DUNE: PART TWO – One of the Greatest Science Fiction Epics You Will Ever Experience!

DUNE: PART TWO is directed by Denis Villeneuve, and is based on the novel by Frank Herbert. The film stars Timothee Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Josh Brolin, Stellan Skarsgard, Dave Bautista, Zendaya, Charlotte Rampling, Javier Bardem, Austin Butler, Florence Pugh, Christopher Walken and Lea Seydoux.

DUNE: PART TWO picks up where its predecessor left off. Paul Atreides and his mother find themsevles forming an alliance with the Fremen, striking back against the villainous Harkonnens, who previously collaborated with the Emperor to have the Atreides bloodline wiped away. Paul finds himself conflicted between his love of the Fremen Chani and his duty to restore peace and order on increasingly chaotic worlds. Meanwhile, the Harkonnen Emperor summons his nephew Feyd-Rautha, to deal with the Fremen and their impact on Spice production, leading Paul and his allies, old and new, into their most dangerous battle yet.

DUNE is one of the most legendary of all science fiction novels, with author Frank Herbert having created a classic for the ages, not to mention numerous follow-up books as well. Director Denis Villeneuve split the original book into two films, with the first of which having come out back in 2021, with the sequel delayed by factors including the pandemic and writer’s strikes. Prior to this, the story had been adapted to film by David Lynch in 1984, following an aborted attempt in the 1970s by Alejandro Jodorowsky to adapt the story.

DUNE: PART ONE from a few years back was a solid enough film with beautiful production and the budget to support its surreal and epic visuals, though I admittedly found it lacking in a few areas, with many characters not getting the necessary emphasis or screen time. That said, it was certainly interesting and intriguing enough to have this moviegoer willing to go back to enjoy a sequel. DUNE: PART TWO has finally arrived after many delays, and in the eyes of this fan, it was worth the wait. Villeneuve’s sequel delivers, and in a big way. DUNE: PART TWO is one of the biggest, boldest, and most awe-inspiring science fiction epics ever made, and it deserves to be seen on the biggest screen possible.

From a production standpoint, there’s no arguing that DUNE: PART TWO is a visual masterpiece in every sense of the words. Frank Herbert’s worlds are given their just dues on the big screen in a way that the older David Lynch film couldn’t hope to, utilizing the best effects and production techniques imaginable. Every single frame of the movie is a literal work of art I’d gladly hang on my wall. My screening for this film was held here in Las Vegas at the AMC Town Square theater, in their IMAX room, and I can say without reservation this is a movie that deserves to be seen and experienced in an IMAX venue. No space on the screen is wasted, and while the speakers were admittedly a bit too intense (I regularly attend rock concerts and this is the one time the audio of a movie rivaled them!), it’s a masterpiece aurally and visually.

The casting of DUNE: PART TWO is no less excellent than the production. Timothee Chalamet continues to prove himself one of the hardest working young actors in Hollywood today, and in the form of Paul Atreides, has found the role he was born to play. Seeing this character come full circle from a naive idealistic young man in PART ONE to the hardened warrior seeking vengeance for his father’s murder in PART TWO feels like the payoff that it should. Zendaya was criminally underused in the first installment, but gets her chance to shine in the second, serving as Paul’s love interest, and some of the most interesting character development. Other highlights include Dave Bautista and Austin Butler as Harkonnen warriors, giving our heroes some truly interesting foes to do battle with.

Truly epic in scope, DUNE: PART TWO never loses its humanity or the emphasis on what’s important. There are wide and sprawling battle sequences and exotic worlds, but this is a story about people at the end of the day, and even with everything the movie has to take on as part of its juggling act, all of the characters still manage to feel developed, interesting, and worth following. While some admittedly do get more screen time and development than others, no one feels tertiary or unnecessary in the grand scheme of things. Even with a running time that approaches three hours, not once does the film feel like it’s dragging.

DUNE: PART TWO is an epic among epics; let’s hope Mr. Villeneuve gets the opportunity to adapt more of Frank Herbert’s DUNE stories, because the tale still feels like it could be the launchpad for something even larger. Beautifully cast, well produced and executed, and expertly crafted, DUNE: PART TWO is one of the greatest sci-fi stores ever told on the big screen. Absolute highest recommendations for this one!