On Thursday, February 15, the premiere of the second part of the science fiction film “Dune” directed by Denis Villeneuve took place in London. Film critics who attended the screening shared their impressions of the film.
Experts do not skimp on enthusiastic epithets: the majority argue that the sequel to “Dune” turned out to be more spectacular than the first film. Many call the film a masterpiece and one of the best science fiction films of our time, putting it on a par with the film franchises “The Lord of the Rings” and “Avatar”.
The author of the YouTube channel FilmSpeak, Griffin Schiller, notes that the film left him impressed. He calls the film a masterclass in combining aesthetics and feelings.
Dune: Part Two is not only Dany's best work, but also the landmark sci-fi epic of an entire generation. A tragic story of blind fanaticism and depravity. An exciting, soulful, admirable master class (in combination -
RT
) of aesthetics and feelings, perfectly reflecting Paul’s thorny path. There are no words,” the blogger wrote.
Collider contributor Steven Weintraub expresses a similar opinion. He praises the excellent acting and describes the film as a stunning piece of filmmaking.
“I won’t shock anyone by saying that I really liked Dune: Part Two. Incredible directing. Brilliant musical accompaniment. The entire cast was great. The only downside is that I wish the film was longer. I'm not kidding. The film lasts 2 hours 40 minutes, and I would be happy to watch another hour,” said the film critic.
Jordan Farley from Total Film believes that the second part turned out to be more exciting and emotional. According to him, the scale of the picture is staggering.
“Excited about Dune: Part Two.” The film seemed even more immersive, tactile and emotional than the first part. The entertainment, richness and scale in terms of action are amazing. As for me, the entire franchise can take a special place next to “The Lord of the Rings” as the apogee of the revelation (of the world -
RT
) of cult books,” the journalist shares his impressions.
Diego Andaluz of Film Inquiry praises Timothée Chalamet's acting abilities and considers Villeneuve's film a must-see.
Dune: Part Two is a monumental achievement in the world of cinema. Having surpassed the first part on a plot, technical and thematic level, Villeneuve realizes (his own -
RT
) grandiose ambitions, which is facilitated by the outstanding, morally complex performance of Timothée Chalamet. The first must-see blockbuster of the year,” writes Andaluz.
Chalamet's performance is also praised by Wendy Lee Szeni, author of the YouTube channel The Movie Para.
Dune: Part Two is one of the most anticipated films of 2024. He exceeded my expectations. Masterpiece! The sound design and cinematography are top notch. I can't tell you how talented Timothée Chalamet is. The action scenes are spectacular and vibrant. Be sure to watch it in the cinema,” writes the blogger.
In turn, reporter and film critic Grace Randolph considers the new part a real blockbuster.
Dune: Part Two is one of the greatest war films of all time. Being (an example -
RT
) high culture, as well as a real blockbuster, it may provide Denis Villeneuve with the same wide audience as Christopher Nolan,” the expert shares his opinion.
© Still from the film “Dune: Part Two” (2024)
However, not everyone was delighted with the picture. For example, IndieWire film critic David Ehrlich put his point succinctly but pointedly: "Dune: Part Two - well, at least Javier Bardem enjoyed it."
He clarified that those who liked the first film will be satisfied with the second part.
The project also did not impress journalist Justin Lewis. He believes that all the hype around the film is nothing more than PR.
“There are a lot of reviews calling Dune: Part Two a masterpiece of a sci-fi blockbuster. It's all fake. Advertising and money are pushing a very bad adaptation of Dune, all CGI graphics and bad acting. Not to mention Zendaya sucks, and is this ridiculous mediocrity anything like Paul? I don't think so, damn it," Lewis says.
But We Live Entertainment editor-in-chief Scott Menzel, like most of his colleagues, believes that the second part of the film is much more exciting than the first, especially from a storytelling point of view. At the same time, the journalist was upset that not all the characters in the film were sufficiently developed. In addition, Menzel clarified that the film ended with a cliffhanger, hinting at a sequel, which, according to the film critic, may be unnecessary.
The new part was an adaptation of the second half of the first book in the series by writer Frank Herbert. The film will begin with the events that ended the previous picture. The main character, Paul Atreides, played by Timothée Chalamet, joins forces with Chani (Zendaya) and the Fremen to prevent war.
As Denis Villeneuve told Empire, the continuation of the story will focus not on contemplation, but on war and on the relationship between Paul and Chani, in particular how they will gain trust in each other and find a way to free Arrakis from the Harkonnens.
In addition to the already well-known heroes, viewers will see new characters, in particular the antagonist - Emperor Shaddam Corrino IV played by Christopher Walken, his daughter Irulan (Florence Pugh), as well as Freud-Rauta (Austin Butler), Lady Margot Fenring (Léa Seydoux), a warrior Shishakli (Suheila Yakub). In addition, during the premiere it became known that Anya Taylor-Joy had joined the team. The actress's participation was kept secret, which came as a surprise to many. Rumor has it that she played Aaliyah, Paul's sister. There is no official information on this matter yet.
Initially, the film was supposed to be released in November 2023, but due to the actors' strike in the United States, the premiere was postponed to 2024. Dune: Part Two will be released in wide release on February 28.
Dune will premiere in 2021. The film grossed more than $430 million with a budget of $165 million. The film was awarded six Oscars, a Golden Globe, a Saturn Award and five British Academy Film Awards.
However, not all critics were delighted with the film. In reviews, journalists scolded it for its poorly developed script and discrepancies with the original source, and even called it “a space opera devoid of life.” David Ehrlich, for example, noted that the film spent too much time describing technology and the planet, and according to David Rooney, the authors of the project failed to reveal the intricate world of Frank Herbert's work.