Dune Part Two: The Hype is Real, and So is the LISAN AL-GAIB!

I need to start this with the comment that I thought the first movie was fine. Found out halfway through it’s really just a set up for part two, and MY GOD DID IT DELIVER IN PART TWO. Sometimes a cast is so intertwined with their characters you forget any prior works they did because you get lost in their performance. That happened to me here with Dune Part Two. Here are some of my more detailed thoughts. ***SPOILERS AHEAD***

The Lead Star – Timothee Chalamet – Paul Atreides

I was skeptical if Timothee could shoulder the transformation Paul undergoes becoming the messiah, having to command, lead, and be an asshole at times. And he proved me a wronger. He delivered lines with conviction perfectly, was believable in his interactions with everyone, and gave us some humor even at times that helped him relate well. He is a man on a mission and you believe it 1000% that him in his character will carry it out at all costs. Not to mention his combat scenes?!? These were some of the most realistic and fun fight scenes I’ve seen in a long time. Extremely refreshing displays of combat and never did I think he was too small or frail for it to be believable. And when he becomes the Lisan Al-Gaib, he takes the planet by the balls and runs it on his own terms. Timothee is a pretty son of a gun and he feels like a force we will look back on as a strong figure when looking back on this film.

Paul and Chani ❤

The growing relationship of these two throughout the movie is done so well. It doesn’t just stay all rainbows and sunshine throughout. Paul slightly shifts his full attention from her as he is trying to prove himself to the Fremen, but then we get extended scenes with them growing closer together as part of that process. It feels extremely organic and their chemistry on screen is FIRE. This duo is incredible and they both bodied the hell out of their performances.

However I want to mention one thing that stood out massively to me. About half way through, Paul tells her that he will love her as long as they are together. Seems to be pretty loving and something you’d say to someone you truly love. After Paul fulfills the prophecy and has his change of character, he knows as part of that and his gaining of power, he must be with Irulan (Florence Pugh) strategically for his rise. Then at the end, he tells Chani he will love her as long as he breathes, right before taking the hand of Irulan to have her rule alongside him. This was a massive power move by Paul, and one Chani is extremely slighted by, for good reason. But the way the tune changes and his delivery of that line being worded differently knowing what he was about to do was incredible attention to detail and the arc of their relationship I was in awe of it. Incredible job to leave us wondering what will be now of Chani and Paul going forward!

Feyd-Rautha, What A Savage

This motherfucker Feyd-Rautha is a SAVAGE. Austin Butler is insane and incredible in this role. My only complaint is I wanted more of him on screen. It was awesome when he showed up and he was ruthless and felt like an absolute force anytime he was on screen. Chose to fight without his armor in the coliseum to prove he could pass the test on his birthday he was set up for. Just casually slaughtering people mid conversation was WILD and I feel like he did that like 2-3 times. Made Glossu kiss his feet otherwise he would kill him. Burning the one Fremen woman alive with the flame thrower. This dude did it all and that was in limited screen time.

The fight scene between him and Paul was one of the best combat scenes I’ve seen in any movie. The commitment to sound design in the fight and boosting that by having no background music at all. Felt RAW, and I was glued to every movement and strike and every cut that was made in the buildup to the end. Even in defeat he stays true to his character, knowing it’s part of the battle he elected to partake in. I couldn’t say more incredible things about Austin in this role, I truly think we will look back on Austin’s career and this performance will always be talked about. What a savage.

Cinematography 10/10

I really can’t say enough about how incredible Dennis Villeneuve decided to shoot this film. I know people joke about “it looks cinematic cause it’s people against a vast orange or bright backdrop”, but it’s so much more than that. The contrast of the black sun when outside at House Harkannan was stunningly beautiful and the “fireworks” being shown were so unique and sick I was loving everytime it was used. The vast wide shots to show the attention to detail in so many scenes was truly special in all these shots. It’s hard to make a desert planet look as vibrant and detailed as it does in this film, they nailed it. A few of the shots above were some of my favorites, but I think there were 10-15 shots in total that I just had my jaw drop when I saw it.

Lady Jessica, Rebecca Hall, MAMI

Rebecca Hall as Lady Jessica is probably the most perfect casting of the year in 2024 and I know it’s early but I don’t think anyone could be cast more perfectly in a film. From when she is worried to take on the water of life and knowing she has to be but being afraid through the entire process, to shifting to pushing Paul towards the prophecy after she has fulfilled her evolution to reverend mother. Or should I say Reverend Mami, cause my god I would let her ruin my Arrakis (world). Had to say world cause I don’t want any freaks out there to misinterpret my wording here. I wouldn’t just walk over broken glass to just make eye contact with her within 3 feet, I’d Darby Allen a glass table to do that. Shoutout to those that get that reference.

Final Thoughts

This movie is damn near a masterpiece. I let it breathe for 2 weeks in my mental as I walked out of there telling my friends it was perfect and a masterpiece. Which I don’t regret at all. The cinematography, casting, performances, sound design, and story arc are all perfection and I mean that. Don’t want to be too quick to call something perfect but I think those aspects really are. It has a lot of good humor in it as well and Stilgar is an excellent character that is helping drive the story while also delivering many laughs. Josh Brolin returning at the perfect time to add a twist to Paul’s rise. Lea Seydoux stepping in and being an integral piece of the story as well was perfectly placed. All these characters that supported the main cast did all they could to elevate the story and film in every way and they rocked it. To all my details above in the other sections, I stand by every word. Because I have to be careful on the films I rate 10/10, I am going to give this a 9.5/10. This is my personal choice as in comparison to some of my 10/10 films and I’ll defend this movie as a 9.5 any day of the week, but also agree with anyone that wants to say it’s a 10/10. The experience of seeing this opening weekend in IMAX will stay with me forever.

– C. A. ROETHLE