As film connected to the first movie, DUNE PART 2 is a great film. It's a film takes the first and builds it up into a an super epic. If anyone wanted to consider it one of the greatest films ever made I wouldn't have a problem with it.
It also needs to be said that the structure and focus of the film actually requires this to be a differently told sequel. Yes, it is a sequel, but how it's told and what it says is something different than the first film.
Basically that's all you need to know.
What do I think of the film beyond that?
oh boy.
It's not my reading of the first novel. The themes are there but Denis Villeneuve has chosen to highlight certain aspects over others, particularly the manipulation of the masses by supposed holy/ powerful people. This is a direct reaction to the world we are living in. As a result a lot of things that you may have liked in the book are not in the film. A number of things I would have liked to see aren't there. Additionally Villeneuve's refocusing has resulted in a rewriting of how things play out, who characters are and it also results in the ending left open for a sequel.
There was a certain point in the film where I kind of broke with the film. Yes, I was enjoying the hell out of it, but at the same time I was shaking my head. The reason was that Villeneuve's chasing the themes hobbled the narrative, the flow wasn't smooth. Pieces felt left out. Characters became less human, the masses became more faceless. At times we were given spectacle to make up for lack of narrative fluidity and lack of character.
(No I am not going to explain right now since the film hasn't opened, I'm not spoiling the changes and most of you have not seen it)
Is it bad? Absolutely not. I want to see it again.
That said, this isn't quite the book that has lived in my heart for almost 50 years, its something else entirely. It's a great film but not the one I would have done (which is absolutely fine)
Definitely worth going to see it on a big screen if you can.
Recommended.
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