Review - 'Dune 2' - the battle for power

Paul Atreides - played by Timothée Chalamet - becomes the savior of the Fremen, leading the fight against the Harkonnen clan and the Emperor, in the movie "Dune: Part Two".

* Article reveals movie content

Trailer "Dune: Part Two" (Dune 2), released domestically on March 1. The film earned 178.5 million USD worldwide after three days of release. According to Box Office Vietnam statistics, the film earned 12.6 billion VND, as of the afternoon of March 5. Video : CGV

The film, directed by Denis Villeneuve, is adapted from the novel of the same name by Frank Herbert. The content continues the story of the previous part, revolving around the journey of revenge of Paul Atreides (played by Timothée Chalamet) who destroyed his family. Paul and his mother - Lady Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson) - escape to the desert of the planet Arrakis and receive help from the Fremen people, including Chani (Zendaya).

Dune 2 focuses on Paul Atreides' leadership of the Fremen's fight against oppression. From a naive teenager, Paul must shoulder the fate of Arrakis, liberating the Fremen. Standing between the choice of accepting fate or being manipulated by those in power, Paul becomes bold, finding a way to win the trust of everyone.

He also successfully controlled the giant sandworm that appeared in the first part, passing the test set by the Fremen. Since then, the young man has been worshiped by many people, including Stilgar (Javier Bardem) - who believes that Paul is the Messiah, appearing to help the people.

The screenwriter also explored Chani's psychology more deeply than the previous part. She became skeptical about the Messiah, believing that everything was created for the purpose of controlling the people.

Zendaya (left) and Timothée Chalamet in "Dune 2". Photo: Warner Bros.

The work's appeal comes from combining many elements of the science fiction genre, in which advanced technology is set in the context of a feudal society with a struggle for power. Each family in the work has its own political motives and conflicts. The Fremen's resistance to the Emperor has echoes of the Arab uprising against the Ottoman Empire during World War I (1916-1918).

The filmmaker weaves in philosophical themes, exploring the relationship between religion and the nature of power, and critiques fanaticism. In the film, Fremen beliefs become the basis for rebellion, while the Bene Gesserit manipulate religious beliefs for the purpose of dominating the clans.

The Bene Gesserit's power is demonstrated by their interference in the process of maintaining the family lineage, forcing Lady Jessica to give birth to a daughter who holds the fate of the galaxy. Or Jessica used many tricks to manipulate the Fremen, making them worship Paul even before he became "Lisan al Gaib" - the Savior of the Fremen.

The set design was elaborate. The production design team used VFX to create dragonfly-shaped ships, spaceships, fighter jets, and buildings with Egyptian architectural influences. The action sequences went beyond the small Fremen attacks, and expanded in scale as Paul led the Fremen to attack the Harkonnen Emperor's soldiers.

Director Denis Villeneuve (left) and actor Javier Bardem on the set of "Dune 2". Photo: Warner Bros.

Cinematographers used wide-angle shots to capture the battle scene. The scenes with characters riding sandworms took 44 days to shoot, according to Variety . For the Harkonnen arena sequence, director of photography Greig Fraser used infrared cameras, a technique he previously used on Zero Dark Thirty (2012) and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016).

The music, composed by Hans Zimmer, plays an important role in guiding the viewer's emotions. When Paul becomes the Messiah, the music plays as he walks among thousands of people. In some battle scenes, electric cellos and guitars contribute to portraying the danger of the scene.

The cast is a highlight that helps the work impress the audience. Timothée Chalamet plays his role well, successfully performing scenes that require depth and action. In many psychological scenes where the character has to make decisions that affect the outcome of the battle, the artist uses facial expressions to express his inner thoughts.

Co-star Zendaya has more screen time than the first part. Towards the end, the actress shows more of Chani's character's bravery through her acting with her eyes. Rebecca Ferguson (as Lady Jessica) shows danger through her words and gestures, typically in the scene where she turns women into followers of Lisan al-Ghaib. The character does everything to achieve her goal, making her son the one in power.

In an interview with Access Hollywood , the actor said that the kiss scene with co-star Stellan Skarsgård was not in the script and was improvised. According to the actor, although the two characters are family, the kiss affirms Feyd-Rautha's devotion to his uncle and his desire to become the leader of Arrakis.

Javier Bardem - playing the character Stilgar - brings laughter in many parts of Paul Atreides' deification. The film also features Léa Seydoux as Margot Fenring, from the Bene Gesserit family, and Anya Taylor-Joy (as Alia Atreides, Paul's sister).

New cast members for "Dune 2". From left: Austin Butler, Florence Pugh and Léa Seydoux. Photo: Warner Bros.

The work received "a shower" of praise from experts. On RogerEbert , critic Brian Tallerico wrote: "More than just a simple adaptation, Dune: Part Two shows that blockbuster projects can be both artistic and sophisticated." Observer writer Wendy Ide commented: "The second part of Dune is absolutely spectacular. The project skillfully combines top-notch special effects and visually appealing cinematography."

However, the film is somewhat difficult to watch for some audiences who like a fast pace, because the director sticks to the slow-burn style (slow interpretation), handling the story at a leisurely pace.

Dune debuted in 2021, grossed more than $400 million, and won six Oscars. In an interview with Time magazine on January 31, director Denis Villeneuve said that if Warner Bros. continues to produce a third installment, it will be the last time the artist collaborates with the series.

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