"Lead them to paradise."
So epic! A proper sequel to the masterpiece that is the first one, Dune: Part Two is everything I wanted and more. The scale and the stakes are much bigger. It really benefits from the world-building and character roots previously established in the first and makes everything bloom. The themes (and at times criticisms) on religion and politics felt so refreshing for a sci-fi movie. It's pretty thought-provoking in that sense. The story had me captivated and invested. It still has it's slow moments but the action sequences are perfectly placed and the payoff in the third act is so worth it.
The biggest praise I could give it is the character arcs and evolution. Paul's evolution here is so fascinating, we basically watch a boy become a man. At the beginning of the movie you fear for his life but by the second half he's the one to fear, emanating confidence. Timothée Chalamet absolutely owned it. Austin Butler is the perfect villain, so unpredictable and violent. I love Jessica's character arc but it felt rushed at times, like she changed too much in between some scenes. The Reverend Mother is so badass, i'm always secretly rooting for her for some reason (the "silence" moment was perfection).
I wasn't expecting the amount of action we got, compared to the first there's a lot. The action and set pieces are so memorable. The worm riding scene was the best moment of the entire movie, I felt so alive with all the special effects and the sound design and the vibrations it's like I was riding it myself. Epic third act battle and hand-to-hand knife scene (although it isn't top tier combat compared to a lot of action movies but the editing and camerawork made it look flawless). They did skip some action in the third act that I wanted to see more of though.
God tier cinematography. I thought there was no way it could look better than the first but they somehow managed to make it look even better in this one. Loved the color grading and the way the sand moves, flawless. The most visually stunning sequence was the black and white one introducing Austin Butler's character. Epic sound design.
I keep trying to pick a favorite between Part One and Part Two and I don't think it's going to happen... they're equal. Overall an excellent sequel. Can't wait to see what's in store for Part Three.
This will probably become more beloved than Dune for being a bigger, more action driven film. Personally I prefer the first film by a long shot, but there's a lot to like here. I loved Paul's new journey for this installment as it doesn't develop in the way you'd expect based on the ending of the first film. The themes of colonialism, false prophecies and religion reach a level of depth that cannot be found in other sci-fi/fantasy contemporaries like Lord of the Rings or Star Wars; this film certainly made me understand why this story is taken so seriously as a piece of literature. Despite the source material being so old, there's still something new and refreshing about it. You don't often see major Hollywood productions calling out religion as a manipulative force helping the people in power. On top of that this brilliantly subverts the concept of the hero's journey we've become accustomed to by everything that was in one way or another inspired by Dune. The acting is pretty great, Timothée does a great job at playing the transition Paul goes through. Despite his boyish looks I was sold on his performance as the leader of the Fremen. Rebecca Ferguson and Javier Bardem are also scene stealers. The visuals are once again mindblowing, in terms of set/costume design, cinematography and CGI this is as close to perfection as you could get to right now. The vision and scope of this movie are truly unmatched, which leads to some breathtaking sequences that I'll remember for a while (sandworm ride; the black/white arena fight; knife fight during the third act).
However, for all the praise I have for Dune: Part 2, I think Denis is being uncharacteristically sloppy with this film. First of all, Bautista and Butler feel like they're ripped from a different franchise altogether. Their over the top, cartoonish performances are more suited for something like Mad Max than the nuanced world of Dune. The bigger cracks start to appear when you look at the writing. The brief moments where the movie pokes fun at religious zealots through Javier Bardem's character, while funny, probably won't age very well. Like the first movie, it has a tendency to rely too much on exposition and handholding, a problem which might be worse here. I feel like a lot of the subtlety is lost in order to make the movie more normie proof, and that's quite annoying for a movie with artistic ambitions like this one. For example, there's this scene where Léa Seydoux seduces Austin Butler's character, and everything you need to know as a viewer is communicated through Butler's performance. Cut to the next scene, where Seydoux is all but looking at the camera saying "he's a psychopath, he's violent, he wants power, etc.". I just feel like compared to Villeneuve's precise work on Blade Runner 2049, he's consciously dumbing it down here. It's understandable and somewhat excusable for a complex story like Dune, but he occasionally takes it too far for my liking. Then there's the love story subplot between Chani and Paul, which almost entirely misses the mark for me. It feels rushed, there's no chemistry between the actors and some of the lines are painfully cheesy. Because of that, the emotional gutpunch their story eventually reaches during the third act did little for me. Finally, I'm a little dissatisfied with the use of sound. I loved the otherworldly score Zimmer came up with for the first Dune, however this film is so ridiculously bombastic and low-end heavy that it starts to feel like a parody of his work with Christopher Nolan. For the final action beat of the film Villeneuve cuts out the film's score, and it becomes all the more satisfying for it.
Overall, I recommend this film, however maybe temper those expectations if you're expecting a masterpiece. There's a lot to admire, but it's flawed.
6.5/10
It was everything they said it would be and then some! Supreme spectacle with otherworldly intensity. Fan first was an experience I’ll never forget. A film for the ages. Long live the fighters!
Too Much Sand: The Sequel
I haven't read the book and I really don't like the movies. This movie just feel soulless with flat and bland characters where their motivation is unclear and with a hollow plot.
When it comes to the pacing and action, yes action, is was just so boring. The chemistry between the two leads is just non-existent.
Some of the editing was also really weird.
Paul ventures out on a solo quest and all of the sudden they attack an spice harvester.
I really don't understand why some people say it is intensive, epic, spectacular and a masterpiece.
The visuals and acting from some of the cast (Butler) saves it from a lower score.
This is the most overrated movie I have ever seen. It is not a terrible movie but people giving this 9's and 10's must be in love with the smell of Timothee Chalamets farts.
Some of the dialogue in this movie is laughably bad which is a shame because the cast is extremely strong and capable.
There were pacing issues throughout the movie - the fight at the end seemed like it just kinda happened with no build up. There was no tension or payoff to the big battle, just a big fight with a bunch of decent looking CGI.
Austin Butlers character and the Harkinnen moments were the best parts of the movie. I enjoyed that arc.
The penultimate moment of Timothee vs Austin was super predictable, and executed in a dull and boring way. The outcome was also very obvious.
Great visuals, although I would not say "innovative" visuals. The Creator, released last year, for example, was far more visually appealing than Dune Part Two, on a lower budget.
Super mid movie, worth your money, and nice to look at (especially in IMAX) but giving this a 9 or 10 is wild
Hans Zimmer is so hot
what an amazing experience. Those 3 hours just flew by and it ended with me wanting more
BRING ON THE HOLY WARS!!!!
Much as Avatar took story elements from Dune, Dune takes the questionable box office success of Avatar. Along with that will come those blindly calling this "the greatest movie ever made" vaguely recalling it a decade from now.
It's like Schindler's List, everyone will tell you how great it is, but who wants to watch it more than once.
This was a huge waste of time. Boring af.
This movie was a mess, the pacing is atrocious, and they butchered too many interactions that helps build more context to what happens, and to build the finale. This movie was much more pure spectacle instead of the needed subtly that Frank Herbert did in the second part of the book.
