Denis Villeneuve wasn't kidding when he promised a sequel dune more ambitious and “muscular”. At the peak of his art, the Quebec filmmaker has surpassed himself by producing a second part even better than the first, an epic, spectacular and grandiose work that will undoubtedly become a classic of science fiction cinema .
Denis Villeneuve's technical mastery was already impressive in the first part of “Dune”, which was released in 2021. This is even more true for this sequel, shot entirely in IMAX, which masterfully meets all expectations.
By imprinting his artistic vision on every shot of Dune: Part II, Villeneuve is making Frank Herbert's work his own and making it accessible to as many people as possible. This second chapter picks up where the previous film left us, focusing on the fate of Paul Atréides (Timothée Chalamet), his relationship with Chani (Zendaya), that with his mother, Dame Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson), and his desire for revenge against Baron Vladimir Harkonnen (Stellan Skarsgard), all narrated by Princess Irulan (Florence Pugh).
Denis Villeneuve continues and refines the visual style of the first work. There is no trace of the colorful descriptions of the Sietch Tabr, of the Baron's carnal excesses, of the details of life on the planet Giedi Prime. In addition, several minor characters have disappeared, such as Count Fenring, husband of Margot Fenring (Léa Seydoux).
Far from being harmful, these decisions allow the moviegoer (especially one unfamiliar with the Frank Herbert saga) to focus on the fate that Paul must endure.
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Even more action
Less slow and thoughtful than the first work, this sequel focuses more directly on the action and gets to the point more quickly. Dune: Part II is packed with breathtaking action sequences and intense battles, accompanied by the powerful music of the great Hans Zimmer. The final hour of the film is epic and fast-paced and will keep you captivated.
Instead of overloading the screen with visual information, Villeneuve goes to a minimum, ensuring maximum impact in each of his shots, such as these spectacular and daring scenes of gladiatorial combat against Feyd-Rautha (Austin Butler, remarkable in a role that he fully embodies). ), which he dares to record in the infrared range in order to obtain a rich and structured black and white.
The filmmaker's boldness is also reflected in his decision to hire a linguist to have his actors speak in Chakobsa (the Fremen language) and subtitle everything, an initiative that was unthinkable in Hollywood a few years ago.
The scenes between Paul Atréides and Chani, particularly in the first half of the feature, are the most emotionally powerful. The birth of their love, Paul's discovery of Fremen culture, and his adjustment to this life as a refugee are all particularly moving moments, with the desert serving as a majestic and imposing setting for heightened emotions.
A beautiful maturity
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Timothée Chalamet also demonstrates impressive maturity in his acting performance: after playing the more fragile Paul Atréides in the first film, the French-American actor delivers a much more complex and confident performance this time, which enables him to impress the experienced actors Javier Bardem, Charlotte stands up to Rampling and Christopher Walken.
The filmmaker and Jon Spaiht's script also trims the political and spiritual aspects of the romantic work to make it more appealing to current moviegoers. The Atreides banner loses its green and black colors in favor of a neutral brown, the term “jihad” is absent, we will notice a single mention of “holy war”, but this is at the core of Paul's dilemma and his desire not to do so not fulfill his destiny.
In the same way, Alia, a two-year-old girl, does not brutally kill the Baron, who himself no longer has a fondness for little boys. But that doesn't matter at all, because by effectively capturing the essence of the novel, this “Dune: Part II” immediately becomes a great classic of science fiction cinema.
Rating: 4.5 out of 5. Dune: Part Two, a science fiction film starring Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson and Austin Butler. In cinemas from March 1st.