By: Lana K. Wilson-Combs
Although screenwriter and director
Denis Villeneuve's sprawling, 166 minutes long sequel,
"Dune: Part Two" may test your patience, the film's visuals will dazzle you to no end. It's a major improvement over the 2021 “Dune” movie.
If you're a newbie to the world of Paul Atreides (Timothee Chalamet) Chani (Zendaya) and the Fremen,then watching the original movie is necessary. Otherwise, you'll be lost trying to figure out what's going on because there is so much to digest here.
"Dune: Part Two," which is adapted from
Frank Herbert's 1965 novel, picks up where the first movie left off with Paul, the exiled Duke of House Atreides (Chalamet) and his mother, Lady Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson, "Mission: Impossible--Dead Reckoning Part One" ), hiding from their rivals on planet Arrakis since their lives have been upended by the scheming Shaddam IV/Padishah Emperor (an excellent Christopher Walken, TV's "Severance").
However, Paul and Jessica have found a powerful ally in the native, desert dwellers the Fremen and their leader Stilgar (Javier Bardem, "The Little Mermaid") along with a fearless young warrior named Chani (a terrific (Zendaya, TV's "Euphoria").
It's apparent that Paul and the Fremen will rise up against the Harkonnen and soon be the guiding force for the Fremen. That will take trust and include learning some of their ways like the language and riding gigantic sandworms.
There are also numerous twisty subplots in "Dune: Part Two" that seem as if they are veering off in different directions, but Vileneuve and screenwriter
Jon Spaihts (Upcoming, "Van Helsing"), skillfully manage to connect most all the dots although the budding romance between Paul (Chalamet) and Chani (Zendaya) doesn't really go anywhere and just kind of hangs in the balance. Then again there is a battle raging.
As terrific as Chalamet is,
Austin Butler ("Elvis") really commands the screen as Harkonnen villain Feyd-Rautha. The sword fighting scene between Chalamet and Butler is one of the most exciting scenes in the movie.
Overall, "Dune: Part Two" is loaded with top notch acting.
Florence Pugh ("Oppenheimer") shines as Princess Irulan, the Emperor's (Walken) daughter.
Stellan Skarsgard (TV's "Andor") is pretty creepy as Baron Vladimir Harkonnen.
Dave Bautista also delivers as the nephew of Baron Vladimir Harkonnen and older brother of Feyd-Rautha.
So does
Josh Brolin who plays Paul's mentor Gurney Halleck.
Lea Seydoux ("The Beast") delights as the close friend of the Emperor.
"Dune: Part Two" is another crowning achievement from Denis Villeneuve. It's a long, yet rewarding and scenic ride worth taking.
Editor's Note: Be sure to catch my N2Entertainment.net movie talk segment on the Kitty O'Neal Show Fridays now at 5:17 p.m. and 6:47 p.m. on radio station KFBK 93.1 FM and 1530 AM.
Look At This Trailer For
"DUNE: PART TWO"
Lana K. Wilson-Combs is a member of the Broadcast Film Critics Association (BFCA), The American Film Institute (AFI), and a Nominating Committee Voting Member for the NAACP Image Awards.
