Is Dune About To Be The Next Great Cinematic Achievement Since The Lord Of The Rings?
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Annlyel James 
Will Denis Villeneuve’s Dune culminate with a trilogy capable of rivaling The Lord of the Rings? Annlyel explores the potential.
“Lead them to paradise.” It’s a quote from DUNE PART TWO that has not left my thoughts since I saw the film at the fan-first premiere. It’s a simple quote without a lot of meaning. But with context, it’s the most tragic line in the film and one of the most tragic lines I can recall in recent memory.
It’s safe to say, having seen the epic cinematic experience three times now, that Dune has latched itself onto my very soul with its profound power. Every day, I’m either talking about it, thinking about it, or listening to the jaw-dropping musical score. A musical journey that has pierced me to the core with its brilliance. And it’s not just the music.
VILLENEUVE’S MAGNUM OPUS?
On Twitter, someone said that Dune: Part Two is Denis Villeneuve’s Lawrence of Arabia. I wholeheartedly agree. The visuals have that striking nature that only David Lean, the director of iconic cinema such as Lawrence of Arabia, The Bridge on the River Kwai, and more, could muster. There are moments when I find myself staring at the screen, overwhelmed by the film’s mind-blowing scope. But it’s not just the awe-inspiring collection of ranging dunes that stretch as far as the eye can see. Nor is it the massive arenas stunningly brought to life. There’s also an intimacy to his work as well. He’s not afraid to put a camera so close to the actors’ faces that you can see the blemishes on their skin. Or feel the true connection between characters like Chani and Paul as they begin to fall in love.
I think I’ve been truly touched by this film in a way that hasn’t happened to me since The Lord of the Rings trilogy. That is mind-blowing to me. Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings are a trio of movies that are so astoundingly perfect in their inception that even the extended versions are incredible. I prefer the extended versions. To this day, I can turn on a Lord of the Rings movie and still be astounded by how profoundly good each movie still stands to this day.
RINGS POWER
With so many movies that are treated by these huge production companies as “content” rather than art, it began to feel like cinema was changing. And I feared we’d never get anything on the levels of a cinematic achievement like The Lord of the Rings. And then Dune showed up.
I already loved the first one. It blew my mind in 2021 with its sweeping visuals and fascinating storyline. I loved it so much that I bought Dune and Dune: Messiah to read so that I could dive even deeper into Herbert’s fascinating world. Dune: Part Two, however, has cemented its legacy as one of the greatest cinematic trilogies of all time. And yes, I know I’m saying this without having seen the third movie yet, but Villeneuve’s vision is so clear.
It’s almost like he’s the Lisan-al-Gaib pointing the way. The script for Dune: Part Three is almost finished and considering the creative choices he made for the second installment, it seems like he’s going to find an ingenious way to adapt Dune: Messiah to conform to the casual audience. I can’t wait to see his vision brought to life.
OSCAR WORTHY?
We’re a long, long way from the next Oscars season. But it feels like Dune: Part Two has already secured itself several Oscar nominations. The production design, the costume design, the film editing, the sound, the visual effects, the screenplay, and yes, even the acting. I feel that Timothée Chalamet gave such a striking and utterly powerful performance that he deserves an Oscar nomination. The same could be said about Austin Butler and Zendaya. Austin Butler perfectly captures the sadistic nature of the Harkonnen prince without feeling like he’s forcing the nature of the role. He just melts into the character, becoming one of the surprise standouts of the film. And Zendaya, whose acting chops have already been celebrated for her two-time Emmy-winning turn as Rue in Euphoria, once again reminds the world why she’s one of the greatest actresses of her generation.
Throughout the last act, most of her acting is coming from solely her eyes, and she says so much. You can feel all of her emotions with each passing viewing. Her performance makes me get more emotional. Her expressions are devastating in the final minutes of the movie, and I can’t wait to see where her story goes in the third film.
PRAISE
In short, Dune: Part Two is one of those movies that don’t come often. But when they do, it’s a moment you have to experience on the big screen. This is not hyperbole when I say it’s truly one of the greatest sequels of all time. It is a reminder that the cinematic experience is far from over when we have directors like Villeneuve, Nolan, and Gerwig to continue to make films that beg to be seen on the big screen. As Villeneuve once said, “Long live cinema.”
DUNE: PART TWO is playing in cinemas everywhere now.
Annlyel James is a Senior Correspondent of The Future of the Force. She is passionate about Star Wars and Marvel but loves a wide variety of movie genres. Aside from her role with Future of the Force she also writes for her blog: annlyelonline. Follow her on Twitter where she channels the Force frequently!
