It’s impossible to live up to impossibly high expectations. After recently rewatching Dune Part 1, which I loved, I decided to drive over 2 hours each way to watch the sequel in all its glory on the biggest IMAX screen I could find showing it on 70MM film. I fully expected to enjoy it even more than the first one now that we’re into the heart of the story. 

Unfortunately, it didn’t live up the hype for me. Nearly everything I loved about the first one was largely missing in this one. While some were underwhelmed or bored by the story in Dune 1, I loved its focus on character- and world-building. The characters and narratives were 3-dimensional, and I was deeply immersed in Paul’s coming-of-age story and the beauty (and horrors) of the world around him. I hadn’t read the book or seen previous versions, so nearly every aspect seemed creative and intrinsically interesting to me. While there were similarities to other classic sci fi films, it felt fresh. And the actors were given time and space to act.

In contrast, Dune 2 leans heavily into traditional sci fi/action movie tropes, and I was reminded why it’s one of my least favorite genres. Character development gave way to more generic action scenes. Perfect pacing gave way to odd time jumps, awkward scene changes, and plot holes. Intriguing and powerful female characters gave way to rushed romance, breeding vessels, a talking fetus, and stale relationship arcs.

The two new villains, Christopher Walken’s Emperor and Austin Butler’s Feyd-Rautha, were both underused and underdeveloped. And, apologies to my brother James, but Timothée Chalamet’s boyish frame and brooding aura was much better suited to the first film. The Water of Life is carrying a lot of weight here. 

When it became clear I wasn’t going to get the narrative depth I was hoping for, I still held on to hope that the visual and technical effects would make up for it. But, other than the awesome worm-riding sequences and sand ambushes, most just felt derivative of the first film or other sci fi/action films. When the primary additions are a gladiator scene, a helicopter battle, traditional ground combat, another hand-to-hand combat duel, and atomic bombs, it’s hard to see how this is a step forward creatively. 

I don’t mean to suggest that I didn’t enjoy the film. I had a fun cinematic experience watching this spectacle on a huge screen with fellow film-lovers. Its craft is still impressive and beautiful. And I especially appreciated its commentary on the role of faith in the never-ending battle for power and hope. 

But I’m apparently in the minority with my mere above-average rating seeing how this already has a 4.5 on Letterboxd. I’m glad so many seem to have been blown away by it. I just wasn’t, but I’ll still eagerly anticipate Dune Part 3 and cross state lines to see it. 

My first entry in my list of 2024 Films Ranked (and undoubtedly my 2025 Oscar Nominees Ranked)