Important: Make sure you see the first film before seeing the second. There are no "previously on...." cliff notes.
It is a masterpiece. A science fiction film with the epic scope of Lawrence of Arabia (in fact, the same questions of conquest and faith inform both films). Despite its run time - it's lllloooonnngggg - it really makes you want more. You'll want more of The Baron, Feyd, and Giedi Prime. You'll want more of the Emperor, Irulan, and the Bene Gesserit. You'll want more of the people of Arrakis. Which I suppose that is the intent so there will be a third film. Each world is so beautifully crafted down to the last detail in quiet and subtle ways that you believe they exist. There are some key changes from the book that I think mostly work: the imperialism subtext is now very much text; the fundamentalism of the Fremen is critiqued; the time between the fall of House Atreides and the final battle is considerably reduced; and Alia remains unborn by the end of the film. Neither the previous film nor the miniseries dealt with her, as a super toddler, well.
The cast is excellent, but Chalamet is more reactive than proactive until the final 20 minutes. But, my God, Zendaya, Javier Bardem, and Austin Butler just burn through every moment they are in.
Hopefully, they will run both halves in cinemas soon.
PS - One thing is clear: no special effects budget, no matter how large, can hide the truth that Timothée Chalamet runs like a dork. Chasing a giant sand worm on Arrakis? He still looks like he’s running late to his postmodernism seminar at Amherst.