by Josh Sewell
Frank Herbert’s epic sci-fi novel Dune is a foundational text that has influenced countless movies, television shows and books since its publication in 1965. Without it, there’s no way George Lucas makes Star Wars in 1977.
Despite several attempts (including David Lynch’s 1984 cult hit and an aborted attempt by Alejandro Jodorowsky in the 1970s), Herbert’s book – packed with complex philosophical themes and near-impenetrable exposition – didn’t get a full-blown, blockbuster adaptation until Denis Villeneuve tackled it in 2021. Even that one was a big gamble, considering it only covered half of the novel and was released as Warner Bros. struggled to recapture the theatrical experience following the pandemic. (It hit theaters and HBO Max simultaneously in October of that year.)
But that risk paid off, as Dune: Part One earned a decent amount at the box office and won six Oscars. I thought it was good, especially the jaw-dropping visual effects and the all-star cast, but it wasn’t exactly a transformative experience for me.
That’s primarily because it’s literally half a movie, spending two-and-a-half hours establishing the characters, their worlds and the stakes, then ending right as the story started getting interesting. I even gave it a rare grade of “Incomplete” in my review. (That being said, I liked it a lot better upon a recent rewatch.)
Keep all that in mind when I say, as someone who isn’t a die-hard fanboy, that Dune: Part Two exponentially improves on the original. It’s a phenomenal film that demands to be seen on the biggest screen possible. Granted, we’re only two months into 2024 and the competition is slim, but it’s easily the best movie of the year so far.
Picking up immediately where the first installment ended, Dune: Part Two continues the epic journey of Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) as he and his mother (Rebecca Ferguson) escape the evil Harkonnen family (represented by Stellan Skarsgård and Dave Bautista) who murdered his father and decimated their realm on the heavily valued desert planet of Arrakis. As they earn the trust of the Fremen, the Indigenous people who have learned to survive the punishing terrain, Paul falls for Chani (Zendaya) and gains the respect of leader Stilgar (Javier Bardem).
However, they’re still in grave danger as the emperor (Christopher Walken), his daughter (Florence Pugh) and the Harkonnens dispatch a brutal psychopath (Austin Butler) to clean up their mess. Fortunately, Paul reunites with a former mentor (Josh Brolin) as he endeavors to prevent a terrible future only he can foresee.
Considering the influence the first installment had on pop culture, I expect Dune: Part Two to land like a nuke at the box office this weekend. It’s the first genuine cinematic experience of the year and fans of the first movie won’t be disappointed with how Villeneuve continues the story, which he co-wrote with Jon Spaihts. (On that note, the latest installment will be impenetrable to those who haven’t seen Part One.)
Not only does the story gain more complexity and emotional resonance, the director addresses many of my concerns with the first movie. Part Two, although it’s steeped in tragedy, doesn’t take itself nearly as seriously. The characters are more fully developed and there’s actually some funny moments, particularly from Bardem and Brolin. They’re the stealth MVPs, even though they don’t get as much screen time as their co-stars.
Chalamet and Zendaya are terrific, as are Pugh and Butler – although despite their roles being much smaller than the film’s advertising would have viewers believe. Villeneuve also carves out time for the audience to establish emotional connections with characters, something that diminished the stakes in Part One. When Paul’s father (Oscar Isaac) and friend (Jason Momoa) were killed in that film, it was supposed to be sad, but their deaths felt perfunctory instead. That’s not the case in this movie – the attachments are much stronger.
What’s more, the technical aspects are remarkable. I had the opportunity to see Part Two in IMAX and it was an incredible experience. Hans Zimmer’s score heightens the already immense stakes and Greig Fraser’s cinematography adds depth and complexity to alien worlds that could’ve been boring in the wrong hands. There’s a reason the first installment won Oscars for cinematography, visual effects, score, sound, production design and editing. I know the year just started, but I anticipate the film has a chance to repeat in those categories.
Dune: Part Two is on track to be the first blockbuster of 2024, and for good reason. Villeneuve’s film is designed to be seen on the big screen, while also ending in a way that is satisfying while demanding the story continue. Although I haven’t read the source material, a quick perusal of the internet suggests “Part Three” could be truly bonkers.
(Dune: Part Two is rated PG-13 for sequences of strong violence, some suggestive material and brief strong language. Opens in theaters on March 1.)