This is Cinema. I guess this is what older people were feeling when movies like Star Wars the original trilogy or LOTR were airing. This movie is going to be generational defining and I am glad that I am a fully grown adult with opinions and taste to really see how good this movie is
This WILL be the best sci-fi movie of the year decade
The standard for what constitutes a quality movie has plummetted so badly in recent years. Dune 2 is another example. Yet another movie that focuses on psychosis, pornographic violence, and very little else. The chemistry between Zendaya and Timothee is nonexistent, not that it matters because their relationship, as is in most cases with superficial films that inject a love story, is as inauthentic and if anything adds to the lack of substance of the film as a whole. What is all the fuss about!?
Going against concensus here and giving it just 5. Firstly, the movie weas overly long . The first haIf in particular, focussing on the relationship between the leads, was boring. I feel Zendaya brings nothing to the role; her Chani is quite unlikeable and, as someone has mentioned, lacks any chemistry with the lead. I found the cinematography uninspiring., there were very few shots that showed any stunning scenery at all, despite the exclamations of the leads as they look over the dunes. The shots of huge audiences and masses of people were overdone, and looked like a cut and paste job. The special effects for the worms were minimal, with all efforts being focussed on blowing stuff up ... very tedious. On top of all that, they have left out / altered important elements of the story!! Was looking forward to this, but unfortunately, was very disappointed, Wish the TV mini-series had been given this one's budget!
The only scene that was worth a damn was Paul's speech at the Circle; the rest of the movie felt like watching a trailer for a graphic novel adaptation of the book. The dialogue for the most part was atrocious, especially for the Harkonnens. Zendaya's line delivery and mannerisms were too "American", compared to the other Fremen, breaking the Middle Eastern-inspired atmosphere.
In 2024, conflating the terms "psychotic" and "psychopathic" is inexcusable. How the fuck did none of the story editors/producers pick that one up?
Director Denis Villeneuve has actually managed to maintain the quality of what I consider to be the almost perfect "Dune" (2021) in this sequel. And I don't even want to start ranking both films; they are clearly on par for me and belong together. While the 2021 film has a stronger beginning, the finale of "Part 2" is much more satisfying. Ultimately, a double feature is worthwhile.
Looking at the second part on its own, my only major criticism is that the opening is a little clunky. In fact, it feels a bit like you're entering the middle of a story (which you are). However, it doesn't take long before you're fully immersed in the world again. This is primarily due to Villeneuve's impeccable sense of style. Whether it's the production design, score, visual effects, costumes, or sound, everything fits together perfectly. I would be very surprised if the film didn't play a major role at the Oscars in 2025.
But the acting is also another highlight. Timothée Chalamet shows once again that he is already a master of his craft. And Zendaya and Javier Bardem are also great in extended roles this time. But the MVP for me is actually Austin Butler, whose Feyd-Rautha is incredibly unsettling.
All in all, "Dune: Part Two" is a complete success. Only viewers who were hoping for a definitive conclusion to the story might be a little disappointed. After all, Frank Herbert's story is far from over. But if the film is successful, which it looks like it will be, then we shouldn't have to wait too long for an adaptation of "Dune Messiah."
VISUALLY THRILLING NARRATIVELY EPIC!!!
9/10
I love Dune and have enjoyed all incarnations of this (including the PC game from 30 years ago) and while I enjoyed this I think maybe knowing the story back to back made it less enjoyable for me. Villeneuve's style of directing for me I don't think is quite my style in the pacing and shot style so it doesn't quite click.
Visually it's stunning, cast is great but it's not one I'd rush to watch again myself. 6/10
This was worse than the first movie. Dune: Part Two has terrible pacing, weird cuts, bad editing, and feels completely disjointed, especially in the second half of the movie. Unpleasant to watch.
I don't understand people rating this above a 7...
Listen.. The lore isn't bad... But there's simply not enough screen time for us to care about anyone living or dying.
I imagine if you read the books this movie is a sight to behold.
But as a non book reader. This is well deserved 6.
Definitely a blockbuster but not a very good film. Characters were wafer thin, and no real sense of the passage of time. Perhaps a fortnight's package holiday on Arrakis. No real sense of culture at the level of the community. Again it seems more like a opera influenced by German expressionism, more choreographed than depth. The technology however was really well done, the worms and sense of place. The film never seemed to me to be intimate, it felt I was there to witness it like some liturgical rite. The acting for me seemed a bit off too, even though the players are talented. Maybe for me they didn't really fit. It was a good stab at the story, but like many others a failure. Perspective will come to those who think it a fantastic film in years to come. Hopefully one day some director truly gifted will blend sights with insights, without losing too much context and nuance in the execution. I did like the ending though, covering the Holy War a bit.
6/10
I just have to say it's a masterpiece.
ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED?!
Like I said...this is the best science fiction movie I've ever watched. Watched it a few hours ago and I still can't get my mind off of how beautifully crafted this movie is, it's not your regular science fiction movie, it does not resonate with everyone. But Dune part 2 has just reinvented the science fiction genre to a place where you never would've thought. Denis Villeneuve is the best working director in the industry right now. His mastery in worldbuilding is simply a cinematic spectacle, Dune 2 surpasses its predecessor in every way imaginable delivering a deep dive into one of the most beloved stories in fiction ever.
It cannot be stated enough, but this movie is one of the most visually stunning movies I've seen in my lifetime, although it's not as stunning as Blade Runner 2049, it's a close second. The breathtaking cinematography coupled with Hans Zimmer's score captures the grandeur of the world and immerses the viewer into the beautiful world Dune is.
Yet another stacked cast with Timothée Chalamet being the lead, delivers a captivating performance from start to end. The supporting cast including Javier Bardem, Rebecca Ferguson and Austin Buttler is nothing short of a memorable performance.
Dune isn't without it's fair share of nitpicks, I loved all the characters but the female characters in particular felt under-written or under-developed, which seems to be a recurring issue with Denis lately, most the female characters were used for 'Sex Apeal' and lacked depth in exception to Rebecca's character, who was fleshed out really well in both movies. I loved Zendaya's portrayal of Chani, but I wasn't sold on the romance one bit, at times it felt too forced and their chemistry wasn't convincing, once again this isn't an issue in their acting but rather the chemistry was a bit off. I love Hans Zimmer but his score here is probably the most forgettable yet, there is one track that stood out to me but all the others felt like recycled tracks off his other movies.
This is now officially my 3rd favourite movie of all time.
As a reader of the original books, I don't like the changes to the characterizations. In my eyes, this isn't a Dune movie adaption, it's a fanfic.
Amazing. It's much better than the first one. Probably will be the best movie of 2024.
Take a nap instead of watching this PoS. You'll thank me later.
The first one was great I thought, despite people labelling it slow, I found it interesting because of the introduction of the world and the characters. This one needed a little more pace. It drags for soo long. And the Bene Gesserit crap is getting irritating. The whole seeing the future is very dumb and gets in the way of engaging with the film. The prophecy/false prophecy discussion is interesting but again, it doesn't have any real weight on what's happening. The romance is kinda rushed. The visuals are top notch. But you can't rely on that to save you again. Also the Paul transition seemed to happen overnight with no buildup. Went south, drank poison bam I'm your leader now. In the end, you realize that not much really happened in the movie, no resolution of any kind. Felt like a two-and-a-half-hour episode with the next one probably coming 3 years later. 6.5/10
I won't be going much about the details and ideas in the book that are completely lost in typical director's vision with his long meaningful shots of the wind, or poor harkonnen whose planet is black&white apparently and that's why they all look like freaking walking dead.
