2024-03-09 20:36:00
The film “Dune: Part Two” – a continuation of the film adaptation of the famous novel by Frank Herbert – was released worldwide – Sport24 film reviewer Anastasia Tsoi talks regarding how Denis Villeneuve’s film turned out. In Russia, despite the lack of official distribution, the film is also already in full swing in cinemas as part of the so-called pre-show service.
Dune 2
- Genre: fantasy, adventure, action, drama
- Screenwriter: Denis Villeneuve, Jon Spaihts
- Director: Denis Villeneuve
- Cast: Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, Javier Bardem, Austin Butler, Florence Pugh, Stellan Skarsgård, Dave Bautista and others
At the end of the first film, Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) and his mother Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson) join the Fremen, the local inhabitants of the desert planet Arrakis. Paul is perceived as a messiah, Lisan al-Ghaib, who some Fremen believe will make a paradise out of the desert. Lord Atreides himself is burdened by such glory, fearing the war that might unfold.
At the same time, Jessica, having drunk the water of life – a poison that either kills the drinker or reveals to him the truth regarding the past, present and future – becomes the High Priestess of the Fremen. She, unlike her son, believes in his chosenness and tries to convince non-believers of this. In addition, she begins to talk to the daughter she is carrying.
Chani and her friend, like some other Fremen, do not believe in the prophecy, but following Paul says that he does not need power, they accept it. The hero learns from the Fremen, mastering sandworm riding and receiving the name Muad’Dib.
The religious and political components of Dune come to the fore. Emperor Shaddam IV (Christopher Walken) and his daughter Princess Irulan (Florence Pugh) enter the picture as they and the Reverend Mother of the Bene Gesserit (Charlotte Rampling) attempt to intrigue, but things don’t go according to plan.
On the other hand, Vladimir Harkonnen (Stellan Skarsgård), disappointed in Rabban (Dave Bautista), who was unable to arrange the supply of spices due to Fremen attacks, puts his other nephew, Feyd-Rautha (Austin Butler), in his place. The new governor of Arrakis is a psychopath who killed his own mother.
Both viewers and film critics came to a consensus that the second part of Dune was better than the first. Director Denis Villeneuve himself also said that viewers can expect even more action and emotions.
And he didn’t lie: the film turned out to be even more epic and spectacular. At the same time, the director retained the contemplative slowness of the first part, and made the landscapes of the planet Arrakis even more surreal. Combined with renowned color editing, stunning cinematography by Greg Fraser and an equally stunning score by Hans Zimmer – both of whom won Oscars for Dune Part 1 – Part 2 is a hypnotic mirage in the desert. It’s a visual delight worth experiencing.
However, if the visual component is made at 5+, then the script has some problems. Let’s go in order.
First, Denis Villeneuve and his co-screenwriter Jon Spaihts seem unable to pack Frank Herbert’s complex novel into even a nearly three-hour film. A viewer who has not read the book and already vaguely remembers what happened in the first part runs the risk of not untangling the thread of the plot. Everything related to the Bene Gesserit is still not very clear. Perhaps the reason is in the distribution of screen time: for example, the line with the heroine Lea Seydoux – one of the sisters of the order – is inexplicably short and indistinct. At the same time, a lot of attention is paid to the episodes with the Fremen, which add nothing to either the action or the characters.
Why didn’t anyone know regarding the nuclear warheads that House Atreides had? Why then don’t other houses and the emperor have such powerful weapons? How is Lisan al-Ghaib different from Kwisatz Haderach? There are a lot of questions.
Including philosophical ones – regarding power and violence, destiny and chosenness, faith and fanaticism. It is interesting that almost everything related to jihad disappeared from the film – apparently, at the moment, such Herbertian allusions look inappropriate. At the same time, the film still looks relevant – the anti-imperialist war, the struggle for natural resources, criticism of the “white savior” (this is a cinematic trope in which a white hero saves non-white heroes), etc. True, there are so many political, religious and philosophical subtexts, that they all get mixed up, interrupt each other, without opening up into the clear message that a blockbuster needs.
Secondly, not all the heroes were revealed in the second part: Chani, who was promised to be given more attention, although she received a lot of screen time, still seemed to remain in the shadow of Paul Atreides; Feyd-Rautha might have become an interesting antagonist, but rather , is boring, Vladimir Harkonnen is becoming less and less scary, and the emperor just looks tired.
Thirdly, the writers, unfortunately, are unable to make good jokes to dilute the seriousness and pathos of what is happening. The film, like Arrakis, seems to lack freshness.
Have you already watched the second part of “Dune”? Share your impressions and thoughts in the comments!
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DUSTIN PORNIER – BENOIT SAINT-DENIS
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