MOVIE REVIEW! - 'Dune: Part Two' (2024)

'Dune: Part II' (2024)

In 2021, Warner Bros. released a new adaptation of “Dune” and whether or not this sequel would even get made was a question at the time due to the pandemic. 2021 was the year when Warner Bros. released their entire slate of films simultaneously in theaters and on HBO Max, putting their box office earnings at risk. Thankfully, though, the movie did extremely well on the streaming site and it still managed to earn over $438 million during an extreme time of uncertainty.

This meant that Warner Bros. was more than willing to green light the sequel and director Denis Villeneuve began work immediately. Now, “Dune: Part Two” is finally here and we finally get to see if he stuck the landing or if he crashed and burned right into a sandworm’s mouth.

Thankfully, with both parts now out in the world, I can say that we have a true and proper adaptation of Herbert’s classic novel. Once again, Villeneuve brings us a visual feast and even though it clocks in at about ten minutes longer than the first part, it feels as though this part also moves at a brisker pace. Of course, part of that could be that the first movie did the legwork of setting up this fantastical world and now the second part gets to have more fun without all the setup.

After the events of the first movie, Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) is now trying to get the Fremen behind his cause to take down the Harkonnens. This is easy with some of the older Fremen such as Stilgar (Javier Bardem) because they believe in the prophecies that Paul seems to be fulfilling. However, other Fremen such as Chani (Zendaya) believe that the prophecies are a lie and used to control people.

Of course, these younger Fremen are not entirely wrong. We know that the Sisters of the Bene Gesserit have implanted myths and prophecies across the Universe for thousands of years. In addition to that, they have genetically controlled certain bloodlines so that one day their super being, the Kwisatz Haderach, would be born.

Paul Atreides faces all new threats in 'Dune: Part Two'.

Meanwhile, Princess Irulan (Florence Pugh) and the Bene Gesserit are trying to decide how best to handle Paul as his emergence as the possible Kwisatz Haderach was not foreseen. The problem is that Paul cannot be controlled as he heads down his own path. One of the Sisterhood’s plans is to try and see if another product of their genetic manipulations, Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen (Austin Butler), is capable of stopping Paul and becoming their fabled yet controlled leader.

A big theme of the first movie was the political machinations that went on in order to pit House Harkonnen and House Atreides against one another. This movie focuses on the detrimental influence of religion and whatever control it may have over events. On one side, you have a religious organization that is actively trying to manipulate events while on the other, you have well-meaning followers who simply think that what they’ve believed over thousands of years is true and that they want to support their supposed messiah no matter what.

Like the first part, Villeneuve and fellow co-writer Jon Spaihts have captured the tone and themes of Herbert’s novel unlike any other adaptation. Not only is the story on point, Villeneuve directs a movie that has a strong visual style that is not only beautiful but catches the harshness yet also beautiful nature of Arrakis. I didn’t see any special-effects that were just half-assed done and this will be the film to beat for Best Visual Effects next year.

The action in the movie is also solid all around. Whether it’s a massive attack by the Fremen on Harkonnen forces or more personal fights, they are all handled with care and choreographed perfectly. Like I said before, this movie actually feels like it moves at a brisker pace than the first movie and the stellar action scenes are a big reason for why it feels that way.

On top of effects and successfully adapting Herbert’s novel, though, the movie would completely fall apart if the performances weren’t there. Chalamet is perfect as Paul, giving us a character that is genuinely reluctant to take on any power while also giving us glimpses of Paul’s imperfections that could genuinely lead to bad things down the line. He also has great chemistry with Zendaya as Chani and she gives a great performance as a woman who knows what true freedom is and doesn’t understand how those around her don’t see the folly in blindly following a prophecy.

In addition to our two main leads, there are also great supporting roles. Rebecca Ferguson once again shows off her talents as Paul’s mother Jessica who has to take on another role in an attempt to protect her son. Jessica is good at heart, but there is a darker side that she’s not afraid to tap into as well in order to protect her family and in order to defy the Bene Gesserit.

Bardem also deserves praise for his role as Stilgar, the strong Fremen leader who is also probably Paul’s biggest supporter. He has moments where he can also be considered the film’s comedic relief when the movie maybe needs a break from its mostly serious tone. Yet, when the time comes, Bardem can also bring out Stilgar’s strength and more serious nature.

Ultimately, along with the first exciting movie, “Dune: Part Two” gives fans the ultimate adaptation of Frank Herbert’s classic novel. I do hope that Villeneuve does get to at least adapt “Dune: Messiah” and complete his trilogy, but for now I’m just happy that he did what many others had failed to do and brought one of the greatest science fiction novels ever to the big screen!

'Dune: Part Two' completes Villeneuve's sci-fi adaptation in superb style!