But I should say it's annoying to see how every movie these days is turned into some woke propaganda, this way or another. In a book Chani loved Paul no matter what, she admired his qualities, when he decided to marry emperor's daughter she tried to commit suicide to show Paul her love. And this action later made him to rethink about his destiny and leave the life of the Power, return to the life of freedom with fremens and Chani.
And in the movie they turned her into another strong and independent woman, who doesn't kneel and goes alone back to the desert to ride a worm without face mask, because strong and independent women don't need that, obviously. They just need to look strongly into the camera to make this movie about them.
This is an auditory masterpiece. Hans Zimmer's score blends seamlessly with the world and imagery. It becomes hard to distinguish the music from the sounds of the world. You can hear the wind, the sand, the hum of machinery and aircraft... The score honestly breathes life into the movie. I would watch this again for the score, alone. But it's also visually stunning and an all-around stimulating experience.
This movie hits perfect scores on all the technical aspects, I can only think in terms of superlatives when trying to describe the looks, sounds, acting, soundtrack,... in this movie.
But on a personal level, it's not completely my cup of tea. It was a bit overwhelming and complex to follow at times. I think I'll enjoy Part One more knowing what it leads up to, I'll probably enjoy Part Two more now that I know where the movie is going and after the third movie, I might love this franchise.
But for now it's not something I could easily rewatch, and that's a shame because I really wanted to love this movie. On the other hand, I always think in terms of rewatchability and maybe I shouldn't do that.
But I'll end positive, I think it's a highly interesting world, the final 30 orso minutes were epic and even though I found the movie a bit slow at times, I was never bored.
Holy fuck!
I'd always been told that Herbert's novels were epic, and I never had a reason to doubt that because of who was telling me, but I never got into the Dune franchise until Villeneuve got his wish to adapt them. I was very drawn into and impressed by Dune, but I was kinda dreading watching this just because I wasn't sure if it could live up to the hype and my expectations from the first.
But it did! Not only that, it exceeded my expectations, and I haven't had as wild a ride while watching something like this in a long time. I know this is a wildly reductive way to describe things, but this is the best of Star Wars and A Song of Ice and Fire combined; a sweeping space epic with all the political intrigue of great houses fighting for control.
From the moment Halleck shouted "fire!" and those atomics were launched at the shield wall, my mouth was hanging open for the last 20 minutes.
Just purely engrossing and engaging visual porn on top of incredible storytelling and acting. Also, I gotta give a shout out to Austin Butler, whom I was convinced was actually Bill Skarsgård until I checked IMDb.
If you enjoyed Villeneuve's first entry in 2021, Part Two probably won't disappoint you. God, I can't wait for Messiah!
Being a reader is more often than not a curse when it comes to films based on well known, and loved, books. But not this time...
I've said it before, and I can certainly say it again... Denis Villeneuve is one of the best visual story tellers of our time, and I'm ready to fight anyone who says differently... Especially when he also respects the source material, and is not trying to make it "better".
Dune: Part Two is some of the most spectacular filmmaking I have ever seen, and you really have to see it to believe it. Every scene... Every damn scene... both lighting and framing... Absolute Perfection!!!
I really need to see this again... soon...
I am commenting as someone who has read the book. The director continued his adaptation success, as in the first film. Every scene, every detail was compatible with the book and it was a cinematic show. He made you feel the art of cinema to the fullest. It was a satisfying movie and well worth the money. Thank you Denis Villeneuve.
Epic on every scale. The action, the cinematography, the acting, the score, and just about everything else was amazing in this movie. The set piece when Fremen were destroying spice machinery was one of my favorite scenes. I really enjoyed this, but need to give it a rewatch to see if this grows on me a little more t like the first one did. I missed some dialogue here and there and also with this being as dense as it was, it was a lot to take in. I am very excited to see more from this universe.
The first part was a bit boring, overly focused on the Fremen world and how Paul and his mother were welcomed into the desert people. In the second part however, the pace was excessively hasty, at several moments you have the feeling that someone has pressed the fast forward button, and you find yourself out of breath at the end of the film. A real shame, because Dune part one was an authentic narrative masterpiece, and personally I had high expectations for part two. Of course, the photography is always amazing, and the acting is also excellent, but narratively the film was a disappointment. In the end it felt like I was watching the second episode of a TV series, waiting for part three (?).
Shit's fucking dope dawg wtf
Dune 2 was a spectacle on numerous fronts, and one of the only movies that I can truly say demands to be seen on the biggest screen possible. The cinematography is stellar, with multiple scenes composed with such attention to detail, not only in the foreground but also in the complexity of the background. Hans Zimmer is at the top of his game, and there isn't really anything I can say beyond that in terms of praise. Where I think this movie really shines though is the sound design. The thudding of the thumpers calling forward the worms, the roar of large crowds, the Voice permeating throughout a room...all of them shook me to the bone in IMAX, giving me the same visceral reaction as the characters. When people talk about Dune 2 and its cinematic quality, it is the combination of these various factors that create a stunning audiovisual feast. The proficient filmmaking coupled with the scale and epicness of the Dune story are enticing me to go to my nearest theater just to catch one of the many scenes living rent-free in my head right now.
How does the movie hold up beyond the audiovisual aspect? I am a bit reticent to label any of the acting as truly stellar, and though I enjoyed Austin Butler's Feyd-Rautha, I don't think it deserved the level of hype it had going into the movie. Timothee Chalmet is pretty good, but again, I will be surprised to see him in the Leading Actor nomination list for the Oscars next year. Despite the lack of a standout performance, the acting ensemble overall is all good across the board, without anyone necessarily feeling like a weak link. They work together really well, and no one person dominates the screen. Rebecca Ferguson was my personal favorite.
I think the one area this movie (and the one before it) suffer the most is the story/characters. Denis Villeneuve is on record saying that he feels the focus of movies should be on the image, not dialogue. And honestly, I feel it shows in his movies, especially these two Dune movies. There is a coldness and distance in this movie that makes some of the story and character interactions feel rushed, with it seeming like Denis wants to just jump to the next big setpiece. That's not to say there isn't dialogue or that the movie is pure spectacle and action -- there are quieter moments as well, as we finally start to get a bit more Bene Gesserit scheming. But you can tell that this is not his primary focus. Villeneuve seems to have changed a lot from the source material to drive home the theme and arc of Paul Atredies, and in that regard, I think he's still very cognizant of what he is trying to tell overall. There is no doubt what the thematic takeaways are from this movie, and even though there can be complexity regarding the different terminology behind all the religions and mysticism, the storytelling is still very clear. In this sense, the movie is reflective of a larger trend I see in sci-fi sometimes, to focus more on concepts and ideas than on the individuals whose roles serve more to drive those themes home than to be deep characters with their own interiority.
Given all of this, your mileage may vary a bit. If you are someone who struggles with some of the more sterile sci-fi stories and prefers character-driven material, I do think there are certain aspects of this movie that will not land. However, if you are looking for a cinematic experience, a reason to go the theater, to be a part of a movie that will undoubtedly inspire and influence future filmmaking and that will set a new bar for how large scale epics can be depicted, then go watch this right now.
