
Dune: Part 2
The modern day Star Wars series that is equal parts incredible acting, entrancing filming, and riveting storytelling. Checkout the trailer here.
Overall Grade
0
Vision & Execution
0
Premise & Entertainment
0
Characters & Storytelling
0
What Feast! What Spectacle!
I hate leading with a disclosure, (i.e., if you don’t like [blank], then this blog isn’t for you). But for all intents and purposes, I am going to disclose something: If you weren’t enthralled by Dune: Part Two, then you may find this blog tough to get through. After watching [and rewatching] the movie, I can’t help but find myself firmly entrenched in the Dune Camp. I got a fever, and the only prescription is more spice mélange! Let’s start with my take on the first movie–we need to see... as far as we can see. I found Dune: Part One to be good. Technically stunning and visually amazing. Classic Dennis Villeneuve in the sense that it was beautiful, it was rich, but it was a bit boring; so, my expectations coming into Part Two were high, but weathered. We all knew it would be good. Great director, great cast, great early reviews, fun media rounds… I could go on. What I somehow didn’t expect was that the ultimate culmination would amount to something greater than the sum of its parts. The movie is a masterpiece–an epic masterpiece at that–and it managed to accomplish what so many movies have desperately attempted to do as of late, to no avail (Oppenheimer aside): to perfectly utilize its star-studded ensemble cast. Some casting choices are so tough to look past; think Jeff Goldblum in any Wes Anderson movie. They just stick out like a sore thumb. That could’ve been my experience with this movie, especially with Christopher Walken’s Emperor–but the world. The writing. Things blend when they’re in their place. Of course, the movie has its moments, whether an SNL flashback of Walken shouting in a studio, or a sudden jolt when you realize…Anya Taylor-Joy is in this movie. There are moments that make you conscious of casting. Another example being the early friction between Timothee Chalamat’s Paul Atreides and his Reverend Mother, Lady Jessica. I’m talking specifically about that one line: “That’s not hope!” Like we get it dude, you’re fully Pocahontas-pilled. The trope was too in my face for a movie that achieves nuance in so many other facets. But in terms of his arch, and his eventual larger-than life stature as a character within the universe, I bought it. I didn’t think I would, but I did. There’s something to be said for every performance in the movie, really–Austin Butler, Rebecca Ferguson, Javier Bardem–they all stand out. But I’m not going to bog this review down by touching on each performance, go see them for yourself. I don’t want to get into the juicy bits; I leave the story at your discretion. This is a [predominantly] spoiler free review. What I will say is that plot exposition is perfectly paced by contrast to the first movie, and it builds a staggering amount of momentum by the time we reach climax (pause). As soon as anything dragged, we jumped off-world for some universe-building exposition, only to return at the critical moment–not to say that there were many moments that I would consider non-essential. For a movie with a nearly 3-hour runtime, it felt packed. There were a handful of moments that I just couldn’t resist turning to the person next to me like dude, are you seeing this? I haven’t felt so captivated at a movie theater since I saw Lord of the Rings when I was 10-years-old. It was big, and it felt big (double-pause). I have this nagging theory, that movies have a ceiling dependent on their scope. Like recently I watched Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri. A movie that won Best Motion Picture at the Academy Awards for Drama. And it was good, but it took place in a small town, and its characters were close. It was intimate, but it unfolded under a microscope. I can enjoy that, but I can’t be awed by that. Lord of the Rings can’t take place in Hobbiton, just like Dune can’t take place on Arrakeen. Dune: Part Two somehow captures the intimacy of those close relationships, but its plot unfolds on a cosmic scale in ways that the first movie only hinted at. It ramps up every bit that made the first movie good, and plugs the more lackluster holes with 400-meter sandworms. If you made it through review, I commend you. I’d imagine this is a tough read for anyone who didn’t enjoy the movie, but hey, I warned you. And if you haven’t seen the movie yet, quit wasting time. Fear is the mind killer. - Jack -
