Film Review: Dune: part Two

 Genre: Action, Sc-fi, Adventure 

Cert: 12A

Director: Denis Villeneuve

Screenwriter: Denis VilleneuveJon SpaihtsFrank Herbert

Starring: Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, Javier Bardem, Josh Brolin, Austin Butler, Florence Pugh, Dave Bautista, Christopher Walken, Léa Seydoux, Stellan Skarsgård, Charlotte Rampling, Souheila Yacoub, Roger Yuan, Babs Olusanmokun, Alison Halstead, Giusi Merli, Kait Tenison, many more......

Running time: 2h 46m

Parents are advised to read before viewing the film as some scenes may contain scenes unsuitable for younger viewers.

Sex & Nudity: A woman seduces a man into sex using mind tricks but sex isn't shown. She gets him into a position where they act sensually with their faces moving close together and tension arising and then later we hear that he impregnated her and she secured the bloodline. The sex isn't shown but heavily implied.

A young man and a young woman kiss in a few scenes.

There are implications that a character has sexual tendencies. All of his servants dress in see-through clothes although camerawork avoids any nudity and in one scene we hear screaming in his room which may imply sexual abuse and then later death.

Violence & Gore: Frequent extended impactful sequences of violence involving several hand-to-hand combat and shootouts. Blood and detail can be seen occasionally and a lot of the violence is portrayed more realistically than in other sci-fi films.

A soldier has his face repeatedly smashed in with a rock which kills him. Due to this being seen from a distance, there is no blood but it's still brutal.

Frequent sci-fi/action violence throughout. Some of it is shocking with some blood.

Many buildings and ships are blown up.

A villain gets shot with a high-powered weapon in a craft goes flying and explodes.

Several scenes of intense fighting with guns, explosives and swords.

A fellow Harkonnen is dragged off-screen to be fed to the servants.

A man viciously slams another man's head against a control panel repeatedly until he falls to the floor motionless. This is unexpected and shocking as it is a brutal act that cannot be foreseen.

We hear horrified screams coming from behind a closed door and when it is opened, we see two women maimed and disfigured on the floor with their limbs twisted around. Blood is splattered all over the wall and floor as well.

Large mounds of dead bodies are set on fire by people with flamethrowers in a several scenes.

Feyd-Rautha kicks Rabban and tells him to kiss his feet or die while holding a knife to his neck (blood trickles from a point on his neck).

The villain is sadistic and savage finding pleasure in torturing, murdering and many other things.

Countless soldiers are shot in the head and then fall from a massive height. Their bodies bluntly slam onto the floor.

The scene in the arena is very frightening and sadistic although nothing much graphic is shown. The villain is seen taunting his drugged opponents before killing them. An especially disturbing moment is when he stabs a man and embraces him while he is dying, seemingly enjoying his pain.

A man's neck is suddenly snapped by Rabban.

An innocent woman has her neck slashed open by a villain. Blood can be seen gushing out of her throat before she falls to the ground and the other woman is stabbed to death directly after which is brutal but is mostly heard rather than seen.

A man has a knife stabbed into his neck and then it is slowly pulled out. Pretty graphic.

The final fight results in countless throats being slashed and people being devoured by the massive worms. Afterwards, everyone is covered in blood with their blades soaked and dripping.

A very disturbing scene is where a woman kneels on the ground covered in blood shortly after she massacred nine men (not shown) and as punishment, she is killed with a flamethrower. The camera cuts away and implies her death but the sadistic mannerisms of the killer is disturbing.

Chani slaps Paul in the face.

Profanity: two uses of shit, plus uses of "piss", "hell", "moron".

Rabban repeatedly refers to the Fremen as "rats".

The F word is briefly mumbled but it is very hard to hear. In fact, most people miss it on their first watch.

Alcohol/drugs: The fictional "spice" is a powerful hallucinogen. We see multiple characters have visions as a result of interacting with it. Many people use it throughout the story.

A character is shown smoking a sort of hookah. Other characters imbibe a potent substance

Frightening/Intense Scenes: The sandworm testing scene is very intense.

Every action sequence is full of tension and some of the hand to hand combat is filmed in a very intense way.

The scenes that focus on Feyd-Rautha (played by Austin Butler) are especially intense.

Some intense nightmare scenes.

The battle sequences are intense.

The fight between Paul and Feyd-Rautha in the end, it is very intense.

Feyd-Rautha is incredibly menacing and sometimes hard to watch on screen.

The film becomes extremely dark towards the end.

There are some horror sequences with jumpscares and loud sounds.

Paul has visions of famine, with people howling in pain.

The extremely sadistic villains may make people uncomfortable, frightened or disturbed.

 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 endeavours to prevent a terrible future only he can foresee

Review: Dune 2" stands as a masterpiece of cinema history, elevating the genre to new heights with its breathtaking visuals, epic storytelling, and profound thematic depth. Building upon the groundwork laid by its predecessor, "Dune 2" expands the universe of Frank Herbert's iconic sci-fi saga in spectacular fashion, cementing its place as a monumental achievement in cinematic storytelling.

At the heart of "Dune 2" lies its visual splendour. Director Denis Villeneuve's visionary approach to filmmaking is evident in every frame, as he brings Herbert's richly imagined world to life with stunning detail and grandeur. From the sweeping vistas of Arrakis to the intricately designed spacecraft and technology, the film's visuals are nothing short of mesmerizing, immersing the audience in a fully realized universe unlike any other.

But "Dune 2" is more than just a feast for the eyes; it's a masterclass in storytelling. Villeneuve skillfully weaves together multiple narrative threads, exploring themes of power, politics, religion, and identity with nuance and depth. The film's sprawling scope is matched only by its emotional resonance, as audiences are drawn into the struggles and triumphs of its richly drawn characters.

Central to the film's success is its stellar ensemble cast. Led by the charismatic Timothée Chalamet as the young hero Paul Atreides, the cast delivers powerhouse performances across the board. From Rebecca Ferguson's commanding portrayal of Paul's mother Lady Jessica to Oscar Isaac's stoic yet vulnerable Duke Leto Atreides, each actor brings a complexity and humanity to their roles that elevates the film to a whole new level.

"Dune 2" also boasts a hauntingly beautiful score by composer Hans Zimmer, whose evocative music adds an additional layer of emotion and atmosphere to the film. Zimmer's score perfectly complements Villeneuve's visuals, enhancing the epic scope and emotional resonance of the story.

Of course, no discussion of "Dune 2" would be complete without mentioning its thematic richness. The film explores timeless questions about the nature of power, the consequences of our actions, and the search for identity and purpose in a vast and indifferent universe. These themes resonate deeply with audiences, making "Dune 2" not only a thrilling sci-fi epic but also a profound meditation on the human condition.

Overall: In summary, "Dune 2" is a cinematic masterpiece that transcends the boundaries of its genre. With its stunning visuals, powerful performances, and thought-provoking themes, it cements its place in cinema history as a monumental achievement that will be celebrated and cherished for generations to come.

Rating: 5 out of 5 Entertainment / 10 out of 10 for Epic Sci-fi masterpiece