Dune: Part Two (2024)

​“Dune: Part Two” stars Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, Josh Brolin, Stellan Skarsgård, Dave Bautista, Charlotte Rampling, Javier Bardem, Florence Pugh, Austin Butler, Léa Seydoux, and Christopher Walken. Released on March 1, 2024, the film has Paul Atreides and the Fremen people waging war against House Harkonnen.

The film is directed by Denis Villeneuve, who also directed films such as “Prisoners”, “Enemy”, “Arrival”, and “Blade Runner 2049”. It is the continuation of Villeneuve’s adaptation of Frank Herbert’s 1965 novel. After two whole months of experiencing nothing but mid-to-mediocre content, with a couple of exceptions, we finally reach the point of the year where we can get excited about movies again. While most upcoming films are sequels and remakes, that doesn’t mean we’re less enthusiastic about returning to the cinematic worlds we grew up with. Of course, I’m including the recently reintroduced ones, like Denis Villeneuve’s take on Frank Herbert’s iconic sci-fi tale of a prince seeking revenge against his conspirators.  

David Lynch’s effort to bring “Dune” to the big screen didn’t leave much of a satisfying taste in people’s mouths regarding its commercial and financial disappointment, detracting their interest in the source material altogether. It’s also one of the reasons I hesitate to watch it. It wasn’t until the release of Villeneuve’s adaptation during the pandemic that it reinvigorated interest in the source material’s profound world-building regarding its epic storytelling and scope. But, of course, one movie isn’t enough to cover the entire novel, hence the idea of splitting Paul Atreides’s journey into two parts. Fortunately, this strategy is more necessary for “Dune” than the likes of “Hunger Games” and “Twilight”, especially when regarding the book’s length. So, after three years of waiting for us to return to the world of "Dune", does it deliver a continuation of Paul’s journey as satisfying as its spice? Let’s find out.

The story continues where “Dune” left off, with Paul Atreides (Chalamet) joining the Fremen tribe led by Stilgar (Bardem). Alongside his Bene Gesserit mother, Lady Jessica (Ferguson), and Fremen warrior, Chani (Zendaya), Paul continues his quest to avenge his family after House Atreides is caught in a war with House Harkonnen. Despite the suspicions aimed toward Paul and Jessica, the tribe relies on them to fulfill a prophecy of a mother and son bringing peace and wealth to Arrakis. As the war against House Harkonnen reaches its breaking point, Paul faces numerous challenges that would affect his life and even his newfound relationship with Chani.

“Dune”, or “Dune: Part One,” as we’re calling it now, was released as part of Warner Brothers’ strategy of releasing their films in theaters and on HBO Max to combat the pandemic blues. The film and “Godzilla vs. Kong” became the reigning champions in an otherwise divisive experiment regarding their critical and financial successes. However, I decided to watch “Dune” in the theater instead because my regular-sized television couldn’t comprehend its epic scope. If you’ve read my review of Denis Villeneuve’s “Dune”, you’d already know how my decision turned out. Long story short, it’s another sci-fi blockbuster grandeur that emphasizes Villeneuve’s passion for cinematic scopes and never loses sight of its slow-burning yet enthralling storytelling. So, of course, I was excited to see the second part of “Dune”, especially since part one ended with Paul joining the Fremen clan. That part alone was enough to tell us that stuff was about to get real in “Part Two”.

However, even though “Part Two” is a bit more intense than its predecessor, it still has to maintain or improve the qualities that made “Dune” a fantastic adaptation. That includes its vast world-building and dialogue-driven narrative, which is understandably slow upon rewatching “Dune”. Fortunately, with “Part Two” focusing more on the conflict, Villeneuve has the opportunity to do so. After all, he is responsible for revitalizing science-fiction cinema with “Arrival” and “Blade Runner 2049”. Based on my experience, I can say that “Dune: Part Two” further demonstrates the filmmaker’s remarkable vision for the genre. Many people have been praising it for days, claiming it to be one of the greatest movies of all time or something along those lines, and I can understand why. It’s another sequel that takes advantage of its world and characters from its predecessor and expands them to emotional and surprising heights.

