Dune: Part Two releases to theaters March 1st.
It’s finally here, and believe me… it’s worth the wait. With an original release date of November 3, 2023, the science-fiction sequel was pushed to March of 2024 amid the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strikes. It was a disappointing blow at the time; however, the delay was understandable, and even necessary, given the tumultuous circumstances of the time.
Dune: Part Two Plot
Following the events of Dune, house Atreides has fallen from power. The Atreides lineage is all but exterminated at the hands of the menacing Baron Vladimir Harkonnen (Stellan Skarsgård). Unbeknownst to the Baron, young Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) has survived and now lives among the Fremen on the dessert planet of Arrakis. Some of the Fremen view Paul as their prophesized savior and leader, but Paul is driven by the need to avenge his father’s murder no matter the cost.
Also Read: Dune: Part 2 Cast and Their Salary
The Critique
Trying to gauge my level of excitement for this film and translate that measurement into words is a difficult task. While I’ve never read the novels by Frank Herbert, I fell in love with the planet of Arrakis and its many inhabitants immediately following my viewing of Denis Villeneuve’s masterpiece in 2021. In preparation for his follow-up I watched the infamously misguided Lynch film from 1984 and the documentary Jodorowsky’s Dune, both of which only solidified my investment into this beautifully strange world.
While entering any viewing with sky-high expectations can certainly hamper the experience (a fear I had while reclining comfortably in my theater chair), that wasn’t the case for Dune: Part Two. Denis Villeneuve builds a world that demands your attention, gripping you tightly and pulling you in. It’s a gift he’s showcased with films like Sicario and Blade Runner 2049; however, we may be seeing the peek of his powers on full display here. No moment of the two-hours and forty-six-minute runtime is wasted.
The action sequences are among the the most awe-inspiring moments we’ve seen put to screen, largely thanks to the skill of cinematographer Greig Fraser. Fraser seems to have the Midas touch, bringing beautiful visuals to everything he lends his talents to. From The Batman to The Creator, it’s clear that Fraser understands the delicate balance of bringing alluring imagery to large scale features. It’s a talent makes him a perfect fit for Villeneuve’s increasingly ambitious projects.
While the loss of Jason Momoa’s Duncan Idaho is felt, the blow is softened by the introduction of new equally compelling characters. Austin Butler ditches the Elvis voice (mostly) to fully embody the psychotically evil Feyd-Rautha. While the Baron is scary due to his power and ruthless nature, Feyd-Rautha brings a physicality to the villainous Harkonnens that was missing in Part 1. This is no slight to Dave Bautista whom reprises his role as Glossu Rabban and is arguably a more dominating physical force.
In Conclusion
Dune: Part Two proves that this is a science-fiction franchise with staying power. Just as The Empire Strikes Back was an improvement upon A New Hope, this too is an improvement upon its predecessor. It’s a perfect sci-fi epic. I don’t know what the future holds, but fingers crossed we get another installment of what just might remain my favorite film of 2024.
10/10
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