STORY BY JONAS CORLISS
Released on March 1, “Dune: Part Two” is a sequel to “Dune” by filmmaker Denis Villeneuv starring Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Rebecca Furguson, Javier Bardem and more.
The story follows Paul Atreides, portrayed by Chalamet, as he works with the people of Arrakis, the Fremen, to repel the ruling family, the Harkonnen, from the planet after they took over by killing the entire Atreides family except for Paul and his mother Jessica, portrayed by Furguson. What follows is a story of war, politics, and power that will affect the entire galaxy.
My main critique of the first “Dune” movie was that it felt like it was just setting up the story. However, thanks to this “Dune: Part Two” started rolling immediately and never took its foot off the gas pedal. The film’s pacing is impeccable, never feeling slow while maintaining a pace that makes the film easy to digest and understand.
Visually, I have never seen a film to the scale of Dune looking as incredible as this one does. The desert ocean of Arrakis is awe-inspiring, which is good since it is the majority of the film’s scenery. Going into the insides of the Fremen base, you are treated with ancient-looking architecture that invites you to gaze upon its beauty. Going off-world to the home of the Harkonnen, we see imposing brutalist designs, fitting well with the cold and ruthless nature of House Harkonnen. The final object that I want to point out is the sandworms, massive creatures that are visually distinct and look just as real as the actual humans that ride them.
When it comes to acting, just looking at the cast list tells you that you are in for some of the greatest established and upcoming actors working today. Chalamet is the easy standout, with him portraying Paul’s character development throughout the story perfectly. Another incredible performance is Austin Butler as Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen, a deranged sociopath with an unquenchable thirst for power and blood. Javier Bardem gives both a comedic and passionate performance as the religious devotee leader Stilgar, Dave Bautista as a cowardly meathead Beast Rabban Harkonnen, and Rebeca Furguson as the shady puppet master Lady Jessica Atreides are also stand-out performances.
The score of the film is handled by the legendary Hanz Zimmer. The music throughout is massive and unique, complementing the scenes and locations in a way that makes the thought of not having the music would be like taking Han Solo out of Star Wars. It just isn’t possible. Music is also used to help show the audience the progression of the characters, mainly Paul.
The storytelling is straightforward but still gives wiggle room for the audience to think deeper. The political narrative is compelling and told throughout in a way that isn’t confusing or bogs down on the characters’ actions. The fight scenes are fast and brutal, the cinematography is clear to ensure that viewers don’t get lost during the scene.
Overall, “Dune: Part Two” hit a home run with the pitch that the first movie set up. There is nothing I can think of that takes away from the movie. Compelling characters driven by phenomenal actors, outstanding visuals, great fight scenes, and deep themes and messaging for those interested, “Dune: Part Two” is not only a perfect movie, it is a movie that will become the new benchmark for what makes a truly great sci-fi movie.