Dune: Part Two
February 20th, 2024
MOVIE: DUNE: PART TWO
STARRING: TIMOTHÉE CHALAMET, ZENDAYA, REBECCA FERGUSON, JAVIER BARDEM, JOSH BROLIN, AUSTIN BUTLER, FLORENCE PUGH, DAVE BAUTISTA
DIRECTED BY: DENIS VILLENEUVE
AMovieGuy.com’s RATING: 4 STARS (Out of 4)
At the end of Denis Villeneuve’s Dune, there was still so much story to tell. It was only the beginning and in Dune: Part Two there is so much story to discuss. The second installment lives up to the long-awaited hype but it once again leaves you excited for much more. The return to the vast sand planet of Arrakis is a grand and sweeping production, with an even bigger cast of characters, and a deeper conversation about space politics, religious beliefs, prophecies, and the prophets we follow. Dune: Part Two is an epic continuation and builds the potential of what could be one of the greatest science fiction trilogies of all time.
The story left off with Paul Atredies (Timothée Chalamet) and his royal house all but massacred by the brutal Harkkonen. It has forced him and his pregnant mother Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson) to escape to the desert, and they now trust in the sand people known as the Fremen. Paul creates a bond with Chani (Zendaya) and great leader Stilgar (Javier Bardem) places all his faith in the prophecy of Paul leading the Fremen to paradise to be true. Through methodical acts of war against the Harkonnen, destroying their ability to mine Arrakus for spice, along with signs of giant sandworm riding, and even defying the laws of death, Paul begins to become the leader, known as the Muad’Dib. But becoming a prophet can be viewed as a great threat and slowly, Paul attracts many enemies, making it hard to know if he has any friends.
The rise of Paul’s greatness is nearly one part of the story of Part Two. Weaved in between his path are the surrounding characters. We finally meet the person who set these wars in motion, the Emperor (played wonderfully by Christopher Walken) and his daughter Princess Irulan (Florence Pugh). Along with the scheming Bene Gesserit Reverend Mother Mohiam (Charlotte Rampling), they have placed the evil Baron Harkonnen (Stellan Skarsgård) in power, only to maneuver the psychotic Feyd-Rautha (a wicked Austin Butler) in a position to defeat Paul for good. The narrative becomes a collective circle of characters, each pushing for their prophet, the explosion of war, who to trust, and the pressure for Paul to lead without losing those he loves. Slowly, the sand becomes a nest of snakes, scorpions, and worms.
Narratively speaking, the screenplay by Villeneuve and Jon Spaihts closely follows the books by Frank Herbert but is strictly a second installment. The first Dune was a setup and every bit of this feels like a thick middle. Yet, the story is incredibly rich with themes that permeate throughout all great science fiction, along with the topics of war, religion, politics, believing in God, good vs. evil, and how all humans seek to have power. Dune continues to reflect the inspiration for Star Wars while also being closer to Lawrence of Arabia, Doctor Zhivago, or Richard Attenborough’s Gandhi. At the core is a story relative to struggles in the Middle East, or the central debates about those who believe, often willing to forgive bloodshed in the name of their lord. Dune is as complex as the bible.
All of these parts are put together through the magnificent direction of Villeneuve. The production is grand in scale and seamless in special effects. You can’t see the green screens and the world we inhabit feels real. You throw, on top of the excellent production design, a cast that glows in every frame, from Chalamet’s flowing hair, the glossy shine of Austin Butler’s face, the beauty of Ferguson in her flowing robes, and the serious stare of Zendaya. Dune: Part Two captures the greatness that comes from cinema today.
The themes, dialogue, and general text may be hard for some to absorb, but the context is all universal. Dune: Part Two is a long journey through an unknown space, ramping up, and burrowing into Herbert’s world, which could only be brought to life through Denis Villeneuve’s great ambition. The biggest sign of his success is how he leaves us ready for Part Three. The spice is flowing strong and Dune: Part Two is already one of the great achievements of 2024.
DUNE: PART TWO IS PLAYING IN THEATERS ON FRIDAY MARCH 1ST, 2024.
4 STARS
Written by: Leo Brady
leo@amovieguy.com