Wildly imperfect and absolutely astounding.
I never thought I could watch a better battle scene than The Lord of the Rings.
Finally part two came out and totally worth it. They did right by the story and what an action packed rollercoaster.
The first movie might have been too slow paced but this one hit the spot, takes a bit to remember the details but comes together for an epic ending and I hopeling for a Dune 3.
I paid full ticket price to watch Zendaya make Resting Poo Face for 2 hours and 47 minutes.
The universe they setup is cool, the story of Paul is quality, but it didn't land for me. First one was quality but this was a shadow of the first. The fremin are the least interesting and the majority of the focus. The seriousness of the sand worms was gone when they made them ubers. Zendaya was boring, del toro is wasted, and all this playing in the sand for two hours made me sleepy. The end battle was over in an instant and an easy fight for the fremin. Wanted to like it similar to the first but was left quite bored during the majority of the film. The lack of attention to details throughout both films is dissapointing.
Seriously had to watch a recap of part 1 before diving back in, but what a ride! Truly epic, beautifully made, awesome plot and great performances all around. Leaves me wanting more. Give me the epic conclusion to this trilogy! Now please!
Awesome
Just loved it
And Zendeya is ugly
Best sleep I had since part one! Go watch the Lynch movie. This is a woke worthless cesspool of nonsense RATE 1/10
It might be that I have no connection to this source material or previous iterations but this ends up being slightly above middle of the road. More enjoyable than the first one with a bunch of silly fluff around it. A series for people that want some extra artistic clout to help wash down their sci-fi junk.
It's good. It looks really good. Yet I can't really understand that much enthusiasm. Lots of people seem to treat it like a revolution in SF. It's not. It's really not comparable to what the Lord of the Ring did for Fantasy.
It's a bit more action filled than the first one, but in the end, why is it so long ? There's not that much that really happens in the end. Though that's true for the book too, the setting, the universe and the concepts around are what make Dune such a pillar of SF, not the story in itself. And that's the main issue of the movies. What makes Dune so special is barely touched, shown or explained.
Even if it's long, you mostly don't feel it. Except the Feyd-Rautha black and white sequence. OMG that was sooooo long for nothing. Didn't buy into the aesthetics either. But it's really weird.
And despite its length, so many things are not shown. Some really weird choices were made. Firstly, this happens so fast.The whole movies happens in less months than years in the books. And it really feels like nothing happens. Paul is trained to be like a fremen ? Well, apart from Chani showing him how to walk... there's nothing. Next scene he's already a full fighter. Paul and Jessica are supposed to teach them some Atreides and Bene Gesserit moves too... not happening there. He's supposed to have a son. His sister is supposed to be born and several years old when the attack occurs.
Even more important, all the visions. Paul's visions of the future. What they see when Jessica then Paul drink the Water of Life. This is central to the story, this is the most significant part of everything that happens. I was really eager to see how they would show that... nothing. Not a single thing. Whole thing is a few seconds of blue effects and Paul mentioning that Jessica is Harkonnen's daughter, which by the way, she was not supposed to know. Nothing of what it does, what they see, not even why it is more significant that Paul can (They see and receive the memories of their all lineage, except Bene Gesserit can only access the women's part, hence Jessica not knowing who her father is, even after drinking, while Paul has access to both sides).
Even worse for Paul's visions. What he sees is destruction at an incredible scale. Billions massacred, entire planets vitrified in his name. What do we get here ? 3 dying people in the desert. And a comment that "millions will starve". That's it.
Not even talking about the other side of his visions. The fact that he sees much further than his own life and sees the future of mankind. This guide some of his actions (there and in the next book).
Actually one of the main underlying themes of Dune and even more in the several next books is free will. How can there be free will when there can be people like Paul that can see the future absolutely ? This is entirely passed over here.
On a minor note, even if there are overall great visuals, we barely see the worms... Sad.
One thing I never really understood though was how the Jihad started. I mean, yes the Fremen are great warriors, but Arrakis is just one planet. They do not have a fleet. And one can't interstellar travel without the Guild anyway. Though the threat of destroying spice might help to blackmail the Guild, there's still something missing. But with the way shown in the movie it makes even less sense.
So I'm not gonna say it's a bad movie, it obviously isn't. But apart from the visual aspect, it's far from being that great, not only as a SF movie, but also as a Dune adaptation.
===========
Now there's the whole thing about "the main take is that Paul is bad", and this is what Herbert wanted to say in the book. But come on, he sucked at saying it, and the movie only uses Chani (complete change on the original character) to show some resistance against him. I'd say it does an even worse job at showing it than the book.
But:
1) Atreides are portrayed as caricatural good guys. Leto is even killed because of that. Including Jessica, betraying her order for love.
2) On the other hand the Harkonnen couldn't be more stereotypical bad guys.
3) The actual actions in the book and movie are the same as any good guys in most movies. He's taking revenge against the people who massacred his entire family, taking back his rightful place, while at the same time liberating a native people from its colonizer. I mean, come on !
But what is really bad is what comes after the movie.
1) Which like I already mentioned is barely evoked and extremely minimised in the movie.
2) Even so, can't really say anything positive about the current state of the Empire and the way the Human race lives either. Would it be a better thing to let it go on ?
3) He knows what could happen, and he does a lot to try to avoid it. Just turns out that it's pretty hard to convince religious fanatics that you're not a messiah.
4) Also what ? He should just have killed himself ? Is that it ?
5) By the way, the real culprit here is the Bene Gesserit, that engineered this fanatism on purpose.
6) There's a decisive moment where he gives in to the prophecies, by going south. But what ? Again, only thing he does is what he can to protect his family, friend and people instead of letting them die. If he had hesitated less and acted before, maybe people in Sietch Tabr wouldn't have been massacred. It's on the same level as "he should just have killed himself in the beginning".
7) Once he drinks the Water of Life, he gets his full power. And he can see that he can't avoid what's going to happen anymore. But also the desolate future of all mankind that he will try to change. (Again, not shown in movie).
There's nothing much in there that are not heroic actions in most stories.
Yes, what comes after is awful. The whole universe ravaged by a war in his name. But again, what was the alternative ? The current system was bad. Would letting it continue have been better ? Would letting a Harkonnen access the throne be better ? If the system needs to change, is there a peaceful way to replace a military dictatorship that controls the whole of mankind ? When things are so bad that only a revolution could change it, is there anyway for this to happen without damage ? Would doing nothing make you less responsible of the damage caused than the damage caused by actively fighting against it ?
Who can know what would happen otherwise ? Well, actually Paul ! That's the whole point. He is the only one person with absolute knowledge of anything that could happen. And the whole story makes a point to show that, apart probably from his father, who was literally killed because of it, he is the only person with a good enough moral compass to be entrusted with this power.
So in the dilemma of what to do between a bad existing system and a devastating revolution to change it:
1) he is part of a very few that can actually do something
2) he is literally the only one in the universe that has full knowledge of the pros and cons of each to make a decision
3) he is presented as the best person still alive that you could trust to make the decision
So if the one take was supposed to be that Paul is a bad guy, wow, that's a big miss. The one root cause underneath it seems rather to be that religions are a fabrication, a tool of control of masses for a few in power, and a dangerous one because it can escape their control and become a calamity.
