This review may contain spoilers.
mikeri’s review published on Letterboxd:
This movie, about Paul Atreides who unites with Chani and the Fremen while seeking revenge against the conspirators who destroyed his family, is a great sequel to Dune (2021)!
I had pretty high expectations because of its amazing , and it sure is fantastic. I think the first movie is a masterpiece, but there are a few elements that slightly detracts my experience with Dune: Part Two. I haven't read the books, but I think the pacing and build-up are the main elements that has some flaws. The pacing frequently stumbles a bit, making it sometimes difficult to interpret what the movie tries to convey, and I do not think that the movie gives enough time to when the protagonist, Paul Atreides, and his mother, Lady Jessica, find out that they are from the bloodline of the Harkonnens. That part is a bit rushed and overlooked. I love all the characters themselves, but some of the characters from Dune lose a part of their values in Dune: Part Two and while the story builds up the excitement for the new characters, the way the story deals with the new characters is not deserved, especially with Emperor Shaddam Corrino IV and Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen, the cousin of Paul. As I interpret it, it was not the Emperor who started the war, but Reverend Mother Gaius Helen Mohiam, planning in the shadows. I think something is not quite right about how the movie deals with the Emperor. It feels like something big is going to happen to him, but then he easily loses the battle in the third act, then becomes a prisoner to Paul, and then Feyd-Rautha loses his dual against Paul after he desires to take the Emperor's throne, which should feel like an essential part of the story. My point is, it feels like everything builds up to something but immediately gets thrown away when it faces its challenge, leaving me with a somewhat disappointment. To add, I kind of wish there was more action and explorations of new worlds because the tone feels a bit monotonous although it is theatrical extraordinary, but as said, I have not read the books, so I probably should not dare to criticize the movie too much based on the story.
Anyway, the rest of the movie is incredible. I really enjoy the development of Paul from being a curious helper to a confident central figure. He still has dreams, but the more he develops, the clearer the possibilities of the future are to him. I love the way he lifts and clarifies his position among the people, making him look like a very powerful person. My favorite part is probably the symbolic arrival montage of Paul when he first walks alone with the massive sandworm coming up from the sand behind him and then he walks in the middle of the while the awesome score by Hans Zimmer plays in the background . Absolutely cinematic and powerful! The romance between him and Chani is mostly good, Stilgar is the nice touch of humor, and the transformation of Lady Jessica is interesting. I think the connection and communication between Lady Jessica and her daughter, Alia Atreides, are very compelling. It feels mysterious, and how Alia is trying to take a part of the future is cool. Although Anya Taylor-Joy (as Alia Atreides) only has one scene, she does much to the story. The glimpse of her eyes just melts me, perfectly convincing me that her character is the sister of Paul. The performances are fantastic, especially by Timothée Chalamet (as Paul Atreides), and although I think the movie slightly lacks action, the action itself is masterful. The choreography is fantastic, the visuals in general are insane, and the best of all is the sound design. Absolutely breathtaking because it proves that it is one of the most epic movies ever. Although the score does not take as much part of the movie as what the score from Dune does, it is still amazingly good. It is darker and rawer, making some of the elements of the movie more threatening.
My complaints are only minor ones although I write much about them, but that is because they go against my high expectations. But all in all, the movie is such a great experience, especially on the big screen. No matter how much I think it will increase my enjoyment during a rewatch, I am confident that the experience will get somewhat better the second time because I feel that I have not experienced it enough.
In conclusion, despite pacing issues and underdeveloped new characters, this movie delivers a visually stunning and thrilling experience. The movie excels in its technical aspects, boasting masterful action sequences, breathtaking visuals, and an immersive soundscape. While the story falters slightly in its execution, particularly with its portrayal of the antagonists, it effectively portrays the transformation of Paul and the intriguing development of the ing characters, especially Lady Jessica and Alia. Overall, the movie is a worthy sequel that builds upon the strengths of the first movie and offers a compelling cinematic experience, especially on the big screen. However, a second viewing might be necessary to fully appreciate the nuances and complexities of the movie.
