Dune: Part Two (2024, PG-13)

 

*Spoilers for Dune: Part One.*

I should say up top, I watched this movie several months ago and didn’t review it at the time. It kind of falls into the category of “undeniably well-made but not for me,” so my memories of it aren’t the sharpest. I’ll work off my impressions of it as well as I can, but I’m well aware that I’m not equipped to discuss some of the richer aspects of the film.

What’s It About?

After the Harkonnens overthrew House Atreides in the first film, Paul and his mother fled to the desert. Some of the Fremen are suspicious of the Atreides, while others begin to believe Paul is their prophesied Lisan al Gaib. As he grows closer to a Fremen girl named Chani, Paul wrestles with apocalyptic visions that seem to warn of calamity if he assumes this messianic role.

Who’s in It?

Most of the major players from the first film are back, of course, like Timothée Chalamet as Paul, Rebecca Ferguson as Lady Jessica, and Stellan Skarsgård as Baron Harkonnen. I’m glad we get a lot of more from Zendaya’s Chani in this film, and I like seeing more of Javier Bardem’s Stilgar as well (though it would’ve been good to see more of the prominent Fremen characters played SWANA actors, given the obvious allegories in the storytelling.) As for new characters, Florence Pugh is understated but effective as Princess Irulan, I was not expecting to see Christopher Walken in this movie, and Austin Butler is absolutely wilding out as the Baron’s unhinged nephew, Feyd-Rautha.

What’s It Nominated For?

Dune: Part Two was nominated for five Oscars:

·        Best Picture

·        Best Cinematography

·        Best Production Design

·        Best Sound

·        Best Visual Effects

What Do I Love About It?

·        As I said, “undeniably well-made but not for me,” so this will be a shorter entry. This isn’t a bad movie—far from it—and I can’t pinpoint specific aspects that I don’t like. It just doesn’t really grab me. I’m sure it doesn’t help that I haven’t read the book, and no doubt there’s plenty of complexity that I’m just not seeing because I can’t access those deeper levels. But in this section, I want to focus on what I did like.

·        On a design level, it’s magnificent, much like the first film. It looks and sounds incredible: the use of sound, the sets and costumes, and the camera work are all a cinematic feast.

·        Great acting all around. Like I said, I especially appreciate getting to see more of Zendaya’s Chani and learning more about who she is as a character.

·        The Lisan al Gaib story is interesting to me, a very conscious deconstruction of the traditional White Savior narrative—and just the sci-fi/fantasy Chosen One narrative in general. I like seeing the different characters navigate this thorny topic.

Warnings

Violence, strong thematic elements, disturbing imagery, (fictional) drug use, sensuality, and language.