The combined runtime of Denis Villenueve’s Dune-adaptation is an impressive behemoth, but it’s time very well spent. After setting up the political battle in the first film, Dune: Part Two moves to a religious angle and does so with awe. There’s a balance here, between religion as something humble and empowering to a fantastic force of violence, all depending on how it’s used and twisted. I found 2021s Dune a bit lacking in the more individual character-moments, but the sequel soars in its depiction of Paul being sucked into the world of anti-colonial terrorism. Fueled by vengeance, he’s consumed by the world around him. There’s also a more collective focus here, with Paul being reflected by the Fremen people and the runtime utilized to show the age of time and Paul’s journey.

Denis Villenueve once again operates at a grand, massive scale with heavy pawns moved on the battlefield. Yet it’s never hard to follow the grand sweeps of the story (partially because of the fact that Frank Herbert’s story is pretty simple at its core) with intimate moments of characterization in the midst of huge sweeps. Every character here seems to inhabit a sincere force; be it the furious under in Feyd-Rautha’s eyes, the greed of the Harkonnen or the religious spirit in the Fremen.

It’s a ionate, sincere and gorgeous blockbuster with an impeccable balance. Sure, given the runtime you could argue that not that much happens here, but it’s a breathtaking piece of epic that I wouldn’t want to miss a single minute of.

Denis Villeneuve