Movie: Dune: Part Two
Production Company: Warner Bros. Pictures, Legendary Pictures
Director: Denis Villeneuve
Producers: Denis Villeneuve, Tanya Lapointe, Mary Parent, Patrick McCormick, Cale Boyter, Joseph M. Caracciolo Jr.
Scriptwriters: Denis Villeneuve, Jon Spaihts
Main Cast: Timothee Chalamet, Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, Josh Brolin, Austin Butler, Florence Pugh, Dave Bautista, Christopher Walken, Lea Seydoux, Souhelia Yacoub, Stellan Skarsgard, Charlotte Rampling, Javier Bardem
Release Date: 1st March 2024
Running Time: 166 minutes
Certificate: 12A
Introduction: This sequel to 2021’s science fiction epic ‘Dune’ is an entirely different beast in every regard to the first film. It is also the most heart pounding and awe – inspiring piece of cinema I have ever encountered.
Synopsis: ‘Paul Atreides’ (played by Timothee Chalamet) unites with the Fremen and ‘Chani’ (Zendaya) to seek revenge towards the conspirators who murdered his family. He must choose between his destiny or the fate of the universe.
Analysis: No matter how much I even attempt to accurately express my feelings about this film, no matter how much love and praise I give this, it will simply never be enough to truly show how I feel. I have never seen anything like this ever before. ‘Dune: Part Two’ somehow exceeded every single one of my most trepidatious expectations and more, resulting in what I can only describe as the greatest and most spectacular piece of filmmaking I have ever seen. This is my favourite film of the year and it is highly likely it will stay like that.
This is a modern, Hollywood blockbuster that genuinely takes the time and consideration to authentically tell it’s story (there is a lot going on so it needs to) which seems to be rarity nowadays. This is just one element out of a plethora of others that raises this film above so many others. As well as having some of the most extraordinary set pieces in cinematic history (they rival ‘Lord of the Rings’), the film remembers what it is truly about and never shies away. This left me gripped from beginning to end (the film has a run time of 2 hours and 46 minutes so it did very well to do that). This is all thanks to my favourite director, Denis Villeneuve, yet again knocking it out of the park. Take a bow sir!
I absolutely love the first one, but the general reception proved to be a little mixed and some found it a little boring and slow (I will give them some benefit of the doubt as I watched it again and it was a little slower than ‘Part Two’). Now, it seems the excitement is much different and I must admit, I’m glad the film is getting the recognition it deserves. It does seem to me that the hype and craze surrounding this is like some are playing catch up whereas I have been completely invested from the beginning (which is understandable though). Rest assured, this is a full scale, all out war film so do not worry.
Working with cinematographer Greig Fraiser and writer Jon Spaihts, what they have created here will go down in history. If I had to pick anything even remotely flawed, I would say that Florence Pugh and Christopher Walken are somewhat underused, although I suspect the reason is that they may be used more in the future. To truly demonstrate how much I had invested in this (I have read the first two books and my favourite composer – Hans Zimmer – was also returning to do this film having worked on the first) I travelled from Manchester down to London just to see this. The reason being was because the BFI IMAX was the only place in the UK showing the film in 70mm IMAX (to my knowledge). It also happens to be the biggest screen in the UK- this was also only 1 of 12 cinemas in the world screening the film like this. I felt very lucky indeed to be able to see it here.
The circumstances were simply too big to miss out on. The size of the screen was almost incomprehensible. The sound system and design was so thunderously loud as well which made Zimmer’s score (which is somehow even more epic than the first) and the film in general all the more impressive (even I wasn’t expecting it to be as good as it was). The soundtrack accompanying this film will elevate your emotions to the absolute maximum, one of the greatest I have ever had the privilege of listening to. The film just has to be experienced in IMAX to be truly believed. I will never have that kind of experience again for a long, long time. To tell the truth, I am not sure if I would’ve loved this as much as I do had I not seen it in this IMAX format. The physicality and fight scenes are much improved upon the first’s which was something that underwhelmed me the first time round. Chalamet and Butler have a very well choreographed, orchestrated and executed fight that featured particularly good sound design.
The performances across the board are incredible, Timothee Chalamet and Zendaya steal the show. He has quickly become one of the brightest prospects in Hollywood and is only 28. Austin Butler is also chillingly disturbing as ‘Feyd- Rautha’. ‘Dune: Part Two’ is a behemoth that stands on its own and beats its chest and we are lucky to have it. This film is why I love cinema, it is everything that I want and more. A gripping and well told story that also has the most extraordinary visuals I have ever bared witness to in cinema. This has it all. Make sure you see this on the biggest and loudest screen you can find. I’m absolutely speechless.
In cinemas now.
Overall Rating: 10/10 – Perfect
Target Audience: 12+
Content Warning: moderate violence, bloody images, threat
Recommendation: Yes
