Dune Part Two is a different type of epic sci-fi than part 1. Part 1 ends at the exact right moment, right before Part 2’s broader scope and slower pacing This is kind of evidenced by the 1984 Dune which basically goes into fast forward when it reaches the same point… skipping aggressively through time and breezing past character growth. So Part 2 expands all that hurry-up skip-to-the-end final act structure into a 2hr 45min epic that justifies its length.
The film picks up almost immediately after the last film ended and follows Paul and Jessica into the desert with Stilgar, Chani, and the rest of the arid gang. Paul works to get in good with the Fremen while Jessica continues her Bene Gesserit teaching/manipulations. Meanwhile, hey, it’s the Emperor of the Known Universe, his daughter, and even more of those nogoodnik Harkonnens. And wouldn’t you know it… everybody wants to rule the world.
This sequel is structured differently than the first film… and, except for part 1’s final 30 minutes, I prefer its structure over this sequel. Part 1 is a more straight-forward story with distinct moments and momentum while Part 2 is a little more shaggy. It’s necessary though since it has to tell a longer, more elaborate portion of the overall epic. It’s absolutely not worse off for it, but it didn’t have as much rising tension and release as the first film.
But it is a more complex film and not just because they do more galactic politics. There’s plenty of politicking among the Fremen too, especially on that nasty old prophecy. Some of the discussions of a Messiah will tip-toes dangerously close to annoying some reactionaries (and I’m very cool with that). Not everyone believes – including Paul – which creates a more fraught political scenario than would have been expected from the first film.
Christopher Walken plays the Emperor and his casting was a mistake. Maybe ten or fifteen years ago but he just looked old, tired, and worn out. Plus there’s a distinct lack of imperial feel to his overall appearance and sets, as though they were actively dulling down his character. Maybe this is accurate to the book… I simply can’t remember that far back at this point.
This probably wouldn’t be as much a problem if they did a whole bloody affair cut that merges the two films together, perhaps inserting him into events of the first film so he wouldn’t just feel randomly inserted into part 2.
The same goes for Florence Pugh and Austin Butler as far as their sudden presence in the film goes. It’d have been nice if they’d done the casting and risked adding more complexity to the first film.
That said, both are very good… and not to bag on Pugh and her sizable fanbase, but Butler is razor’s edge thrilling as Feyd Rautha, bona-fide psychopathic Harkonnen. The film takes a sizable detour to pump him up as a real threat and it mostly works… with just that feeling we should have met him last movie (oh, and also with Sting in a Speedo getting in the way too).
The big set piece finale both feels epic and small at the same time. It sure looks amazing – it’s huge with sandworms and armies and all that fun stuff – but it also feels short. Rushed. Like they needed to get to the end faster but also knew if they didn’t pay off those sandworms, people would throw their creepy AMC popcorn buckets at the screen.
It’s curious the script had to rely on some of the storytelling cheats of the 1984 film… specifically inner voice monologues that they aggressively avoided in the first part. It’s not really a problem as it helps flesh things out… but it also introduces some very odd bits for a mainstream audience.
It sounds like a lot of complaining but I do think this is a better overall movie than the first. I just also think its a bit fuzzier compared to the very strict structure and forward momentum of part 1. But I’m rating this one higher anyways because. news alert, it’s still goddamn impressive and tells a more complex story without as egregious sequel baiting getting in the way.
Score: 92