Dune: Part Two

The road for Denis Villeneuve to bring his adaptations of Frank Herbert’s Dune series has been somewhat rocky – with the threat of COVID for the first instalment’s theatrical exhibition and a strike-impact delay to the release of the second – but one would never think this is a set of films that has confronted an issue. As with the first part, Dune: Part Two fulfils a brazen, distinctive vision of storytelling in which Villeneuve masterfully orchestrates the cinematic elements, from the most epic moments to the most intimate. If the filmmaker wasn’t mentioned in the same breath as other blockbuster auteurs, including Christopher Nolan and James Cameron, by now, this feature proves his name undeniable among them.

Dune: Part Two continues the journey of Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) as he inches closer to fulfilling the prophecy of becoming the messiah to a people who believe he will lead them to paradise. It’s a vision that runs in parallel to his personal revenge mission of taking out the wicked House Harkonnen, a familial empire run by Baron Vladimir (Stellan Skarsgård), overseen by the emperor Shaddam IV (Christopher Walken) and defended by murderous successor Feyd-Rautha (Austin Butler).

At the core of Paul’s story is the love between himself and Chani (Zendaya), a warrior who will have to reckon with her destiny. Now equipped with the battle tools he needs, and an ever-increasing number of key leaders behind his cause, we watch as the promise of the first film reaches an epic conclusion with large-scale battles, high-stakes duels, political intrigue and serious moral dilemmas, all while leaving the door open for a third chapter.

There are inadequate words to describe the sheer ambition of this sequel in all contexts, from its rich depiction of character – as carried by some of the best performances by Chalamet and Zendaya in their careers so far – to its gorgeously detailed costume design and thrilling combat choreography, all of which contribute to a momentous spectacle that audiences are lucky if they are to appreciate even just once a year on the big screen. It also achieves another rare feat: it’s a sequel that follows up with an experience that is so good, it makes the first film look average. It must be seen to be believed, and it’s strongly encouraged to be seen in IMAX.

Musanna Ahmed

Dune: Part Two is released nationwide on 1^st March 2024.

Watch the trailer for Dune: Part Two here: