Stone me if you must, but I’ll be the first to admit, I liked, but didn’t love, Dune: Part One. While so many considered it the best movie of the year in 2021 (which I understand), I just wasn’t as enamored by it as everyone else.

Though visually stunning, I found it considerably draggy, and inefficient from a narrative perspective. Thus on its own, for me, it was good but not great; and I still stand by that. Having said that, Dune: Part Two completes the story in a way that has shut me up for good! And Denis Villeneuve, I’m sorry I ever doubted you!

Dune: Part Two is the masterpiece we have been waiting for! A compelling, heart-stopping, non-stop symphony of amazing visuals, incredible action, and complex character evolution and drama, that takes the foundation set by the first part and builds it into one of the greatest action epics of our time! And frankly, yes, it could only be as good as it is because of everything set up in Dune: Part One, making the first part even better. To me, this is a movie that works best as a complete story, the way Kill Bill works as a single story. Perhaps that’s why I wasn’t blown away by the first. But I swear to you now, after witnessing Part Two, I fully believe in the power of the Kwisatz Haderach!

The story picks up almost immediately following the events of the first film. House Atreides has fallen. And Paul and Lady Jessica are now with Stilgar, Chani, and the rest of the Fremen on Arrakis. Paul is eager to learn the ways of the Fremen so he can disrupt Emperor Shaddam IV’s mining of spice on Arrakis, to lure him into a battle for vengeance. And as his bond with the Fremen grows, a so does the belief that he might become the chosen messiah of the Fremen; and with that, a powerful army. With the Fremen behind him, his Bene Gesserit abilities, and the support of his loved ones, Paul marches into a war with the Emperor and House Harkonnen that will determine the course of the entire universe going forward!

If Dune: Part One was primarily exposition, Part Two is the payoff. While I felt not much happened in the first movie to justify the almost three-hour narrative, other than setup, so much happens in this part, that the runtime is warranted and appreciated. With the establishment of the world, the rules, and the concepts in the first film, as well as the fleshed out relationships between Paul and characters like Gurney Halleck, and Lady Jessica, his mother, Part Two is able to flesh out his relationships with Chani and Stilgar, and explore the ever present themes of the dangers of faith in false prophets and religion. It also allows for several breathtaking set pieces throughout the course of the film. As such, it’s much better paced than the first movie, because each scene feels important or exciting and less superfluous.

Villeneuve is also able to introduce many new characters and make them incredibly interesting, which is a tall order in a franchise packed full of them. In addition to fleshing out Chani and Stilgar, and even Gurney, he’s able to introduce us to Florence Pugh’s Princess Irulan, the Bene Gesserit daughter of the Emperor, Christopher Walken’s Shaddam IV, and Austin Butler’s psychotic Feyd-Rautha. All three actors breathe so much life and personality into their roles, giving us characters that are fairly interesting to begin with, but are all the more humanized by their individual performances. Butler in general is a scene stealer imbuing Feyd with a sense of insane sadism that truly makes him seem like a menacing force of nature. Comparisons are being made to Heath Ledger’s Joker, and while I don’t think he achieves quite the same impact in his short time on screen, Butler does come pretty close.

However, this is truly Paul’s film. And as such, it’s incredibly fortunate that Timothee Chalamet oozes power and depth with every scene. We are able to track the complex emotional journey Paul is taking from one minute to the next, with Chalamet really embodying the inner-conflict he’s feeling, but also the growing power within him for both better and worse. Paul’s journey in this movie is something akin to what we would get with Anakin Skywalker if the prequel trilogy was well written and performed; a sympathetic character trying his best to do good, but slowly beginning to lose himself behind the hype of being the chosen one, the fear he feels about losing the ones he cares about most, and the internal anger and determination raging within him on his ruthless quest for vengeance. It’s masterfully complex, and always compelling.

Naturally the other supporting players are terrific, with particular shout outs to the always wonderful Rebecca Ferguson and Javier Bardem. Bardem’s Stilgar gets a much meatier role in Part Two, almost serving as the embodiment of blind faith and fanaticism, but while still being likable. And Ferguson is always incredibly powerful and regal as Jessica’s arc develops throughout the course of this film. Her storyline is also insanely fascinating, watching her, like Paul, being forced to accept power she doesn’t even want or desire, but needing to do so for the sake of the survival of herself and her children.

It’s because of these compelling storylines that Dune: Part Two excels in ways Part One falls short. Not one of the subplots within this story is boring or dull. The character development and the exploration of themes makes it feel much richer and less superfluous in many of its scenes. Even the set pieces are filled with meaning and urgency. One such standout scene being Paul’s first ride on the Shai-Hulud (er… the sandworm) is literally one of the most exciting sequences in the past few years of cinema, and one that makes or breaks his narrative growth as part of the Freman. Furthermore it also is crucial in how the Freman view him. It’s not just an action scene for the sake of an action scene. It’s legitimately a turning point in the story of Paul Atreides, and because of that, it feels so much more important and exciting.

The world will likely write enough words about how stunning the visuals are. So you technically don’t need me to pour on more to all of that. But frankly, there’s a reason and justification behind why all the praise is given. Dune: Part Two, much like its predecessor, is arguably one of the most visually stunning theatrical experiences to come in the last 10 years or more. We knew it would be because the first movie was also amazing. But the need for more VFX shots in this half of the story, along with how those visuals are being used to further the narrative, brings its own set of challenges, but successfully and astonishingly manages to pull off full immersion of the audience into this world and Paul’s journey. There’s simply no better way to see this one than on the big screen, I promise you that!

Naturally Hans Zimmer’s Oscar winning power score from the first part makes a triumphant return in Part Two. And the music accompanying every scene gives us the feeling of otherworldly urgency. It sets the mood and makes everything we’re seeing a million times more thrilling. And naturally on a technical level, sound designs generating the bombastic symphony of sci-fi audio spectacle are among the greatest you’ll ever get to hear in any science fiction project. It’s just masterful work all around on a technical level, from the production design, to the costumes and makeup; everything!

Throughout the nearly three hour runtime of the movie, I don’t think I could ever say I was ever bored. I have heard some folks say it dragged a little for them, but unlike my experience with Part One, I was completely entranced from the very minute we returned to Arrakis in Part Two. Compelling, satisfying, and so incredibly enjoyable Dune: Part Two gives you everything you could ask for in a blockbuster, and leaves you frothing at the mouth for more! My eyes were wide, and my jaws agape at the insane and immersive spectacle of what I was experiencing on film. From the visuals, to the rich and fascinating evolution of the complex story, themes, and characters, I simply don’t know of any other way to refer to Dune: Part Two, and for that matter Denis Villeneuve’s entire Dune saga as anything less than the following: an epic masterpiece!

Overall Score: A