By Nicholas Vermaaten, Contributor

[Warner Brothers; 2024]

Rating: 9/10

Despite being a massive fan of the original Dune novel and director Denis Villeneuve’s filmography, I wasn’t entirely sure that Dune: Part Two would “stick the landing,” as the book’s second half is notoriously hard to adapt (as can be seen in the David Lynch film). Thankfully, my reservations proved to be misplaced, as Dune: Part Two ended up being an incredible addition to Villeneuve’s filmography and arguably one of the best sci-fi films of the twenty-first century.

Dune: Part Two picks up right after the events of Dune: Part One, with Paul Atradies (Timothée Chalamet) and Jessica Atradies (Rebecca Louisa) now attempting to live amongst the Fremen after the fall of their royal house at the hand of Vladimir Harkonnen (Stellan Skarsgård). Through Chani’s aid (Zendaya) and Jessica’s religious manipulation of the Fremen tribes, Paul attempts to wage a war against the Harkonnens and take his place as the Duke of Arrakis. As is the case with the original novel, Dune: Part Two’s narrative juggles themes of warfare, political manipulation, and, most importantly, false messiahs.

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If I had to choose one thing about Dune: Part Two that stood above everything else, it would be Grieg Fraser’s cinematography. Through a combination of wide horizon shots, expert use of a warm color palette, and the beauty of Turkey’s (the film’s shooting location) vast desert landscapes, Dune: Part Two creates visual moments that beg to be seen in IMAX. These visuals, in combination with Dune: Part Two’s excellent soundscape, lead to an experience that is just as cinematically breathtaking as narratively engaging.

Dune: Part Two‘s narrative remains engaging thanks to its incredible performances. While every actor involved in this project deserves praise, Timothée Chalamet really steals the show. His portrayal of Paul’s transition from naive royal to bloodthirsty messiah figure remains believable throughout, being naturally charted through moments of emotional outburst and quiet intimacy. 

Dune: Part Two also offers plenty of action spectacle. Despite being an adaptation of a book that primarily concerned itself with extended scenes of political maneuvering, there are a handful of battle scenes and sandworm shenanigans throughout. All of these “action scenes” feel massive and frenetic, but remain easy to follow thanks to the aforementioned camerawork and the film’s impressive use of choreography.

Dune: Part Two is an incredible cinematic experience that begs to be seen on the big screen, I encourage anyone even vaguely interested in this sci-fi epic to seek it out on the biggest screen possible.