Dune: Part Two

What The Empire Strikes Back is to A New Hope, Dune: Part Two is to the previous film. In short, it's a perfectly natural sequel that doesn't suffer from the infamous ills of second parts, but continues to develop the story, stretching it out to unexpected breadth and depth, and from the opening scene gives the impression that last time it was just a set-up of pieces on a chessboard and a few tentative but thoughtful moves, but the real game only begins now. Stunning is probably the word that describes Dune: Part Two in every possible way. The elaborate script, the breathtaking desert scenery in particular, the believability, the palpability, the actors and actresses who just really are those characters. Even those unfamiliar with the source material will easily understand what makes Herbert's work special when they see all the unexpected turns the plot takes. Special mention must again go to Hans Zimmer, who probably hasn't composed anything decent since the last Dune because he was working on the second part. As was the case with the last film, I now have no choice but to believe that I will see the next installment(s), because all those ajar doors and gates are just so very tempting. (02/29/2024)

Mature sci-fi with mature themes that value the intellect of its audience. Can't we get that more often? Before I get to my minor reservations, I must first point out three things. Go to the cinema. Go to the cinema. And thirdly, go to the cinema. For epic cinematic feats in which everything is technically correct and yet completely mesmerising and impressive on an unreal scale, it makes sense to put money into buying a ticket. In short, Dune: Part Two delivers the viewing experience in all its glory. And it could easily have been over three hours long – even at 166 minutes it feels too short in places, and an extra quarter of an hour would have been easily enough. A more significant problem for me is the fact that Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya have almost zero chemistry with each other and their relationship, although the mainstay of the film, feels rushed and unconvincing. Emotionally, I simply didn't tune in to the characters. In any case, in many other ways, Denis Villeneuve translates the book into film language very effectively and once again raises the bar of contemporary science fiction a little higher. And although we'll probably have to wait quite a long time for the third film, I'm looking forward to it a lot and I'm curious to see what kind of spectacle he'll have in store for us again. (02/27/2024)

With a bit of exaggeration, you could say of this colossal film it is about the USSR fighting the Arabs for oil and the Americans pulling the strings. Dune: Part Two is the pinnacle of modern big screen in every way. From the engaging storytelling, to the sound design, the fantastic sets, the visual effects, the sound and Hans Zimmer's beauty. Hands down, this a brilliant job by the filmmakers and the actors. A monumental epic that for years was considered unfilmable has succeeded for the second time. Everybody says it can't be done, until somebody does it. And that somebody is Denis Villeneuve. The event of the year – the riding of the worm and the duel between Chalamet and Butler are absolute cinematic delights. And the whiners who will complain about the final third and who knows what else are not worth addressing. (03/09/2024)

The main problem I had with the first Dune was that I had a hard time finding even one single character whose fate I cared about. It was a beautiful but cold and empty film. The second film, however, manages to repair the series' reputation in that sense rather quickly. The heroes finally do something interesting, they talk to each other, the debates have a point, and Villeneuve wraps it all up in just a little bit nicer visuals. Dune: Part Two is more beautiful, but also more action-packed, brisker and more watchable. Until suddenly it isn't. Villeneuve seems to realise after a hundred minutes or so that he still has a lot of story to tell and that he just can't cram it into the remaining hour. So he hits the gas and the film is suddenly unnecessarily rushed, running away from interesting topics because he still has to finish this or that. And while the final battle looks really magnificent, once again, with the closing credits, I got the feeling that there may very well be a great story behind this beautiful film, but even this time it didn't get told in the way it deserved. Unlike the first part, I wasn't bored this time, but if I ever see this part again, it will be before the premiere of the eventual third. For despite all the qualities, there is still a certain aftertaste of incompleteness. (02/27/2024)

I think I’ve just watched not only the most anticipated film of the year but probably the best thing I’ll see in 2024. The wait for the second part of Dune was worth every moment. If this is the level of quality we get after three years, then I’m not complaining. This installment is a total sci-fi epic that rightfully earns its place among the best Hollywood offerings of the 21st century. Hans Zimmer has outdone himself again. While there isn’t a standout melody, the combination of his score with the practically flawless visuals evokes an indescribable sense of fear and respect for Arrakis. The cast is a gathering of top-tier talent, seamlessly blending into a cohesive and high-quality ensemble. Denis Villeneuve has once again surpassed expectations. He has faithfully adapted a novel once deemed unfilmable in the 1980s. (03/03/2024)