The hotly anticipated followup to the 2021 science fiction epic “Dune” has finally hit theaters, concluding director Denis Villeneuve’s adaptation of the first book in Frank Herbert’s series of “Dune” novels.
In “Dune: Part Two,” the story picks up immediately following the slaughter of the House Atreides at the hands of the House Harkonnen, who have taken control of the planet Arrakis. Paul Atreides, played by Timothee Chalamet, joins forces with the native Fremen people of Arrakis, who come to see him as their messiah.
Paul and Feyd-Rautha dueling. Photo courtesy of Legendary Pictures
Now, that is a lot of very science fiction-y words. Arguably, the biggest problem with the first “Dune” was the amount of time it spent explaining the universe of the films, rather than with actual characters. But here in “Part Two,” with the foundation successfully laid, the plot kicks into gear immediately and does not let up for its gargantuan runtime.
While the film certainly feels long, there is never a wasted second. A near-perfect balance is struck between quiet, intimate moments and sweeping action sequences that will leave your jaw on the floor.
Being a science fiction film on this scale, it would be easy to lose sight of the humanity at the film’s core, but luckily, that is not the case. The exploration of the Fremen, including but not limited to Zendaya’s Chani, Javier Bardem’s Stilgar and Souhelia Yacoub’s Shishakli, all help to truly make the Fremen’s cause more relatable and honest, as well as make the tragedy at the heart of the film that much more effective.
Zendaya's Chani has a crucially boosted role in this film. Photo courtesy of Legendary Pictures
“Dune” has always been intended as a subversion of the typical “white savior” narrative that it appears to be at face value, and a damnation of the rise of messianic figures. With an acute awareness of this thematic intent, Villeneuve makes intelligent changes to Herbert’s source material that only help to bolster these ideas. The one that benefits the story the most is the larger role of Chani, who becomes a much more active figure than she was in the original book.
But ultimately, the story rests on the shoulders of Chalamet, who is more than up to the task. His natural charisma makes Paul’s corruption that much sadder to watch. Chalamet embodies the character in a very natural way, and the fall from benevolence to arrogance never feels overwrought or maniacal.
Chalamet's charisma makes his fall that much more tragic. Photo courtesy of Legendary Pictures
Visually, it is no surprise that “Dune: Part Two” is a stunner. The first film won an Academy Award for its cinematography, and it would not be shocking if director of photography Greig Fraser were to take home yet another trophy in 2025 for his work here. The vast deserts of Arrakis could not look better than they do here.
One particular sequence, the introduction to Austin Butler’s Feyd-Rautha, is a feast for the senses. Under the premise that the Harkonnen’s home planet is in a solar system with a “black sun,” the sequence is presented entirely in black-and-white, but in a way that is wholly unique to this film. Fraser used infrared cameras to capture the scene in a way that looks appropriately alien and gorgeous without ever being distracting.
Sweeping action sequences will leave your jaw on the floor. Photo courtesy of Legendary Pictures
The visual effects on display are equally impressive, primarily due to how seamless they are. Even with the film’s more obviously fake machinations, like its dragonfly-esque spaceships or massive sandworms, it is never terribly obvious where the natural photography ends and the computer-generated imagery begins.
It is far too early to tell, but all signs point to “Dune: Part Two” being a film that stands the test of time. It is as entertaining as it is heartbreaking, as stunning as it is pensive and overall simply one of the most well-rounded films of Villeneuve’s prolific career. It demands to be seen on the largest screen possible, with or without that popcorn bucket everyone has been talking about.
