The term that would be most appropriate for people reviewing Denis Villeneuve’s “Dune: Part Two” is “overwhelm”. Expect a whole lot of variations on the words “overpowering” and “showing off” too. Many adjectives can be applied to the end result, but Villeneuve certainly didn’t try to tackle the famous science fiction novel by Frank Herbert with a small dose of aspiration. And indeed, it is not the first time that his creativeness, coupled with a very capable team of specialists whom he worked with, has already been effectively utilized in the production of a sequel to an Oscar winning film of 2021. While that much loved blockbuster overloaded one side of the story, ‘Part Two’ shifts the center of gravity forward and raises the bar considerably in regards to stakes on the planet Arrakis, while adding just about the right touch of levity and subtle commentary about power and fanaticism to spice things up. More than just a simple redeemer or a chosen one, ‘Dune Part Two’ is how good filmmaking should be, a true blockbuster in every sense of the word that artistry and elegance can still be applied.
As Paul Atreides (Timothy Chalamet) claims victory over Jamis (Babs Olusanmokun) in a duel, the Fremen are seen transporting the deceased’s lifeless body once more as ‘Dune: Part Two’ continues directly from where the previous film left off. Following the slaying of House Atreides, Paul elects to ally with the Fremen, a decision that greatly displeases his mother Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson). Jessica and Paul’s delusions of the desert’s cursed land being responsible for their bloodthirst scatter themselves as Lord Harkonnen (played by Stellan Skarsgård) further intensifies his onslaught against the Fremen, putting to what can only be described as ‘wonderfully choreographed’ fighter and soldier confrontations numerous times in the course of the film. The entire first hour of the most recent installment seemed to have been captured in a singularity of sequences where the commander of the Fremen forces synchronized offensive tactics as they surfaced from the soil itself to the command of their chieftains to hunt down the Harkonnen forces. As the gigantic vessels explode stunningly like a musical performance, bodies rain down like broken toys as fleets plunge from space into a furious firestorm. This leads to Bautista (who plays Rabban Harkonnen) hilariously portraying his character as incompetent in times of conflict, while Stellan Skargard takes a more sinister approach where his character embodies a cross between Nosferatu and Jabba the Hutt.
While “Dune: Part Two” details the Fremen’s battle against the Harkonnens for Arrakis, Paul develops from an unsure boy at the beginning of the first film, into an individual who could potentially lead armies and conquer territories. Touted among his followers as prophecy about a child who would save them, Stilgar (Javier Bardem), a tribe’s leader, believes Paul Atreides to be the one. Despite a significant portion of the myths suggesting that Paul will be a savior, the Emo King attempts to adapt to the Fremen climate and social system and falls for a young warrior named Chani (Zendaya). He endures the challenges placed by the tribe, receives the name Muad’Dib, and swears to annihilate the Harkonnens for the assassination of his father.
On another planet, Emperor Shaddam IV (Christopher Walken), who Arakis’s political affairs are not indifferent to, speaks to his daughter Irulan (Florence Pugh) and Bene Gesserit’s Reverend Mother Charlotte Rampling. It becomes clear quite early that Shaddam practically inflicted the destruction of the House Atreides upon itself, which means he’s one of those people who are on the list of people that Paul has made up in his head somewhere within definitely. Meanwhile, Irulan performs the role of a sort of narrator in ‘Dune: Part Two’ as she Michael Myers esque in certain scenes and explains various events of the politics in the picture in her audience meant for destroying anything with a free plot.
If the interstellar politics weren’t enough, writers Villeneuve and Jon Spaihts imbue the necessary think pieces with an interesting variant: religious fanaticism. Lady Jessica turns out to be a religious leader of her own in Fremen society who takes her son into some sort of horrifying and sinister cult. “Dune: Part Two” is not your classic hero’s narrative because it is trying to constantly resolve the question of whether it is reasonable to be ruled by someone who comes from a different culture — Chani certainly doesn’t, and Zendaya quietly makes the audience think what sort of a happy ending would look like for these people. As Jessica and Paul assimilate into the traditions, customs, and practices of the Fremen, they do not subjugate it, they rather intend to displace and possess it. There is a huge gulf between the two.
The most impressive aspect of such a complex plot is the mastery of the technical side, as was the case in the previous film. It goes without saying that Part Two has visual effects that either surpass or fall on the level of an Oscar winner, and this time it is due to no one but cinematographer Greig Fraser.The way light angling is something of an art; every frame is a masterpiece. From the angle at which the sun strikes Chalamet’s face to the distinct color palettes of Harkonnens and Fremen to the manner in which dust storms engulf entire arcs. Undoubtedly the colors portray emotions, yet looking at the Harkonnen world, one may assume that they see only black and white. Color polka dots come after gran black or colorless explosions. Everything that looks colorful, be it war or celebratory explosions, is solely large splatters of colorless paint. Going off on a different tangent, I felt that the music’s intensity was excessive, however, Hans Zimmer’s masterful orchestration ties the score back to the visuals using dominant styles. This time around, it was easy to feel the impact of the music splattering and the battles hammering across the screen while the effects only heightened one’s desire to watch the movie further.
When it comes to the performers, Chalamet will likely be the most polarizing factor, since he comes off as a bit muted for someone who’s deemed to be the Neo of this universe. But in a way, those choices make sense because they increase the ambiguity of Paul’s ascendancy. Zendaya gets the job done, but she lacks the sizzling chemistry with Chalamet that would have made some difference what does make a difference here though are Ferguson’s slippery performance and Bardem’s playful one, which weren’t present in the first outing. Lastly, Austin Butler goes all out with the flamboyant portrayal of Feyd Rautha, effectively portraying the Baron’s sociopathic nephew’s explosive personality, which is what such a character needs in order to be effective, as he finds the emotional void to counterbalance Chalamet’s brooding internal dialogue.
Before the release of “Dune: Part Two”, it was often compared to ‘the empire strikes back’, which may not be entirely accurate. A better comparison might include ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers’ as it expanded on the characters introduced in the first installment, incorporated several others and raised the stakes and sense of conflict. It feels like both of these films have benefits to a third chapter. It seems critics will need to find an alternative to the word great.
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