RATING: 5 out of 5
“Dune: Part Two,” released March 1, continues the story of Paul Atreides (Timothee Chalamet), a man who seeks to understand the foreign planet of Arrakis, its people, and their culture as he fights for the survival of his bloodline against fearsome political enemies. It features many other stars such as Zendaya, Florence Pugh, Josh Brolin, Christopher Walken, and Dave Bautista.
The film is a pleasure to watch from beginning to end. The story is a delight to follow along, the characters are interesting, and the directing is outstanding.
The script is well-crafted; gradually setting up the plot at a pace the audience can easily follow. The slow pacing allows director Denis Villeneuve to beautifully illustrate the culture of the Fremen people whose planet is under the threat of colonization. Audiences feel as though they are adventuring into Arrakis alongside Paul. The slow pacing at the beginning of the movie also allows the audience to understand the setting of the story, the religion of the natives and the struggles of their civilization. If the movie were to move at a faster pace at this point of the story, many little details like the cultural significance of Paul to the planet’s inhabitants would be lost in between all the movie’s bigger moments.
The movie then picks up the pace and transforms into a story about the war between the conquering Harkonnen and the Fremen people. The action scenes are visually and audibly amazing. Throughout the film, characters use their surrounding environment as a weapon, using the terrain to hide, ambush and destroy their enemies. By using the desert terrain to enhance the combat, the movie’s action sequences are very different from that of a standard action movie, which does not have the same elements to work with.
While all this is happening, the movie explores the effects of power in those who wield it. The events of the story demand the characters to change their core beliefs in order to survive, and we follow them as they do everything possible to gain control of Arrakis. It is fascinating to watch the characters evolve and understand how their external environment changes them within. The movie also explores religious fanaticism, and how societies and people can be influenced by religious figures who may have other motives. The religious messaging in the film is also a reflection of powerful figures in our modern time, and forces the audience to think about the idolization of political figures.
The soundtrack is spectacular. Hans Zimmer, who composed soundtracks to “Interstellar,” “Inception,” “The Lion King,” and many other acclaimed movies, has once again created a soundtrack that enhances the movie watching experience. He perfectly captures the feeling of an expansive desert, the dread of war, and the passion of love in the score. My personal favorite track is the character introduction of Feyd-Rautha to the track “Harkonnen Arena,” as that was the first time I got chills watching a movie. Without Zimmer’s soundtrack, this movie would not be able to capture the multiple tones it portrays.
The cinematography is perfect. Every scene is visually stunning. The desert feels alive, and is just as much a character in the story as the protagonist. The costume design makes each piece of clothing appear as though it has thousands of years of history. I often found myself looking away from the action for a second to admire the breathtaking outfit of each person on the screen.
Frankly, “Dune: Part Two” may have just ruined all other movies for me, as nothing can compare to it. It perfectly encapsulated what the movie-going experience should feel like: It engages audiences and makes them fall in love with a story and its’ characters, makes viewers emotional and, above all, teaches a valuable lesson that can be applied to our won world. The film is spectacular, and is worthy of a five-star review.