Dune: Part 2: One of Villeneuve's Finest....

Dir: Denis Villeneuve. Length: 2h 46m. Budget: $190M.

I'm not often an admirer of big-budget movies, but when directors like Villeneuve are involved, you can be sure they'll do something good. They keep pushing the boundaries by testing not just themselves but also the audiences, so it gets difficult for me to say no.

Big-budget movies mostly consist of CGI and VFX. Dune: Part 2 has a ton of VFX shots, so even if you can count them all, you'll probably get lost. But because VFX and CGI are executed so precisely, it becomes difficult to tell what is real and what isn't. Everything appears authentic, as though it was all captured on camera, including the sandworms.

I’ve always enjoyed movies that are well-made, regardless of budget, because when they are executed skillfully, it suggests that the director is not cheating. Watching Dune: Part 2 in IMAX was a feat, and I wanted to take the time to appreciate the true potential of modern cinema.  

One of my objectives was also to observe whether Villeneuve could properly employ every tool while staying within budget. This is not a sign of distrust on my part; in certain situations, going over budget is acceptable. I wanted to witness a filmmaker of Villeneuve's talent push himself to the limit so he could finish an excellent film on schedule. And boy, has he succeeded at it?

I suggest the sequel to anyone who enjoys great movies. Dedicated fans will undoubtedly see it on the big screen, but for others who like movies even without knowledge of the source material, this movie—including the 2021 release of the first part—is well worth the effort. I had the good fortune to see the first part in IMAX as well.

The first and second parts are rather different from one another, I must say. The first part served as an introduction, establishing the characters and the Dune universe. But in terms of intellectual depth, the second movie is significantly larger and has a far wider vision. The action scenes are also longer and masterfully executed.

As a big-screen enthusiast, I suggest that you see Dune: Part 2 soon before it arrives on 4K/Blu-Ray, as it truly deserves to be seen on the largest screen possible. The movie is simply fantastic. It is without a doubt one of Villeneuve's finest films and a superb sequel.