#Dune film review

[nighttime-thoughts]

Whatever happens tomorrow we've had today.

[rebeccalouisaferguson]

REVIEW ROUND UP OF DUNE: PART TWO

"Ferguson delivers another beguilingly sinister turn as Jessica, arguably the most fascinating character in the whole film..." https://www.dexerto.com/tv-movies/dune-2-review-2541695/

"Rebecca Ferguson adds a hint of malevolence to the gravitas she brought to the first movie, continuing her role as Atreides’ mother and champion." https://www.avclub.com/dune-2-review-visually-ravishing-storytelling-1851274494

"Butler remains the flashier villain, but Rebecca Furgeson proves to be the film’s horrific star. Seamlessly transitioning from conscientious mother to cunning priestess, she wanders through the film continuously plotting with her pregnant belly. The mere flick of her eyes is enough to show not only dangerous instability, but the frightening calculations behind the power she’s amassing." https://femaleantagonist.com/dune-part-two-leads-a-burgeoning-franchise-into-paradise/

"Zendaya and Ferguson steal the show, providing polar opposite figures in his development. Ferguson must chart a course from a physical and emotional threat to a large-scale schemer. The character transformation comes after drinking a substance, but watching her mental evolution is something to behold." https://sunshinestatecineplex.com/2024/02/21/dune-part-two-2024/

 "...it may be Rebecca Ferguson who gives the most villainous performance. Ferguson commits to making your blood boil as Lady Jessica corrupts her own son, leaving no question as to who the most vile character is." https://discussingfilm.net/2024/02/21/dune-part-two-review-denis-villeneuves-daring-epic-is-unlike-anything-weve-seen/

"Ferguson eats up every morsel of her rejuvenated, meaty role." https://freshfiction.tv/dune-part-two-review-denis-villeneuves-monumental-masterpiece/

"Chalamet and Ferguson take all that was regal and dignified about their performances, and apply to them a poisoned tip." https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/reviews/dune-part-two-review-zendaya-timothee-chalamet-b2499855.html

"The rest of the cast is fine and engaged, with Rebecca Ferguson playing complex notes as a wannabe mother-of-God..."https://scottmendelson.substack.com/p/review-dune-part-two-is-an-audiovisual

"Ferguson, her face tattooed throughout much of the movie, leans into an arresting menace." https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2024-02-21/dune-part-2-review-timothee-chalamet-zendaya-austin-butler-denis-villeneuve

"Chalamet and Ferguson’s performances are strongest when mother and son tussle about the right thing to do. Through these arguments, Chalamet sheds the boyish innocence of the first film for a darker, more complicated persona. Ferguson’s character also enters more morally ambiguous terrain when she is asked by the Fremen to become the group’s Reverend Mother." https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/dune-part-two-review-timothee-chalamet-zendaya-1235830061/

"...but it’s Ferguson’s slippery performance and Bardem’s playful one that really add flavors here that weren’t in the first outing." https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/dune-part-two-movie-review-2024

"Ferguson’s Lady Jessica rises to become a gripping “Dune” persona, who goes from being extremely dry in the first film to an intriguingly determined figure in “Part Two.”https://eu.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/movies/2024/02/21/dune-2-movie-review/72654598007/

"Even Rebecca Ferguson, who bristles early on in this film when it comes to her exact role in this story, blossoms into a bonafide force of Reverend Mother nature that does well to capitalize on her ability to mix vulnerability with savage confidence. Pretty much how I always envisioned Mother Mary, myself." https://inbetweendrafts.com/dune-part-two-review/

"Ultimately, it's Lady Jessica and Feyd-Rautha that reveal the true terror of unfettered belief. Watching Rebecca Ferguson stride through the Fremen's desert hideaway as she whispers to her fetus could easily fall into caricature if it weren't so chilling."https://screenrant.com/dune-part-2-movie-review/

"...this is an undoubted success, and is powered a clutch of lead performances – Chalamet, Zendaya and Rebecca Ferguson as a newly-ordained Bene Gesserit reverend mother at the shining core of the ensemble..." https://lwlies.com/reviews/dune-part-two/

[agentnico]

Dune: Part Two (2024) review

I’m fully aware that the Dune sequel has been hit by acclaim from both critics and audiences, and I shall share my own thoughts in due course, but also whilst presenting itself as a serious and sophisticated piece of artsy science fiction tackling challenging themes of religion and politics, from a marketing standpoint this film has been a major farcical meme. From the popcorn buckets shaped like suggestive sand worms (or more so accurately as deformed buttholes) to the viral TikTok video of an unnamed man riding a makeshift sand worm around a cinema lobby on his way to Arrakis, or more likely to one of the gazillion screenings of Dune: Part Two. But yes, absolutely mad bonkers advertising techniques, and not at all reflective of how seriously and straight faced the actual film plays. Anyway, let’s talk Duuuuuuuuuuuuuuuneee…..

Plot: Paul Atreides unites with Chani and the Fremen while seeking revenge against the conspirators who destroyed his family. Facing a choice between the love of his life and the fate of the universe, he must prevent a terrible future only he can foresee.

Controversial opinion - I was not a fan of the first Dune. I thought it was all spectacle and no substance, and even then in regards to said spectacle, it was just sand. Lots of sand and bland dark visuals. I understand that the first movie acts as a massive exposition piece with lots of world building and introductions of all the characters and various political families and the spice trade and all that sweet jazz, but honestly it all felt so dragged out. Also a lot of narrative choices felt really immature and I did not buy it. In fact, the only memorable part for me was that female voice screaming on the music score every time something crazy happened, and my does that woman have some strong vocal pipe work! Like damn, her screams…. I really felt them!

