“You’re not prepared for what is to come.”

I used to think Luke Skywalker’s line in The Last Jedi “This is not going to go the way you think” was the most true quote put to film but I’m now thinking it might this one from Dune: Part 2. Because simply put this simply put this movie is fucking epic! It’s truly something special when you are sitting in packed out cinema, on opening weekend, nobody says a word throughout the almost 3 hour runtime and then it takes roughly 30 seconds for anyone to make a move after the first credits roll. I was speechless coming out of the screening and when I could eventually speak, the only word I could utter was EPIC!! That’s what Dune: Part 2 is… EPIC.

Picking up right after Part 1, Denis Villeneuve aims to cover as much ground as a Sand Worm travelling across the massive landscape of Arrakis and boy does he. The movie to my knowledge must span the better part of 9 months (given Paul’s sister is yet to be born) and almost as many subplots / new characters, yet nothing is lost in the shuffle. Everything from the character arcs, world building, relationships, religion, prophecy’s, stunning visual effects, epic battles and a Hans Zimmer score that you can feel blasting through speakers at you, all gets just enough time to make a lasting impact. With all this put into one movie the runtime simply flys by.

This is helped as well by the performances from the cast which are all fantastic, even for those with limited screen time (looking at you Florence Pugh). Timothee Chalamet commands the screen as Paul Atreides as he is simply trying to find his place in the world and choose his own path which seems laid for him labelled as “The One”. His fight between these two paths is heavy highlighted in his relationship with Zendaya’s Chani (who gets so much more to do and like Chalamet commands that screen) and Rebecca Ferguson’s overbearing pregnant mother Lady Jessica. Both these characters represent the choices Paul must make which is fascinating to see play out. Outside of the main 3 Austin Buttler is a far cry from Elvis as the psychotic and unsettling Feyd and Javier Bardem gets most of the 2 jokes in the movie.

While the performances keep you hooked to the screen, the stunning action sequences almost knock you right out of your seat. From the awesome hand to hand combat, the almost Empire Strikes Back Walker sequence to the jaw dropping final battle these combined with the rest of movie make it larger than life. I can’t say enough about this movie.

Gigantic in scope, scale, size, action, performances, the colours, the score, did I mentioned that the movie is EPIC? Dune: Part 2 is a blockbuster for the ages, truly jaw dropping that surprises its predecessor. 2024 may have peaked very early with this one. It’s a Must-See on the biggest screen possible.