“Dune: Part Two” is a complex film that explores the feat of self-acceptance and survival; however, publicity surrounding the movie may have overhyped the end product.
The film picks up right where it left off with protagonist Paul Atredies (Timothee Chalamet) and his pregnant mother Lady Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson) on the desert planet Arrakis, as they join forces with the planet’s indigenous population, the Fremen, in order to regain economic and political control over their planet after it was stolen by the antagonists House Harkonnen.
After Paul proved himself worthy of the Fremen in the first film, Chani (Zendaya), a Fremen girl who’s bold opinions hold value for the other members of the tribe, teaches him how to become one with the desert. Fights with other royal families cause an all-out war between communities on the planet, forcing Paul to take charge to save his home and what family he has left.
Chalamet comes into his role as savior of the planet perfectly, developing a fully believable character. With intense stares and mesmerizing speeches, he pulls the audience in to create a one-of-a-kind experience. The captivating relationship between Zendaya and Chalamet’s characters plays perfectly into the plot of the film, replicating the tough decisions that must be made in serious relationships. Dramatic scenes and ultimatums recur throughout “Dune”, creating moments that have viewers on the edge of their seats.
“Dune: Part One” had a star-studded cast that encouraged viewers to watch the adaptation of the 1965 novel, but the sequel even more so. Dune: Part Two adds A-list stars Austin Butler, Florence Pugh, and Anya Taylor-Joy, who all elevated the viewing experience with their riveting character portrayals.
The ideas of conflicting faiths became the center focus of the second part of the “Dune” trilogy. The leader of the Fremen tribe Stilgar (Javier Bardem) believes in the prophecy that Fremen would regain control of the planet through an outsider guide, known as the Lisan Al-Gaib. This elicits an intense internal conflict regarding Paul’s character. The idea of different faiths creating a divide in an otherwise peaceful society expertly connects to our current world with the use of religion as a separating force between communities.
Denis Villenueve, the filmmaker and director, did an astounding job of translating his vision to reality through the frames of the film. Each scene is carefully crafted, using different perspectives to fully convey the emotions through each moment.
The camera often switches from third to first person to create the feeling of experience for the viewer. The color changes based on the mood were most definitely a strategic styling choice, as well as the clear differences of planets and overall monetary worth which can be seen when the more colorful desert scenes quickly change to a dark and seemingly cold castle.
With all of the impressive accolades “Dune: Part One” accumulated – from Golden Globes to Academy Awards – fans were quick to buy tickets the moment part two was released. Many, however, were left underwhelmed. While the sequel was wonderfully made, some plot points were left unresolved, possibly with the intention of creating a third movie, but nevertheless, fans may have left the theaters more confused than satisfied.
Even with the movie being on the cusp of three hours long, it was as if the last 15 minutes were rushing to a conclusion to get all of the characters’ shining moments to fully produce a third film. Many critical and intense parts were left unclear with the lack of dialogue and the heavy dependence on the symphonic score. The final scene of the movie – which should have been filled with emotion and power for the viewers – was overtaken by the overwhelming soundtrack closing out the film, completely undermining the moment.
There is no doubt that “Dune” is worth the lengthy watch and will leave viewers restless until the next movie is released!
