On March 1, 2024, a sensational Sci-fi film was released to the public in movie theaters across the nation. Fans of the previous installment and of the books rushed to theaters to see the magic brought to life by the cast and crew. As of April 1, 2024, the movie had already grossed $626 million worldwide and is the highest grossing production of 2024. The film in question is Dune: Part Two.
Dune: Part Two is the sequel to its predecessor, Dune: Part One, and is based on the book series by Frank Herbert. Dune: Part One and Part Two are adaptations of Herbert’s first novel of the series, Dune, with rumors that a third Dune film will be produced.
Dune: Part One was an international success, as the film grossed $406 million dollars and was nominated for ten Oscars at the 94th annual Academy Awards in 2022. Dune: Part One won six of the awards it was nominated for, including Best Visual Effects, Best Sound, and Best Production Design. These fantastic elements that were praised by critics and nominations alike are the same elements that shaped Dune: Part Two into a dynamic composition.
Dune: Part Two resumes where Dune: Part One left off on the planet of Arrakis. The main protagonist Paul, played by Timothée Chalamet, bands with the native Fremen to take down the Harkonnens after the destruction of his family and his home, House Atreides. Paul must learn to be a leader and unite with the Fremen for a common goal: defeat the dreaded Harkonnens to prevent colonization. Directed by Denis Villeneuve, Dune: Part Two comes to life on the big screen with its incredible scenery, spirited performances by the actors, and unmatched sound.
The primary focus of my attention when I saw this film was the beautiful cinematography. The cinematography for this film was done by Greig Fraser who won an Oscar for his work on Dune: Part One in 2022. It was done so well that I could not take my eyes off the screen. The way that Fraser captured the smoothness of the sand and the appeal of the desert was evident in his work, and I was able to dive into the movie and feel as though I was truly there. Acclaimed director and filmmaker Steven Spielberg stated at the Directors Guild of America that he believed director Denis Villeneuve captured the desert as an ocean, and I can’t help but agree. The desert appeared to be never-ending, as its allure represented the elegant side of the natural world as well as its purity even during the film’s most gruesome moments.
Another aspect of Dune: Part Two I found enchanting was the spectacular performances by the actors in the film. Although Timothée Chalamet’s versatility as Paul and Zendaya’s ferocity as Chani stuck out to me as an audience member, there was one actor who truly gripped my attention and made me feel that he completely embodied the character he was portraying: Austin Butler as Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen. Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen is the psychotic, barbarous heir to the House Harkonnen who despises anything to do with House Atreides and the Fremen. Feyd’s desperation for blood and his sadistic nature culminate into a cold-blooded, merciless performance from Butler. Butler portrays Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen as a vicious, wannabe totalitarian that erroneously believes he is a fearless and generous leader. Feyd wants nothing more than total control and influence over the planet of Arrakis and the Fremen, and he will stop at nothing to achieve his goal. Butler’s rendition of Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen demonstrates his uncanny ability to evoke the fear factor of the character, for both the characters in the film and the audience. I myself was very unsettled by Butler’s performance but in the best way possible. The point of his character is to be unsettling and to develop a horrifying interpretation of the Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen from the novels, and I would say that Butler couldn’t have done it any better than he did.
Lastly, the sound and score from the film can only be described as out of this world. Dune: Part One won an Academy Award for Best Sound and Best Original Score. Hans Zimmer took home the award for Best Sound, and he returned as composer of the second part of the Dune adaptation. As I was watching the film in the theater, I truly realized how unique the music was. Similar to the cinematography, I felt like I was really in the desert experiencing all of the gifts the vast expanse of sand had to offer. It is difficult to pinpoint an exact description of the sounds, but it was always a perfect parallel to the events happening in specific moments of the film. When a scene was supposed to be peculiar or unusual, the music produced agitation or uneasiness. When a scene was supposed to be frightening or brutal, the sounds made you feel scared or panic-stricken. Hans Zimmer has received much praise and recognition over the years for his contributions to films such as The Lion King, Gladiator, and Interstellar. I am not surprised that Zimmer has produced a jaw-dropping composition of sounds for all audiences to feel. Watching Dune: Part Two and listening to Zimmer’s hard work being modeled in the film makes me eager to watch another movie that he has composed music for. It is nothing short of show-stopping.
Overall, I would give Dune: Part Two a 9/10 and I would recommend it to all audiences who enjoy Sci-Fi or just a good old action-packed movie. Denis Villeneuve expands a beloved book series into a blossoming film with marvelous cinematography by Fraser, sublime performances by Chalamet, Zendaya, and Butler, and a phenomenal score by Zimmer. I have no doubt that this film will become a worldwide sensation that will be treasured for generations. Who doesn’t love a good lively, heartbreaking, jittery, action movie all jumbled into the Sci-Fi category, am I right?
