Dune: Part Two

Dune: Part Two is sci-fi/fantasy filmmaking on such a ridiculously epic scale, it might be better to make a comparison with some kind of theme park ride rather than a film.

As we wrap the story of book one (with a mooted Part Three set to adapt the next book in the series) we could be on for another all-timer movie trilogy.

The collective power of Christopher Nolan’s ‘hard science’ films and Game of Thrones ‘accessible hard fantasy’ have paved the way for Denis Villeneuve to keep these films very much in ‘his image.’

It gives us an entirely new type of blockbuster. Not quite as mass appeal, user friendly or perennially rewatchable as a Lord of the Rings or Star Wars but still as massive, as epic and as indelibly beautiful whilst arguably falling somewhere near to the ‘arthouse’, ‘authentic cinema’ bracket much like Villeneuve’s own Blade Runner 2049 and, arguably the best film of recent times, Mad Max: Fury Road. Get ready for plenty of 'postcard' worthy cinematography.

This second trip to Arrakis comes with the benefit of the first (a rewatch is strongly advised, the language of the text is kept intact and a little swotting up will enhance your enjoyment) and allows a faster moving narrative with more stakes, more set pieces and more action.

With another masterpiece of a score by Hans Zimmer this means you’ll be left pinned back in your seat, mouth agape at the sheer sensory overload of what’s going on onscreen.

The argument of ‘glorified trailer’ that could somewhat (harshly) be tagged to parts of the first film doesn’t altogether disappear here but scenes are a little weightier and the action absolutely delivers.

As we spend most of our time in the deserts of Arrakis (save a visually incredible and nightmare-inducing trip to Giedi Prime to introduce Feyd-Rautha) this film arguably ‘feels’ longer than the first part as we go deeper into the mythology and quasi-religious elements of the text.

It’s therefore a toss-up as to which part you’ll prefer but both are of a piece and together form one of the best book adaptations of all time and easily earn a seat at the high table of both sci-fi and fantasy cinema.

Awe-inspiring.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️