Going into Dune: Part Two, I was very much of two mindsets. One was more so a feeling of obligation to watch it, as I wasted 3 hours of my life watching the first one that I felt I deserved some kind of closure for my efforts. The other being Denis Villeneuve. Aside from the first Dune, he’s a director that has constantly impressed me with his unique vision and style. Simply look at his past filmography! Prisoners. Enemy. Arrival. Sicario. All impressive pieces of genre filmmaking. Then there’s Blade Runner 2049, that took the classic Ridley Scott movie and managed to improve on it and become one of the most thrilling science fiction epics of the last decade. Also the trailers looked appropriately exciting, and it seemed like the second movie was actually gonna deal with some serious shit finally. Again, my problem with the first Dune wasn’t that it was slow. I mean, I can happily watch Paris, Texas any day of the week and be mesmerised by the empty yet beautiful takes of the American desert. It’s more-so that the first Dune felt aimless and messy. As for Dune: Part Two?

Well, if we’re going to use The Lord of the Rings terminology, and boy am I happy to refer to the dear-to-my-heart Middle Earth whenever I have the chance, then Dune: Part Two holds the scale of The Two Towers. I may not agree with all of it, and there are still some moments that drag, though The Two Towers is also guilty of that - I’m looking at you Treebeard! But overall this is one hell of a cinematic experience and achievement. Visually for one this is eye-candy. And yes, yet again there’s lots of sand, but this time around Villeneuve manages to find very creative ways to add/take away colour to make many sequences truly impressive. There’s an early scene where the Fremen are fighting Harkonnen goons in the desert and the entire thing is seeped in this blood orange palette, reminiscent of the Martian Chronicles, and then there’s the part where we are introduced to the Harkonnen home planet where the entire screen is drenched in hardcore intense black-and-white due to their sun only giving out white and black light, and instead of fireworks there are these watercolour stroked exploding in the sky, to of course the much talked about eye-dropping sand worm riding into battle scene that had the feel of the giant elephants appearing in The Return of the King, and yes that was another most delightful reference to Lord of the Rings! As I was saying though, the entire movie visually is certainly something to be in awe of.

Also Hans Zimmer’s score!! Of course the man’s a genius, having composed so many of cinema’s greatest musical compositions. I can recommend his Live in Prague performance! Hit after hit, and I find myself spinning it on my record player a good few times. Hans Zimmer’s Dune: Part Two soundtrack feels like a thunderously bombastic continuation and expansion of the first film’s more quiet and moody opener, and that shift in tone allows for some truly spectacular weaving of the composer’s thematic tapestry for Dune – with the finest new thread being the absolutely gorgeous love theme for Paul and Chani. A truly beautiful piece that echoes the heartbreaking tragic nature of the central romance of the film. Needless to say I’ve already pre-ordered the limited edition coloured vinyl of Dune 2’s soundtrack from Mutant (the new Mondo).

As for the narrative, as that is where I felt the first film faltered the most in my humble opinion (which I share so publicly online). I really do feel like the sequel is a major set up, for since the first one focused more on the endless word building and set-ups, this movie is all about the character developments. The scope is still big with the various political and religious elements that are tackled and explored throughout, however at the same time Dune: Part Two manages to feel more intimate compared to its predecessor, with the unravelling of the romance between Paul and Chani, but more so the inner struggles of Paul Atreides, as he tries to balance his emotions of revenge with the feeling of wanting to belong somewhere, as well as his denial of being called the so-called Messiah to the Fremen people. Look, the idea of the chosen one has been a concept that has been done over and over again, however I felt here they managed to really make it feel unique and different, with Paul choosing not to take this major responsibility due to visions of the future where he sees this choice result in darkness and dread, yet at the same time realising he has no choice but to follow his destiny and calling. It’s powerful stuff.

The cast list is stacked in this one. Timothee Chalamet is a rising star, having previously excelled his dramatic chops in Call Me by Your Name and his charismatic whimsy in last year’s Wonka, but this is by far his most impressive acting feat. You truly feel his character turning from boy to man, and it’s a real and raw performance. Zendaya shares great chemistry with him, but also in her own right gives a strong turn as a warrior Fremen conflicted with what she sees and thinks. Javier Bardem’s Stilgar adds a slice of surprising humour to the mix, being so obsessed with Paul being part of the prophecy that anything he’d do, Stilgar would find that to be part of what has been foretold. Paul Atreides could literally fart and Stilgar would observe in wonder proclaiming “as it was written”. There’s also a tiny No Country for Old Men reunion with Bardem being joined by Josh Brolin, who’s alright by the way, though it’s a typical Brolin brute role. Charlotte Rampling as the Reverend Mother continues being truly despicable and honestly that wench deserves to be put in her place - the movie’s ending is very satisfying in this regard. There’s also some newcomers to the Dune world too. Florence Pugh as the Princess reminded me a lot of Padme from Star Wars, and Christopher Walken I felt was tad miscast as the Emperor. Don’t get me wrong, Walken is a great actor, but his way of speech has been impersonated and overdone so many times that it is difficult to take him seriously in a role like this. Minus a couple of strong deliveries Walken felt really lazy here. You know who wasn’t lazy though? Austin Butler! This guy understood the assignment, playing the psychotic nutter Feyd-Rautha and he’s truly unrecognisable. Even his voice is different. Gone is Elvis and in cometh his Skarsgard impression! He’s brutal and maniacal and was honestly superb, and I wish there was more of him in this movie.

