Dune Part 2: An Epic Visual Journey

Dune: Part 2 was released on March 1st, 2024. The highly anticipated sequel to the 2021 film of the same name starring Timothee Chalamet, Zendaya, Florence Pugh, Rebecca Ferguson, and many more. Denis Villeneuve is the visionary director behind these two films.

I am not an avid fan of the books these movies are based on, but have great respect for the impact it has had on the science-fiction genre. In general, the reason I usually prefer fantasy to science fiction usually comes down to the writing style. I struggled through the first book and did not continue on with the series, and that’s because I struggled to visualize the story.

These films, especially Dune: Part 2, are visual masterpieces. Denis Villeneuve knew exactly how to bring these stories to life on the big screen, and I left the theater needing some time to process all that I had seen.

As always, I’ll follow the same ‘rubric’ I do for reviews. I will not discuss plot as to avoid spoilers. I would give this film an 8/10.

1. Truthful performances from the actors.

This cast is stacked with recognizable faces, which is needed for an international release that received a budget of 190 million dollars. Don’t get me wrong, I think the cast did a great job. That’s not surprising when you have Timothee Chalamet, Zendaya, Florence Pugh, Rebecca Ferguson, Stellan Skarsgard, Javier Bardem, Josh Brolin, Christopher Walken, Austin Butler, and more. All of these actors are known for their great work, and are highly respected by fans for their talent and versatility. This is a HUGE movie in scope, and a cast that understands their responsibility is imperative.

However, I do think casting recognizable talent can be like dancing a fine line. Sometimes, if you go too far grabbing every A-list actor you can find, the characters come second to the star. Personally, if I see an ensemble cast of A-list actors as long as this list, I begin to wonder if the film has anything else to offer besides star-power. Thankfully, this film has SO much to offer besides the talent, and this particular cast really did a good job of blending into the world of Dune. Not once did I think “oh that’s just Zendaya in a costume.”

My favorite performances in this film is a tie between Javier Bardem and Zendaya. Mr. Bardem never fails to captivate me, in this case he provided some much needed levity and passion to break the tension in this film. Zendaya is a rockstar, and each time I see her try something new she always gets it right. She represents the emotional weight in this film, and handles it with such grit and vulnerability at the same time.

2. Dynamic visuals that are appropriate and consistent with the style and tone of the story.

The visual storytelling in this film is unmatched. There is no hand-holding or much exposition in the script, which forced Villeneuve to visualize every important detail. If you’re the type of viewer who likes to put the pieces together yourself, this film is definitely for you. I saw it on an IMAX screen, and it was totally worth it for me. I don’t really have much to say other than I was visually blown away. I can’t wait to see the next part of this franchise.

I don’t know how they accomplished as much as they did, especially with a budget of 190 million. That’s a huge sum of money, but the scale and scope of this film made me expect a budget of 300 million at least. The CGI was great because I hardly noticed it was there. I was truly immersed in this vast desert landscape, which you’d also expect to get monotonous after a time, yet it never did. Denis Villeneuve is a visionary, for me he proved it with ‘Blade Runner 2049.’ In fact, aspects of the production design and visuals are definitely reminiscent of ‘Blade Runner 2049.”

3. Witty and thoughtful writing that is faithful and appropriate for the story.

As I already mentioned, I’m not an avid fan of the source material. I can’t speak to the faithfulness to the beloved book series. The tone of the writing matched the visuals in my opinion. There was very little exposition, just enough to convey to people who aren’t familiar with the series or the world to follow along. Each of the characters had distinct voices and no time on screen was wasted with frivolous fluff. So much of the Sci-Fi genre is going to be the setting, wardrobe, and the technology and futuristic worlds, which help tell the story. These are all visual components, which is an asset to the storytelling and allows the writers to focus on character, structure, dialogue, etc.

4. Original concepts.

Not an original concept, since it’s based on IP, but it definitely feels fresh and original. Denis Villeneuve really makes it stand out in the current market. Kudos.

5. Creative risks and bold choices.

I mean… yeah. All of this is what makes the movie standout for me. They definitely lean in to many of the details that might make this world feel “strange” to the general public, but it’s what gives the film it’s character. Audiences can handle weird as long as it’s set up and executed well.

6. High entertainment value.

I was fully engaged with this 2 hours and 46 minute film. Did I still think it was too long? Yes, but probably also because of the 30+ minutes of trailers before the film even starts. I can’t suggest things that should have been cut or condensed in the film, and epics like this are generally closer to 3 hours than 2. Be prepared to sit for a long time. If it’s any consolation, the lines for the bathroom after the film were the longest I’ve seen at a movie theater in a very long time, which tells me a majority of people didn’t want to miss a single moment in the film to use the bathroom. They preferred to suffer.

7. Heart.

This film had tons of heart from everyone involved. That was abundantly clear. I think Denis Villeneuve gets a lot of credit for pouring his artistic heart into this film. The cast also should get their due respect for committing to such complex and demanding roles. The unsung heroes of this film for me are going to be the cinematographer Greig Fraser, who created the captivating visuals that makes this story so compelling, and the entire Sound department who delivered a phenomenal sound design that was crucial in immersing the audience in this world of Dune.

What did you think of the film? Who was your favorite performance? Which moment made your jaw drop to the floor, if at all?