My bigest problem is the love story subplot between Chani and Paul, which feels like too deliberately, no chemical at all. And the movie put it on forefront, it is a big down for me. For comparison Rebecca Ferguson's character are far more memorable.
the first ten minutes and the arena theme need to be programmed in every cinematography course of every university on earth
Use of Tension
When Paul summoned a grand-father sand-worm and dropped onto it, I thought he was gonna die. I felt uncomfortable when he touched it. When Paul killed the Baron, I thought he was gonna immediately kill the Emperor. But that's not what happened. When Jessica drank the Water of Life, I thought she was gonna die, but she didn't. The same applies to Paul and Chani. In all of those scenes, the high stakes, build-up and tension were still there.
Part One and Two
Drama & Immersive World-Building and Action & Eye-Candy
The two movies have different jobs. The First Part fulfills its job of establishing context and immersing us into its world through its slow, dramatic, world-building-ish flow. The Second Part is a different movie. It fulfills its job by showing us Victory, Eye-Candy, and Ear-Candy whilst not letting tropes, sounds, and famous actors ruin the movie. Also, the movie is more than just candy. It's a story about the double-edged sword of fulfilling prophecies. There's the successes and victories of Paul's prophecy, and the self-fulfilling nightmare Paul has. On the surface, Paul looks like he has control. In reality, he doesn't.
Dominance
Watching Paul assert dominance over Baron Harkon, Emperor, Mother Mothiam, and Feyd-Rautha is satisfying. The anger of Timothee Chalamet's voice, and his confidence in pursuing his enemies is addictive. Its a side to Paul I haven't seen before. Seeing Paul use the Voice on Mother Mothiam is a pay-off, knowing how she previously asserted dominance over him with the poison and the box.
Sound
I love the use of audio. Whether it be the rumbling silence of Paul, Stilgar, Chani, and company trying to be silent in the desert, or astronauts hovering up rocks, or Chani teaching Paul how to sand-walk in the night. Action sequences + absence of music and non-diegetic sounds + small diegetic sounds are a great combination for high stakes, build-up and tension. That way, people are on the edge of their seats.
An Ensemble of Famous Actors
Nowadays, the mere fact a movie has a lot of famous actors is seen as a cash-grab. It is, but for the movie, it's not necessarily bad. Whether it be seeing Florence Pugh, Lea Seydoux, and Anya-Taylor Joy in the same movie. Or Austin Butler and Christopher Walken joining the party as well, none of it ruins the movie. They all did their job. They gave their characters nuance and uniqueness.
Paul's Self-Fulfilling Nightmare
Paul of course has the nightmare of leading his own people to death. He does indeed go to the South. Everything that's been foreseen comes to light. We know that Paul will lead his people to death, which adds nuance to Paul becoming dominant. He knows he has to kill the people who are heir to the throne. He knows he has to lead his people. But he knows that his nightmare will be fulfilled. I feel happy and scared. Happy because of his victories. Scared because in landing victorious, his nightmare is becoming true.
Enjoy the candy and story.
What a phenomenal thrill ride! The film exceeds all expectations and I am eagerly waiting for the film to come out so that I could watch it at home! Please let us have Dune 3 soon, I NEED TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS NEXT.
I enjoyed this much more than the first, but still left ultimately not feeling like Dune works today. It has much more propulsive energy, more momentum, and the themes are sharper. I get what it’s trying to do. It’s very pretty. A standout for me was Paul trying to ride the worm. The sand billowing from every step, as the sun hovered behind him casting everything in this beautiful light, was a striking sight, and the cacophony of actually trying to ride this massive beast was a disorienting thrill. The arena being practically a black and white film was another dazzling visual feast.
The cast deliver. Chalamee has Hayden Christensen energy, and I honestly mean that in a good way. It reminded me of the best of his Anakin, and the arc overall a much better version: the inevitable fall into darkness of a charismatic time bomb. Ferguson is a suitably chilling and detestable Lady McBeth. Bautista was totally believable as an impudent man child, selling it the way he sells every role, but I still wish he had more. Butler was a fun villain, and I dug how similar he sounded to Skarsgard. And Zendaya anchors the film as its conscience and last voice of reason, seeing how south this will all go before anyone else does, wishing she could save the man she loves but making no excuses for him. Still hate that damn fat suit for Skarsgard though!
And that’s the thing. Though Villenvue is earnestly trying to update and engage with this material, he can’t escape the Hebert. For all the deconstruction of the white savior, it still props Paul up into that position to begin with with his actual skill and prophetic powers. It is concerned first and foremost with the Savior part, not the white part, or how they fully intersect. Organized religion is the enemy: charismatic tyrants purporting to be messianic figures will doom us all, and the Fremen are just an extension of that. Indeed, they play a vital part in it. They are victims, perhaps, but tragic ones in the Shakespearean sense, their own inevitable nature and belief dooming them, slaves to the religion manufactured by the ruling power. Paul is the tragic hero; the Fremen are not afforded that interiority or depth or agency.
And honestly it’s just a weird watch with all that’s happening today in Palestine, knowing so many of these actors and actors like them are either silent or supportive of Israel. How the film cribs so much of the aesthetic, the physical touchstone, the sound, of MENA people and the region, and the majority of MENA actors are relegated to bit roles or the background. It rankles and rattles and creaks from the weight of this. As beautiful as it is visually, as well acted as it is, as well constructed as this film is, it just can’t hit me in the end. It may be the best version of this story they could’ve told. But I still don’t feel like that story needed to be told. I don’t know what it offers today.
Is it just me but watching Dune: Part Two eating a hotdog and the only thought going through my head was... Say hello to your little brother?
What an incredible movie! Managed to catch it 3 times over launch week , i have been able to watch this glued every time. A privilege to be alive to whiteness this marvel in action!
It's absolutely amazing!! As soon as it finished I was ready for a rewatch.
This is a perfect end to the first story, opening us up to w third film covering the holy war. Can't wait.
Truly a sci-fi epic from the master director of them. The story picked up and was far more engaging than the first installment. Timothee still felt like cardboard that speaks for most of his dialogue. Thankfully much of the film is show don’t tell. I hope Hollywood gives Denis as much money as he wants because there hasn’t been science fiction this strong in decades.
An incredible film which is easily 10x better if you've read the books and understand the deeper lore.
Spectacle is undoubtedly the focus, and in that respect the movie generally delivers. The one exception might be the worm riding, which is something that seems cooler in theory than it looks in practice. The set-up for it is cool, but once they actual get on the worm it just looks goofy (especially when they show it from a distance). But like I said, that's the exception - there's plenty of fantastic production design, visuals, and audio throughout. So what about character and story? This was a mixed bag for me. I think there are some ideas that worked well (Emperor/Princess interplay, Bene Gesserit intrigue, Feyd-Rautha set-up), but Paul's central conflict of accepting or rejecting the prophecy felt repetitive and ultimately fell flat. Now, I do think the ending salvages the arc and makes it work as best it could, but the path to get there was less than compelling. All in all, I think Villeneuve's two-part adaptation is worthy of praise for its ambition and technical brilliance, but I don't think these will be movies I feel the need to re-watch with any regularity.
