Dune: Part Two (12A)

Dir: Denis Villeneuve

Cast: Timothee Chalamet, Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, Josh Brolin, Austin Butler, Florence Pugh, Dave Bautista, Christopher Walken, Lea Seydoux, Stellan Skarsgard, Charlotte Rampling, Javier Bardem

With Dune: Part Two, Denis Villeneuve has delivered a masterclass in visual storytelling which not only improves on the first instalment but also elevates it

After months of waiting following the SAG-AFTRA strikes in 2023, the second part to Denis Villeneuve‘s ambitious Dune franchise is finally here. Arguably one of the most anticipated films of 2024, Dune: Part Two‘s arrival on he big screen could not be more timely with box office numbers being on the decline since the turn of the year. The sci-fi epic has almost unofficially been given the daunting task of encouraging cinema goers to return to their local cineplexes and revive an industry that has been crumbling of late due to weeks of critically underwhelming releases.

The property itself, originally penned by Frank Herbert in 1965, has historically been fraught with difficulties when it has come to big screen adaptations. For decades the novel was deemed ‘unfilmable’ due to its complex and peculiar narrative, as well as serving as a visual test for any filmmaker due to the bizarre and otherworldly setting of Arrakis. Even cult directors Alejandro Jodorowsky and David Lynch have tried and failed to faithfully bring Dune to life on the big screen. While the latter did succeed in releasing a theatrical adaptation of Dune in 1984, it failed in capturing the messianic throughline of Herbert’s novel despite some encouragingly innovative visuals. Jodorowsky’s attempt ten years prior however, makes for a more interesting tale, which if completed would have been 14-hours long and starring Salvador Dali, Orson Welles and Mick Jagger. For those not familiar with it, Frank Povich‘s 2023 documentary Jodorowsky’s Dune, which chronicles the avant-garde filmmaker’s ill-fated attempt at adapting Dune is an excellent watch and definitely worth seeking out.

With ‘Dune‘ being one of my favourite novels of all time, I had all but given up on Frank Herbert’s world of Arrakis being perfectly recreated on the big screen, that is until French-Canadian filmmaker Denis Villeneuve became attached to the franchise. I have always been a huge fan of Villeneuve, who despite only receiving worldwide recognition in the past fifteen years, has already amassed an impressive filmography. As seen in films such as Arrival (2016) and Blade Runner 2049 (2017), Villeneuve has demonstrated he can make a narratively expansive and complex story accessible without the need of dumbing down to the audience. Taking his track record into account, I was not surprised when ‘Dune’ released in 2021 to rave reviews from critics and audiences. Making the wise decision to split the novel into two parts, there was immense pressure on Villeneuve to produce a sequel as visually stunning and narratively tight as its predecessor – boy did he deliver!

We are reintroduced to Paul Atreides (Timothee Chalamet) as he and his Bene Gesserit mother Lady Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson) attempt to assimilate themselves with the native Fremen, following the dissolution of House Atreides. Despite scepticism towards him by some of the natives, Paul embraces Fremen ways by learning their language and passing tests set by tribe leader Stilgar (Javier Bardem). Stilgar and other Fremen from the South of Arrakis believe Paul to be their new messiah, as foretold in prophecy. Despite believing the prophecy to be false, Fremen fighter Chani (Zendaya) develops respect for Paul and the pair form a romantic relationship.

Using the legend of the prophecy to her advantage, Lady Jessica starts to convert the Fremen in the North and the fundamentalist in the South into believing Paul is indeed the Messiah. Meanwhile an initially dismissive Paul begins to utilise the prophecy to work his way up in power amongst the Fremen and begins to strategize an attempt to overthrow House Harkonnen as rulers of Arrakis. Meanwhile, with rumours circulating of Paul’s ascendance, Baron Harkonnen (Stellan Skarsgard) appoints his psychotic nephew Feyd-Rautha (Austin Butler) as Arrakis’ new ruler. With Chani by his side and with Lady Jessica’s spiritual guidance, Paul leads the Fremen in a fight against the Harkonnens and Emperor Shaddam IV (Christopher Walken), in his bid for power.

Any reservations I may have had going into ‘Dune: Part Two’, mainly if the unquestionably talented Villeneuve could strike gold twice with his ambitious adaptation of Herbert’s novel, were quickly stomped out as I found myself yet again fully immersed in the beautifully serene yet dangerous setting of Arrakis. Words such as “epic” and “spectacle” get thrown around a whole lot by critics and audiences but no words can justify the sheer scope of ‘Dune: Part Two’. Villeneuve once again has delivered a masterclass in visual storytelling, further cementing him as one of the most talented and exciting filmmakers working in the industry today. No other filmmaker could have captured Frank Herbert’s vision as impeccably as Villeneuve, who not only succeeds in delivering breath-taking set pieces but also establishes a cohesive and engaging narrative while remaining faithful to the influential source material.

As with all great sequels, of which there are few, ‘Dune: Part Two’ is not only an improvement on its predecessor but also elevates it by progressing the story organically to create that juxtaposition in tone between the two films. One of the few complaints general audiences had with the first ‘Dune’, was it felt unfinished due to its abrupt as Paul finally meets Chani and the Fremen. In hindsight I think this creative decision only improves the first film now the sequel has been released, as this ‘stop-gap’ between the two films proves to be a pivotal moment in Paul’s character arc. Timothee Chalamet does an excellent job over the course of the two films to capture Paul’s initial naivety as a pampered child of royalty in the first film, to then establish himself as an intimidating and borderline egotistical leader of the Fremen, whether he believes it or not.

Like with the first film, Part Two boasts an impressive ensemble, with the likes of Florence Pugh and Austin Butler joining the likes of Chalamet, Zendaya and Rebecca Ferguson to give us arguably one of the most attractive casts to ever grace the screen. The standout of the supporting players is undeniably Zendaya who capitalises on a significantly meatier role than she had in the first film. Chani is one of the most strong-willed characters within Frank Herbert’s fictitious world, which makes her ill-fated relationship with Paul all the more devastating, as we see him become blind to his messianic rise to power.

The plotting in Part Two is undeniably richer than the first film but this is not at the expense of the franchise’s greatest asset – the spectacle. Greig Fraser returns behind the camera having won the Academy Award for Cinematography the first time round and manages to even top his previous work here. The bright blue skies that contrast the baron Arrakis desert in Part One have been replaced with an almost entirely orange colour palette, providing a stunning mix of colour and light to further symbolise the religious elements at the heart of Paul’s storyline. This is intercut with the cold and meticulous world of the Harkonnens, devoid of any colour due to the planet’s ‘black sun’ rendering the world into a sea of black and white.

Another Oscar-winner from the first film, Hans Zimmer, also returns to conduct another iconic score. Leaning into the divisive cultures of the feuding Royal Houses, Zimmer optimises a piercing metallic soundscape for the Harkonnens to balance against the warmer middle-eastern sounds of the Fremen.

Three years and an actors’ strike later, ‘Dune: Part Two’ has managed to astonishingly deliver beyond expectations and with a third film based on Herbert’s second novel Dune: Messiah inevitable, Villeneuve could be on his way to producing one of the best trilogies of all time, and I for one could not be more excited.

Dune: Part Two is now showing in UK Cinemas