lead them to paradise

denis villeneuve has always described dune as a cautionary tale about messianic figures. dune: part two is a story about propaganda, the exploitation of cultures to carve endless paths to power which will inevitably lead to devastation. i always think about this quote by santayana whenever i read dune and dune messiah - "fanaticism consists in redoubling your efforts when you have forgotten your aim".

an absolutely gorgeous film. each scene of this film is just breathtaking. denis villeneuve and greig fraser never fail to deliver awe-inspiring visual sequences one after another. this is one of the few films which get better and better with every rewatch. the sound design is so incredible that you can feel every beat of the thumper in your heart. the visual effects is groundbreaking, especially with their sandscreens, which is an amazing invention. each aspect of the production design is brilliant, full of rich themes and religious symbolism. this is the new benchmark. the third act is just extraordinary. the final hand-to-hand fight sequence between paul and feyd-rautha is just perfect. the final shot is heartbreaking.

how can a sequel be so much better than the first film? denis villeneuve provides an answer to this question in the best way possible. i'll never stop talking about this film.