Dune Part 2

Rating: Overflowing

Genre: Sci-Fi, Adventure, Drama

Studios: Warner Bros Pictures/Legendary Pictures

Cast: Timothy Chalamet, Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, Josh Brolin, Austin Butler, Florence Pugh, Dave Bautista, Christopher Walken, Lea Seydoux, Souheila Yacoub, Stellan Skarsgard, Charlotte Rampling and Javier Bardem

Director: Denis Villeneuve

Writers: Jon Spaihts and Denis Villeneuve

Based on: the novel by Frank Herbert

Producers: Cale Boyter, Tanya Lapointe, Patrick McCormick, Mary Parent and Denis Villeneuve

Music by: Hans Zimmer

Rated: PG-13 for sequences of strong violence, some suggestive material and brief strong language

Release Date: 03/01/24

Runtime: 2h 46m

Tagline: Long live the fighters

Favorite Character: Feyd-Rautha

Quote: “You may die. You may see. The beauty and the horror.”- Lady Jessica

Fun Fact: It took 44 days to film to film the Sandworm riding scene.

The Review: When it comes to franchises, sequels don’t usually live up to the original, but sometimes, it does. Some may surprise you like last years Dungeons and Dragons movie and others it actually isn’t surprising, like the part 2 of this beautiful epic sci-fi movie.

Part 2 picks up after the first one on a desert planet, Arrakis where Paul Atreides (Timothy Chalamet) and his pregnant mother (Rebecca Ferguson) are with the Fremen clan that they finally found with some help of Paul’s literal dream girl (Zendaya). Now in order for Paul to gain the Fremen’s trust he needed, he must complete some training one involving a megazilla moment of him riding on what they called a ‘Grandfather’ Sandworm. Meaning it could be the largest sandworm in the desert!

Dune 2 succeeded in bringing the audience to a new world. And these sets, I don’t know if they are real sets or CGI. Now if you aren’t familar with Frank Herbert’s story, you might at first think one of the first scenes takes place on Mars. I don’t blame you because that, my friend, is how good the cinematography is. and the part with the Emporer’s nephew (Oscar nominated Austin Butler) being the highlight of the film along with the Harkonnen’s black and white film sequence gives the film more of a specticule. That, the visual effects and score is already up to win those categories for the 2025’s Oscars (bring it on Furiosa).

You might have noticed that as we get further into the movie series or franchise or whatever, we also get further into the story that was created from the mind of Frank Herbert. For those who say the 2021’s Dune doesn’t have a plot, I can tell you that this one adds more to the plotline. Now the one negativity about the film was the whole entire movie feels like it only tells the 2nd act of the story, meaning when the film ends, the Sci-Fi chronicle still won’t be even over yet!

I can tell you, Dune Part 2 ROCKS! Totally exceeding the first one by far, but I swear if they don’t make the third one and make it like Return of the King, there will be problems for the franchise. So we’ll just have to wait for a couple of years to see if Villeneuve can properly close the book.

Wonka

Rating: Full

Genre: Fantasy, Musical, Family

Studios: Warner Bros/Village Roadshow Pictures/The Ronald Dahl Story Company/Heyday Films

Cast: Timothee Chalamet, Calah Lane, Keegan-Michael Key, Paterson Joseph, Matt Lucas, Mathew Baynton, Sally Hawkins, Rowan Atkinson, Jim Carter, Natasha Rothwell, Olivia Colman and Hugh Grant

Director: Paul King

Writers: Simon Farnaby and Paul King

Based on: the characters by Ronald Dahl

Producers: Alexandra Derbyshire, David Heyman and Luke Kelly

Music by: Neil Hannon and Joby Talbot

Rated: PG for some violence, mild language and thematic elements

Release Date: 12/15/23

Runtime: 1h 56m

Tagline: Every Good Thing in this World Started with a Dream.

Favorite Character: Lofty the Oompa Loompa

Quote: “I’m making chocolate, of course. How do you like it? Dark? White? Nutty? Absolutely insane.”- Willy Wonka

Fun Facts: Hugh Grant actually hated being an Oompa Loompa due to the motion capture.

Timothee Chalamet got sick on set from eating a bunch of candy during filming.

Two songs from the 1971 “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory’ were used in the film.

Wonka was done by the same team who did the Paddington films.

Summary: A tale of how Willy Wonka became the most successful Chocolatier and how he tries to outdo his three greedy rivals.

The One Liner Review: Like the 1971 classic, Paul King’s character study became a sweet treat film the parents can bring their kids to this holiday season, but don’t forget to drop by the lobby for something SWEET.