Dune: Part Two – Film Review
by Brian Merriman

Directed by Denis Villeneuve 
Written by Jon Spaihts and Denis Villeneuve, Based on the 1965 novel Dune by Frank Herbert
Starring: Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, Josh Brolin, Austin Butler, Florence Pugh, Dave Bautista, Christopher Walken, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Léa Seydoux, Souheila Yacoub, Stellan Skarsgård, Charlotte Rampling, Javier Bardem 

DUNE Part Two is not a sequel per se, but a continuation of the story that first hit the screens in 2021. Based on Frank Herbert’s futuristic 1965 novel of the same name, set around 8,000 years from now, this latest chapter in a story of love, liberation and loss, definitely gets a 21st-century treatment of epic proportions.

Dune Part Two stands on its own as a full-scale creative treatment of a Sci-Fi fantasy, as it follows young hero Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) as he unites with the Fremen people of the Desert planet Arrakis to wage war against the evil House of Harkonnen.

Chalamet is box office gold these days and must never have a moment away from filming. He is everywhere, playing an astonishing range of roles, from period drama, and children’s stories to sci-fi heroes. His slight, agile figure is no restraint as his powerful on-screen presence has all the qualities necessary for a charismatic, driven leader. He and his almost unrecognisable nemesis, a superbly menacing Austin Butler (Feyd Rautha) are amongst the stellar cast that drives this epic, almost three-hour-long, visual and effects feast. Both actors’ performances blow any attempt at stereotypical casting just based on their looks, out of the water, in any future roles.

The formulaic sci-fi plot is peppered with a Romeo and Juliet (including the poison) subplot with (a superb Zendaya) as ‘Chania’ making a love interest, every inch the soldier match for Paul. There is some abrupt editing as episode after episode introduces or re-introduces us to this large stellar cast. They all have stories in their own right, such as Javier Barden as ‘Stilgar’, Josh Brolin as ‘Gurney Halleck’, Dave Bautista as ‘Beats Rabban’, Florence Pugh as ‘Princess Irulan’ and Souhela Yacub as ‘Shishakli ‘ to name a few of the great performances. It strikes me that there is even more footage on the editing floor as each important character was sometimes squeezed into this long and gripping visual feast.

The effects are as ambitious as the quest by Paul to seek revenge for his father’s death and to liberate the Fremen people. The sandworm transportation system (which took two months to create on screen according to Chalamet), is the best there is, as are the other various war machines and special explosive effects under Villeneuve’s dynamic visual direction.

What is engaging, though somewhat worrying, is that despite the advancement in science and warfare over 8,000 years from now, ‘Reverend Mothers’ (Rebecca Ferguson as Paul’s mother ‘Jessica’ and Charlotte Rampling as Mohiam) as still pulling all the strings in these societies, beguiled by religion, faith and the promise of a Messiah.

The mixture of the desire of men to follow and to believe is harnessed by a reluctant messiah ‘Paul’ to overcome a range of enemies, only intent on destruction and control of Spice. Add into that cast, scheming villains such as Christopher Walkin’s ‘Emperor’ and Stellen Skarsgard’s ‘The Baron’ and their AI-generated armies of millions versus the 200 soldiers who believe and this David and Goliath story. You get a war of epic proportions, in which despite the countless explosions, fire and devices, the humble sword remains the weapon of choice in the many hand-to-hand combat scenes, over 8,000 years from now.

There was some insecurity as to whether the second part of this story would ever be filmed in 2021. Writers Jon Spaiht and Villeneuve have sewn so many plot seeds in Part Two, that a Part Three is not only anticipated, and signalled but will be welcome on foot of Part Two’s success.

Zendaya’s ‘Chania’, the story’s moral compass is cut adrift. The other powerful Houses will not accept Paul’s new claim to power, and various scores remain to be settled. Then we have the questions behind the change in personality in ‘Jessica’, ‘Paul’ and his unborn sister. The scorned ‘Reverend Mothers’ will regroup to reassert their influence and doubtlessly treat us to another epic tale of triumph over adversity, the liberation of the oppressed people of far distant planets and the quest for true love.

Writer Frank Herbert wrote the novel Dune in 1965 and followed it up with 5 sequels (Dune Messiah; Children of Dune; God Emperor of Dune; Heretics of Dune; Chapterhouse Dune). One gets the feeling, that such is the effort that went into producing this sci-fi epic, that we are only beginning a thrilling journey across the Dunes for some time to come.