The second installment of acclaimed director Denis Villeneuve’s adaptation of the classic science fiction novel “Dune” was released on March 1 and was met with immense praise from both fans of the first film and die-hard “Dune” fanatics.
Frank Herbert’s “Dune” series has long been considered unadaptable due to its length, themes and intricate (and often confusing) storylines. David Lynch attempted to adapt the dense novel for the screen in 1984 and was largely unsuccessful. Condensing “Dune” is a massive undertaking, and Villeneuve achieved what many directors in the past tried and failed to do; he masterfully adapted “Dune” for the silver screen in a two-part behemoth film series and ensuing cultural phenomenon that may eventually conclude with the adaptation of the second novel in the series “Dune Messiah.”
“Dune: Part Two” picks up right where the first film left off and doesn’t waste any time hurling the viewer right back into the thick of the story. The plot continues to follow our protagonist, Paul Atreides, and his journey to become both the Kwisatz Haderach, a prophesied male the product of thousands of years of careful bloodline-crossing, and the Lisan al Gaib, the long-awaited messiah of the Fremen, or “Voice from the Outer World.” One of the main themes of both the original novel and the film series is the consequences of blindly following a religious figure. Paul’s transition from scrappy underdog to an unstoppable tyrant is amplified by the unyielding loyalty shown to him by the Fremen. They believe that he is their savior, or Mahdi— “The Deliverer”—who will lead them and Arrakis to paradise.
Every aspect of “Dune: Part Two” is a masterclass in cinema; everyone in the cast and crew—the actors, costume designers, cinematographers, composers—performed at the top of their game. The star-studded cast, led by household names such as Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, Florence Pugh, Austin Butler and many others, all delivered performances that were nothing short of spine-chilling.
A notable performance from the film is Javier Bardem’s portrayal of religious fanatic Stilgar, whose presence inhabited a form of comic relief in the early parts of the film but dynamically shifting as the narrative delved deeper into its philosophies. Watching Rebecca Ferfuson portray Lady Jessica as she manipulates the Fremen into believing Paul is their Lisan al Gaib to further her political agenda is also particularly harrowing.
Furthermore, akin to the public’s reaction to Heath Ledger being cast as the Joker in Christopher Nolan’s 2005 sequel “The Dark Knight,” “Dune” fans doubted Butler’s ability to pull off playing psychotic Harkonnen golden boy, Feyd-Rautha. Also akin to Heath Ledger’s portrayal of the Joker, Butler knocked it out of the park. In keeping with the way he is written in the novel, Butler played Feyd-Rautha as deranged and frightening while still possessing a certain charm and magnetism that leaves viewers wanting more of him.
Certain scene changes have left viewers wondering how Villeneuve will connect his first two films to “Dune Messiah,” One user on X, @TSoS_, wrote, “One thing I want to tell all you book readers is not to worry about the changes it makes as you go into this movie. Everything works so so incredibly well. Even the bigger departures from the book serve an absolutely fantastic purpose in the story. It’s adapted so so well.”
“Dune: Part Two” is already receiving Oscar buzz, with many pointing to Chalamet for a potential Best Actor win and praising cinematographer Greig Fraser for his impeccable work on the film. Inspired by the planet’s signature black sun, Fraser depicted Harkonnen’s home planet Giedi Prime in black and white, using an infrared camera. In an interview with Vulture, Fraser said of his use of the infrared camera, “We need to know that we’re not in a gladiator environment in Arrakis. So the sun had to be different. It’s that sort of ghoulish look that you get from that light at night from security cameras, but it’s happening in the middle of the day.”
In short, fans praise absolutely everything about the film. If you’re a fan of either the book series or Villeneuve’s first “Dune” film, “Dune: Part Two” will not disappoint. Seeing “Dune: Part Two” in the theater feels like a once-in-a-lifetime cinema experience. Be sure to catch it in IMAX during its theatrical run which will last for at least another month. “Dune: Part Two” will also be available to stream on Max sometime in the Spring.
