Feast your eyes on the cinematic spectacle of the year. We're only in March, but I'd be shocked if another film releases that tops the quality and execution of Dune: Part Two. Picking up where Dune left off, this second instalment follows Paul Atreides as he joins forces with the Fremen to overthrow the Harkonnen family's reign.
Back in 2021, Denis Villeneuve birthed a breathtaking piece of sci-fi so good that it seemed like there was no topping it. Somehow, someway, he has crafted a sequel that's bigger, bolder and better in every single way - the perfect accompaniment. Villeneuve's ability to bring this deeply complex world to life, with all of its warring families, complicated politics, otherworldly cultures and alien languages, is unbelievably incredible. This sprawling universe feels more real and lived-in than some Earth-set period dramas - every corner of the galaxy, both seen and unseen, has been fully realised and broken down in an easy-to-understand manner. The expansive plot sees us dealing with multiple character arcs, each covering terms, concepts and rules that are foreign to us, yet it's all blissfully easy to consume and understand. How Villeneuve has managed to cram everything in, in a way that feels natural to the progression of the story, is a sign of a master world builder and filmmaker.
While the narrative in the first film was certainly engaging and impactful, this entry definitely flowed a lot better. Being part one, Dune had a lot to do in the way of character introductions and hopping around between its many arcs. It was brilliantly done, but definitely has that "origin" feel to its structure. In Dune: Part Two, the story is a lot more streamlined - more time passes in this film, but it's also more focused on building towards the grand payoff of its climax. Its narrative is part love story, part political warfare and part religious prophecy, and all aspects are gripping and enthralling from beginning to end. There's not a second of downtime - every moment is spent pushing the plot forward, furthering a character's arc or developing the central romance. Speaking of the romance, it's not your standard "protagonist meets love interest" tale, it's much deeper, complex and ingrained in both the cultural and political sides of the narrative. There's no eye-rolling cheese and it had the entire audience captivated. I know this, as the audience reactions at some key moments were audible and unanimous... something that's hard to achieve in any cinema showing.
This is an example of epic storytelling on a scale I don't think we've seen since Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings trilogy. It's a narrative that works on its own - there's arcs in here that are introduced and resolved - while also servicing the grander plot lines that have been carried through from Dune. It builds on every story beat from the first film, maintaining a constant sense of tension that had me locked-in and eagerly awaiting what was around the corner. As a non book reader, it's also refreshingly unpredictable - I had not a single thought about where things would go, and the little twists along the way made it a very rich and rewarding experience.
Turning to the technical side for a moment, there's no reason why cinematographer Greig Fraser shouldn't be a household name. With his recent projects being The Creator, The Batman, Dune and now this, he has effectively cemented himself as one of the most visionary cinematographers working today. In Dune: Part 2, the scale of the narrative and the world is immeasurable compared to Dune, giving Greig an added challenge when it comes to bringing it all to life. It's a challenge that he has overcome and smashed near-effortlessly, as this is a visual masterpiece in every sense of the word. The enormous scale of this world, with its huge structures and giant sandworms, is felt through the expert camera work and capturing of the sweeping landscapes. Combined with the breathtaking visual effects from a clearly dedicated team, every single frame is a beauty worth marvelling at. There's even a sequence where all the colour is sucked out and we're left with the deep contrast of blacks and whites, and it's mesmerising.
When it comes to scale, the score and sound are two areas just as crucial as the visuals themselves, and Dune: Part Two delivers. There's something powerful about watching this in a theatre with a booming sound system. Everything from the thumpers to the sound of the sandworms moving through sand is wonderfully epic, enhancing the immersion in every scene, big or small. There are multiple moments where I sat back and just admired the crisp, heart-pounding sound design, something I don't get to do often. When you see Hans Zimmer attached to a film's score, you just know you're in for something truly special, and this is no exception. The music alone is enough to transport you to the sands of Arrakis, with so many pieces already recognisable as part of the Dune universe.
Another area where this film has improved on the first - the action. Not only is there more, but there's a greater variety and it's more thrilling and intense. As expected, there are moments of large-scale warfare where shit hits the fan, but it's the smaller combat moments that are the most impactful. There's a few hand-to-hand (or blade-on-blade) action sequences that are just a delight to watch, firstly because of the elite choreography and secondly because of how beautifully they're shot. The action is gritty, suspense-filled and makes for some of the most memorable moments.
Leading the film as Paul Atreides is Timothée Chalamet, who puts in what may be the strongest performance of his career. In Dune, Paul Atreides went though some very tough times, but we never got to see much of how his character developed as a result of that. In this film, he has a deep character arc that showcases major shifts from where he began his journey, and it's all the more engaging due to Chalamet's enthralling performance. The way he shifts small things in his performance over time to reflect the changes in his character is just great, making for a strong and well fleshed-out protagonist. His chemistry with Zendaya (Chani) is what really sells their connection and makes it feel real. Speaking of Zendaya, it's great to see her capitalise on her screen time and put in a strong, performance that has you caring about the welfare of her character. She's a strong female lead, and one that is just as fun to follow as Chalamet.
In terms of the supporting characters, none stand out more than Austin Butler, who makes his debut as the villainous Feyd-Rautha. Gone is the man who once played Elvis, making way for a terrifying husk of a man who is a formidable presence on screen. Not only does he look visually chilling, but his voice-work and physical performance add to the creep-factor of this mysterious maniac. On the side of our heroes, it's Javier Bardem who shines brightest as the ever-charismatic Fremen, Stilgar. His dialogue delivery and the firm religious stance of his character makes him one of the more fascinating and naturally hilarious people in here. Many of his lines garnered a good laugh, none of those moments were necessarily designed to get a big laugh. They're just character traits that happen to be very amusing in the context of the scene.
Lastly, I may be eating my words here, but I stand by this; I wholeheartedly believe that if part three of this narrative is at same level as these last two entries, this will be the closest we have gotten to an epic multi-film narrative since The Lord of the Rings. In the same way that LotR is one long story and a popular multi-film binge, I feel like Dune has the potential to be that a decade from now. It's not that we haven't had epic stories since LotR, it's just that this feels the closest to that spectacle of awe and wonder in a distant land or universe. The world building is on par, the depth of the story is all there, and there's plenty of characters to love and hate. The groundwork is all there, but only time will tell.
In the end, Dune: Part Two is nothing short of a spectacle, one that improves on its already amazing predecessor in every way, delivering a superior cinematic experience. It's impressive and ambitious in the scope of its story and the scale of its world, and it doesn't stumble under the pressure of what it's striving to create. Denis Villeneuve has bought this complex world to life in a way that's thrilling, gripping and remarkably easy to follow. It's an achievement in storytelling, cinematography sound and more, a phenomenal piece of cinema that warrants more than a single rewatch. Perfectly paced, with tense action and a riveting climax that makes every second of the journey worth it, this is about as must-watch as sci-fi gets.
10/10
No comments:
Post a Comment