“Dune: Part Two” showcased that sequels to a movie, if done correctly, could be blockbusters of their own at the movie theaters.
The sci-fi adventure film did not need to rely on Part One of the series, leaving me in awe, inspired and in high anticipation for the next one.
“Dune: Part Two” dominated at the box office, single-handedly bringing back the reason to watch movies in the cinemas, yet only got 5 Oscar nominations. Meanwhile, movies such as Emilia Perez snagged 13 nominations overall, and The Brutalist and Wicked followed with 10 nominations each.
I viewed movie theaters as a waste of money, but once I wanted Dune: Part Two my mind was blown. Greig Fraser, the cinematographer for both movies, won an Oscar for cinematography in “Dune: Part One.”
Even though Fraser already won for part one, I believe he one-upped himself with Dune: Part Two.
“Dune: Part Two” showcased beautiful visuals immersing the audience into the scenery, dialogue that left viewers heartbroken, a cast that drew viewers in, and a story that left many inspired.
So, how come it barely got nominated for these highly-regarded categories?
“Dune: Part Two” grossed about $276 million in North America and $419 million internationally according to an Apr. 21, 2024 Variety article. “Dune: Part Two” neared $700 million at the Global Box office.
This made it the fifth highest-grossing film of all time. This completely dominated its predecessor “Dune: Part One,” making $407 million in the Global Box office.
The scenes in the sequel were more complex, making us feel for all the characters, good or bad. We got to learn more about Chani, played by Zendaya, as well as her tribe, the Fremen.
The director of the “Dune” series, Denis Villeneuve, used real landscaping and practical effects, going to dunes in Dubai and Jordan.
The films were about the relationships between humans and nature, which the practical sets emphasize.
I found myself getting excited each time a new set was shown. The simplicity of the sets was so breathtaking I started imagining myself there.
The big screen helped showcase more of the actors’ emotion in the movie, “Dune: Part Two” had such a stacked cast that exhibited such amazing acting I thought at least one of them would have gotten a nomination for the movie.
Timothée Chalamet didn’t get nominated for Best Actor in his role as Paul Atreides. Instead,he got nominated in that category for his role as Bob Dylan in the movie “A Complete Unknown.”
This was astounding to me because Chalamet played exceptionally well in the movie. When Paul Atriedes yelled, “I am Paul Maud’Diab Atriades!” It showed his range, and I was able to feel his power radiate onto me through the screen. It had me even more intrigued throughout the movie.
“Dune: Part Two” had an excellent soundtrack by Hans Zimmer, it brought tears to my eyes as the music filled up the room, making me more entertained.
The soundtrack for the second movie was much better than the first one. The music didn’t just add to the scene but instead heightened the emotions of the scene and left me heavily emotional.
Zimmer won Best Original Score for “Dune: Part One,” but when the new movie came out, the academy did not want to nominate the sequel’s spectacular soundtrack, because of the extensive reuse of themes from the first film, according to a Jan. 23, LA Times article.
Most know that when it comes to sci-fi movies, the Academy is not very fond of them. Often, they choose movies that are grounded and have real-world issues, according to a Mar. 14, Space article.
I learned that movies, especially blockbuster movies such as the “Dune” series, deserve to be watched in the theaters. I encourage everyone to grab a large popcorn and enjoy the movie on the biggest screen possible.
