A couple of weeks ago, IMAX released an interview between Christopher Nolan and Denis Villeneuve as they chatted about the movie world after the re-release of Nolan’s film Tenet in cinemas. After watching Villeneuve’s Dune: Part Two I couldn’t help but be struck by the fact that in this interview we had this generation’s Alfred Hitchcock and Stanley Kubrick, Steven Spielberg and George Lucas sitting before us. While Nolan's Oppenheimer was this decade's cinematic drama masterpiece, Dune: Part Two is this decade's sci-fi masterpiece. An astounding, miraculous achievement, Dune Part: Two is a masterpiece of sci-fi cinema which has to be experienced on the largest screen you can possibly find. One of 2024’s best films.  

 

Dune: Part Two explores the mythic journey of Paul Atreides as he unites with Chani and the Fremen while on a path of revenge against the conspirators who destroyed his family. Facing a choice between the love of his life and the fate of the known universe, he endeavors to prevent a terrible future only he can foresee.

 

Dune: Part Two picks up right after the end of the first installment, thrusting us straight back into the midst of the conflict. One of my critiques of Dune was the lack of an emotional core or some moments of levity in proceedings. Appropriately adding these into the narrative not only serves to make the film feel like its not a soulless slog, but also helps to humanize the characters. Javier Bardem’s Stilgar brings the heart, soul and humor crashing into Dune: Part Two which brings some needed relief to proceeding. The first act feels, in a lot of ways, like David Lean’s Lawrence of Arabia, as Paul, just like O’Toole’s Lawrence, discovers the ways and life of this desert tribe, becoming one of them. 

 

Narratively, the second act feels slightly too long but this is redeemed by the ferocity and speed of the final act, with gladiatorial combat, and large scale, take your breath away war sequences. 

 

Zimmer’s hauntingly beautiful score, the euphoric sound design (Oscar nods surely), costume and production design all aid the sense that this is a very real, very lived in world. But that is not what holds the audience to this film: it’s not some soulless yet beautiful epic. The world building aids the narrative, further adding to the beauty and horror of Dune: Part Two's story.

 

An astounding, miraculous achievement, Dune Part: Two is a masterpiece of sci-fi cinema which has to be experienced on the largest screen you can possibly find. One of 2024’s best films.