Dune: Part Two

Mature sci-fi with mature themes that value the intellect of its audience. Can't we get that more often? Before I get to my minor reservations, I must first point out three things. Go to the cinema. Go to the cinema. And thirdly, go to the cinema. For epic cinematic feats in which everything is technically correct and yet completely mesmerising and impressive on an unreal scale, it makes sense to put money into buying a ticket. In short, Dune: Part Two delivers the viewing experience in all its glory. And it could easily have been over three hours long – even at 166 minutes it feels too short in places, and an extra quarter of an hour would have been easily enough. A more significant problem for me is the fact that Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya have almost zero chemistry with each other and their relationship, although the mainstay of the film, feels rushed and unconvincing. Emotionally, I simply didn't tune in to the characters. In any case, in many other ways, Denis Villeneuve translates the book into film language very effectively and once again raises the bar of contemporary science fiction a little higher. And although we'll probably have to wait quite a long time for the third film, I'm looking forward to it a lot and I'm curious to see what kind of spectacle he'll have in store for us again. (28/02/2024)

Impressive scale, a strong story that goes brutally against all modern trends and a young cast in top form (Austin Butler is demonic). It looks gorgeous, the polished design (a black and white planet!) where they paid attention to every detail surpasses the benchmark first film in places, and Hans Zimmer has taken the score to an even higher level. I liked the first part of Dune a bit more, though. It was more meditative and fresh. Here we're playing it safe and the cinemas are bursting at the seams. SPOILERS: It's interesting that a film about a colonizer who infiltrates a terrorist organization of religious fanatics and declares Jihad (it's interesting that they avoid that label) on the entire world order to avenge the death of his father gets this kind of space. Prophetic? We shall see. Denis Villeneuve has been mum about the third installment so far, and he's doing well because the leap to Savior is huge. Much more personal and the scale is smaller. The ending is bleak. (04/03/2024)

I can't deny Villeneuve's amazing ability to create captivating images and materialize fantastic book worlds, but Herbert's "Dune" with giant worms and a strange combination of spaceships and medieval society equipped with cutting weapons always seemed dysfunctional to me. I just can't immerse myself in that world, I can't enjoy it, and I'm not able to appreciate it. Unfortunately, Denis Villeneuve did not use his talent for dozens of other titles of science fiction literature, on which the genre is built. Something like "Roadside Picnic" in Villeneuve's rendition would be an irresistible treat. Overall impression: 60%. (12/03/2024)

I have probably just finished not only the most anticipated film of this year, but I have the feeling that it is also the best thing I will see this year. The second part of Dune took its time, but if I have to wait three years for such quality, I can't be mad at all. I don't know how to name this part, other than that it is a total sci-fi epic that will rightfully rank among the best that Hollywood has produced in the 21st century. Hans Zimmer has outdone himself again. There is no distinct melody from him, but in combination with practically perfect visuals, it instills indescribable fear and respect from Arrakis. The current cream of the acting crop also came together here, seemingly unfazed by supporting roles, merging into an indescribably high-quality whole. It can only be said that Denis Villeneuve has outdone himself once again. He faithfully filmed a novel that was considered unfilmable in the 80s. (03/03/2024)

What The Empire Strikes Back is to A New Hope, Dune: Part Two is to the previous film. In short, it's a perfectly natural sequel that doesn't suffer from the infamous ills of second parts, but continues to develop the story, stretching it out to unexpected breadth and depth, and from the opening scene gives the impression that last time it was just a set-up of pieces on a chessboard and a few tentative but thoughtful moves, but the real game only begins now. Stunning is probably the word that describes Dune: Part Two in every possible way. The elaborate script, the breathtaking desert scenery in particular, the believability, the palpability, the actors and actresses who just really are those characters. Even those unfamiliar with the source material will easily understand what makes Herbert's work special when they see all the unexpected turns the plot takes. Special mention must again go to Hans Zimmer, who probably hasn't composed anything decent since the last Dune because he was working on the second part. As was the case with the last film, I now have no choice but to believe that I will see the next installment(s), because all those ajar doors and gates are just so very tempting. (29/02/2024)