POPZ-CULTURE Movie Reviews – Dune : Part Two (2024)
By: Marton Szakadath
Genre: Sci-fi, action, adventure, drama
Age limit: 16
Directed by: Denis Villeneuve
Written by: Denis Villeneuve, Jon Spaihts (from Frank Herbert’s novel)
Starring: Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Florence Pugh, Christopher Walken, Austin Butler, Javier Bardem
Dune part two is one of the most anticipated films of the year. The first part caught our attention in 2021 and set a promising foundation for the sequel. They left off telling the story at a point that guaranteed we’d want to see the rest. The director, Denis Villeneuve, the cleverly chosen cast and the visuals should entice even those who are not particularly fan of science fiction.
We won’t tell you too much about the story. The plot is about Prince Atreides joining the Fremen and becoming the messiah of the Dune. What is more interesting about this is that it centres mainly around the Emperor. Besides the overwhelming action sequences, the film also gives a detailed picture of the various background machinations and intrigues, as well as the political power relations of Arrakis.
The acting again brings the high quality of the first part. Christopher Walken was an excellent choice as the Emperor, but Javier Bardem as Stilgar and Florence Pugh as Princess Irulan were also memorable. But those who dazzled us neck and neck were Timothée Chalamet and Austin Butler, who has been growing in popularity since the Elvis film. Chalamet showed even more of the Paul Atreides who, although on the first look he gives the impression of a fragile, easily vulnerable young man, but in critical situations every word, every look of him exudes strength, dedication and commands respect. And as Freyd-Rauth, Butler is a formidable challenger to the Duke, crushing anyone and everyone for the sole rule of the House Harkonnen.
For us, there was a sense of incompleteness as the credits showed. The main reason for this is that the makers didn’t really carry on the spiritual line taken in the first part. A much more practical, plot-driven approach is evident in the sequel. Ultimately, it is also very much felt that further sequels are needed, as there is much more backstory to be learned, unresolved conflict and messages to be taken away from Arrakis and beyond.
Do we recommend Dune: Part Two? Absolutely. The bigger the cinema and screen the better. Only two months have passed this year, and it’s already one of the most memorable experiences of 2024 for us.
How did you like our review? Are you interested in other premieres? Like, comment and share our article with others. We’ll be back with more cinema and streaming releases soon. And if you’re in the mood for a tasty movie-watching snack, POPZ popcorn is the perfect choice.
Picture credits: https://unsplash.com/
