“Dune: Part Two,” directed by Denis Villeneuve, is a captivating motion picture full of high stakes and aesthetically pleasing visuals.
The movie officially hit theaters on March 1 and it is already a raging success, earning $178.5 million in its opening weekend, according to IMDb.
Sequel to “Dune: Part One,” released in 2021, “Dune: Part Two” begins by introducing two characters from House Corino, Princess Irulan (Florence Pugh) and her father, Emperor Shaddam IV (Christopher Walken). The two discuss how they believe Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) may still be alive, despite the massacre of House Atreides in Part One. The Emperor was partly responsible for wiping out House Atreides, including Paul’s father. Princess Irulan will do everything in her power to keep her father in dominion over the Sardaukar.
The rest of the movie follows Paul Atreides in the year 10191 as he learns the ways of the Fremen, blue-eyed people who inhabit a desert planet called Arrakis, in order to fulfill an ancient prophecy and get vengeance on House Harkonnen. It is prophesied that an outsider will lead the Fremen to paradise and become the savior of Arrakis, also known as Lisan al Gaib. Chani (Zendaya) guides Paul in the practices of the Fremen, such as how to sand walk and successfully call a sandworm. She and Paul quickly fall in love and it’s clear that they would do anything for each other. However, Chani fears for Paul’s safety and doesn’t approve of his willingness to step into the Fremen prophecy because of the war and destruction that it could lead to.
Paul’s mother, Lady Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson), is encouraged by the leader of the Fremen, Stilgar (Javier Bardem), to become the Reverend Mother of the Bene Gesserit by drinking the poisonous Water of Life. Drinking the poison would give her access to the memories of every Reverend Mother from the past, as well as give her insight into the future of Arrakis. Lady Jessica plays a significant role throughout the movie and influences many of her son’s decisions.
The acting in this movie was phenomenal when it came to the newest villain from House Harkonnen, Feyd-Rautha (Austin Butler). Austin Butler played a very convincing villain that had viewers cringing in their seats in horror and disgust. Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya put on great performances as Paul and Chani once again, but Austin Butler definitely outshined them in this film.
While their chemistry could have been more convincing, there were still some very wholesome and romantic moments between Paul and Chani. “I’d very much like to be equal to you,” Paul said, before passionately kissing Chani for the first time. They complement each other well, but they perform even better in their own independent roles in the film.
“Dune: Part Two” is carefully crafted with elements of sci-fi action and adventure, gory battle scenes, fear, revenge, and romance. The cinematography was incredible and the soundtrack created an eerie and mysterious ambience. The combination of the movie’s beautiful desert landscapes and sunsets, soft lighting and golden color palette, and unique camera angles are just a few examples of its wonderful cinematography.
Original fans of “Dune” by Frank Herbert, as well as new fans of the movie alone, are sure to love part two. The film ends on a cliffhanger, leaving viewers wanting more and eager for part three. Despite being almost three hours long, “Dune: Part Two” felt like the perfect length and didn’t drag on as much as the first film did. The sequel is beautifully put together and is arguably better than the first when it comes to story pacing and cinematography.
Directed by Denis Villeneuve
Starring: Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, Florence Pugh, Austin Butler, Christopher Walken, Léa Seydoux, Dave Bautista, Javier Bardem, Stellan Skarsgård, Josh Brolin, and Charlotte Rampling
Rated PG-13
Runtime: 166 minutes My Rating: ★★★★