I’ve been waiting ten years of my life for this movie. Ever since, Zoë Saldana said in a Guardians of the Galaxy interview that she was obsessed with Dune as a child, I’ve been intrigued by this world. This was a book that I had in my house for years, but was always intimidated to pick up. When I picked it up in high school, I put it down after the first chapter due to how challenging it was to read. I made a second attempt in college and it took me an entire year to finish. Since then, I’ve read Dune about two more times and it’s become one of my favorite novels. The amount of depth and complexity that Frank Herbert packed into that novel can never be overstated. Every re-read and you find something new. I’m happy to report that Denis Villeneuve has done the same for his adaptation. 

First, I will say that I initially found myself disappointed with Part Two in its third act. Unlike Part One, which I consider to be a masterpiece on all levels, Part Two makes more significant changes to the source material. One of these changes involves a character that I’ve been waiting to see Villeneuve adapt for years. Unfortunately, she isn’t in the third act of the film the way that I wanted her to be in it. But, from hearing many other Dune fans discuss this change, it seems that Villeneuve is really doing all of this in service of Part Three: Dune Messiah. That’s another main factor when it comes to this film. It’s the second part of a three part story. 

Seeing this in IMAX, like the first film, was truly a revelation. It helps that it features some of the most captivating sequences put to film in recent memory. The worm ride, gladiator arena, and Paul Vs. Feyd fight are just three of the many unforgettable scenes. Greig Fraser’s cinematography is a character all on its own. Giedi Prime is presented in these gorgeous black and white sequences. Arrakis is seen as both beauty and beast. 

At its core, Part Two captures exactly what Herbert wanted to explore in his book: our relationship with our environment and the dangers of messianic figures. These are essential elements that Villeneuve totally understands. Every character is captured with love and care. My favorites are Feyd-Rautha and Lady Margot Fenring. These are two characters that are expanded upon in glorious ways. Austin Butler makes Feyd a villain on the level of Heath Ledger’s Joker. An unpredictable animal that can never be caged. And then there is Léa Sedoux as Margot who gets to explore the seductive complexities of the Bene Gesserit. I’m not ready to call Dune Part Two a masterpiece, but it’s a spectacular picture.