The second instalment to the 'Dune' franchise, brought to us by the mind and talent of Denis Villeneuve, has finally arrived to the big screen following various delays, making quite the impact to cinema-lovers everywhere.
Both 'Dune: Part One' and 'Dune: Part Two' follow the story of Paul Atreides, a young man attempting to survive within an interstellar society unknown to him following the death of his Father and the fall of his empire.
Following directly on from the first instalment, Paul, now with the Fremen, must navigate and lead the Fremen towards the Emperor (Christopher Walken) in an attempt to win over the hand of his daughter and claim the throne, bringing peace to the world of Arrakis and the people that walk amongst it.
One aspect of this movie that allows it to stand out from it's competitors is it's beautiful cinematography. There are many sci-fi/fantasy movies that possess the ability to look pretty on screen, but cinematographer Greig Fraser takes it to a whole new level in this film, breaking the boundaries of what we thought were set in the first movie.
When it comes to filmmaking, world-building is arguably one of the most difficult tasks out there, but the way Greig Fraser and Villeneuve create the world of Arrakis and portray it as a naturally beautiful planet that is truly stunning to look at is more than impressive.
'Dune: Part Two' is truly blessed with one of the best ensemble casts to ever grace the screen all at once, and the performances that each cast member delivers certainly do the film justice. With a-list names such as Timothee Chalamet, Zendaya, Florence Pugh, Austin Butler, Rebecca Ferguson, Javier Bardem, Josh Brolin, Christopher Walken, Lea Seydoux, Charlotte Rampling, Stellan Skarsgard and Dave Bautista, the movie was destined to sell theatre tickets.
However, it is both Chalamet as Paul Atreides and Butler as Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen that stand out amongst their cast mates as the most impressive. Chalamet delivers a well-rounded and enjoyable performance as Paul Atreides that holds the film together, whereas Butler portrays a dark and sinister Feyd-Rautha that sends chills down the audiences spine.
For the movie-lovers out there that are eager to experience Villeneuve's blockbuster epic, but refuse the need to watch the first half of the two-part storyline, this is not recommended. As previously mentioned, this film follows on directly from the events that take place in it's predecessor, so catching up on the storyline of 'Dune: Part One' is more than necessary before delving into this movie.
Of course, as the die-hard Frank Herbert (writer of the original novel) fans will already be aware of, there is a second book that follows directly on from the story of 'Dune', through the form of 'Dune: Messiah'. Denis Villeneuve has spoken out in recent interviews that he intends on making this film, completing the trilogy, and bringing Paul Atreides' story to a full circle.
Throughout this movie, there are a number of empowering and motivating moments that revolve around the character of Paul Atreides. Whether it is rallying up the Fremen pre-attack or leading them in the direction of bringing peace to Arrakis, there are countless occasions that cause the hairs on the back of audience members necks to stand tall.
As well as the cinematography and outstanding cast, this film also contains very impressive fight sequences. Of course, any sci-fi/fantasy movie out there these days must contain industry-high fight sequences, it's one of the reasons audience members purchase a ticket. But much like Greig Fraser raising the bar for what we think is capable within his cinematography reel, the actors and stunt co-ordinators follow along with this trend via the fight sequences delivered in this film.
The most notable occasion in this film that is destined to leave the audience on the edge of their seats is the solo meeting between Paul and Feyd-Rautha. The 2-3 minute long exchange is a great example of how captivating and pulsating a fight sequence should make an audience member, and is just another example of the bar being raised in this film.
Ultimately, Denis Villeneuve, his cast and every other production crew involved with this movie has raised the bar of expectations within the realm of sci-fi/fantasy via the first two instalments of the 'Dune' franchise. Regardless as to whether you are a fan of either science-fiction or fantasy, or not, 'Dune: Part 2' is nothing short of a masterclass in filmmaking and deserves to be viewed on the biggest screen possible.
Overall Rating: 8.5/10