As Frank Herbert handed his first novel, a story that would forever change the science fiction (sci-fi) genre, over to a company specializing in auto-motive manual publishing, having been rejected by twenty mainstream publishers, it would have been impossible for him to imagine just how big Dune is today. Nearly sixty years later, Dune stands as the best selling sci-fi book of all time. Its big screen adaptations have already broken records, creating an undeniable legacy for a book that no one would give a chance to at one point.
Picking up just after the ending of the first film, Dune Pt. 2 follows the story of Paul Atreides, played by Timothée Chalamet, as he fights to regain control of Arrakis, a planet stolen from his family at the end of the first film. With the help of the desert planet’s Fremen people, Paul wages war against House Harkonen, seeking revenge for the destruction of his family. It is this conflict that drives the majority of the film.
The sci-fi genre is an area of filmmaking that is hard to perfect, but when done correctly can produce classic’s that transcend space and time. Just as film’s like The Matrix (1999) and Star Wars (1977) revolutionized the genre in their own respective eras, Dune Pt. 2 looks to be this generation’s defining sci-fi epic. The project is hardly filmmaker Denis Villeneuve’s first foray into the genre, with Arrival (2016) and Blade Runner 2049 (2017), the director has dominated sci-fi for the last decade.
Perhaps the strongest aspect of Dune Pt. 2’s wide range of success is found in its cast, filled with a generational grouping of actors. Stellar performances from leads Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya help support the film’s underlying love story, and infuse the film with a much needed personal story. Austin Butler, known for his 2022 role in Elvis, stands out, easily providing the best performance of his career, and likely propelling himself into many best supporting actor discussions. Other big names contributing in smaller roles include Florence Pugh, Chrisopher Walken and Javier Bardem, to name a few.
Another stunning aspect of Dune Pt. 2 comes in its, at times, unbelievable cinematography. Throughout the film, multiple scenes convey visuals unparalleled in any other current piece of cinema. While the world of Dune is completely imagined, Arrakis comes to life on the silver screen, and the audience is treated to the beauty of an imagined world. Cinematographer Gregg Fraser previously won an Oscar for his work on the Dune Pt. 1, and another award may be in the future.
Overall, I felt the film did a fantastic job at expanding on the story of the first film, and stands as one of the most impressive pieces of cinema I have ever experienced. Should Denis Villneueve keep the Dune series on track it will undoubtedly find itself in discussions of best film trilogies of all time, atop the ladder with names like The Lord of the Rings and Star Wars.
Dune Pt. 2 released to rave reviews on March 1, 2024 and has grossed over 680 million dollars at the box office, the third largest release since the COVID-19 pandemic. The film received a 93% score on Rotten Tomatoes with a 95% audience rating.
