We watched Dune 2 in IMAX, and here’s why you should too

It’s been a few years since technology has allowed us to take entertainment to the next level. While the Apple Vision Pro or any other VR headsets are strong contenders to be the future of personal entertainment, they’re still a long way from going mainstream.

Today, movie theatres continue to be the best form of social entertainment out there, fortified more than ever with IMAX tech. However, the large-screen experience and rich sound of IMAX is known to cost significantly more than your neighborhood cinema. So, should you bother shelling out the extra bucks for “the IMAX experience”?

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We put it to test this week with Dune: Part Two, director Dennis Villenueve’s latest, and the sequel to 2021’s Dune. Were our expectations to enjoy the sand-laden landscapes of Arrakis in all their glory met? Here’s reviewing the IMAX experience of watching Dune 2.

Disclaimer: This article may include sandworm-sized spoilers: You have been warned!

Just what is the IMAX experience?

IMAX is more than just a larger theatre screen. IMAX screens offer a taller aspect ratio than normal cinema screens allowing audiences to take in more data from their favourite scenes in a movie.

‘Shot for IMAX’ movies are also captured using specialised cameras, which offer more resolution and hence, visual detail, something we all can appreciate in the movies.

That’s not all, IMAX also brings a superior sound experience. The thumps are louder, the score is even more mesmerising, and you’re almost certain to never miss out on a line delivered in the middle of an action scene, because audio separation in an IMAX movie is just that good.

Dune: Part Two: Should you watch it in IMAX?

The IMAX format has certainly grown more popular over the past few years where movies like Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer made IMAX watch the norm for large-scale blockbusters. However, not every movie begs to be experienced in IMAX, and Dune: Part Two was one of them.

Despite being IMAX-ready, Dune didn’t heavily rely on promoting its IMAX format. That said, watching the movie in IMAX was a great experience for the most part. Compared to Dune, which many of us enjoyed on our phones and laptops, the sequel in IMAX was a massive step up.

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Every scene where the Fremen resorted to using a thumper were much more engaging thanks to the rich surround sound of IMAX. When one of the movie’s iconic sandworms attacked, viewers across the theatre could feel the sand vibrating away from under their feet.

This also goes for the larger-than-life visual shots, which the movie has in plenty. Whether it is one of the Harkonen spice harvesters landing on the dessert or lead character Paul Atreides taking charge of a monstrous sandworm as he rides it across Arrakis like a chariot without a horse, Dune 2 has moments where it really leverages the perks an IMAX screen has to offer.

This however doesn’t only hold true for the action-heavy moments of the movie. Like its predecessor, Dune 2 is full of deep character sketches, and IMAX helps you see these moments under the figurative microscope.

When Timothee Chalamet channels his rage to finally stand up to the prophecy that has been consuming him and those around him, you can see it in his rage-filled eyes. When Zendaya’s brilliant portrayal of Chani silently laments over losing the Paul Atreides she knows to the Muah’Dib persona, you can see the subtle tear in her eyes. We’re not sure if a regular movie watcher would catch these things.

Don’t expect a visual treat across the runtime!

All this said, Dune 2 does suffer from the effects of being a largely character-driven movie, similar to its prequel. Unlike films like Spider-man: Across the Spiderverse, where every moment of the gorgeous animation takes over you, a large chunk of Dune 2 takes place inside the desert Sietches (underground cave-like burrows).

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These are scenes full of low-lit environments and close-up shots of the cast – a big contrast from the action pieces you’ve seen in the trailers. Not everyone may appreciate the ‘IMAX experience’ in these moments. You also hear much less of the fan-favourite Hans Zimmer score, even though it was such a big part of the first movie becoming so popular.

In a nutshell, you don’t necessarily have to watch Dune: Part Two on an IMAX screen, if you’re just casually watching the movie for the plot. However, if you’re a fan of the series (or the books), you may really want to shell out that extra cash for some IMAX tickets. This is because while the movie doesn’t have the most IMAX-worthy scenes, the few moments it does, are really taken to the next level on the IMAX aspect ratio.