'Dune: Part Two' Review: One of the Best Sequels Ever Made
Audiences at last can return to the planet of arrakis in dune: part two, a sequel that not only manages to surpass its predecessor in every conceivable way, but cement itself as one of the best sequels Ever put to film.
Following the events of the first film, Dune: Part Two catches the audience up with Paul Atreides (Timothee Chalamet), who is now living amongst the Fremen, learning their ways of the desert and grappling with whether or not he is indeed the chosen one legend has spoken of. Meanwhile, the sinister Harkonnen continue to try and dominate the planet and eradicate the Fremen once and for all.
The first film effectively set the stage for a bigger, more emotionally satisfying second chapter and Villeneuve and his team have not only followed through on that potential, but have outdone themselves as well. First and foremost, the performances in the film are simply phenomenal across the board. The returning players, including Chalamet, Zendaya, Josh Brolin, Javier Bardem, and Rebecca Ferguson are all terrific, especially Chalamet who delivers a career-best performance here. His journey as Paul in this second installment is arduous and emotionally challenging, Chalamet handling it all deftly, able to show the light and dark sides of Paul, the hero and the villain. He’s absolutely magnetic here and the potential for where he could take the character in a third installment is very exciting.
The new additions to the cast also blend in perfectly with our returning players, with Christopher Walken, Florence Pugh, Lea Seydoux, and Austin Butler coming into the fold. However, the standout is Butler, playing the new villain Feyd-Rautha, delivering a terrifying and electric performance that truly needs to be seen to be fully believed. If his performance proves anything, it’s that his Oscar nominated performance in Elvis was no fluke.
The film’s biggest asset is easily its Holy Trinity of director Denis Villeneuve, cinematographer Greig Fraser, and composer Hans Zimmer. Villeneuve has once again proven he’s one of the best blockbuster filmmakers working today, his handle on the characters, world, and story firm, precise and meticulous. Fraser’s cinematography is once again stunning, creating some of the most visually sumptuous shots in any sci-fi film. Zimmer’s score feels like a character in and of itself, only enhanced by the film’s stellar sound design that only helps the score sing louder. The action sequences are also breathtaking, Villeneuve once again seamlessly blending the visual effects with practical work to create wholly enveloping, tactile set pieces. Simply put, this is a film that demands to be seen on the biggest screen possible with the best sound system you can find. It’s a spectacle in every sense of the word, a visual and audio feast for the senses.
Fortunately, Villeneuve puts his characters and story before the special effects and action sequences, giving audiences a story and characters worth emotionally investing in as these set pieces take place. Paul’s journey, coupled with the shadowy political maneuvers of the Harkonnen, makes for a story that is as thrilling as it is heartbreaking. This is a sequel that isn’t afraid to go to some darker places with its main players, allowing for new shades of each character to be shown, enhancing the world and mythology in the process. The storytelling is fantastic, delivering narrative surprises that will give audiences vertigo in the best ways possible. It’s a sequel that keeps the viewer on their toes, always zigging when it’s expected to zag.
Also, for a film that is nearly three hours long, it’s paced wonderfully, fully utilizing every minute, resulting in a film that is a tight, extremely well put together adventure that leaves you wanting more. Unlike its predecessor, it feels like a complete meal that also sets up another possible installment that will have plenty left to explore. There is no fat to trim on this sci-fi treat, pure and simple.
Dune: Part Two is an astounding achievement for Denis Villeneuve and his extremely talented cast and crew. It’s a sequel that not only remedies the flaws of its predecessor, but improves upon in it in every way imaginable. This is a sequel that is bigger in visual and emotional scope, delivering a sci-fi sequel for the ages that will leave audiences clamoring for a third trip back to the tumultuous, but alluring Arrakis.