Frank Herbert’s “Dune,” which was written in 1965, has gone on to become one of the bestselling science fiction novels of all time. The novel has seen multiple sequels such as “Dune: Messiah” and “Children of Dune,” along with multiple adaptations to both film and television. The latest adaptation of the original novel has come in two parts, with the first being released in 2021. On March 4, 2024, “Dune: Part Two” was released in theatres, and is a cinematic masterpiece.

“Dune: Part Two” takes place on the Fremen home planet, Arrakis, a desert planet that is the only known location of Spice—the most valuable resource in the universe. The story follows Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet), who is heir to his father’s throne. His family is gifted Arrakis in the first film, only to have it stolen back from them by the evil Harkonnens. “Dune: Part One” explores the conflict between the two factions, and ends with Paul and his mother—who end up being the only surviving members of the Atreides family—joining the Fremen.

Acting is the central part of any movie. Most notable, of course, was Chalamet’s portrayal of Paul Atreides. His performance was outstanding, and there wasn’t a lackluster moment to be had. His various monologues throughout the film incite goosebumps and make the viewer want to jump through the screen to fight alongside the Muad’Dib against the Harkonnens.

Chani (Zendaya) gets much more character development in the film than in the novel. Although this does take away from parity with the novel, the change to make her a more prominent character was in good taste, and didn’t portray her in a negative light, instead making her a powerful female figure that women can be inspired by.

The plot of the film was excellent. It is still a coherent story for someone who might go into the film without having read “Dune” and conveys the themes and social commentary of the novel through the screen. The only problem with the plot is that it wasn’t an entirely faithful adaptation of the novel, but adaptations usually do not tend to be, so it’s excusable in this instance.

Dune’s cinematography was beautiful and compares with other recent cinematic endeavors such as “Oppenheimer.” The computer imaging was very realistic and captured in realistic detail what the technologies of the future could look like. Each and every shot throughout the film was given care. This holds especially true for scenes involving the desert worm (Shai-Halud).

Feyd-Rautha (Austin Butler)’s gladiator scene was among the most visually stunning of the entire film, with the entire scene being shot in black and white. The lack of color adds to the evil and vile nature of the Harkonnens and captures an essence that simply can not be captured in literature.

A comprehensive review of “Dune: Part Two” would not be complete without mentioning the masterful soundcraft of the film. Sound effects for weapons, creatures, etc. were all very realistic and didn’t feel fake or forced. However, the real shining star of the film’s audio is Hans Zimmer, who composed the music for the soundtrack. Zimmer is one of the most famous composers of the modern age, with his work on popular works such as “Interstellar” and “The Dark Knight Rises.” The sounds of the desert and chants reminiscent of Arabic music make their way into different parts of the film, which builds tension and makes the film as awe-inspiring as it is.

“Dune: Part Two” was a massive success, earning a 92% on Rotten Tomatoes. The film compares with other science fiction hits such as the Star Wars saga, and will withstand the test of time to become one of the best films of all time.