Dune: Part Two: “Mesmerizing, Haunting, and Gorgeous”

Movie Review by: Joao Sieber Bittencourt

Illustration by Fabiola Gonzalez

Dune: Part Two is a monumental achievement in science fiction filmmaking and an instant classic. The film is packed with immense grandiosity and scale, only comparable to Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers. After taking risk after risk, Denis Villeneuve has cemented himself as one of the best directors working today. The Dune series is the true blockbuster epic that audiences have wanted for years.

Dune: Part Two is marketed as the continuation of the great story told in the first film in 2021, and it is exactly that. Skipping Dune: Part One is not recommended as the film picks up exactly where the last one left off, completing the adaptation of Frank Herbert’s infamous novel. Adaptations of the “unadaptable” book have been attempted time and time again ever since it was published but no adaptation ever fully captured the essence of what the source material was… until Denis Villeneuve. The film captures exactly what it feels like to read the book, in which images were ripped directly out of the imagination of the readers. While changes were made, most were either to modernize the film for today’s audiences or clarity purposes. To read the book is a formidable task to many, filled with dense scientific fictional terminology and a complicated political system. Villeneuve managed to tell the story with gorgeous visuals and incredible music front and center. The additions to the story that weren’t in the book were much-welcomed ones, like the changes to Zendaya’s character Chani. Villeneuve has said in interviews that when he was envisioning this two-part saga, one of the keys to nailing the adaptation was focusing on the seeds of feminism that were already present in the novel. This can be seen in the changes to Chani’s actions. She has a much bigger role in the film, and by the end of it, she truly comes into her own. 

When Dune: Part One was released in 2021, it completely revolutionized the science fiction status quo. With reinventive visuals and striking music at the forefront, to the point where the plot almost takes a back seat. Director of Photography Greig Fraser and Composer Hans Zimmer have as much to do with the success of the film as Denis Villeneuve. They’re back for Dune: Part Two, and better than ever. Every still is composed as if it was meant to be hung up at a gallery, filled with subtexts that make you understand the scene in just the way that it’s filmed. You can feel the power struggle with the framing of the picture, even more so in IMAX. The extra screen space transports you to the desert planet of Arrakis and will have your eyes glued to the screen in awe. Combining it with Zimmer’s new score, it creates a near-euphoric experience. There are more woodwinds in this installment compared to the Oscar-winning score of the first Dune, which makes the sounds feel more personable and human, matching what is happening in the story. The crew managed to somehow succeed in the first movie in every way imaginable, with every person working at their career best.

The star-studded cast achieves multiple career-defining performances that you will surely hear more about come the 2025 Academy Awards. Timothée Chalamet puts it all out there, commanding the attention of the viewer, especially in the second half of the film. Zendaya shines in one of her most rich and layered roles to date, and Javier Bardem is incredible with many moments that made the theater laugh out loud. The true standout, however, was Austin Butler. His ability to change his voice and appearance for each one of his roles without it seeming forced is a true gift. Truly terrifying for every moment that Feyd-Rautha is on screen, with the audience holding their breath for who he’ll kill next.

To those who weren’t a fan of Dune: Part One, I implore you to give it a second chance. Regardless of whether you liked the first one, however, the second is a must-watch. It’s an improvement on all fronts, with much more action and sandworms. Dune: Part Two is the science fiction event of the decade, and you don’t want to miss out. Watch it on the biggest screen possible.

Final Grade: A+