Daniel's Productions’s review published on Letterboxd:
Oh yes, they both reached for the knife.
After almost a year, I finally rewatched this masterpiece of a film and it's still insane. While not perfect, this movie is such a spectacle that is also so brillaintly written. It manages to be as thematically and emotionally compelling as it is epic. I don't need to explain that much of how amazing the visuals and atmosphere are. This world is so well crafted and feels lived in. I like how much stronger the orange pops in this, and the colours across the whole movie being so vibrant and powerful, even in the black and white areas. The action is intense and there's just something about this setting that sticks out in ways few other movies can. The great sound and score also help a lot. With that said, I still feel disappointed by how little screentime the worms get in both movies because there's so cool. One problem that's not the movie's fault is that the in movie subtitles have no border and sometimes the screen is too light to read it properly. The subtitles aren't as big of a problem as in the Zone of Intrest but it is annoying that this is the offical version of the movie like this. Something strange is that is one of the rare instances a movie felt longer on rewatch. This might just come with long and depth films but it did feel like I forgot a good couple scenes. Some parts are slightly stuffed with the need for so many characters, but that effect still works. The pacing is great as a movie meant to feel like a long time. It's slow at parts but still feels engaging just witnessing this occur. I haven't read the book and still don't know everything about this world's lore of places. Still, knowing that is less important here with this being less exposition heavy than the first and just far more about watching change. I know some things that changed from the book and that really limits the time span which I assume was the right choice. This makes the time ing feel natural and really improves watching Paul start to the Freman. It builds these connections naturally that only intensifies how real this character shift feels. Paul trying to reject prophecy only to become this dictator is progressed really well. The traits were there from the start and it brings to question how much this was him or all the influences calling or making him the Lisan Al-Gaib. The commentery on colonisation and infiltrating other cultures and religon for the sake of control is really interesting. That theme being built up as the audience watches this supposed chosen one story is paced extremly well. Tieing this with the meta destruction of the hero archetype goes together really well. Commenting on the power fantasy with this bold commanding figure controlling nations is like witnessing history occur in front of us. This story has so much depth that the big war I expected to take up to an hour is just a side element to the climax. All the death and destruction is second to this knife fight between both insanely dangerous leaders made to be contrasts. I would make a joke about best pictures nominees about friction between cousins, if A Real Pain got nominated! The main effect of this movie is through Chani's role, which is why she gets the last shot. Her perspective adds to the devastation of who Paul becomes. Their romance turned ideological clash is great for how complicated their connection feels through the first half. Her taking a stand against this really highlights the counter this movie needs. Everyone else is praising, serving him or just dead. Even with this, she's more than just the narrative voice as her own complex character. This aswell as everything else makes Dune Part 2 an unforgettable experience worthy of all it's acclaim. I knew it wasn't going to be that big at the Oscars, but this not getting a screenplay nomination while the first did while always feel wrong. Dune is still great, but more in atmosphere and build up compared to this feat full of so much great writing and dialouge. The quotes and memes made enhance this experience, although that shot of Stilgar crying now is only that gif for me for how often I've seen it.
