Review of 'Dune: Part Two': Exceptional, Stunning, and Majestic Follow-Up

March 01, 2024

Review of 'Dune: Part Two': Exceptional, Stunning, and Majestic Follow-Up

Denis Villeneuve's 2021 science fiction masterpiece, Dune, centered around the theme of power. The protagonist, Paul Atreides, initially grapples with adapting from sea and land power to the desert power he encounters on Arrakis, the desert planet where his family is stationed. The second installment in Villeneuve's planned Dune trilogy transforms the concept of power. While Paul continues to pursue desert power, the emphasis shifts from sheer might to a more influential form of power.

In the concluding scenes of 2021's Dune, House Harkonnen attacks House Atreides to reclaim Arrakis, leading to Paul and his mother, Lady Jessica, being exiled to the vast desert. There, Paul engages in combat with a Fremen sitech, defeats a member, and meets Chani, the girl from his dreams, portrayed by Zendaya. Dune: Part Two seamlessly continues the narrative from where the first film concluded. House Harkonnen now controls Arrakis, Lady Jessica's pregnancy gains significance, and Paul remains on the path set by the Bene Gesserit, potentially destined to become the Kwisatz Haderach, as hinted in the first film. The sequel delves deeper into the Fremen way of life, with Paul assimilating into their culture and developing his relationship with Chani, who plays an expanded role compared to her brief appearance in the initial Dune.

With an increased presence on screen, Zendaya establishes herself as a formidable force, showcasing a diverse range of emotions in a short time frame. This stands as a testament to Denis Villeneuve's skillful direction, seamlessly transitioning between intimate moments and grandiose spectacles at a moment's notice. Florence Pugh, a recent addition to the cast for Part Two, finds herself in a situation similar to Zendaya's in the first installment, portraying a character with a brief yet crucial role, with the implied promise of a more significant part in the next film, Dune: Messiah, assuming Villeneuve's trilogy plan unfolds as intended.

It's important to acknowledge that due to the specific scripting and structure of Dune: Part Two, discussing certain aspects of the film without delving into heavy spoiler territory proves challenging. However, this review refrains from such spoilers while recognizing the film's pacing, or the lack of consistent pacing. The initial hour, densely packed with essential details about the world, moves at a slower pace reminiscent of its predecessor. This deliberate pacing allows Villeneuve to showcase his filmmaking precision, with elements like Hans Zimmer's remarkable score toned down, and details such as extended shots that feel less like mere coverage becoming more apparent. This dynamic changes when Paul takes on the challenge of riding a sandworm to earn his place among the Fremen, a scene partially featured in the Dune (2021) re-release.

At this juncture in the film, the focus shifts towards rapidly introducing a series of characters not encountered before but who will become essential by the third act. Among them is Austin Butler portraying Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen in a spectacular black-and-white gladiator fight scene. Although this sequence is epic in its scope, it lacks the specific direction and impact that a later scene involving Butler's character possesses. Nonetheless, the positive aspect is that Butler fully commits to transforming himself for the role, sporting a sleek bald head, blackened teeth, and a distinctive Weird VoiceTM that falls somewhere between a Stellan Skarsgård impression and the Elvis voice he couldn't seem to shake off during last year's awards campaign (though he doesn't maintain the accent consistently, it works). Butler adeptly holds his own in scenes alongside Skarsgård, Chalamet, and Léa Seydoux, maintaining a level of uncomfortably eerie charm that is strangely endearing.

In terms of performances, it's crucial to note that the success of the film hinges on the talents of Timothée Chalamet. Chalamet's portrayal of Paul undergoes an intriguing character arc, to say the least. There's a clear influence of Paul Atreides' character on George Lucas when crafting Anakin Skywalker, drawing a parallel worth considering. Chalamet adeptly handles the lighter aspects of the character, capturing the joy and excitement that define Paul in the film's initial act. However, when the narrative demands him to take on a more substantial role as the true leading man, requiring absolute captivation for the character to work, Chalamet falls short of fully reaching that level. The responsibility may not entirely lie with one party, as Denis Villeneuve's grasp on the balance between intimate emotion and grand scale slips in the third act, culminating in a final set piece that feels smaller than it should. Perhaps it's due to misused relative perspective, where placing something big next to something even bigger diminishes the former's apparent size, and the film loses sight of the actual scale.

Nevertheless, overall, Dune: Part Two handles scale effectively. As a contemporary blockbuster, it achieves the rare feat of meticulous attention to detail, ensuring each line of dialogue, scene, and individual shot carries significance. While it occasionally could benefit from moments of slowing down, this is the inevitable compromise in adapting such source material.

To be unequivocal, this is a positive review. Dune: Part Two is outstanding. It takes the successes of the first film and endeavors to improve upon its shortcomings, laying the groundwork for Messiah to conclude what promises to be one of the greatest modern sci-fi blockbuster franchises. While it may be somewhat easier to critique elements that don't always work, given the film's adaptation of source material and the inherently spoiler-laden nature of its plot, Dune: Part Two achieves a near-perfect balance between character and story. It constructs an alien world that feels lived-in and evolves from its predecessor rather than merely deriving from it. Positioned as the middle installment of a trilogy, it cautiously avoids providing a conclusive ending but offers a more satisfying conclusion than Part One, motivating audiences to eagerly anticipate the next installment. Whatever follows is bound to be grand and exceptional, culminating in the phenomenal film this trilogy deserves to conclude with.

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Review of 'Dune: Part Two': Exceptional, Stunning, and Majestic Follow-Up

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