Sandworms and Cinema
Review of “Dune: Part Two”
Following the release of “Dune” back in 2021, the movie adaptation of the 1965 epic science fiction novel by Frank Herbert, fans have been anticipating the second film of this ongoing franchise. On March 1, 2024, “Dune: Part Two,” directed by Denis Villeneuve, made its debut in theaters. It stars Timothee Chalamet as the main character, Paul Atreides, with many other big Hollywood names. Fans had high expectations for this film that stars so many beloved actors and actresses, and overall, “Dune: Part Two” exceeds the expectations left by the first film. The sequel is much more exciting and enjoyable to watch, and leaves viewers on the edge of their seats for the next and final film in the trilogy.
The fantastical world and the fictional setting of Arrakis in “Dune: Part Two,” is brought to life beautifully with the visuals and cinematography of this film. The cinematographer on this film, Greig Fraser, did an amazing job creating this fantasy world on the screen, from the battle scenes to the sandworm creature, everything was executed seamlessly. The visuals really immerse the viewer in the world and really makes watching it a full experience.
The acting in this film was a very compelling aspect of this film. Chalamet did amazing in the leading role of Paul Atreides, as he captured the depth of the character as an unconventional leader and anti-hero character. His on screen romance with actress Zendaya, who portrayed the Fremen Chani, was believable and had the chemistry necessary for the storyline. Paul’s mother, Jessica, was portrayed by Rebecca Ferguson, who had to do many intense scenes throughout the film that not every actress could handle. Austin Butler and Stellan Skarsgård portrayed the Harkonnens, the antagonists of the film, and were just as convincing with their acting under all the special effects and makeup. Overall the acting in this movie pulls it together and keeps the plot moving.
As this is an elaborate fantasy sci-fi movie, the plot can easily become hard to follow at times, which is the main critique for this film. The first “Dune” does a good job setting up the ins and outs of the film's main setting, the fictional planet of Arrakis, however it falls much flatter than the second. The sequel moves faster, contains more action and is easier to watch. Because of how elaborate the worldbuilding is in both the book and the films, the plot must live up to everything in a short amount of time. “Dune: Part Two” has much more room for plot, given that “Dune: Part One” has already entered the viewer into the fantasy world, allowing the second film better action scenes and a more expansive storyline. Though many changes were made from the original book, the plot of “Dune: Part Two” is definitely easier to follow and is far more interesting than the first film.
As a whole, “Dune: Part Two” accomplishes what it is meant to, which is to create an immersive fantasy world that keeps the viewer interested all the way through. The second film contains so much more story and feeling, leaving a great set up for the last film in this trilogy. For fans of the first movie, as well as those who maybe didn’t enjoy it, “Dune: Part Two” is worth a watch as it contains what its predecessor was missing.
<Star rating>
Visuals/cinematography: ★★★★★
Acting: ★★★★★
Plot: ★★★★★
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