The first reactions to Dune: Part Two have likened it to The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers and The Empire Strikes Back, calling it a “breathtaking masterpiece” and one of the greatest movies ever made.
Some believed Dune was unadaptable – and they had just cause for their cynicism. Alejandro Jodorowsky’s attempt was deemed too gargantuan (financially and storytelling-wise), and David Lynch’s super-compressed, bonkers adaptation was a notorious flop.
Denis Villeneuve proved the naysayers wrong in 2021. The first part wasn’t perfect, but given the stakes and seemingly unwieldy source material (not to mention its release on the downslope of the pandemic), its critical and commercial success was extraordinary.
The sequel will arrive in cinemas this month, bringing the back half of Frank Herbert’s tome to the big screen. If the first reactions are anything to go by, it seems like Villeneuve has managed to top himself.
Dune 2 heralded as “the definitive sci-fi epic of a generation”
Griffin Schiller of FilmSpeak tweeted: “#DunePartTwo is not only Denis’s magnum opus; it’s the definitive sci-fi epic of a generation. A tragic tale of blind fanaticism & corruption. A spectacular, soulful, awe-inspiring masterclass of aesthetics & mood beautifully echoing Paul’s turbulent journey. Left me speechless!”
#DunePartTwo is not only Denis's magnum opus; it's the definitive sci-fi epic of a generation. A tragic tale of blind fanaticism & corruption. A spectacular, soulful, awe-inspiring masterclass of aesthetics & mood beautifully echoing Paul's turbulent journey. Left me speechless! pic.twitter.com/Vw61IKIGWr
— Griffin Schiller (@griffschiller) February 15, 2024
#DunePartTwo/ #Dune2 is jaw-dropping, breathtaking & wildly exhilarating. It’s an adrenaline rush to the head & heart, soaring in its spectacle-driven action sequences as much as it sings in its refined, evocative stillness.Timothée Chalamet & Zendaya turn in singular work. (1/2) pic.twitter.com/I2TWLL39fg
— Courtney Howard (@Lulamaybelle) February 15, 2024
Dare I say it's a perfect film. Better than the first one. All the character build-up, storyline, & worldbuilding massively pays off in the third act. A third act that left me speechless and in awe. Yeah, I loved it. #Dune2 #FilmTwitter pic.twitter.com/1ga8Oi6StG
— Rosa Parra (@rosasreviews) February 15, 2024
Sean O’Connell of CinemaBlend wrote: “#DunePartTwo is MASTERFUL filmmaking on an epic scale. Denis Villeneuve marries gripping character development to vast, sweeping cinematic visuals. And the cast evolves in their roles. I slightly prefer the simpler DUNE to this complex chapter, but still, a towering achievement.”
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Emily Murray of GamesRadar wrote: “Arguably Denis Villeneuve’s magnum opus, #DunePartTwo is a masterpiece. Throwing you right into the action, it is totally immersive, gripping, and ultimately devastating. Timothee Chalamet and Zendaya have never been better. Just truly remarkable filmmaking – I’m in awe.”
#DunePartTwo is MASTERFUL filmmaking on an epic scale. Denis Villeneuve marries gripping character development to vast, sweeping cinematic visuals. And the cast evolves in their roles. I slightly prefer the simpler DUNE to this complex chapter, but still, a towering achievement. pic.twitter.com/qIFaeshZyW
— Sean O'Connell (@Sean_OConnell) February 15, 2024
Arguably Denis Villeneuve’s magnum opus, #DunePartTwo is a masterpiece. Throwing you right into the action, it is totally immersive, gripping, and ultimately devastating. Timothee Chalamet and Zendaya have never been better. Just truly remarkable filmmaking – I’m in awe 👏 pic.twitter.com/r6DcSdXgQ8
— Emily Murray (@EmilyVMurray) February 15, 2024
Jake Hamilton posted: “When LORD OF THE RINGS ended in ‘03, I was worried we’d never have a movie experience like that ever again. I was wrong. Now we have DUNE. PART TWO isn’t just bigger and better than PART ONE in every way — it cements the series as one of the greatest cinematic experiences EVER.”
Inverse’s Hoai-Tran Bui also wrote: “DUNE: PART TWO is a triumph. Even more immense than the first, but much more intimate — Denis Villeneuve manages to streamline the more alienating second half of the book into a riveting, action-packed epic. TWO TOWERS-level mastery of battle sequences. Zendaya is the star.”
Jordan Hoffman tweeted: “DUNE: PART TWO. Denis Villeneuve knew the assignment was ‘make THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK’ and he nailed it. It’s a terrific movie, can’t wait to see it again.”