Dune: Part 2… what is there even left to say about what is perhaps the biggest movie release of the year that hasn’t already been shouted from the rooftops?
The movie was only released this weekend, and it’s already sitting at a near-perfect score on Rotten Tomatoes, with almost everyone, from regular viewers to critics, talking about just how great the movie is.
Once again directed by Denis Villeneuve, Dune: Part 2 is an epic sci-fi sequel that runs just shy of three hours and cries out to be seen on the big screen if you want to appreciate it for everything it is and offers.
While there is no denying the draw of Imax tech, few movies use the large-screen and rich-sounding experience quite as much as Dune: Part 2 did.
Not only did the movie take full advantage of the taller aspect ratio, exclusive to Imax, but they filmed the movie specifically for that format, ensuring that Imax viewers got to take in even more from their favourite moments, alongside the much-improved sound and resolution.
If you’ve ever wanted to feel the sand vibrate under your feet as a Sandworm attacks or feel the ominous boom of a Fremen thumper down into your very core, then there is no other way to watch Dune: Part 2 than in Imax.
Even the smaller moments shine on the bigger screen, and with a movie about showing rather than telling, you will want to take advantage of every moment.
Dune: Part 2 follows the ill-fated journey of Paul Atreides as he goes from a powerful fighter to the prophesied leader of Arrakis and the new Emperor of the Known Universe.
All that retina-searing intensity comes to life on the Imax screen, whether highlighting the soft tear in Chani’s eye when Paul becomes the Muah’Dib or the rage in Paul’s eyes at the exact moment.
Once again, Paul is the movie’s main focus; however, unlike the first Dune movie, this time around, the other characters also get their time in the sun, so to speak.
Dune: Part 2 highlights the awe-inspiring performances of Zendaya as Chani and Austin Butler as Feyd-Rautha, the psychopathic nephew of Stellan Skarsgård’s Baron Harkonnen.
Rebecca Ferguson also impresses in her role as Lady Jessica, Paul’s mother. Driven by her ambition for her son, Lady Jessica is a character with chilling ruthlessness whose changing appearance and personality throughout the movie make her a character unlike any other.
Finally, Florence Pugh’s Princess Irulan is a character with hidden intricacies that elevates the story and pushes the boundaries of how exploring the story visually can be just as effective as trying to dive into the dialogue and plot explanation.
If you found yourself impressed visually by Denis Villeneuve’s first Dune movie, Dune: Part 2 might blow you out of the water. The entire film was shot in Imax, and when you consider that only 40% of the first instalment was filmed while using this format, you might just be able to picture just how mind-blowing Dune: Part 2 truly looks.
Overall, I can’t imagine a movie will come out in 2024 that will be able to touch Dune: Part 2 when it comes to the truly breathtaking visuals, performances or even the score – and watching it in Imax means you aren’t just watching the looming threat of a religious war play out on the screen but feeling its thunderous assent throughout your whole body, making for an experience that’s frankly unmatched.
So, I guess to end things, If you’re debating whether or not to spend the cash to watch Dune: Part 2 on the glorious screen that is Imax or if you should wait to stream it on your phone in a couple of months from now, there is no question. As sure as there will be Sandworms in the desert, the only way to watch Dune: Part 2 is at Imax. Trust Me.