Again, it’s far from a perfect movie. There are parts still that drag, and certain times where things feel surprisingly rushed, but overall this is an experience through and through, and unlike my feelings after the first film, here I find myself really looking forward to the inevitable third part. In fact f*ck it, who am I kidding - this movie is bloody incredible!! Like I can’t even - it’s abso-fricking-lutely spectacular!! And by the way I read a bit about the Frank Herbert Dune books now and the future sequels are gonna be mad, just saying. Paul’s son becomes this half-man half-worm known as the God Emperor! Things are gonna get weird! Anyway, Dune: Part Two - go see it if you haven’t already. And in Austin Butler’s voice: “may thy knife chip and shatter”.

Overall score: 9/10

[rickchung]

A Quiet Place: Day One (dir. Michael Sarnoski).

We see more of the monster mayhem in a new locale that's both bigger and louder with numerous moments of quiet solitude. It's a more intimate (despite often actually being "noisier") action portrait of group therapy where characters go on significant emotional journeys under the threat of constance violence.

[coffeebookslovegt]

¡Yo soy Paul Maud'Dib Atreides, Duke de Arrakis!

Con la mano de Dios como testigo, yo soy la voz del mundo exterior.

¡Yo los guiaré... al paraíso!

[dimitrisatticus]

Villeneuve's Dune Part Two...

... is the definition of a modern epic. A blockbuster with brains, filled with climactic battles, gladiatorial interludes, the dangers of messianism and a stellar cast at the top of its game

[mariusreviews]

“the visions are clear now. I see possible futures, all at once. our enemies are all around us, and in so many futures they prevail. but I do see a way, there is a narrow way through.”

dune: part two review.

as a massive fan of the books and having loved the first film by denis villeneuve, I would be lying if I said this wasn’t my most anticipated release of the year. the film picks up right where the first part concludes, with the fremen still transporting the body of jamis after he was defeated in a duel by our protagonist, paul atreides. after the destruction of their house by the hands of rivals house harkonnen, he and his mother, lady jessica, commence on a treacherous journey to avenge their fallen house. throughout the span of the film, the characters face a variety of issues delving into themes of fascism, imperialism, and resistance.

with dune: part two, denis villeneuve manages to create a visually breathtaking masterpiece that is distinctly his own. the film resonates with raw intensity, heightened by its immersive sound design and remarkable visual imagery. hans zimmer somehow manages to create an epic masterpiece yet again with this score, and he is undoubtedly one of the best to ever do it.

as of the acting everything was on point. rebecca ferguson as lady jessica is simply an outstanding casting choice. her performance in this film was ruthless, terrifying, and transcendental, just to put a few words on it. she managed to capture my attention in every single scene she was in with her very raw and real acting. timothée chalamet and zendaya both delivered solid performances as well. it is safe to say, that the future of the film industry is in good hands with these two leading the pack.

in terms of criticism there were a few scenes from the book I would have loved to see on screen, but I understand the implications, and some of them would have been hard to translate to the big screen. however, I do trust villeneuve's vision, and I still came out of the cinema feeling very good about it. It’s definitely the best book-to-screen adaptation I’ve watched in a very long time.

| 5STARS ***** |

[landflman]

Dune: Part 2 (round 2) 🎥

[maysshortmoviereviews]

Dune Part Two (2024)

🎬Paul Atreides unites with Chani and the Fremen while seeking revenge against the conspirators who destroyed his family. Facing a choice between the love of his life and the fate of the universe, he must prevent a terrible future only he can foresee.

📝While I enjoyed Part One, this one drags on for ages and it's extremely boring and loud. Timothee Chalamet and Zendaya have absolutely zero chemistry, so it was hard to understand the "pain" of their love. Zendaya is definitely miscast here or out of her depth. The standout for me was Austin Butler (he is absolutely terrifying in his role, super creepy), and Javier Bardem was pretty amusing as a religious fanatic. I think Chalamet did a good job, but was let down by his co-star. She wasn't bad in the first movie, but in this one, it was hard to really believe her as this amazing fighter and independent spirit. The movie didn't really progress plot wise either and it didn't make much sense why everyone was following this man. It just wasn't as good as the first one and felt like a waste of time. I don't think I will be watching any future sequels, and my Dune journey ends with this one.

[i-didnt-hate-it]

I didn't hate The Fall Guy, I absolutely loved it!

There's nothing that makes me want to make movies more than watching movies about making movies.

Inside me there are two wolves. One loves watching serious, "important" ✨️cinema✨️, and the other one loves watching fun, over the top action movies. Because both of them are cinema, matter what anyone says. Movies are a way to escape. To have some fun when you aren't feeling too great. To have a laugh when you've been crying too much. To have a cry when you've been holding it in too long. To get angry in a way that inspires you to make a change. To get scared enough to feel something when you think you've gone numb.

If Nicole Kidman needs a new AMC commercial, tell her to call me.

Anyway, if you love movies, if you love action, if you love stunts, The Fall Guy is for you. If you love Dune (in a fun way, not a crazy zealot way) you'll love The Fall Guy.

I loved almost everything, if not everything about this movie. I thought the story was a lot of fun, the soundtrack was great, the cinematography was cool, the pacing was consistent, and of course the action, vfx and stunts were awesome!

