Dune: Part Two (2024)

There's no question the fact that we actually get to see Frank Herbert's Dune on the big screen is still a privilege. Deemed by many to be unfilmable, the project has gone through production hell on many occasions, probably the most notorious being Alejandro Jodorowsky's failed attempt- a blueprint that spawned a ten to fourteen hour film, something that the studio were, surprise surprise, not too keen on. David Lynch eventually brought Dune to the big screen with his 1984 adaptation, a film that has been pulled apart by critics but remains loved by many, myself included, despite its many deficiencies. Denis Villeneuve's reconstruction of the novel was revealed to be 'Part One' shortly before its release; we now know as Part Two is released, we're very likely to get a Part Three as well, meaning that Villeneuve is veering into Herbert's second Dune novel, Dune Messiah (1969) as part of this slowly unfurling epic series. Dune: Part One was a behemoth of a blockbuster, 'Star Wars for clever people', if you want to believe some of the musings on it (musings that I can somewhat understand). With stunning past form in Sci-Fi in the form of Blade Runner 2049 (2017), Villeneuve was unquestionably the man to take on this job, and his world building with the help of Greig Fraser's awe inspiring cinematography was breathtaking. So, the general consensus was "same again please" for Part Two, and Villeneuve duly delivers, if perhaps lacking the surprise factor this time round. Dune: Part Two picks up more or less where Part One left of, with Paul Atreides and his Mother Lady Jessica having joined the Fremon troops in the desert, among them Zendaya's Chani and Javier Bardem's Stilgar. We also meet Florence Pugh's Princess Irulan Corrino who records in her journal that Paul Atreides may still be alive; whilst her Father Emperor Shaddam IV (Christopher Walken) is dispirited after his own hand in the apparent extermination of House Atreides. We learn that Lady Jessica is pregnant with Paul's sister, and she begins to control Jessica's thoughts from the womb, talking to her and guiding her along a specific path, the motives behind which are often questionable especially with revelations that are forthcoming during Part Two. Jessica and Chani are frequently front and center of the piece, and although Timothee Chalamet's Paul is the supposed chosen one amongst the Fremon people, it's arguably Chani and Jessica who are the beating heart of this film. Which is where my minimal nitpicking with Part Two began; I've read more or less in every review that Zendaya is exceptional in the role of Chani but I found her and Chalamet's interaction rather clunky, and in the first forty-five minutes or so their relationship grows far too quickly to fully implement a set in stone partnership that this saga requires. Paul's relationship with Stilgar is more plausible although Bardem's constant ravings about the messiah almost become platitudinal in their frequency. As Paul is taught the Fremon way, we're treated to a superb worm riding sequence and sweeping spectacle, although this comes at the expense of slowly built narrative tension; it sometimes feels more like an extended montage. Dune: Part Two really kicks into gear however, when the action shifts back to Giedi Prime, where the Baron (Stellan Skarsgard) replaces his nephew Rabban (Dave Bautista) with his psychotic younger nephew Feyd-Rautha, due the Fremon's successful raids on Harkonnen spice operations. Our introduction into Feyd-Rautha comes in the form of glorious chrome black and white sequences on Giedi Prime, including a spectacular arena battle between Feyd-Rautha and some captives. The sequence also underlines what is to become one of Dune: Part Two's biggest strengths: Austin Butler. Almost unrecognisable as Feyd-Rautha, Butler is sensational as the Harkonnen Kwisatz Haderach prospective, ingratiating himself as the Baron's main man, vowing to take out Paul Atreides and rid Arrakis of the Fremon. Paul and Jessica go separate ways halfway through Part Two with Paul staying in the North while Jessica travels south at the behest of her unborn child, uniting with more Fremon fundamentalists. To give more away would be to further unspool the film, and there's no doubting that you should be seeing this on the big screen. Patrice Vermette's astounding production design should be experienced in all its glory as it pulls you into the desert landscape of Arrakis or the bleak world of Giedi Prime. Dune: Part Two is immense in scale and scope, and doesn't dumb down the politics of Herbert's creation. Although there are sections of dialogue that don't quite hang together, this is in a different Universe to some of the truly appalling scripts that have bogged down many of the Star Wars films. In fact to mention that series in the same breath as Villeneuve's saga is to insult Dune; world building parallels are more appropriately drawn between this and Blade Runner 2049. Although I think Blade Runner 2049 is a superior film to both Parts One and Two of Dune, this is a series that we should grateful and excited about seeing a third part to. I don't believe Part Two is quite as impressive or solid as Part One, and although the score below suggests it's not highly recommended- it absolutely is, if only to make you watch it and make up your own mind. 7.9/10