Grade (for both parts): A
Despite several attempts (including David Lynch’s 1984 cult hit and an aborted attempt by Alejandro Jodorowsky in the 1970s), Herbert’s book – packed with complex philosophical themes and near-impenetrable exposition – didn’t get a full-blown, blockbuster adaptation until Denis Villeneuve tackled it in 2021. Even that one was a big gamble, considering it only covered half of the novel and was released as Warner Bros. struggled to recapture the theatrical experience following the pandemic. (It hit theaters and HBO Max simultaneously in October of that year.)
But that risk paid off, as Dune: Part One earned a decent amount at the box office and won six Oscars. I thought it was good, especially the jaw-dropping visual effects and the all-star cast, but it wasn’t exactly a transformative experience for me.
That’s primarily because it’s literally half a movie, spending two-and-a-half hours establishing the characters, their worlds and the stakes, then ending right as the story started getting interesting. I even gave it a rare grade of “Incomplete” in my review. (That being said, I liked it a lot better upon a recent rewatch.)
Keep all that in mind when I say, as someone who isn’t a die-hard fanboy, that Dune: Part Two exponentially improves on the original. It’s a phenomenal film that demands to be seen on the biggest screen possible. Granted, we’re only two months into 2024 and the competition is slim, but it’s easily the best movie of the year so far.
Picking up immediately where the first installment ended, Dune: Part Two continues the epic journey of Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) as he and his mother (Rebecca Ferguson) escape the evil Harkonnen family (represented by Stellan Skarsgård and Dave Bautista) who murdered his father and decimated their realm on the heavily valued desert planet of Arrakis. As they earn the trust of the Fremen, the Indigenous people who have learned to survive the punishing terrain, Paul falls for Chani (Zendaya) and gains the respect of leader Stilgar (Javier Bardem).
However, they’re still in grave danger as the emperor (Christopher Walken), his daughter (Florence Pugh) and the Harkonnens dispatch a brutal psychopath (Austin Butler) to clean up their mess. Fortunately, Paul reunites with a former mentor (Josh Brolin) as he endeavors to prevent a terrible future only he can foresee.
Considering the influence the first installment had on pop culture, I expect Dune: Part Two to land like a nuke at the box office this weekend. It’s the first genuine cinematic experience of the year and fans of the first movie won’t be disappointed with how Villeneuve continues the story, which he co-wrote with Jon Spaihts. (On that note, the latest installment will be impenetrable to those who haven’t seen Part One.)
Not only does the story gain more complexity and emotional resonance, the director addresses many of my concerns with the first movie. Part Two, although it’s steeped in tragedy, doesn’t take itself nearly as seriously. The characters are more fully developed and there’s actually some funny moments, particularly from Bardem and Brolin. They’re the stealth MVPs, even though they don’t get as much screen time as their co-stars.
Chalamet and Zendaya are terrific, as are Pugh and Butler – although despite their roles being much smaller than the film’s advertising would have viewers believe. Villeneuve also carves out time for the audience to establish emotional connections with characters, something that diminished the stakes in Part One. When Paul’s father (Oscar Isaac) and friend (Jason Momoa) were killed in that film, it was supposed to be sad, but their deaths felt perfunctory instead. That’s not the case in this movie – the attachments are much stronger.
What’s more, the technical aspects are remarkable. I had the opportunity to see Part Two in IMAX and it was an incredible experience. Hans Zimmer’s score heightens the already immense stakes and Greig Fraser’s cinematography adds depth and complexity to alien worlds that could’ve been boring in the wrong hands. There’s a reason the first installment won Oscars for cinematography, visual effects, score, sound, production design and editing. I know the year just started, but I anticipate the film has a chance to repeat in those categories.
Dune: Part Two is on track to be the first blockbuster of 2024, and for good reason. Villeneuve’s film is designed to be seen on the big screen, while also ending in a way that is satisfying while demanding the story continue. Although I haven’t read the source material, a quick perusal of the internet suggests “Part Three” could be truly bonkers.
(Dune: Part Two is rated PG-13 for sequences of strong violence, some suggestive material and brief strong language. Opens in theaters on March 1.)
Grade (for both parts): A
Reach out to Josh Sewell at joshsewell81@gmail.com
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