The performances struck a balance of earnestness and tongue-in-cheek that reminds me of the self-awareness of Barbie or The LEGO Movie. Ryan Gosling is definitely still feeling the Kenergy, and it's nice to see Ken doing well on his own without Barbie. Actually, scratch that, he found a different Barbie in Emily Blunt, who made me wish I was on a film set right now so I could fall in love with a camera operator. I haven't directed a movie (yet), but I could feel her nerves as a first-time director, but her growing confidence also came across beautifully. Aaron Taylor-Johnson as Tom Cruise–sorry, Tom Ryder–made me remember that I love to watch good actors act like bad actors. I feel like Hannah Waddingham can't give a bad performance, 10/10, no notes. I wish Winston Duke had more screentime, but what he had, he absolutely owned. The only other thing I've seen him in was Us, which was fantastic, but I definitely want to see more.

But of course, my standout performance has to be my girl Stephanie Hsu!! It's criminal how little I saw her in the marketing of The Fall Guy, it's almost like she's just a Jobu Tupaki cameo, but she absolutely crushed her scenes. I mean, they gave her a great action scene, thank you EEAAO for showing the world what Stephanie can do.

Slight spoilers in this next paragraph. The Fall Guy isn't overly emotional, but there was one part that got me moist in the eyes. It wasn't the love story, okay it was part of that, or the message about always getting back up, or that nihilism is a viable worldview (I learned that from EEAAO, nothing matters 😁), it was the line that Ryan Gosling says to Emily Blunt's character Jody, about how she has to finish her movie because she might end up inspiring the next generation of Jodys. As soon as he said that, just a wave of emotion. Because that's how movies keep going, because filmmakers inspire filmmakers who inspire filmmakers. It's so simple, yet it is so profound and beautiful. And the fact that a movie has the power to inspire a young woman to make a crazy fun Mad Max/Dune love story with Jason Momoa is so stupidly powerful. But this movie also has the power to inspire the next generation of stunt performers, directors, writers, producers, and all that is just amazing.

If you've read this far, it looks like you're just as crazy as me, the guy who will sit in the front row of as many IMAX viewings of as many movies as he can, because he just loves movies. And like I said, nothing makes me want to make movies more than watching movies about making movies.

[mickey-flicks]

[esperwatchesfilms]

Dune (1984)

This is my father's favorite movie. Every time I walk into my parents' house, I see the Baron floating around laughing maniacally. I have never watched it in its entirety, and with the new ones out, I wanted to watch this before I moved on to Dune: Part One. I spent an hour of the film being SO confused about what was happening and why. But about an hour in (I know, that's a long time), I realized how super into it I was, and the more I started to understand what was up, the more I enjoyed it. Ultimately, a really good film, and I hope I enjoy the new one as much as I liked this one! And I can't express enough how much I love the pug that made it through the whole damn film. ESE: 150/100 50 +2 for the brown spot in Princess Irulan's otherwise greenish eyes +3 for her soothing voice +5 for 9 bulldogs +10 for Patrick Stewart -10 for the laughably horrible effects they used for the shields -2 for the wild eyebrows on Thufir -3 for marching with Barbie hands +10 for the Duke telling his son that people need new experiences to grow +5 for the Atreides family pug -10 for the gross-ass fucking pain box +10 for Brad Dourif -10 for needles in eyes -10 for super nasty Baron pustules +5 for Sting -5 for the nastiest juice box ever +10 for Lady Jessica's hair +5 for Paul ticking off prophecy boxes +5 for how proud the Duke looks that his son knows how the suit should be worn +10 for Duke Atreides saving the miners and saying "Damn the spice!" showing he cares more for his people than the spice -10 for the Reverend Mother jumpscare +5 for Paul saving Shadout Mapes +10 for Shadout Mapes informing Paul of the traitor in his midst -10 for Yueh being a major shitterton +5 for the pug making a getaway +10 for Gurney saving the pug -10 for Yueh being all sookie-la-la after betraying people who were so good to him -5 for the death of Duncan Idaho +10 for Yueh's death because seriously, what a shitterton -10 for the Harkonnen Mentat guy trying to feel up Lady Jessica +10 for Paul using the Voice -10 for the Duke's death -10 for the Baron being alive -5 for the death of Doctor Kynes +10 for Paul's waking dream +5 for the second thumper +10 for the Fremen +5 for Paul Muad'Dib -5 for eating the cow tongue +5 for Feyd's goofy undies +5 for Thufir's new cat -5 for the weird advancement of Usul and Chani's relationship +5 for the weirding way +5 for worm-riding -10 for the fast-forwarding through Alia's growth and Usul and Chani's love story +10 for Gurney still being alive! +5 for Paul's blue eyes +5 for Chani trusting Paul's judgment and giving him the Water of Life despite being scared to +5 for the Emperor calling the Baron "that floating fat man" +10 for Alia +5 for the pug making it to the end of the film +10 for rain on Arrakis

[rye-views]

Dune (1984) dir. David Lynch. 7.5/10

I wouldn't recommend this movie to my friends. I wouldn't rewatch this movie.

You can really see why cult classics are cult classics.

I like how they discuss the history of the schools. Clarifies a lot. All this context is very cool. I like how the planets look like from space. Wielding sound as a weapon is so cool. I respect this movie.

The stillsuits are pretty crazy. This spice power is crazy. Chani and Paul's makeout came so randomly to me. Damn, Alia's kill is kinda crazy.

lol these body shields... Everything about the Harkonnens are hideous to me. ew, I'm not drinking the water of life. lol Sting.

[destinyc1020]

My Movie Review: "Dune: Part 2"

**Caution...May Contain Some Spoilers**

Alright alright alright y'all.....

Whew! Dune Part 2.... Where do I even begin??

Okay, FIRST of all.... FIRST OF ALL.... This movie was EPIC. Like, GRAND epic-ness. I haven't seen a movie this epic in a good while. The sound, the musical score, the acting, the cinematography, the costumes, etc... EVERYTHING was so on point! 🤯

When the end credits started rolling, I was sitting there liiiiike....

