“Father, I found my way.”

Like a musician’s or performer’s unforgettable performance, a composer’s defining piece, a painter’s iconic signature style, or an actor’s breakout role, Denis Villeneuve’s Dune Part Two is his magnum opus in his collection of mind blowing filmography. In an industry full of poorly produced and half hearted sequels, reboots, and remakes, Villeneuve proves through his work that a sequel can elevate the original while revealing its greater potential than the first. Continuing the harrowing, intense, and thought provoking allegory of Paul Atreides, this film is true evidence of bringing honor to Frank Herbert’s novel, while being an individually special film all on its own.

Throughout its entire runtime, Villeneuve’s meticulous pacing takes you on a captivating journey of Paul’s troubling and purposeful rise to power. Every shot, sequence, and scene has meaning, effort, and thought. It leaves no room for fillers or hasty exposition, but like Part One, the film throttles you back into the world we first experienced. Greig Fraser’s eye candy cinematography letting us experience the sand, spice, and turmoil is a sight to behold. Hans Zimmer’s score delivers time and time again, enhancing Villeneuve’s vision of Dune as a form of meditation, beauty, and horror. Yet, all of this compiles into an A-list cast led by Timothée Chalamet, awestruck by each performance, and how they brought each character to life. Their mannerisms, body language, and personality build up to this thesis of the horrors of faith and religious zeal, power and greed, and the cold hearted nature of the human heart.

In this second parter, Paul Atreides must seriously ponder his calling, his choices, and what he will become. What call must he answer? Is it fulfilling a long awaited prophecy, or a misplaced faith from the people who believe in him? What does “finding your own way” mean? Is it better to seek grace rather than revenge? Must he always rule from the mind and never from the heart? Is there any other path to peace than to war? All of these thought provoking questions run through the mind of both Paul and the audience, sparking discussion and yet reveals how complex and meaningful the Atreides story is to the audience.

From the gorgeous worldbuilding in the sandy dunes of Arrakis, the brewing conflict of political power between the characters, and the mystical nature of religion and prophecy, Part Two is a satisfying answer to everything set up from the first. Its extensive lore is sure to please any fan and reader of Dune, and Villeneuve is inviting us to his feast.

May thy knife chip and shatter. Long live the fighters. The LISAN AL GAIB is here.