Released: March 1st 2024 (UK and US)
Length: 165 Minutes
Certificate: 12A
Director: Denis Villeneuve
Starring: Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, Javier Bardem, Josh Brolin, Austin Butler, Florence Pugh, Dave Bautista, Christopher Walken and Stellan Skarsgård
Of the many revered IPs in science fiction, Frank Herbert’s Dune is easily the most daunting and complex. With an enormous budget and impeccable attention to detail, the new rendition from Denis Villeneuve got off to a great start in 2021, bringing in legions of new fans while making considerable improvements. Following a short delay through the Hollywood strikes, Dune: Part 2 has finally arrived; does it deliver? Absolutely...
We pick up with Paul "Muad'Dib" Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) right where we left off, hiding in the desert after the decimation of his royal house. At first it’s a slow burn as Paul earns the support of the Arrakis warriors, but things quickly expand with some hefty details on the Harkonnens and how their dominance ties in to wider galactic hegemony. After many hit-and-run attacks, Paul and his forces turn their blades towards the Emperor himself (Christopher Walken), bringing on an immense conflict. With the establishing background out of the way, Dune: Part 2 launches head on into the remaining material; Back in 1984, the David Lynch version quickly skipped over many key sequences, most notably the protagonist meeting Chani (played by Zendaya in this new film) and earning the respect of the Fremen; it was very rushed and left many viewers scratching their heads, myself included. Making the second half of the book its own movie was an excellent choice; it allows every moment of Paul’s journey and the machinations of his enemies to land with great impact. The balance between combat, mysticism, prophecy and politics makes for a deep and memorable production that stands out from every other sci-fi property. The story is told both artistically and atmospherically, never going overboard with dialogue and allowing the emotion to carry through to the audience.
The cast of Dune’s second half also goes bigger, but this is a case of shuffling the characters in and out of the story where needed. On a basic level, the first act homes in on Paul, his mother Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson) and lover Chani, who all go on their own personal journeys. Paul has visions that cloud his path to vengeance, Jessica becomes the new Soothsayer for the Fremen, having to deal with some twisted psychological damage and Chani finds herself caught between her own people and the fundamentalists in the southern regions as she grows close to Paul. All three actors deliver outstanding lead performances that pull the audience into their individual struggles. The side performances are equally strong with the Freman leader Stilgar (Javier Bardem) and Paul’s mentor Gurney (Josh Brolin) being the best supporting characters on Arrakis. The villains also receive a great deal of attention; as the narrative goes on, Glossu Rabban Harkonnen (Dave Bautista) is quickly upstaged by Feyd-Rautha; Austin Butler has an intense, piercing gaze throughout, making for a simple yet highly effective villain who acts as a mirror image to Paul. You can tell immediately that the Baron’s nephew lives for the thrill of combat. Above him sits the man himself (Stellan Skarsgård) who is just as creepy, sinister and power-hungry as he was before. Even the newcomers like Florence Pugh, Christopher Walken and Léa Seydoux make their presence felt, especially then the Emperor and his confidantes decide to intervene in the war. Everyone commits to the backstory and lore to the best of their abilities.
Just like the first film, Dune: Part 2 is flawless on a technical level. Many will have already seen the iconic moment of Paul riding the gargantuan sandworm, but this only scratches the surface of the film’s prowess. There’s a constant, heavy use of contrast, beginning with orange and black tones that show the opposing forces of Fremen and Harkonnen. The former represents a people who have become one with the desert, while the other hammers home a brutal, authoritarian regime who thrives on domination. The scene that introduces Feyd-Rautha on the Harkonnen home world looks absolutely incredible in grayscale with the lighting always imbuing scenes with an immersive backdrop. Once again, the sense of scale is astonishing but this spectacle isn’t just for the sake of it. Every action scene places the Freman at the bottom and their enemies overhead, emphasising their place as guerrilla rats in the desert, taking on the most difficult odds. The Hans Zimmer score is also impeccable; it feels louder and more intense, especially during the climax when the fate of this galaxy is decided. The music swells as Paul and Chani embrace each other and rises to a roaring peak when the final battle comes to fruition. It marks and enhances every set piece with gusto.
Denis Villeneuve and his team have pulled off an incredible feat; adapting what was once considered unadaptable with flying colours. Dune: Part 2 is a towering sequel that does full justice to the source material while taking the audience on a phenomenal trek through the sands of Arrakis and beyond. The scale, visuals and dramatic climaxes are all unparalleled in both the sci-fi genre and wider blockbuster scene. All viewers, especially those who have followed the Frank Herbert books, should prepare themselves for something truly epic.
Rating: 5/5 Stars (Exceptional)
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