I couldn't believe what I had just seen lol... 😅 I think I was a little bit in shock and just needed to sit there and contemplate/process all that took place in this movie lol.

Let me tell you all... Love the Dune movies or hate them.... These movies are SO well-done! Idk about other Anons/fans who saw this film, but I just felt transported to a totally different world while watching it. Seeing this film in all of its IMAX glory was amaaazing! 👏🏾 I highly recommend seeing this movie in IMAX if you have the ability to.

Okay, let me get down to the nitty gritty of everybody in the film.....

The Cast First of all... Can I just say? This cast did an AMAZING job in this film as a whole. Like, EVERYONE was awesome in this. Everyone was pulling their weight, and was hitting their marks...even the background actors.... I was like, "damn!" There weren't any weak links in this film (imo).

Timothee Timothee BABAAAY....Timothee suprised me! I'll be honest, I've seen a few of Timmy's films before, but none of his roles (that I had seen) had really wowed me, you know? But Dune Part 2?? Oh...he definitely served. 👏🏾 He started off in the beginning of the movie being the same ol' Timmy I know lol....But by towards the END of the movie?? Hunny chiiiiile.... He had me believing his character was feeling his own hype lol. 😅🤣 Timothee really outdid himself with this movie. His voice didn't even sound the same towards the end of the movie. And the foreign made up language that he (and the rest of the cast) had to speak? Superb! Paul's duel at the end with Feyd was awesome (more on Feyd later). It really looked like they were fighting to the death. I'm glad the scene didn't last too long though, because it was pretty intimate and intense. Overall, awesome acting by Timothee. Loved his transformation towards the end of the movie.

Zendaya Ahhh Zendaya! 😃 Zendaya's Chani was definitely the heart of this film as most reviews say. Her character was somewhat of a cynic, but only because she wasn't a "believer". I know Z's acting has been criticized in this film online, but I actually think she did a fine job? I was impressed by her action sequences and her portrayal of Chani's anger and frustration with Paul and those blindly believing in the Maud'Dib. I was SO happy that Z had way more screen time in this movie than in the first one. I also loved how she was given some action scenes/sequences!! I think this is her first action film on the big screen? She was shooting guns, fighting, etc. I was like, "Go girl!!" 👏🏾😃 Denis seemed to have a love affair with Zendaya's face lol, because I think she got most of the close-ups in this movie lol.😅 I actually thought that she and Timmy had pretty good chemistry in the film. It wasn't "passionate" or "sexy" chemistry, but they had good chemistry nonetheless. For those wondering.....YES, there is a love scene lol.... 👀 But it was tastefully done imo.

Rebecca Whew chiiiile, let me tell you... Rebecca scared me in this movie lol. 😅 I was liiiike....

She put the "Mother" in Mother okay? LOL 😅 I always love Rebecca, she's a superb actress and infinitely amazing in EVERYTHING she's in. She had me believing she was the Reverend Mother okay? After she drank that holy life water or whatever it was, she totally changed into someone else lol. 🤣

Austin Lawwwd....this man... I didn't even recognize him onscreen okay? 😩 Austin did not come here to play, and he played Feyd Rautha beautifully. He was ruthless, cunning, yet charming, sexy, and actually had an honor code. During most of the movie, every time he came on screen, I didn't know whether to be scared or turned on... 👀🙈 The Gladiator Scene was like wow.... I always thought Austin was a good actor since "Elvis", but that Gladiator arena scene had me like: "Whoa...he's a good actor!" His acting with his eyes was amazing... Excellent job. 👏🏾 My only gripe was that he was in the movie for far too short of time! Believe it or not, I wanted more Feyd.... 😩 I'm so excited to see what's next in his career, because so far, based on what I've seen, Austin can really disappear in roles. Like chiiiile...this man.....I swear, I wouldn't have even realized it was him had it not been for his eyes and lips lol. 🤭

Florence Florence did an amazing job in the limited role that she was given. Although her role was small, her acting was on point. 🥰 Even Christopher Walken (who's the least Christopher Walken-like I've ever seen him in a role lol) was so subdued, but did a great job as well. I wish we were able to see more of Princess Irulan in scenes (I loved her costumes!), but I know she will have a much larger part in Part 3/Dune Messiah.

Javier LOL I loved Javier in this. He's always good in everything he's in. He had a much smaller role in Dune Part 1, so it was nice seeing him have a larger role in Dune Part 2. His character of Stilgar gave the film much-needed light-heartedness and some funny parts to chuckle at.

PROS

Everyone's acting was on point!!!

The movie had an EPIC vibe and really transports you to a totally different world

The music was haunting and amazing.... I LOVED "Chani's Theme"... Hanz Zimmer really created a beautiful score for this Dune World...I loved it 😊

The movie was 3 hours long, but it never felt boring to me. It was very interesting to me, and when the film credits roll, you're left thinking: "They're really gonna leave things like this???" I wanted MORE!! 😩

The film felt believable. I know it's sci-fi, but the way the film touches upon normal societal issues, it almost makes you feel that this type of world actually exists.

I loved that Zendaya had more screen time in this movie 🥰

CONS

There were just a few too many sand scenes lol... I kind of feel like Denis could have mixed up some of the scenes on different planets with the dusty sandy scenes on Arrakis. During most of the first hour of the film, I was looking at desert sand scenes like this:

ROTFL!! 🤣 Don't get me wrong, it wasn't a bad thing per se, and it didn't detract from the film's greatness, but if I were Denis, I would have given the audience a bit of a break from the desert scenes a little sooner in. I would have given longer breaks in btwn the desert scenes at least 30 mins in lol.