Dune 2 is like a second scoop of ice cream, still cool but not as tasty and kinda mushy towards the end.
Dune 2 is a great film. Not as great as Dune, imo, which I finally learned to appreciate during my third watch, but still a great film. I felt like the visuals weren't was consistently striking as in the first part, and the pacing felt drawn out in the first two acts and then rushed in the third, but yeah, it's a great film. See it on the biggest screen possible.
(Seen in IMAX)
Well it's a great movie, no question. Clearly it's better than the first part, but hope the imdb rating stabilizes at below 8.5 imdb (currently sitting at a ridiculous 9.1 as upvoted from the die hard Dune fans) as the movie is great, but it's clearly not in the best 10 movies (maybe in the top 100 at the very best...)
Beautiful images. Still want to see what's next, but I did not like this movie a lot.
Well you’re right, Denis, it’s not exactly difficult to sit through 166 minutes of film when it’s like THIS. When it’s this masterful you could happily make me watch a 6 hour movie too, it just does not lose its grip on you for a second.
First of all, Denis Villeneuve and Timothée Chalamet (with the reflection of Zendaya’s portrayal of Chani) created an image of Paul the way Frank Herbert intended for him to be seen as in the first book, and I think that’s an honorable thing to do because it wasn’t the easy way out, really. It speaks volumes about his confidence as a filmmaker that he’s willing to tell this story at all, and willing to do Messiah especially.
I hope seeing this film makes people understand that part one was also done with intention, in its entire prequel-of-lore vibe glory. The contrast of innocence to corruption is so powerful.
And man is it an unfortunate release date but you can’t tell me this isn’t going to plow through the next award season anyway. This is it. This is why we love film.
Now we wait.
A true film in every sense of the word: visuals, soundtracks and sound effects, and above all a well built and rich story. Not since the Lord of the Rings trilogy have I been so enthralled. A must-see if you're into science fiction. Cannot wait for part 3...
Why 9 : Because Rabban (Dave Bautista) should have had a real fight for f*** sake :joy:
Out of words to describe... Just finished seeing the Dune Marathon, part 1 + 2, in the cinema.
The books are good, these adaptation is second to none! One of the best I've witnessed.
Watch it, seriously, go see this story, it is worth it.
Watching credits now as I write this. I split viewings into 30 min chunks (strangely if you do the same it cuts right at 30 minute parts perfectly.) So Ive spent around 5-6 days watching and processing slowly. That being said, it is relatively unwatchable: Could not have sat through this in a theater beyond 10 minutes. Timmy is super mid. Zendaya is a’ight. The rest of the cast is from Guardians of the Galaxy and Prometheus. It plays like a slowly moving sand painting. If you’re into that. The best 30 minutes “section” probably the one before the final act when Timmy micro-balls Mad deep grows a pair. Beyond that would never watch this again, just like the first long tiring snooze fest. Spare me with this over dramatic Dennis Villanueve circle jerk, Arrival wasn’t good, his BladeRunner also super garbage. Twelve thumbs down from all the Benny Jezerits in this hizzy.
they cooked with this one:fire:
Walked out, with a big smile. Will go again, with my son.
Can't add anything to most of the positive comments, but I'm ready for Part III.
10/10
i felt sleep after 30min. bit off by non English conversations too.
Started slow but half way through it did get good. The first half seemed disconnected and the scenes and timelines jumbled. I guess watching it again might help but the second half was smooth, fun and interesting.
Dune: Part Two as a cinematic experience is practically flawless. With the exception of some odd editing issues that come during the crucial halfway mark, the movie flows much like Part One in terms of slow and fast constantly. The storytelling effectiveness in this climactic second half is...mixed. For better & worse, Part Two faithfully adapts Herbert's novel in amazing but also jarring ways. Certain adaptation choices range from making complete sense, being glazed over despite being vital and crucial to the plot, and jaw-droppingly altering to the story itself.
While I was hoping Villenueve would expand many of the anticlimactic aspects of the book, he decided instead to make an incredibly true-to-source adaptation instead and, in this particular case, I think that's fairly disappointing. I can't say this movie is perfect, but it does close this immense space opera in a way that is truly unexpected and epic despite major hindrances.
Time and time again my friends promise me „space politics“ and each and every time I get disappointed. This time I got space taliban instead. While I loved the first part of Dune, the second part had too much of a focus on the religion and culture of the Fremen tribe for me. To have a religious party in a futuristic setting is fine, but all the different houses are like that and I couldn‘t care less about it. Add the obvious political implications and the great action sequences are just not enough for me to enjoy three hours of runtime. Still going to watch the third one probably.
Those looking for more of the same from Denis Villenueve’s Dune franchise can rest easy. The sequel offers precisely that, in every sense, but this isn’t always good news. While the immense set pieces, rich multi-cultural landscape, challenging moral dilemmas and dazzling visual effects remain intact, so does the glacial pacing, extreme duration, cloudy cerebral temperament and ambiguous ending. That last aspect is particularly frustrating, given the previous film’s equally flat, abrupt mid-stream fadeout. Fool me once, shame on you, as they say. Which isn’t to say I was less than entertained. Despite its proud eccentricities, and certainly a case of diminishing returns, Dune 2 had me on the hook from the word go. It’s not a conclusion, though, just another chapter, and after almost six hours of fruitless culmination, I grow impatient.
The first film left our protagonist, Paul Atreides, on the brink of an existential revelation. Forced into exile by galactic politics, he finds uneasy refuge amongst the über-religious desert dwellers. Though their leaders debate his intentions, he proves capable and joins the cause, sabotaging the efforts of his fellow off-worlders in acts of guerrilla rebellion. These scenes are the film’s finest, as Paul attempts to straddle the thin line between messiah and outcast amidst a sea of critical eyes. He doesn’t just learn to become a sand walker, or to take advantage of an ancient, convenient prophecy, he discovers what it means to be a man. Paul’s growth from apprehensive nobody to charismatic leader is well-earned, as is his respect for the manner and traditions of the native people. So convincing, is this development, that I felt a palpable sense of betrayal when he inevitably returns to the old interstellar chess board for revenge. I mean, I felt personally offended. That’s great storytelling, no matter how muddied it might get along the way.
And muddy it is. Alongside the brilliant character moments and astounding set pieces (Paul’s long-foreshadowed sandworm ride is especially epic), Villenueve’s sequel indulges in all sorts of metaphysical ramblings. Many seemingly important plot developments occur off-screen, which makes the timeline difficult to pin down. A number of major players are killed off, suddenly and without ceremony, robbing their deaths of weight and circumstance. If the first film had a few minor concerns, this one has genuine issues. I’d include a certain weird, surprise casting decision among these. Part One had no shortage of celebrity actors in key roles, but each fit their part and enhanced the whole. This guy sticks out like a red thumb.
So it’s good, but not that good, even if its creators might think it is. Where the first film felt confident and ambitious, this one’s a little more smug and self-assured. Perhaps the widespread acclaim surrounding the original had a negative influence.
I think my expectations - from what I heard people saying about it - made my experience while watching not as good as it could have been.
Even better than the first movie! I am so hyped for the third part!
