Dune Part 2 hit me like a truck, I had to take a few hours just to gather my thoughts and feelings into a coherent stream of thought.

Firstly I want to get some of my nitpicks and criticisms out of the way. On first watch, I did miss some of the more thoughtful and methodical pacing of the first film. There was a more mystical and ethereal feel to a lot of the first film that I didn't find as prominent here. Also, while Villeneuve's visual storytelling is unparalleled there were certain beats that I felt could have hit harder if we had just a little more time spent with characters. I would have loved to see a little more of Paul learning the Fremen culture, or one more scene between Paul and Chani alone before the third act kicks in. I also think Paul's character arc is great, but again I would have liked a little more of him wrestling with his destiny before committing to the path he chooses.

Now with that out of the way, the movie was an immense achievement. Visually resplendent like the first one, Dune 2 kicks it up a notch with multiple big expansive set pieces but never losing sight of its characters amidst it. The new additions to the cast are all incredible and build out the world quite well.

Thematically the ferver of religious fanaticism made for bleak but compelling undercurrent. Seeing Stilgar be completely radicalized into these beliefs was a little funny at first because the movie makes a point to show the absurdity of it. However when he begs Paul to kill him and take his place.. it’s a disquieting thing to witness. A man who wanted a freed Arrakis and a life with no oppression, a green paradise again. He ends the movie running excitedly towards a ship going to space due to the start of a holy jihad led by his supposed messiah. It's a sobering moment that is scored to epic music, but thematically it’s a gut-punch. His blind faith turning him into the oppressors he fought so hard against.

Paul embracing the legend, choosing revenge unlike his father, finding his way to the throne, like his father told him in the first movie. Except the throne he chooses is the entire empire, and the amount of dead bodies he'll have to step over to get it will be devastating. The Emperor called his father a weak man for having that comion, and it seems Paul isn't going to be a weak man by those standards. He may be the chosen one but he isn't the hero. It's within all these complexities and themes that Dune really soars. I'm really intrigued to see what Villeneuve does with Dune Messiah, and If he sticks the landing, Dune will be the greatest modern sci fi trilogy of our time. There's a lot I want to dive into about more especially the themes of physical and mental repression, imperialism, and its intersection with religion, but I'll save that for another time. I need more viewings to get a better read of everything, I'm just glad this is doing so well with the general audience. The more blockbusters we get like this the better.