I felt like Lea Sedoux's scenes were way too SHORT! She was like the Zendaya of Part 2 lol. I don't even think she had as much screen time as Zendaya had in Part 1 lol. And Chiiiiile...I wanted to see more of her interactions with Feyd. 👀 Their chemistry was hawwwwt.... 🥵 Austin and Lea had more sexual chemistry in their 2-minute scene together than Timmy and Zendaya had in the entire movie imo ROTFL 🤣 (SORRY Timdaya fans! 😅)

Speaking of Feyd.... Denis didn't give us enough of him! I liked that he was somewhat of a complex villain. But I kind of feel like it would have been nice to have seen a bit more about his background (like, why did he kill his mother??🥴), or know what makes him tick. 🤔

I think it would have been nice to have seen longer scenes with Timmy and Austin together, but I haven't read the books, so maybe they only meet once and that's for the knife fight lol. 😅

It would have been nice to have seen more of Anya in this film, but she will more than likely have more of a role in Dune Messiah.

Overall.... Amazing film. 😊 I know I'm going to have to watch this movie at least a second time to really process everything.

OVERALL SCORE: 8/10

😁

[jedinotes]

The Power of Dune Part Two’s Final Act: Stepping Away From the Messiah

Stunning photo by Jack Davidson

So I didn't think I would be talking about Dune in my first post for this page (considering that I intended it to be more Star Wars focused and also since I haven't read the Dune books yet), but the final stretch of this movie has been on my mind ever since I left the theater a few weeks ago.

(Spoilers for Dune: Part Two)

It's strange in the sense that we are suddenly distanced from Paul, and also in that the climax seems to accelerate the story faster than ever before. So far (in both movies), there has been a pretty strong focus on Paul and a very deliberate pace that let all the plotlines simmer. It’s a masterclass of immersion, both technically and emotionally. The humanity of its characters aren’t lost in the many elements at play. Paul is a character whose empathy and how it makes him conflicted with what is placed before him make him quite likable. Spending so much time with him, Chani, and Stilgar makes us grow attached to them, not just because they’re the heroes, but because they feel real. And yet we’re pushed away. In the third act Paul's dark transformation happens swiftly (you’d initially think from how it’s shown the water of life turns you evil), and by the story’s end we only see Paul from a distance in the eyes of other characters, unable to see him resolving the concerns we’ve wrestled along with him, unable to get a good read on his motivations anymore. The final battles with our heroes happen rather quickly as victory over the Harkonnans and the Emperor comes pretty easily. On one hand this shift could feel unsatisfying, and the first time I watched the movie I was a little unsatisfied. But I’m not here to say this is a fault of the movie; in fact, this shift results in something greater happening, and it’s the most powerful triumph of Part Two’s story.

By the end, even when we do zoom in on Paul we're not sure what's really behind his intensity. (All the Dune screencaps are from Dune Perfect Shots 4K on Twitter).

Dune’s story up until this point, from what I know about these two films at least, is all about complexity, discerning the many variables, the need to carefully monitor both these variables and one's own behavior. The importance of mastering oneself. (This video by Alt Shift X talks about this really well, and it definitely helped me understand this aspect of the story better). But Paul’s tests, like the Gom Jabbar in Part 1 and the worm ride in Part 2, carry not just that significance but also the danger of a prophetic horror being more and more certain. Therein lies an irony - you can gain power but tied to it is something much larger that’s out of your control. This becomes pretty key to the whole story, and there’s something I was reminded of that helped me put all this into perspective. I brought this up in my first-time watch review too, but I think I have more to say about it now. But bare with me as this might end up being convoluted.

In one of my classes this semester we read the poem “The Promised Land” by Gabeba Baderoon, and I was really struck by this image that it alludes to called the Angel of History.  Described by Walter Benjamin based on the painting Angelus Novus by Paul Klee, it depicts an angel whose wings get caught in the winds of a destructive storm “blowing from Paradise.” It’s trapped in the storm’s momentum going forwards with no way to escape. All the while, its head is permanently twisted backwards, forced to watch the wreckage of the storm, named progress, gathering below it. From what we discussed in that class this disturbing image suggests that all the events of history, all that we do or achieve or create, is not a series of events affecting each other, but instead one ever-building catastrophe barreling forwards. Both the Bene Gesserit’s century-spanning machinations and Jessica’s usurping of it all by birthing a boy. Whether the Harkonnen house or the Atreides house controls Arrakis. All of these are merely before a future that’s larger than any of them individually; the messiah and his holy war will come regardless. Even if it’s towards her own end rather than that of the Bene Gesserit, Jessica still uses their propaganda to facilitate his rise. The two houses end up converging anyways in their family trees with the Baron, and Muad’dib Atreides embraces it, merging the two families’ ideologies like the Kwizatz Haderach was always intended to. Whether his sudden ruthlessness is him embracing his desire for revenge or actually a strategic choice after sifting through the past and futures laid out, we’re denied of knowing for sure as we look at him from afar, and this denial by the film questions if the answer even matters much. The Angel image and the movie’s narrative dispel the idea that we have the capability to easily fix things when we make progress. It’s a notion that renders reasoning or means as having little ability to empower, envisioning us all moving towards the same horror anyways. It suddenly renders all the complexity of the plot and these competing ideas and factions inconsequential. And I don’t mean that in a bad way — it’s crucial to what the film is really getting at.

"We're Harkonnens... so that's how we'll survive. By being Harkonnens."

