Denis Villeneuve is back with the second helping of his epic “Dune” saga, and let me tell you, it’s a doozy. “Dune: Part Two” picks up right after the first film left us hanging, with Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) teaming up with the Fremen on a revenge mission against the cruel Harkonnens who destroyed his family.
| Movie | Dune: Part Two |
|---|---|
| Director | Denis Villeneuve |
| Writers | Denis Villeneuve, Jon Spaihts, Frank Herbert |
| Stars | Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson |
| Genre | Action, Adventure, Drama |
| Story | Paul Atreides unites with Chani and the Fremen while on a warpath of revenge against the conspirators who destroyed his family. Facing a choice between the love of his life and the fate of the known universe, he endeavors to prevent a terrible future only he can foresee. |
| Release Date | March 1, 2024 (United States) |
| Language | English |
| Duration | 2h 46m |
This time around, the story goes into overdrive. We get a deeper look at the Fremen way of life, which is pretty darn cool (think desert warriors with a serious edge). Zendaya’s character, Chani, gets to show off her fighting skills, and Rebecca Ferguson is fantastic again as Paul’s mom, Lady Jessica, who’s stuck between a rock and a hard place.
Speaking of awesome additions to the cast, Florence Pugh and Austin Butler bring some new energy to the story, while Dave Bautista’s back as the brutal Rabban Harkonnen. But the real scene-stealer is still Stellan Skarsgård as the gross and gloriously evil Baron Harkonnen. Just, ew, but in the best way possible.
The movie isn’t just about revenge and giant space battles (although there are plenty of those, and they’re incredible). It also explores some big ideas about destiny, making tough choices, and the dangers of getting a little too obsessed with your cause. Paul is haunted by visions of a terrible future, and the film asks some tough questions about the burden of power.
If you loved the first “Dune,” then “Part Two” is like a IMAX upgrade. The visuals are even more stunning, with vast desert landscapes and brutal Harkonnen fortresses that’ll blow your mind. The sandworms are still terrifyingly majestic, and there’s a scene with a sandworm rider (no spoilers!) that had the entire theater cheering.
Here’s the catch: this movie is long. Like, almost three hours long. If you haven’t seen the first one, or if you need your sci-fi fix in bite-sized chunks, this might not be your jam. But for true fans of epic sci-fi and anyone who appreciates a good revenge story, “Dune: Part Two” is a must-see. Just chug that giant soda beforehand, because once the spice starts flowing, you won’t want to miss a minute.