Despite not getting around to seeing this in theaters, this movie was awesome! I was a bit skeptical hearing about how great this movie was considering I did not love the first, but this one surpassed the first quite easily for me. Where the first introduced us to the characters and world, this one ran with it!
Rating: 4.5/5 - 90% - Highly Recommend
Simple rating: 5.5/10 Just a little above average compared to 5/10 of the first film.
Explaination of rating: (It's long)
Once again, this film delivers nothing of real value. The only good thing about this movie is the acting and cinematography and even that is too much sometimes.. There's no reason to care for any faction, any character, or any history. They just tell you something and expect you to like it. Like the prophesy thing, how many times I hear "prophesy. it's the prophesy!" But why do I care about a prophesy I never even heard until Paul "fulfilled" it?
Okay, let me try to organize my thoughts more before continuing.
Story:
There's no real history with any character. It's like reading a history book, they tell you some history but they don't give you a reason to care about it. The messiah figure, the mom becoming the reverend mother with a talking baby, the romance, none of it gave you a reason to care. I'll list some examples. Chani and Paul had zero chemistry the entire film. Nothing about their relationship felt real.
The mom gets a baby to talk to but there's no reason to care about it. The baby is apparently hyper-intelligent even though fetuses don't have fully developed brains but why do we care if she can talk? Paul becomes aware of his mom being the daughter of Baron, but again, why do we care? He's a meaningless bad guy with no interesting qualities. Not to mention, he dies that same film along with Paul's cousins. And Paul's acceptance as a Fremen felt forced. Of course some believed he was a messiah but the ones that didn't just up and decided to befriend him because he helped them a few times. And Paul riding the worm had zero build-up to it. It was just like "you could die" then he does it immediately. Why do we care when it was just given to him? Oh! And why did they trust his mom to be the Reverend Mother anyway? She's an outsider who they knew was from a faction that manipulates people but they just said "sure!"?.. Also, when Paul takes the water and there's that fight with Chani and his mom. I literally laughed as Chani left because it was some serious moment and the repetitive operatic song just comes out blaring lol. And the fight scenes were just so underwhelming. The only interesting one was the fight between Paul and Austin's character but even then, there's no reason to care about Austin's character. I'm not even going to get into the worthless amount of dialogue...
Characters: There was no character that was actually interesting. Paul was generic, Chani was meaningless, Stilgar was the most interesting but overall just a zealot, Baron was a waste of a bad guy who just dies, the emperor was a meaningless character, Bautista's character was a joke of a character who just dies immediately in combat, Austin Butler's character was a random inclusion who, again, is just there to die in the end, I could go on.
Back to Paul, his sudden change from humilty to "leadership" was just weird. I get the water of "life" changed him up but it feels worthless to his character to have him immediately change his entire character traits like that.
And to speak of the villains again. Bautista was a literal joke, an embarrassment. Not his acting, but his character. He dies immediately in his fight with Gurney which gives Gurney's little scene zero emotion behind it.
Austin Butler's character is shown half-way in the film but again, he's just a generic psycho with no interesting detail. Who then dies just like the other's in the end. No history, nothing of value. He just randomly kills people (I guess cause he's supposed to "look menacing") and then gets killed.
Last thoughts:
Movie was too long, too lame, too uninteresting. Very average movie but a little better than the first.
Anything that could've been interesting was ruined by the lack of history, lack of development, and the lack of characters to care for. I literally paused the movie half way through and took a nap out of boredom.
Like I said with the first movie, they should've split this movie in half and gave us four films of higher quality storytelling. First film: giving us more actual history with the empire and the Houses. Giving Paul, his dad and mom, the mentor and best friend, and the bald white guys actual character history and to show us why we should like/hate them. Then the ending being the destruction of the House of Atreides. Second film: Goes through Paul and his mom going through the desert and learning more about the Fremen then eventually allying with them. Third film: Showing how the war rages and shows how Paul befriends the Fremen and becomes one of them. While also giving more depth to how his mom becomes the Reverend Mother. And giving Bautista a better role as a bigger threat who can eventually be casted aside as a failure by Baron. Fourth film: Shows the Empire's reaction to this crisis and how Paul slowly changes from his humility to the "leader" we see in the end of Dune 2. While giving Austin Butler's character an actual character and not some one episode villain. That would've been the best way to handle this series but nope, cram everything together in two films and call it a day.
I loved both of the movies so far but the part two had something that was missing from the previous one, a climactic ending. I was pinned to my bed watching it and I mentally orgasmed when Paul used the voice to silence that old witch. The bass was so deep and unexpected that I shited myself hearing it through the headphones. I imagined how it must have felt in an IMAX theatre.
It's a well-made film, but I'm not now, nor have I ever been, a fan of white savior stories. No matter how you slice it, white, fascistic oppression is still white, fascistic oppression.
“May thy knife chip and shatter.”
The word epic when describing certain big-budget movies is often overdone and rarely rings true to the quality of the film. Besides going towards the actors' egos, you never feel the epic scale or where the trillion of money went. Nowadays, big-budget movies look phony and rushed. There is no sense of passion or soul. It must also include cinematic richness in the filmmaking, pacing, and intelligent scene choices. For a while, since cinemas re-open after COVID, I thought that we would never get that anymore. This new age of factory-made products that you blankly stare at for hours and then quickly forget about when the credits roll. I am feeling less excited about new releases.
But after watching Dune: Part Two, everything that I thought was missing in big-budget movies is found here. This movie gave that to me.
Dune: Part Two blew me the fuck away! It was one of the best IMAX experiences I have ever had. I have seen it twice already, and it is the type of movie that should stay in cinemas, especially in IMAX. It's been a while since I was in awe watching something so massive, ambitious, and executed wonderfully. I liked the first Dune, but this is MILES BETTER. This is more like it! The scope and scale were monumental! What I loved the most was the movie has this sense of spirituality and sacredness felt through the score, cinematography, costumes, and production design.
This is already one of the best movies of 2024 so far. Whether or not that title gets topped, for now, it's my favourite of 2024.
The opening scene is one of the strongest of the year/of all time, as it perfectly welcomes you back into the world and sets you up for the visual journey ahead. The uses of colour this time around, with the use of striking dune orange, harsh colours, and how the colour palette represents different locations and characters.
Director Denis Villeneuve is one of the best filmmakers of our time. This guy keeps winning and will follow a similar path to another director, Christopher Nolan. He's a director who makes bold and clever choices.
I was more invested in this world than I had before. There's a fancy and sci-fi name to it, but I call it space religion. This movie leans more into the weird and creepy world of Dune. It's interesting to see how water and any other fluid are sacred and should not be put to waste. So, no crying and no throwing up. Even after someone dies or is about to die, all the water inside of us gets sucked out with a device to avoid it going to waste.
I find Timothee Chalamet overrated in certain movies. If you have seen my Wonka review, you have seen one out of many examples of me not connecting with his performances. The others are Hot Summer Nights, Beautiful Boy, and The French Dispatch. However, in Dune: Part Two, I thought he was incredible. It is his best performance since Call Me by Your Name. I loved his character arc here. From where he starts to where he ends up is tragic. It is a classic tragedy of a beautiful angel stripped away of his wings, falling into the depths of hell, and becoming the devil in the eyes of non-believers. He commands the screen, holds your attention, and has a sweet fury of revenge in his system. It was magnetic to watch.
