Dune: Part Two Falls Flat Despite Its Stunning Visuals and Soundtrack

I went into Dune: Part Two with high expectations, but unfortunately, the movie failed to deliver. The visuals and soundtrack were undeniably stunning, but the storytelling and pacing issues left me yawning and laughing at the same time.

The world-building in the first part of the movie was one of the things that initially drew me in. The way they presented these new worlds was beautiful and measured, and I loved how everything felt alive and unique. However, as the story progressed, I started to notice gaps and unfinished thoughts that left me with more questions than answers.

To better understand the story, I started reading the original novel by Frank Herbert, but I couldn't finish it. At first, it was really interesting, but the deeper I got, the stranger and more ridiculous it became. I know the fan base for this universe is huge, but my opinion doesn't have to match theirs.

The movie Dune: Part Two felt like a swamp to me - it was dragging, boring, slow, and way too long. I was already more familiar with the lore, but that didn't make the experience any better.

Main information about the movie.

Release year - 2024.

Country - USA, Canada, UAE, Hungary, Italy, New Zealand, Jordan, Gambia.

Genre - science fiction, action, drama, adventure.

Director - Denis Villeneuve.

Composer - Hans Zimmer.

Editor - Joe Walker.

Budget - $190,000,000.

US box office - $237,455,947.

Worldwide box office - $342,200,000.

Runtime -

166 min. / 02:46.

Cast. Acting performance.

Stilgar, the leader of the Fremen, is played by Javier Bardem.

Javier Bardem's performance as Stilgar was a bit of a letdown for me. I felt like he was just about to burst out laughing on camera, and it showed in his eyes and expressions. He did a good job in some moments, but more often than not, I felt like he was faking it.

I think his performance was terrible. He overacted most of the time and didn't even believe in his own character. It was really noticeable as a viewer.

Dune: A Whiskey Road Timothé Chalamet as Paul Atreides.

I'm not a fan of Timothé Chalamet, to be honest. I know, I know, a lot of people are raving about him as an actor, and his style is definitely appealing to many. But, personally, he really gets under my skin.

However, if he had nailed the role, I'd be willing to forgive him. I do appreciate professionalism.

I just didn't get the sense that I was watching a believable performance. He didn't quite match the character I had envisioned when I read the book. It felt like Timothé Chalamet brought his own personality and mannerisms to the role, which came across as arrogant, condescending, and snobbish. What a disaster of an acting job - who would follow a leader like that, I have no idea.

Paul Atreides. Chani, played by Zendaya (Zendaya?).

First off, her storyline doesn't align with the original 'Dune' by Frank Herbert. It's a hook for the next movie, and I'm curious to see how the writers will wriggle out of the mess they've created.

I'm not opposed to changes if they're done thoughtfully and with a clear understanding of the source material. A good adaptation should add depth and insight, rather than simply copying the original. After all, a movie is an art form with its own vision.

Secondly, Zendaya's performance is laughable. She's overacting like Elena Gilbert from 'The Vampire Diaries'. It's cringe-worthy to watch.

Although she is beautiful.

I did appreciate how the relationship between Chani and Paul Atreides was portrayed in Dune 2.

Feyd-Rautha, played by Austin Butler.

I've got to say, the cast really delivered here - no complaints whatsoever. They absolutely nailed it!

I also loved how Stellan Skarsgård (Vladimir Harkonnen) played his role.

He's not just a cardboard cutout, a generic, one-dimensional villain. No, they really showed the depth of his plans.

This is a fascinating, complex character, and he managed to shine in a relatively short amount of screen time.

Lady Jessica, played by Rebecca Ferguson.

She absolutely nailed it - I completely believe her. The costumes, the way she carries herself, her psychology... it's all so beautifully done, and really interesting to watch.

The Emperor, played by Christopher Walken.

Unfortunately, he's a bit of a letdown. Something's off - maybe the writing, maybe the actor. He's a good actor, but it just didn't work for me.

I also heard there are some Biden-esque Easter eggs in there.

Of course, there are many more characters in the movie, and they showed most of the main ones.

What I loved about Dune: Part Two?

The cinematography is absolutely stunning. It's undeniable that Denis Villeneuve has a distinct style, and the unique visual storytelling he brings to the table is captivating. When you factor in the relatively modest budget, you get a film that looks amazing for the price.The music by Hans Zimmer is phenomenal. He's proven himself to be one of the best in the business, and his compositions perfectly complement every scene, creating the right atmosphere and amplifying the effect.Villeneuve's use of different filming techniques is impressive. For example, the scenes with the Harkonnens aren't shot through a black-and-white filter, as you might think - they're actually filmed through infrared film, resulting in a glowing, crystal-like skin tone. Check out Faye Dunaway, for instance!The special effects are top-notch. They're particularly impressive on a big screen, especially when paired with 3D audio.The graphics are also really cool.I loved how the film explores the themes present in Frank Herbert's Dune universe, which Villeneuve adapted for the screen. From religion to propaganda, mind control, global politics, plans within plans, national culture, ecology, and standard of living - it's all really interesting and well-presented, sometimes hitting you over the head and sometimes sneaking up on you.I really enjoyed the scene with Rebecca Ferguson, even though it's short, but it's a great scene, and she's an actress with an otherworldly appearance, especially in her first appearance.The camera work is stunning, with every frame a treat for the eyes, whether it's close-up or far away.The film's exploration of interesting topics is great.I'll be honest, there were some super slow moments in Dune: Part Two that I found myself rewinding. It was just so boring and tedious. I think they could've cut out a third of the scenes and the story wouldn't have suffered at all.

I didn't see anything particularly original - it felt like I'd seen it all before.Where was the emphasis on the blue-eyed Ibad? They were a major part of the book...I have so many questions about the Dune universe. I mean, the idea of a guy with a catheter in his rear end and another one in his front end just casually sword-fighting and riding giant worms while drinking from a tube - it's just ridiculous. And the rest of the book is just pure nonsense, especially with the God-Emperor Leto 2. I mean, what is that even supposed to be?Most of the time, I was either bored out of my mind or laughing out loud at how ridiculous everything was. I get that it's science fiction, but come on...Many of the actors were just phoning it in.I noticed at least two major plot points that completely deviated from the book's lore. It's just not clear how they're going to get out of this mess.The fight between Feyd-Rautha and Paul Atreides was just laughable. It was like they took a bunch of clichés and threw them together. It was completely unrealistic and had so many plot holes.I did appreciate the themes they explored with the female characters.Timothée Chalamet just grates on me.The Verdict

I have to admit, I was a bit bored for half the movie and face-palmed the other half because it was just ridiculous and hilarious. I wasn't a fan of some of the acting and the pacing, plus there were some major plot differences from the original novel by Frank Herbert. But I've got to give credit where credit is due - Dune: Part Two is stunningly shot. I mean, the special effects, music, and visuals are all top-notch, but that's just not enough.

My rating.

I'd give Dune: Part Two three stars. It's definitely worth watching just to form your own opinion about this highly-anticipated new release.