“You of all people should know there are no sides, Reverend Mother.”

Now, it’s fair to question the nihilistic bent of this (are we in the real world truly powerless to stop to this continuous catastrophe???), but the Angel of History and Dune use the stories they put forth as cautionary tales where that all-encompassing bleak endgame are meant to deconstruct our notions of progress and control. If we are powerless to shape history, how strong is the power we wield? And how good is the power we wield? As we strive for “paradise” and celebrate attaining it we often forget what happened as we got there, and we fail to see where we really are. If the reasoning for our actions doesn’t empower us, the effects of them in turn are even more debasing. The Baderoon poem that alludes to the Angel of History does so to examine this too. In its discussion of the end of apartheid and the ushering in of a democratic South Africa, “The Promised Land” weaves in the legacy of the jazz pianist Moses Molekelwa, who, despite influencing the poem’s speaker’s attitudes towards social progress (and appearing as an idol in that sense), is shown as getting off the hook in the eyes of history for strangling his wife to death. The triumph of his music is remembered while his wife’s murder is willfully forgotten, and the poem concludes that “our forgetting is also our home, which is why we will never leave the old country.” Baderoon warns of when the celebration of progress doesn’t factor in the ugly parts we still carry with us into the future, and her allusion to the Angel of History works to convey that danger. (Obviously the real anti-apartheid struggle of South Africa is very very different from the story of Dune, and I wouldn’t want to compare them to each other. Dune’s exploration of complicated progress instead speaks more towards the dangers of charismatic leaders and the co-opting of a cause). The only thing I want to highlight is just that Dune, Baderoon’s poem, and the Angel of History all hone in on the need to not lose sight of the now. 

This is why the third act’s shift away from Paul works so well. The film doesn’t show people “forgetting” necessarily, but we do see them caught in the fervor without acknowledging what’s happening to them. Paul is an exception in that he sees it all: his arc sees him changing his perspective on the destiny laid ahead and taking control to ensure it happens on his terms. He doesn’t really turn evil, but since we’re denied of seeing past his new icy exterior as he looks ahead with his prescience, the film instead turns us back to the now, like the angel looking behind. We're with Chani now, the only (non-psychic) person who’s seeing this all. We already believe in Paul’s goodness. If we were to see what Paul sees and fully understand his reasoning, it would make it easy for us to downplay the costs. The story thus has us focus on the consequences of Paul’s path beginning to gather in real time, the Fremen being exploited as they are led into a coming bloodbath by their messiah.

And this is the sadness of it all, right? Things that were once honorable, like Jessica protecting Paul like she promised Leto and the legacy of Leto that Gurney hopes for Paul to carry with him, are twisted into foul and manipulative actions. Good intentions and real connections, like Paul’s empathy, his and Chani’s relationship, and his and Stilgar’s friendship, all give way to the storm.

The quickness of the third act’s events compounds this danger. The path Paul takes may be the best possible option after considering all the variables, but the story doesn’t revel too long in the glory of his successful leadership and strategy.

The awe-inspiring images speak not to just heroism but something volatile and intoxicating. It's not that the film oversimplifies the moral dilemmas at stake, but by letting the big battle, Gurney slaying Rabban, and Paul slaying the Baron happen all too easily, it removes the focus from only being the powerful exploits of Paul and the Fremen and adds emphasis on how they become like Harkonnens and how the Fremen become entrenched in Paul’s conquest. The Harkonnen bodies are burned like the Atreides were before them, and the Fremen Fedaykin ultimately fight carrying the Atreides banner instead of their own. They lose sight of this fact as they place all their faith in Paul, their cause and faith co-opted. It happens so fast and it can’t be stopped. We’re caught in the momentum of the storm raging, pushing us forward, and at the same time the film adjusts its focus to ensure that we don’t forget to recognize the consequences of Paul’s choices. This is what I find so compelling about this movie — we’re given a story that details the complexity of all things and also ultimately denies complicated factors and necessary evils of becoming excuses that wave the wreckage of progress away.

Hopefully this was enjoyable to read and wasn't pretentious or anything! Lemme know what you think about the movie!

[agentnico]

Top 10 Best Movies of 2024

Happy New Year everyone! Thank you to the two or three of my blog readers or the random Tumblr users who come across one of my reviews - always appreciate you spending your time reading my gibberish. 2024 - what a disappointing year for cinema. Naturally a primary cause for this was the SAG-AFTRA artist strike in 2023 that has had a ripple effect, however another reason would be that Hollywood is more-than-ever running out of ideas. It’s not that there were particularly bad movies, but more so okay films that left one underwhelmed. From big budget fare such as Gladiator 2, Moana 2, Deadpool & Wolverine, Argylle, The Lord of the Rings: War of the Rohirrim offering limited but forgettable entertainment, and even the indie market struggling, as I found myself hardly captivated by the likes of Longlegs, Drive-Away Dolls, The Vourdalak, MaXXXine and The Return, to name a few. It’s been a very so-so year. Nevertheless there’s always some movies that manage to offer that element of escapism we all seek from the theatrical journey, so here are my picks for my favourite films of 2024 (in my humblest of opinions of course)…

[DISCLAIMER: I have not yet seen A Complete Unknown and The Brutalist, so those will not be considered on this list, though I am very much looking forward to seeing both, especially The Brutalist]

HONOURABLE MENTIONS: Juror #2; The Last Stop in Yuma County; Challengers; The Beast; A Quiet Place: Day One

10 - LATE NIGHT WITH THE DEVIL - Nothing beats retro 70’s demonic haunting. It was a simpler time. Late Night with the Devil is a true delight for horror enthusiasts, with some great use of old-school practical effects evidently inspired by 1982’s The Thing, solid sound design that harkened back to that era of television, and enough unsettling moments of suspense to entertain and shock. Featuring a showcasing performance from David Dastmalchian.