Zendya has more screen time and plays a crucial role in the story, where her character is the only sane and reasonable person. But her scenes with Chalamet and their eventual romance, which could have easily come across as cheesy or forced, were instead sweet, pure, and believable.
But Austin Butler blew me away here. The first time he opened his mouth and said his first line, my jaw was on the floor because I could not believe that voice was coming out of him. Butler sounded just like Stellan Skarsgard. It was unbelievable. He plays the role of Feyd-Rautha, an absolute psychopath who thrives on pain, both inflicting on others and himself. In a scene where he sees if the knives presented to him are sharp enough, he stabs and slashes those around him to test their quality. After killing them, “It’s not sharp enough”. But he is not without showing respect if you earned it. From Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Elvis, The Bikeriders, and this movie, Butler continues to excel in every role.
The supporting cast: Josh Brolin, Rebecca Ferguson, Lea Seydoux, Florence Pugh, Stellan Skarsgard, Charlotte Rampling, Javier Bardem, and Christopher Walken were all terrific in their roles, and there is so much depth to the characters, both in the writing and acting, that with each repeat viewing brings new details.
Also, not forgetting Dave Bautista, who is more than just muscle but a complex character who is vulnerable, scared, rageful, and wounded, and Bautista played it brilliantly. He is the best wrestler turned actor in the business.
The score from Hans Zimmer is nothing short of extraordinary. It is grand and hits the perfect notes. There were points where it reminded me of Greek composer Vangelis, especially his work on Blade Runner. I have listened to the Quiet Between the Storms score countless times and countless more. For me, the score triggers a feeling of joy, pain, and unknown euphoria.
The sound work deserves mention, as it was detailed and added to the overall experience of this other world.
The visual effects, production, and costume designs were all superb.
There were points where it felt like a horror movie. It gave me an uncomfortable chill down my spine, which I did not expect going in. The hero character type gets flipped on its head. The horror behind using religion to achieve power and control will not be terrifying.
I have been debating ever since I first saw this - should I give this the perfect five-star rating? I don't usually give these out like candy. I have been switching back and forth on potential ratings. This review did help me eventually decide, as it breaks down what I liked the most. I looked to see if I had any problems with the movie, but I could not find any. Sometimes you must give in.
Overall rating: “mAy THY kNifE, cHip aNd shaTter.”
While this movie shares many strengths with its predecessor, like its amazing visuals and strong performances, it also shared (in my eyes) its biggest weakness: an unsatisfying ending.
The one complaint I had walking out of the first movie was the "This is only the beginning" ending, which undermined the arc up until that point, and left me on a sour note. So I was looking forward to this movie quite a lot to bring that to a satisfying conclusion.
Unfortunately we don't get that here. Regardless of if the original book ends here or not, I felt conned (again!) by the way the ending sets up the next part so hard.
That's all especially frustrating given how long the movie is, and yet it struggles in spots with both being too fast and too slow. At this point, I think I would rather just wait for all the "parts" to be released, and watch them all like a series/miniseries.
What a masterpiece!
Best movie of this year?
Yes, probably!
Now this is cinema. While I have reservations about the haste and overall pace of the finale and the apparent need for a massive final conflict, Dune: Part Two still manages to be one of the most awe inspiring, visually captivating and transportative pieces of film I've ever seen. The way Villeneuve has managed to make something so succinct and captivating out of Herberts stodgy, self-serious epic is truly amazing; I just want more and more of the world and I can't wait to see where he takes us in Messiah. This will join my limited physical collection on release. Truly the best scifi of this century, and it's not even close.
This is a masterclass in blockbuster film making.
Start is slow but the end is a great spectacle with beautiful music and scenes. Can’t wait for part three.
Sounds like an unforgettable experience! Can't wait to see it myself.
great movie cant wait for part 3
another superb movie from Denis Villeneuve !
Denis Villeneuve is way overrated. He has no ear for good music. The music in his movies are atrocious and he is not good at directing either.
Dune Part Two finishes the journey of hero (if you can consider him a hero) Paul Atreides on planet Arrakis, but the epic is not over. It’s quite an experience, even though I didn’t watch it on the big screen as it’s meant to be. Atreides possesses the ability of precognition to see the future (and past) as he pursues his revenge against rival House Harkonnen and the Emperor, who caused the destruction of Atreides’ house. In the process, he becomes one of the local Fremen and a messiah figure. I won’t go into more detail even though similar stories have been told and re-told across every religion and many media over the decades (most popularly, Star Wars and Lawrence of Arabia). There were quite a few changes from the book, but it stayed true to it. Personally, I prefer the films over the books. I didn’t appreciate Frank Herbert’s dry writing style.
Denis Villeneuve’s directing style is subtle but effective. You can experience that style across all his films, regardless of what genre he directs. He doesn’t use a lot of dialogue beyond what is necessary. I enjoy that subtlety because I think it speaks to high-intelligence directing. I believe the pacing could have been quicker here, especially in the first 45 minutes where very little happened, but that would go against Villeneuve’s style. The acting was good, but nothing mind-blowing. Character development was missing, and limited dialogue made it difficult to communicate much information. The problem with directing an epic between two films is that you only get maybe 6 hours max. There is not enough time to depict every character and every nuance. The beautiful visuals, special effects, editing, sound, and majestic cinematography are breathtaking. I can’t say enough about the legendary Hans Zimmer with yet another brilliant score. It was haunting, with a dark undertone foreshadowing what was to come. You might as well line up the awards it’s going to receive in 2025. There will be (almost) a sweep, but there’s a long time to go for other films to challenge this.
Would I recommend this? Yes. It’s very well done. I felt more satisfaction from the first film because there was less content to cover. The plot gets complex in part two, which covers a much larger portion of Herbert’s Dune than part One. I think this should have been a multi-season TV series like Game of Thrones, but that would mean a much lower budget.
8.5/10
imax watch was incredible even if i was seated too close
Dune: Part Two - :heart:x8
This was an amazing continuation of Dune: Part One (2021). I can not wait for Part Three to arrive.
This second outing, I felt, might even be more epic than the first one.
How I rate:
1-3 :heart: = seriously! don't waste your time
4-6 :heart: = you may or may not enjoy this
7-8 :heart: = I expect you will like this too
9-10 :heart: = movies and TV shows I really love!
Scratched my sci-fi itch in many, many ways. Nothing short of a masterpiece in its class - and I’m ever-thirsty for more Dune lore. What a movie.
Not a bad movie but enjoyed part 1 more 7/10
This is a cinematic masterpiece. It lives up to and goes beyond the first one. If we continue this trend, the last one will be just ridiculous. Definitely watch this and the first one.
Over long running time. Visually stunning and Striking! Slow moving for the first half and then picks up the pace nicely. :thumbsup_tone1: Overall a good watch. :thumbsup_tone1:
Felt a bit boring at the beginning, but towards the end it got way better.
Shout by PaulKaelBlockedParent2024-02-26T06:10:16Z
Dune Part 2 is visually spectacular. The picture is stunning. Ignoring the worn-out tropes, the problem with the film is the lack of emotional attachment to characters. The scope is too big for its runtime which leads to underdeveloped players. The movie is so impressive, yet hollow.