By Thomas Word

Dune: Part Two promotional poster, courtesy of Warner Brothers Studios.

The film Dune: Part Two, directed and produced by Denis Villeneuve, is one of the most awe-inspiring films that I have ever seen.

Released in March, the film has brought in over 670 million dollars, far more than any other this year. The sci-fi action adventure film has garnered praise from across the world, earning a 93% on Rotten Tomatoes’ tomatometer and a 95% audience score. Well-known film critic Gregory Elwood had this to say about the film in Variety: “Dune: Part Two is damn impressive. Villeneuve crafts some truly visionary moments.” Elwood is not the only one singing the praises of this film. Famous director Steven Spielberg, who directed classic films such as the Indiana Jones and Jurassic Park series, was quoted saying that Dune: Part Two was “One of the most brilliant science fiction films I had ever seen.” 

The film has a strong cast that features some of the most talented actors and actresses in Hollywood. Timothée Chalamet returned to play the role of Paul Atreides and executed the role to near perfection. Chalamet’s character undergoes an extreme emotional transformation during the film, and Chalamet’s representation of this was nothing short of incredible. No scene of his felt forced, and the way he portrayed his character’s transformation was horrifyingly believable. Chalamet’s stunning performance was one of many in this impressive film. Other standout performances came from Zendaya as Chani, Austin Butler as Feyd Rautha and Javier Bardem as Stilgar. These incredible performances create a sense of immersion when watching the movie that is stronger than any I have felt before.

The story of Dune was originally a book series created by Frank Herbert, and there is a film version from 1984. The first two recent movies have done well to honor the book’s content and not drastically alter the plot. The story of Dune: Part Two takes place right after the events of 2021’s Dune: Part One. The story follows Paul Atreides’s journey to learn the ways of the native people of Arrakis, the planet where the movie takes place. Paul fights alongside the Fremen, the native people of Arrakis, in order to drive the Harkonnens away from the planet. The Harkonnens are the force that have been occupying Arrakis so that they can harvest a valuable material called spice. Over the course of the film, Paul’s abilities that were established in Dune: Part One begin to grow stronger. This causes some of the Fremen to believe that he is the “Lisan al Gaib,” the Messiah that will lead the Fremen to “Green Paradise.” Paul struggles with the fact that people see him as the Lisan al Gaib and has to decide if he should embrace the role to bring freedom to Arrakis and avenge his fallen clan. He fears if he does embrace the role, he could bring unimaginable suffering to the people of the universe because of a vision sparked by his special abilities. 

That quick summary might sound complicated, and this is due to the Dune series’ incredible world building. Dune: Part One laid the groundwork that allowed the second film to be so impressive. In the first movie, concepts such as the universe’s religion, the great houses, the importance of Arrakis, the cruelty of the Harkonnens, and the power system in the universe were all explained with great detail. It truly does feel like you are stepping into a whole other world when watching this film. 

I also strongly encourage anyone who wants to see Dune: Part Two, to watch it in a movie theater, or at least with high-quality speakers. I recommend this because of the film’s exceptional sound design and soundtrack, written by world famous composer Hans Zimmer. Zimmer’s score is one of the most impressive parts of this film. The score includes 25 songs, each corresponding with key moments of the film. These songs booming over the speakers, along with the excellent sound design of the battles and high intensity moments, really makes for a special experience when watching in a theater.

Along with the sound design, the visual effects of Dune: Part Two are remarkably beautiful. This film does have many visual effects due to the fact that the film takes place far into the future, where technology has become much more advanced. The effects in this film look more realistic than any other science fiction film that I have ever seen. One scene that really stood out was when Paul learned to ride the sand worms that roam Arrakis. The shocking realism of the visual effects make the film even more enjoyable than it already was.

Dune: Part Two was one of the most enjoyable experiences I’ve ever had watching a movie. The film nailed all aspects of what I believe makes for an entertaining film and watching experience. Even if you don’t like science fiction films, I highly recommend you go see this movie. I believe that Dune will become a flagship series of our generation, and with Dune: Part Three on the way, I think science fiction fans have a great deal to be excited about.