What I found most interesting about the story is Paul’s ascendancy as Arakkis’ Messiah. With Wonka and two appearances on SNL, Dune: Part 2 solidifies Chalamet as an accomplished actor making wise choices. Having seen the previous Dune films and television mini-series, his take on Paul is thought-provoking. He is a boy taking on the role of Messiah for revenge, survival, and maybe for the good of Arrakis.
Butler steals the film as the Anti-Paul. He looks scary as hell, and his characterization of Feyd-Rautha stands out from the rest. Feyd is the perfect choice for young Butler after his award-nominated performance as Elvis. The kid’s got range and is charismatic (I’ll avoid the use of “rizz”).
“…the biggest reason I want to see this again is the look and feel of the film.”
But the biggest reason I want to see this again is the look and feel of the film. In Dune: Part 2, Villeneuve is a sci-fi visionary. He built two massive worlds (on a relatively modest budget) that give a sense of place rather than feel like a series of random locations. The filmmaker presents a seamless image, blending the real with CGI. The care and detail make everything feel practical. Breaking up the desert browns of Arakkis is the brand new world under the black sun of Harkonia (I know it’s Giedi Prime; get off my back). This world’s black-and-white visual and art design is like nothing I’ve ever seen. It is awe-inspiring in its inspiration, particularly when the celebratory fireworks go off.
No, the battle scenes don’t even come close to rivaling The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers. Still, damn, it’s quite impressive. We’ve been waiting for a sandworm battle, and Villeneuve delivers. The final battle felt rushed, but at two hours, forty-five, I’ll take the truncated battle.
I admire the story of Dune, though I’m sure the die-hard lovers who grew up on the book will hate my no-nuance take. I mentioned that it’s dense with politics, religion, and war. 10-year-old me, who fell instantly in love with Star Wars in 1977, probably wouldn’t like Dune: Part 1 or Dune: Part 2. The casual audience will like the incredible imagery and the A-list cast supporting it. It just didn’t make me want to become a fan of Frank Herbert’s novels in the end. Yet, I will grab an AMC Shai-Hulud popcorn bucket and “butter” the hell out of its contents.
"…Villeneuve is a sci-fi visionary."
“Avengers: End Game” is NOT science fiction. It’s fantasy.
There will always be a warm place in my heart for David Lynch’s adaptation in 1984, despite it being horribly undermined by meddling studio executives and financiers. But Denis Villeneuve’s project will forever be THE definitive adaptation. Watching “Part 2” the other day, I was uttterly mesmerized. It was a rich, finely crafted, and magnificent film.