9 - FLOW - The Robot Dreams of 2024. A wonderful, beautiful and immersive experience- a true vibe of a movie. Still questioning how these animals know how to drive a boat, but I’m happy to suspend my sense of disbelief and assume these creatures went to boat school in favour of admitting that this is my favourite animated feature of this year. Great for cat lovers too!

8 - WICKED - Look, I’m as stumped as anyone about the fact that Wicked is on my Top 10 list. I’m trying to let that sink in…. Wicked in my Top 10… Wicked in my Top 10… Ugghh it grinds my gears it does!! Nevertheless, it’s a perfect adaptation of the musical stage production with catchy songs and superstar turns from Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande. My wife has also been non-stop singing “woooooo” from Defying Gravity ever since, so she evidently approves too. Now leave me be, I simply must be loathing… unadulterated loathing… For your face, your voice, your clothing… Let's just say, I loathe it all!!

7 - HERETIC - I shall never listen to “All the Air That I Breathe” by The Hollies the same again. Hugh Grant delivers the most entertaining and uneasy religious studies lecture in history, by comparing the Bible and Quran to Monopoly - baller ass move, and a most entertaining little thriller.

6 - CONCLAVE - In my eyes Conclave is a stunning piece of work. It manages to take what one would assume as such a simple premise, yet manages to entangle it with so many threads of twists and turns, as such turning a political and religious drama into a true mystery thriller, with Fiennes character acting as a detective, unravelling the dirty secrets of all the Pope candidates. Partner that with the great acting, sublime cinematography and a slow but engaging pace with a script filled with wit and realism, and we have ourselves one hell of a motion picture! Oh, and less one forget about the most diabolical vape hit ever!

5 - THE SUBSTANCE - Conclave may feature the most diabolical vape hit of the year, however The Substance takes the win for the most obnoxious chewing of shrimp ever put to screen! The Substance is the type of movie that is made to shock and unsettle an audience. There’s a lot of disturbing imagery, with blood and gore and body horror, very reminiscent of horror films of David Cronenberg like The Fly and Naked Lunch. The final 30 minutes especially are so fun to watch with a crowd of people in a packed theatre, as it’s the kind of visceral and grotesque experience that is at the same time disgusting, horrible yet funny. Let’s not even sugarcoat it - the final 30 minutes are so f-ed up and it was a thrill to experience that with an audience, hearing the gasps and squirms from fellow moviegoers. Definitely up there as one of my favourite cinema trips.

4 - THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO - Some stories a worth retelling. The sets are great and really invoke the post-Napoleon era of France; the costumes are gorgeous; the music score is grandiose and epic, really engrossing you in this decade spanning saga of revenge; the classic Alexandre Dumas story is reinterpreted so well with the themes and the emotion, and the acting across the board is superb.  Truly grandiose in scale, and Pierre Niney is effortlessly cool as the titular count, playing him off as a, dare I say, French Batman. So cool, so awesome, so very French.

3 - HUNDREDS OF BEAVERS - Hundreds of Beavers is one of the most creative, inventive and entertaining comedies of the last decade, and I had a smile on my face from start to finish. From the punchy editing, funny music cues, well-timed cutaway gags, goofy costumes or the endlessly creative deaths, this thing has so much unhinged energy it’s unreal. This slapstick comedy offers the perfect rebuttal to “they don’t make them like they used to.” 

2 - FURIOSA - It was upon my second viewing, with an avid pairing of a glass or two of gin mind you, that I really accepted how spectacular this movie is. It’s a fricking sin that Chris Hemsworth is not getting any awards recognition for his turn as the diabolical Dementus - he bloody OWNS this role! Anya Taylor-Joy comes late in the game but does rule as a revenge stricken Furiosa, but I’d actually say that Alyla Browne deserves more praise as the young Furiosa, giving one of the most raw and bare bones child-actor performances of the last decade! The scene where her mother gets crucified…. this kid felt it and WE felt it! CGI is tacky at times; but to counteract that there are some ace action scenes…. dudes parachuting off motorbikes whilst blazing in fire is so METAL! I usually hate prequels as I don’t see the point in them, but this is that one rare exception where it truly allows one to unravel more of The Wasteland through the lense of a fantastical and engaging narrative. Sad to think this may be the last Mad Max flick due to the box office failure. Shame -I’d happily dig another! 

1 - DUNE: PART TWO - To use The Lord of the Rings terminology, and boy am I happy to refer to the dear-to-my-heart Middle Earth whenever I have the chance, then Dune: Part Two holds the scale of The Two Towers. I may not agree with all of it, and there are still some moments I believe drag, though The Two Towers is also guilty of that - I’m looking at you Treebeard! But overall this is one hell of a cinematic experience and achievement. I heavily disliked the first movie, so going into this one I was prepped on hating it too. However Dune: Part Two is a masterclass of science fiction storytelling. No other movie in 2024 has provided me with such a visceral and invigorating feeling of cinematic experience. I was completely lost in the deserts of Arrakis, enamoured in the rise of the Lisan al Gaib. Oh, and that Hans Zimmer’s music score - electrifying!!

In conclusion, 2024 excelled in the horror genre, while the two best films are both set in the desert. Take that as you will. Anyway, onwards with 2025! If you liked this, please follow me on Letterboxd for my immediate reactions: https://boxd.it/9wQGT