Dune 2 is a beautiful return to the dune universe. After seeing the first film I had very high expectations for the film, in terms of character development, adaptation of the film, and the scenery of the movie itself. Seeing the movie with my friends was a great idea, as it left a lot to talk about on the car ride home.

The film starts off with an intense showing of deep oranges of the spice-tinted skies; creating a mesmerizing backdrop against the characters’ dark silhouettes. With a mix of the colors and vibrance of different oranges and yellows throughout the entirety of the movie. Watching this unfold in theaters is an experience like no other, truly immersing the audience in the Dune universe. 

The cast delivers standout performances with Timothee Chalamet, Javier Bardem, Zendaya, Stellan Skarsgard, and Rebecca Ferguson. While I found myself craving more screen time from Dave Bautista, his presence still left a lasting impact on the narrative of the Dune 2 storyline, because of his portrayal of the character.

A character I will not forget is the portrayal of Feyd Rautha, played by Austin Butler. Though his accent feels a bit inconsistent, his performance truly adds layers of intrigue and unpredictability to the story. He portrayed his character perfectly, and was in my opinion an unexpectedly perfect actor for his character.

The final showdown between Rabban and Gurney may have been brief, but its charged with the weight of their long lasting feud, leaving audiences on the edge of their seat when watching. The sheer cinematography of the fight was beautiful with many different themes creeping in throughout the fight.

Director Denis Villeneuve skillfully captured the religious undertones of Dune, seamlessly weaving them into the fabric of the political landscape of the movie. The specific interplay between faith and power sets the stage for the prophetic wars to come, leaving the audience waiting for the sequels ahead. Although Dune 3 will not be coming for a very long time—-Dune 2 gave me anticipation for the sequel like no other, and I simply cannot wait to see the sequel.