Dune: Part Two Review
A Theatrical Masterpiece
After watching Dune: Part One in the theater with my father and my good friend, Hugo, and falling in love with the film, we attempted to recreate the magic with Dune: Part Two.
I’ve heard this film described as the adult Star Wars, which feels right, though Frank Herbert’s classic story ironically precedes my favorite franchise. While there are a lot of interesting comparisons between Tatooine and Arrakis,or Paul and Anakin, or the heavy-handed empires in each respective universe, these stories are very different. Dune: Part Two picks up immediately where Dune: Part One ends, as Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) and his mother, Lady Jessica the Bene Gesserit (Rebecca Ferguson) join the sand people called the Fremen led by Stilgar (Javier Bardem) and include Paul’s love interest, Chani (Zendaya) in attempts to win back Arrakis from House Harkonnen led by Baron Vladimir Harkonnen (Stellan Skarsgård) and his leading general Glossu “Beast” Rabban (Dave Bautista). If it feels like I’m namedropping, I’m being conservative because this star-studded film spares no talent and is less interested in raising up “unknowns” and trusts major roles to bonafide stars. And as if Dune: Part One was not packed with enough star power, talent like Austin Butler (Feyd Rautha Harkonnen), Florence Pugh (Princess Irulan Corrino), and Christopher Walken (Emperor Shaddam IV) are added to the mix. Director Denis Villeneuve (Sicario; Blade Runner 2049; Arrival) cut no corners to create this magnum opus.
Here’s how I felt about each aspect of Dune Part Two after one viewing. And let me say right off the bat that watching this movie exclusively at home will diminish the experience that this film was meant to be. It is a spectacle that transcends the stunning visual display and pulsates through your body with sound and anticipation.
Visuals
Any movie that films on location already has an advantage against studio-generated backdrops. We feel as if we are watching events unfold in a tangible world. The sweeping golden-brown dunes of Arrakis feel endless and overwhelming. The vast world feels mysterious and creates a desire for exploration. The use of infrared lighting on Giedi Prime gives the entire world a dull, or black-and-white palette, perhaps highlighting the lack of nuance in House Harkonnen. The sandworms of Arrakis are frightening and the sequence where Paul rides one for the first time will have you feeling like you have experienced riding Shai Halud.
Sound
With the sound of ornithopters swirling around me and my seat shaking beneath me, I’m tempted to say that this movie provides a theatrical four-dimensional experience without the consumption of melange spice produced by the worms. This coupled with the visuals is worth the price of admission alone.
Score
Has Zimmer is already in the movie composer hall of fame with legends like John Williams, Howard Shore, and James Horner but his work on the Dune films can get overlooked if you’re hoping to hum familiar tunes as he gave us on the Pirates of the Caribbean or the Dark Knight trilogy. Rather, he created a vibe for these films. Eerie, droning horns pulsate beneath the scenes with a guttural uneasiness or piercing chants fill the air. The effect creates an other-worldly experience and transports us into the unknown in a way that the music becomes an integral piece of the storytelling.
Story
I walked into the Dune movies with a prior knowledge of the first four Dune books. And while I’ll admit that I do not remember the finer details of those books, I had a general understanding of where the story was headed. Unlike The Lord of the Rings or Star Wars, Dune is a pessimistic take on the hero and is, at best, skeptical of religious figureheads. This can be translated as Herbert’s disdain for Islam or even religion in general. And while I cannot co-sign this hopeless outlook, the warning resonates with me. In an age where Christianity in the United States has suffered beneath the abuse of mega-church pastors, once-trusted apologists, or false messiahs elected in political arenas, Dune: Part Two is a cautionary tale worth noting.
The storytelling in Dune: Part Two is not perfect. Some narrative pieces could have been more clearly explained. However, the production of this masterpiece delivers an event rivaled only by films like Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers; Avengers: Infinity War; and Star Wars: Empire Strike Back. This movie will be excellent if watched at home but will be one of the best theatrical experiences you’ve experienced in years.
