Last night I was fortunate enough to view a back-to-back screening of 'Dune: Part One' followed by 'Dune: Part Two' in the theater. It was my third time seeing part one on the big screen, and just as delightful as before. Denis Villeneuve has created some of my all-time favorite movies - 'Prisoners' and 'Sicario', so I knew I was in for a treat once again. Grand scale science-fiction that is done 'right', usually gets me hyped out of the wazoo. I'm happy to say this one had me constantly on the edge of my seat as well.
The visuals and lore of the Dune universe that Denis has transformed into film is magnificently breathtaking but most importantly of all; unique. The Harkonnen homeworld 'Giedi Prime' is by far one of my favorite planet designs (black/white light, brutalist architecture, the violent nature of its people) ever. The arena scene and introductory moment for na-Baron Feyd-Rautha got my blood pumping like a thumper.
Just like in my previous review for 'Dune: Part One', Rebecca Ferguson is one of my standouts once again. In comparison to last chapter in which she felt rather afraid and unsure, she now completely transformed into a whole different person who, to be quite frank, is terrifying. Her screen presence is absolutely captivating and mesmerizing.
In a movie with so many A-tier names, it is difficult to pick a favorite. Though, I think Timothée Chalamet's 'Paul Muad'dib Atreides' might just be it. I wasn't fully convinced last film, but his monologue in the South and the way he portrayed Paul's transformation into the Messiah he himself fears, was brilliant. The baron, played by Stellan Skarsgård, will forever be - despite his little screentime - one of my favorite villainous characters in science-fiction.
Hans Zimmer blew me away with the score for this film, more than the last. I'm a sucker for fast-paced soundtrack, and the more frequent and high-stakes action sequences in this second part allowed for Hans Zimmer to play into that with his music. The track that comes on when the Fremen ride into battle on sandworms against the Emperor's Sardauker army, is exhilarating and extremely powerful. This living legend has mastered his craft for sure.
My only reason for this film not being a straight ten-star, is the ending. I cannot judge on the accuracy between the film and the novels, since I haven't read them, but the ending left me feeling slightly hung and yearning for more. I'm not sure if I just experienced a cliffhanger that will be further explored in a third chapter, or a brutal open ending. Either way, the story is great and whether or not Denis will make this a trilogy, these past two films will go down in my list as some of the best sci-fi ever made.
The visuals and lore of the Dune universe that Denis has transformed into film is magnificently breathtaking but most importantly of all; unique. The Harkonnen homeworld 'Giedi Prime' is by far one of my favorite planet designs (black/white light, brutalist architecture, the violent nature of its people) ever. The arena scene and introductory moment for na-Baron Feyd-Rautha got my blood pumping like a thumper.
Just like in my previous review for 'Dune: Part One', Rebecca Ferguson is one of my standouts once again. In comparison to last chapter in which she felt rather afraid and unsure, she now completely transformed into a whole different person who, to be quite frank, is terrifying. Her screen presence is absolutely captivating and mesmerizing.
In a movie with so many A-tier names, it is difficult to pick a favorite. Though, I think Timothée Chalamet's 'Paul Muad'dib Atreides' might just be it. I wasn't fully convinced last film, but his monologue in the South and the way he portrayed Paul's transformation into the Messiah he himself fears, was brilliant. The baron, played by Stellan Skarsgård, will forever be - despite his little screentime - one of my favorite villainous characters in science-fiction.
Hans Zimmer blew me away with the score for this film, more than the last. I'm a sucker for fast-paced soundtrack, and the more frequent and high-stakes action sequences in this second part allowed for Hans Zimmer to play into that with his music. The track that comes on when the Fremen ride into battle on sandworms against the Emperor's Sardauker army, is exhilarating and extremely powerful. This living legend has mastered his craft for sure.
My only reason for this film not being a straight ten-star, is the ending. I cannot judge on the accuracy between the film and the novels, since I haven't read them, but the ending left me feeling slightly hung and yearning for more. I'm not sure if I just experienced a cliffhanger that will be further explored in a third chapter, or a brutal open ending. Either way, the story is great and whether or not Denis will make this a trilogy, these past two films will go down in my list as some of the best sci-fi ever made.