“Dune: Part Two” Review: The Sandworm-Sized Sci-Fi Epic Of This Generation

When the original novel first hit the shelves and gripped the minds of readers, many wanted to bring this psychedelic sci-fi action-adventure series to life on the big screen. Of course, due to the complex narrative, largely driven by internal monologue and trippy visual experiences, many have dubbed Frank Herbert’s “Dune” to be un-filmable. Many have attempted and failed; that is why the 2021 “Dune” was such a massive gamble and could’ve been easily added to the list of failed re-imaginings — but it wasn’t. The 2021 attempt at the sci-fi epic has breathed fresh life into an old story, reeling in old-time fans of the novel and newer ones who were curious to see what this franchise has to offer.

And after three long years of waiting, we finally get to see how the film truly ends. The highly-anticipated continuation takes things into higher gear as it further explores the intricacies of Arrakis and its inhabitants, as well as the political structure that governs their universe. It touches on philosophically heavier themes, such as duty, prophecies, determinism, family, betrayal, freedom, and the sacrifices necessary to achieve freedom. So will this part finally kick off the six-novel franchise into the next must-watch film series, or will the story of the Atreides die here? Let’s find out.

The story picks up right where its predecessor left it, with Paul Atredies and Jessica travelling the vast dry desert of Arrakis alongside a small party of Fremen, natives of the planet who have made the desert their home. Following the brutal massacre of House Atreides at the hands of their bitter rival, the Harkonnens, and the Emperor of the Universe in the first movie, Paul must struggle and prove himself to the Fremen in order to successfully take back Arrakis and bring justice to his deceased clan. Immediately after their fall, the cruel slave drivers of House Harkonnen take control of the planet and waste no time in obliterating the natives to secure a special crop known as the Spice.

Immediately, the film calls attention to the differences between two factions as well as their unifying factor. Though it may seem like a slam-dunk join-forces-defeat-bad-guy story, “Dune” is far more than that. Paul is a product of a special breeding programme to bring about the Kwisatz Haderach, Dune’s version of the chosen one, and cannot help but feel disgusted and how his life was essentially a great lie. To further this cruel fate of becoming something he doesn’t want to be, the religious order of the Bene Gesserit, who are essentially psychic space nuns, have spread a fake prophecy in Arrakis, saying that Paul Atredies is the one. This eerie sense of misguided purpose is an idea that persists throughout the film as Paul wrestles with the idea of endangering millions of lives across the stars if he continues down his path of justice.

Despite the grand scale of the story, it has not forgotten the smaller details that made the previous instalments and original books so gripping – from the minute details of the rolling sand to the large conflicts. The beauty of the film is enhanced further thanks to the great performances of the cast. There are no special mentions, as each actor played their part admirably from start to finish. One such example would be the lead man himself, Timothée Chalamet’s Paul, and Zendaya’s Chani; though Paul takes centre stage, Chani has been given a larger role as a sceptic who still trusts Paul, but refuses to worship him as a religious figure (instead of being a simple love interest). This makes her a more interesting character who is on par, but does not overshadow, the main protagonist, whom we later root for and feel for by the end of the movie. Not only that, newer faces to the franchise such as Christopher Walken, Florence Pugh, Léa Seydoux and Austin Butler have made strong impressions, despite having relatively little screen time.

As the film progresses, we see the many secrets of Arrakis, its culture, its beliefs, and its religion. However, it is not the only planet we explore, as we also see the homeworld of the Harkonnens as well as the Emperor’s. And though we see these other worlds in a quick glimpse, compared to the time we spend on the desert hills of Dune, we can immediately see the dangers that the antagonists are brewing for Paul and his rising order.

Though incredibly vast, the film does not trade the rich narrative for bombastic special effects and awe-factor — in fact, Denis Villeneuve has struck a balance between these two elements, where both of them enhance each other. One of the best examples of this is the scene of the incredible sandworm riding test – it’s one of the film’s major climaxes, a scene that has perfectly blended cinematography, sound design, physical props, CGI, and a stellar release of tension. 

Despite its 166-minute run time, there is never a sense that the film has overstayed its welcome, as each scene is blended with narrative importance and edge-of-your-seat moments. Though no scene drags on, there are some that feel rushed, specifically the ending. This is to be expected; to provide a sense of scale, the first book was divided into two parts; the first part had to be cut into several major scenes while remaining two and a half hours long. And you may think that the aforementioned runtime is long enough; it could have been a lot longer, as the film dropped a lot of details and scenes from the book in service of the film’s runtime and the viewer’s attention. This may cause some friction with dedicated fans of the book, but it is still a welcome entry for those who’d like to dip their toes in this expansive universe.

“Dune: Part 2” has captured the spirit of the original story and built upon it in some facets, thanks in large part to the amazing crew who have stayed true to the spirit of the novel (to the best of their ability) and who have given their hearts to bring it to life. At any rate, the door is wide open for a third installation, and Villeneuve has expressed interest in adapting Herbert’s sequel, Dune Messiah, should Dune: Part 2 bring in enough spicy revenue.

You can watch “Dune: Part 2” in theatres today!