Review #500

Denis Villeneuve’s much anticipated second chapter in his space opera epic is here, and it truly does stand as one of the defining cinematic moments of the decade. It’s a grand movie that straddles themes of politics, faith, and loyalty  while shooting for the stars with a story of love and destiny so much more.

No doubt, there is a ton to love here, and personally, I was very happy to see that every aspect of the spectacle was heightened from Villeneuve’s first chapter. From the spectacular cinematography of Greig Fraser to the Hans Zimmer’s terrific score (which resonated more for me than in the first film), Dune: Part 2’s sheer cinematic spectacle and blockbuster ferocity cannot be denied. It’s the kind of experience that shatters audience anticipations and goes on to paint a dramatic and thoroughly entertaining science fiction!

What I appreciate even more in this film over the first part, is how Villeneuve’s engrossing screenplay manages to balance an engaging story, with some much needed character development for Paul and Chani, with a great sense of world building! Very Impressed how the film expands upon the traditions, customs and religions of this universe through the dialogue and actors. I particularly like how the Fremen feel like this diverse and realistic culture with deep rooted cultural baggage amongst the peoples. I could gush in too about the Harkonnen and Imperium factions feel so fully realized from the costumes, makeup to the ways in which the actors carry themselves. All of these people’s and worlds are helped along by jaw dropping special effects and actors that are truly in these roles to such a fun degree, such as Javier Bardem who I thought was terrific in both establishing more of the believablity of the religious/cultural angle while also adding some much needed levity I thought. I these elements do really make Dune 2 an astonishing vision for these science fiction worlds.

Not to say that I don’t have issues with this picture. Dune: part 2 presents itself as a sweeping epic that simultaneously embraces, the hero’s journey myth with the some big questions of theology. The film is content to blur the lines between these two main themes. This with such unrelenting confidence by Villeneuve and team that he is content to let us get lost in the operatic nature of the grand story. As such, I felt like I never fully connected with the Paul Atreides character who has difficulty living up to the legacy of his house, painting a vulnerable young man on the cusp of manhood while also living up to the messianic role that seems so thrust upon him. In this way, my lack of empathy for the leads is a real issue- with Frank Herbert’s (or Villeneuve’s vision of his) mythos really muddling  the central relatability of our protagonists. And… say nothing for the white saviour colonial myth, which this film never fully shakes off- and this being an issue I find more and more disturbing the more I dwell on it.

Overall, while I wouldn’t say I’m 100% sniffing up the spice as some folks are on here, I can’t deny that this was an incredible cinema experience! It’s a grand piece of sci-fi filmmaking in which all elements of a phenomenal cinematic experience are splendidly realized, yet below the sheer spectacle I find the religious mythos and politics of the film to muddle the message which never allows me to fully grasp what others are calling the fantasy masterpiece of our times. 4/5