Movie Review: Dune: Part Two
Movies don’t get much bigger than Denis Villenuve’s Dune: Part Two, the action-packed and surprisingly emotional continuation of 2021’s Dune: Part One.
Dune: Part Two continues the story of Paul Atreidis (Timothée Chalamet) and his journey to get revenge on House Harkonnen for killing his father and overtaking House Atreidis on the planet of Arrakis. Part Two picks up right where Part One ended with Paul and his mother Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson) having joined up with the Fremen, the people who live amongst the sands of Arrakis, to survive and help them take down any Harkonnen who try and steal the magical Spice Melange that is all over the Arrakis desert. There are also questions among the Fremen about if Paul is the Muad’Dib, a prophet who leads his people to freedom.
Meanwhile, House Harkonnen continues to plan their takeover of Arrakis to mine the Spice Melange. But with the Fremen and Paul continuously stopping them, Baron Harkonnen (Stellan Skarsgard) looks for assistance from a psychotic Harkonnian warrior, Feyd-Rautha (Austin Butler).
Villeneuve smartly takes his time with Dune: Part Two. The film is structured so that we fully understand our characters, what they are going through, and all their complexities while also never forgetting what is happening on the other planets. The first act of the film focuses mostly on Paul and the Fremen. We see him becoming a warrior, his growing bond with Chani (Zendaya), a Fremen warrior who falls for Paul, the Fremen’s growing belief that he is the Muad’Dib, despite Paul’s denial, and we see Jessica become more powerful as she becomes a Reverend Mother which heightens her abilities and awareness. Villeneuve makes sure that we don’t forget about House Harkonnen and shows the struggle they are facing with mining the Spice Melange, which forces Baron Harkonnen to demote his military leader Beast Rabban (Dave Bautista) and bring in the unpredictable Feyd-Rautha.
About an hour into the film, it shifts its focus to House Harkonnen and House Corrino, run by the Emperor (Christopher Walken) and his daughter Irulan (Florence Pugh). This part of the film adds a few twists to the plot while also getting more into the politics of this universe. We also continue the journey on Arrakis where Paul continues to be a great warrior for the Fremen and is reunited with his old friend Gurney (Josh Brolin), who he thought died and Harkonnen attacked Arrakis.
All of this culminates in a stirring, emotionally charged third act that brings everyone together on Arrakis. Without Villeneuve taking the time to establish the characters properly and ensure that we understand their motives, the implications of their actions, and the stakes of what is happening, the third act would not have been as interesting nor hit as hard on an emotional level. Much of this might seem like screenwriting 101, but in an action spectacle of this size, characterization and plot development are usually thrown out the window for more visual effects and action.
That isn’t to say Dune: Part Two doesn’t have action or visual effects. The film is loaded with heart-racing action sequences that are expertly shot and constructed. None of them are cut to pieces like we see in many modern action movies and they’re all perfectly timed and executed. While every set piece is incredible to watch, the standout sequence for me was our introduction to Feyd-Rautha, who is introduced to us in a Coliseum-like arena where he must fight three Harkonnian prisoners to the death in a gladiator-style battle. The scene’s color pallet is of the whitest of whites and blackest of blacks and the fighting is brutal and exciting, and the scene sets up how terrifying and strong Feyd-Rautha is as a character.
Much like Part One, Part Two is a visual spectacle and technical marvel in every aspect. It is a full sensory experience that completely immerses you into the film thanks to the film’s jaw-dropping visuals, impeccable sound design, a powerhouse score by Hans Zimmer, and Villeneuve’s ability to build a massive, dense, detailed, gorgeous world. The depth of the film is remarkable, with shots of the desert of Arrakis or large crowds of Fremen people that feel like they go on forever with no end visible to the human eye. I normally don’t recommend where you should sit in a theater while watching a movie, but for Dune: Part Two, sit closer than you normally would and allow the screen and the movie to completely take you in. The sound rumbles the chairs and the vastness of the images will have you feeling like you are on Arrakis on the frontlines with Paul and the Fremen.
Villeneuve is one of the only filmmakers working today who understands how to work on a scale this big while also keeping a focus on the story he wants to tell. Dune: Part Two is a true testament to that. Dune: Part Two is filled with just as much character development and emotion as it is action and spectacle. It is an early contender for one of the best films of 2024 and one you should see on the biggest, loudest screen possible.
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