Explosive
Summary
Dune: Part 2 is a vast improvement over the first film with more action and a greater exploration of the story and characters. Here’s hoping we get a third movie to wrap everything up nicely.
Plot: Paul Atreides unites with Chani and the Fremen while seeking revenge against the conspirators who destroyed his family. Facing a choice between the love of his life and the fate of the universe, he must prevent a terrible future only he can foresee.
Review: I enjoyed Dune: Part 1, but there was never much that stuck with me about it; Hans Zimmer’s score was haunting and certainly had its moments, but I just felt like it was setting things up for this movie. Part 2 is superior in every way with far more action scenes including battles, huge explosions and fight scenes too. The visuals are impeccable and some of the ships used just looked like real, functioning vehicles; at no point did anything look animated, so it deserves every accolade in terms of effects.
I’ve read some reviews that have described this movie as almost “too epic” and I actually see where they are coming from as it’s near constant noise does become an assault on the senses after a while.
I still thoroughly enjoyed the film and Hans Zimmer’s score is gorgeous with a melody that sticks in your head long after watching; I remember not being that impressed with the score to the first film initially, but I grew to love it after a while.
The performances are generally faultless with Timothée Chalamet giving serious Anakin vibes as his character progresses; I hope we get to see Dune: Messiah to finish off the story as there are some threads to conclude here. Austin Butler (Elvis) was menacing and creepy as Feyd-Rautha and his Gladiator arena sequence (in black and white) was arguably my favourite scene of the film. There is such a sense of scale to the film and I found myself really immersed into the world this time which the first movie never really did.
The story explores themes of faith and power with Javier Bardem having some of the best lines as Stilgar, who really has blind faith in Paul and what he is meant to become.
It does take a little while to get going and feels a little long, but I didn’t look at my phone at any point and I look forward to seeing the third and possibly final entry in the trilogy (if it happens).
Overall, Dune: Part 2 is epic filmmaking at its best with jaw dropping visuals and a wonderful score from Hans Zimmer; it has far more action than the first entry with fight scenes, explosions and battle scenes making this well worth seeing on a big screen.