Film review - Dune: Part 2 - Denis Villeneuve; 2024

There’s nothing wrong with indulging in excess as long as you also offer something to offset the exorbitance. But sadly, there’s no restraint to be found in Dune: Part 2, the follow-up to 2021’s adaptation of Frank Herbert’s sci-fi classic. The film’s mood is portentous throughout. The performances are grimly, determinedly intense, which of course means that they ultimately come across as unconvincing and one-dimensional. And the pace is perplexing, granting generous time to incidents that don’t require it, while brushing over those that would have benefited from some breathing space.