Timothee Chalamet in a scene from “Dune: Part Two.” | Photo credit: NIKO TAVERNISE
The sandworm sequences in Dune: Part Two are apparently director Denis Villeneuve's favorite sequences. However, they were a little disappointing. Dune (2021) only teased these powerful denizens of the desert, much like the common shark in Jaws, where we saw the circling tail fin and heard scary music forever until it came out of the water to eat Robert Shaw.
That's not the case in Dune: Part Two, as all we see is still sand bubbling like a geyser as the gigantic worms move, and their gaping, toothy mouths like a sea anemone; We don't see his eyes or the “legs” that propel him at warp speed. How does the sandworm move? Does it have legs or does it move like an earthworm? Or does it burrow into the sand even though it would need legs to do that? Maybe it ate the sand and expelled it, moving forward?
A scene from Dune: Part Two. | Photo credit: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures
Let's not get distracted by the sandworm's movement mechanics, about which, as Villeneuve rightly pointed out, author Frank Herbert (on whose 1965 science fiction epic the two films are based) did not provide sufficient information. We have to review a film. “Dune: Part Two” picks up where Dune left off.
After the cowardly attack on House Atreides, Paul (Timothée Chalamet) and his mother Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson) must face the suspicion of the Fremen, the natives of the spice-rich Arrakis. Despite being a desert, Arrakis is important to the Empire as it is the only place to produce spices necessary for interplanetary travel and to stay forever young.
Dune: Part Two (English)
director: Denis Villeneuve
Pour: Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, Josh Brolin, Austin Butler, Florence Pugh, Dave Bautista, Christopher Walken, Javier Bardem
Duration: 167 minutes
Plot: Paul meets his fate while walking the line between desire and duty
There are power struggles between the all-round villains Harkonnen – led by the corpulent Baron (Stellan Skarsgård) and his nephews Rabban (Dave Bautista) and the psychotic Feyd-Rautha (Austin Butler) – and the Emperor (Christopher Walken). ), who may or may not be involved in the dirty deeds. His daughter, Princess Irulan (Florence Pugh), is also involved in the power struggle.
The shadowy order of the Bene Gesserits is entrenched in every part of the Empire; Jessica is a member of the order, as is the emperor's fortune teller, Gaius Helen Mohiam (Charlotte Rampling), and his friend Lady Fenring (Léa Seydoux). Although Paul initially resisted, he eventually accepted his role as leader of the Fremen. His mentor is Gurney Halleck (Josh Brolin), a former military leader of House Atreides, and Fremen leader Stilgar (Javier Bardem). Paul also finds love in Chani (Zendaya), a Fremen warrior, much to the dismay of his mother, who wants a politically relevant marriage with him.
Austin Butler (left) and Lea Seydoux in a scene from “Dune: Part Two.” | Photo credit: NIKO TAVERNISE
The meditative aspects of “Dune” were dispensed with and instead a conventional science fiction war film was created with a dash of romance and a suitably epic, warlike score by Hans Zimmer. Like all Villeneuve projects, “Dune: Part Two” is visually arresting and the fight sequences leave you speechless. The transport vehicles, be they the dragonfly-inspired ornithopters (Herbert doesn't describe them either, but they are exceptionally well implemented in the film) or the giant transport vehicles, are impressive.
You can't get a handle on Paul and Chani's relationship as it's about finding a balance between a teenage romance, otherworldly emotions and a saas-bahu saga. The philosophical concepts of the Messiah cult and the effects of greed on the environment are addressed. Acting-wise, Butler has a rollicking time as Feyd-Rautha (he took inspiration from sharks and Mick Jagger!), while Ferguson carries on as Elsa Faust and won't tolerate any nonsense from Hunt, Harkonnen or her son.
Dune: Part Two has all the hallmarks of an epic event film, from the costumes to the battles and the language – Game of Thrones voice creator David Peterson and Villeneuve created the Fremen language, Chakobsa. If only we could see the sandworms better, we wouldn't have to stare into the night and wonder how they move. I guess we might have to wait for the third installment based on Dune Messiah.
Dune: Part 2 is currently in theaters