm attack & the palace raid, there wasn’t much that Dune had. Once the action started to pick up, the movie just ended, like they either ran out of script or budget, so Dune Part Two had plenty to live up to.

First, let’s discuss what’s familiar in this movie compared to its predecessor. First, the cinematography. Holy messiah, the cinematography is divine. From the endless shot of empty deserts to the palaces of the emperor, the film clearly has a vision & identity that it wants to embed into your memory. Grieg Fraser has become Hollywood’s go to cinematographer for gorgeous shots & amazing compositions. From his work on The Batman to The Creator (which I reviewed previously), I believe that his work in Hollywood should be studied by anyone looking to get into the business. The set & overall aesthetic of Dune Part Two is also one that stands out as both original & contemporary, with the designs & costumes unlike any other sci-fi flick but can easily pass on as “futuristic”.

A Performative Prophecy

Performance wise, I felt like Timothée Chalamet was decent in the previous film, but his performance was overshadowed by his peers. However, Dune Part Two puts Chalamet front & center as he’s the driving force for both narrative & character direction. Chalamet’s character of Paul Atreides is that of a tragic hero (like Macbeth or Caesar). One that starts out with good intentions is corrupted & molded into a character of hate & death. Throughout the film, you can clearly see how conflicted Atreides is, and how Chalamet is able to twist & shape his character to fit the necessary emotions. Also once Atreides does have his epiphany, you feel the resentment, the anger. Not only does it lead to a convincing & professional performance, but if I were to bet money, I could easily see Timothée Chalamet’s name on next year’s Academy Awards ballot for “best male performance”.

Other than Timothée Chalamet, there were also some stand out performances that deserve some credit. For one, it was great to see Javier Bardem do something in this film. Serving as both a comic foil & an emotional backdrop, we see more of Bardem’s character, Stilgar, as he interacts and feeds into the prophecy of “The Messiah” or “Lisan al Gaib”. We also have Josh Brolin as the hardened soldier looking for vengeance against those who killed his master (which I believe was the film’s most underrated character). Stellan Skarsgård & Dave Bautista fit perfectly back into their roles as the evil Harkonnen empire, with Austin Butler joining as a new blood hungry prince out for Paul’s head, and last but certainly not least is Rebecca Fergusson’s performance as Paul’s bat shit crazy mother, a once proper & respectable empress, who’s become this insane powder keg of religious prophecy & absolute power.

However, there were a couple of performances that I felt like were either flat or just “existed” for the sake of filling up a promotional poster. For one, we have Zendaya (which will probably turn a lot of heads). She wasn’t bad, but if anything, she felt to me like I was watching another Zendaya performance (she has Awkwafina syndrome). It felt like she was added to the film by some marketing executive, just so the film could appeal to more audiences. There was also the newer additions of Florence Pugh & Léa Seydoux, which weren’t given much room to add anything of worth to the project. I like both of these actors (with Pugh giving an especially great performance in Oppenheimer) but I could probably sum up their entire arcs in these movies with one sentence each. Maybe they’ll do more in the next film but for now, it felt like wasted talent. Lastly (speaking of wasted talent), we have Christopher Walken, who was completely underutilized in this film. Look, i’m not expecting an 80 year old Christopher Walken to carry the film, but his entire performance was wasted. He talked, and did some stuff, but not once during the runtime can I say that he did something cool or memorable. Again, it feels like they hired him for the sake of a big name to plaster on the promotional material. Just like Seydoux and Pugh, there could be more for him in the next film, but I doubt it, considering how bloated the casting list already is, and how it’ll probably grow with the next film.

As Strong as a Sandworm (but not as silent)

As I mentioned previously with Chalamet’s performance, the film clearly has a narrative path that it wants you to see & analyze. From Paul’s path to vengeance & genocide, to Chani (Zendaya’s character) realizing what’s best for Arrakis, Dune Part Two has plenty of connecting threads that (mostly) connect or end in one big explosive finale. With an almost 3 hour runtime, the film is able to deliver on not only the setups given from beginning to end, but makes the previous film feel like an expensive prologue.

However, this isn’t to say that the film drags in some parts. For one, there were plenty of scenes that could’ve been shrunken down or removed completely, like Bautista’s raid on the Fremen was longer than needed, and even though I like Austin Butler’s performance, the colosseum scene enforced the idea that he was dangerous, which was something that we already knew. Also the film did have some pacing issues in the middle, from when Paul first rides the sandworm to when he gathers the Fremen to fight the Emperor’s forces.

However, when we’re shown the remaining 80% of Dune Part Two, we’re given a exquisite blend of galactic conquest mixed in with some CGI brilliance & a political thriller. From the first Freman raid to the ambush that decides the fate of Arrakis, you’re there to witness all of it. Every sword drawn, every change in personality, every time Stilgar yells LISAN AL GAIB. I’d say that the Dune Trilogy (because you know that they’re making a third one considering the cash that the franchise generates) is currently some of the most immersive franchises out there in regards to character, plot, and establishing an environment where everything can change on a whim. Also the CGI on the ships & the sandworms especially is one that’s some of the best currently on the big screen.

Overall, Dune Part Two is a strong enough sequel that well overshadows the previous entry, and shines brighter than the David Lynch film (which I am a fan of). Denis Villeneuve is an auteur that understands the magic of molding & creating these one of a kind experiences, and give him the necessary time, and we’ll be able to witness a trilogy to rival the original Star Wars (unless Warner Bros. pulls a Warner Bros. and mucks it all up). This is definitely an experience meant for the big screen (and especially on IMAX). If I alone wasn’t able to convince you to watch it, watch it alone just to help support this type of filmmaking.

8/10

(LISAN AL GAIB)