With a story that matches its incredible scope, complex characters, and astounding visuals, “Dune: Part Two” is another experience worth seeing on the biggest screen imaginable. But, of course, the visual splendor isn’t just for show, unlike most of the sci-fi blockbusters we’ve seen. It’s used to represent Paul’s quest to wage war against the opposing House Harkonnen following the fall of House Atreides, which would eventually lead him down a path to leadership due to the Fremen’s prophecy. You might think this is another traditional “chosen one”-type action movie with a happy ending. Well, that might not be the case. You’ll know what I mean if you read the book it’s based on. But for those who haven’t, let’s just say you might be in for a shocking surprise. “Dune: Part Two” showcases how different beliefs in a prophesy can divide people and lead them down an alternate path from their usual one. Speaking as someone who hasn’t read the book, the screenplay by Villeneuve and Jon Spaihts transcends its traditional story beats with its bold direction and themes while honoring its predecessor regarding its characters and world-building.

I wish I had more to explain my thoughts on Denis Villeneuve as a filmmaker that I didn’t say in my previous reviews of his movies, but I don’t. So, I’m just going to say once more that Villeneuve knows how to direct an epic sci-fi movie like a boss. His slow-burning yet eye-opening presentation is another strong case of filmmaking representing art in a museum. It’s visually impressive but also immensely hypnotic. The best part is that the visual-filled sceneries aren’t made as a tool to expand a film’s runtime. Instead, they drive its narrative and themes through their artistic surroundings and scope. Unsurprisingly, “Dune: Part Two” perfectly fits that description, with Villeneuve expanding his vision on the source material’s futuristic realm with realism, grit, and awe. Villeneuve is another director who likes to impress with their stylistic vision and never loses sight of providing an engaging story to coincide with its visual flair. That’s how great of a filmmaker Villeneuve is in my eyes.  

Most of the cast returned to reprise their roles while a new set of characters were introduced in “Part Two”. The result is another brilliant display of talent matching a movie’s epic scope. Timothée Chalamet once again delivered a satisfying performance as Paul Atreides, further cementing him as another young actor worth watching. His portrayal of a duke’s ascendence from an exiled son to who he becomes in the movie’s conclusion was undoubtedly remarkable, which is enough to forgive the film’s runtime. Zendaya’s Chani promotes herself as the lead role in the sequel after briefly appearing in “Part One”, and she was fantastic as always. There’s not much I can say about Zendaya other than I’m happy that her career is still soaring after her Disney Channel days. Rebecca Ferguson was also great as Lady Jessica and Javier Bardem did a much better job as Stilgar than in the first film. This is due to Bardem’s suitable attempt at humor amid its drama. I was also impressed by Austin Butler’s take on Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen, Baron Vladimir’s youngest nephew, whose psychotically mentality and skills make him a force to be reckoned with. Seeing Butler transition from playing Elvis Presley to a bald, cruel, and skilled warrior is something I’ll never get over.

But what about the visual effects, you ask? Well, they’re easily one of the film’s highlights. Like “Dune”, the fantastic visuals in “Part Two” enhanced its imaginative world-building through its production designs, creatures, costumes, and make-up. More importantly, they amplified its storytelling rather than distracting it, mainly due to Villeneuve’s vision and Greig Fraser’s cinematography. The cinematography served as a nice, clean cherry on top as it used the color grading and scope to transport audiences back into the world of “Dune” without sacrificing its soul. The sequence involving Feyd-Rautha in the coliseum at House Harkonnen is an excellent example, with its black-and-white coloring matching Feyd's brutal personality. Finally, we have Hans Zimmer, whose musical score continued to flourish the saga with its hard-hitting, exotic musical beats.

Overall, “Dune: Part Two” brilliantly expands upon the mythological world of Frank Herbert’s novel with a majestic visual flair and a narratively deep sense of grandeur. Despite its beefy runtime, the film is another enthralling example of a blockbuster balancing spectacle with impeccable storytelling. It’s also another case of a sequel being as great, if not better than its predecessor. With its stellar cast, Villeneuve’s superb vision, well-written screenplay, and fantastic visuals, the film cements itself as the first great movie of 2024 in my eyes. More importantly, it strengthens the chances of “Dune” becoming one of the best blockbuster trilogies ever since Villeneuve is already working on a third chapter. If you enjoyed 2021’s “Dune”, you’ll quickly feel the same with “Part Two”, but make sure you see it on the biggest screen possible with the best sound system to get the whole experience.  

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