Overall Grade
0
Story
9.5
Hanging on the Edge of
Your Seat Factor
0
Rewatchability
0
Reminds Me Of:
Modern Day Star Wars
Lord of The Rings if it had focused on Aragorn instead of the Hobbits
No Country for Old Men - Mostly just because Josh Brolin and Javier Bardem
Wow...Just Wow
I don’t even know how to regroup and properly review this movie. I don’t know if Dune: Part 2 is the best movie I've ever seen, but it's possible. It seems that blockbuster movies are getting longer, keeping people in theaters for over 2.5 hours, a trend I don’t necessarily love. This is the first movie where I could have stayed in the theater for another hour, immersed in Denis Villeneuve's masterpiece. The acting was incredible, the casting perfect, the special effects shot with IMAX cameras, and the sound effects incredible. The story had me on the edge of my seat for the entire movie. First of all, some questions that everyone should debate after watching Dune: Part 2. What movies have ever made you feel that way leaving the movie theater? Which movies have you left the theater and instantly debated going back for the later showing? That list that encompasses both of those questions can fit on less than one hand for me. I like going to big blockbuster movies as close to opening night as possible just to feel the buzz in the theater before and after. The local theater I went to was busier than I've ever seen it, and there was a tangible excitement in the air. Not only that, I watched in this 250-person IMAX, near-capacity theater, and I do not recall seeing one person leave to go to the bathroom, unheard of! If all of that wasn't enough, people were CLAPPING afterward. I've never heard non-children clapping in the theater; that is crazy! Not only did we see Paul Atreides take over Arrakis, but this movie is going to take Timothy Chalamet into a different stratosphere in Hollywood. Building from a character that hasn’t dealt with real conflict at the beginning of the first movie, watching his father die, learning the ways of the Fremen, riding a granddaddy worm, coming back from the dead. The complete heel turn that Paul goes on following drinking from the water of life, he immediately realizes what he has to do to fulfill his prophecy. There are many iconic rewatchable scenes but his speech where he shows a darker side is absolutely riveting. No longer able to deny his fate, his love for Chani (Zendaya) he must leave behind, something that is so rare in movies. I don’t wish to not spend proper amounts of time discussing the other characters, but so many of them are absolutely perfectly done. Javier Bardem (Stilgar: the first Fremen to see signs that Paul is a prophet) gets a lot of powerful scenes and speeches, and they do a good job mixing in some humor with his character when he is talking to the Fremen who also believe in the prophecy. Josh Brolin (Gurney: Paul’s teacher from the beginning of the first movie) steals the screen every time he is on it, not just in this movie but in every role that he is in. Rebecca Ferguson (Jessica: Paul’s Mother) goes through a huge character turn after drinking the water of life (really blue water taken from the inside of a worm - can't imagine it tastes great) she is fantastic as the reverend mother spreading the word of her son's prophecy. Zendaya (Chani) is a bit of a tragic character, watching her love take another woman’s hand at the end is absolutely gutting. Austin Butler (Feyd-Rautha: the promised future Emperor of the Harkkanen’s) and Dave Bautista (Beast Rabban) are great villains that properly show the strength of Paul. Christopher Walken (The Emperor) may be the only character I could have a little quibble with; 10-15 years ago he would've absolutely nailed this character, the strength of all the performances around him makes it stand out more than it would it most films. Enough can’t be said of the incredible supporting character performances. Denis Villeneuve is starting to climb the ranks of the most important action directors going right now. Sicario, Arrival, Blade Runner 2049, Dune: Part One & Two, this guy is about as big of a lock as there is right now and I hope that he gets all of his flowers during next year's award show circuit. I don’t totally know what more to say; every part of the experience was perfect for me. Now all that's left to do is buy the books and pray for the 3rd installment of the series to be made, keeping as much of the cast together as possible. - Nate -