Ryan Summerley’s review published on Letterboxd:
Power Over Spice, Is Power Over All.
Well... it took 3 consecutive watches of part 2 and a revist of part 1, but I'm finally ready to review this.
If you have read my part 1 review then you know how much this means to me, going into part 2, i was now a super fan of both the books and the film. So its safe to say i had very high expectations! And you know what? It ed them...
I'm going to be controversial and say that i actually like this more than Frank Herbert's first novel in this universe. The changes for me made alot of sense and some even improved the material... for example, i think the character of chani is a massive improvement in Denis Villeneuve's Adaption. She has alot more to do and is layered alot more beyond the "combine" thst she is in the source material.
I loved everything about this... the cinematography, the score! The acting!
Timothee chalamet absolutely killed it, especially when you see the arc Paul goes through from from the start. Little changes in his mannerisms and acting, i have read that chalamet felt alot more confident during filming of part 2 and that definitely shows. However, for me the MVP was Rebecca Ferguson terrifying performance!
Part 1 and 2 combined has made not only one of the best Sci-fi films of all time, but equally one of the most layered blockbusters ever. Denis Villeneuve did the impossible. He adapted DUNE.
So many great scenes but the "hand of God" and "take them to paradise" scenes combined with Lady Jessica taking "the water of life" all go into some of my all time favourite film moments.
Personally i see part 1 and 2 as one film. Just split across for time. So many call backs and links that for me this isnt a "sequel" its a brilliant continuation of a great film. So if someone asks me what my favourite film is? I will say DUNE.
