It has been three weeks since I saw Dune Part Two for the first time, and since, I’ve been struggling to find the words to convey my love for it. Now, after having seen it for an additional two times, I can say with confidence that Villeneuve’s sci-fi epic is among some of the greatest sequels that I’ve ever seen.

In Dune Part One, we left off with Lady Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson) and Paul (Timothée Chalamet) integrating into the Fremen society on Arrakis after a 1-on-1 battle with Jamis, a strong Fremen fighter, propelled Paul into Mahdi territory. Though everyone isn’t quite a believer in Paul Atreides being the acclaimed Messiah, especially Chani (Zendaya), Stilgar (Javier Bardem) stands firm on his certainty that Paul will indeed lead them to paradise.

Villeneuve’s visionary direction guides us on the exciting journeys in Dune Part II

Director Denis Villeneuve reliably plays no games in setting up the exciting story that is Dune Part Two. A continuation of the messiah versus false prophecy theme, the storytelling in this sci-fi epic is an ethereal delight. Picking up where we left off in Part One, Lady Jessica and Paul, now House Atreides refugees, are standing with the Fremen to survive the Harkonnen’s vicious attacks to source spice and restore the production of it to full capacity. As more soldiers traverse the sands of Arrakis, looking for victims to eliminate, Paul gets an opportunity to learn the Fremen ways and help them stand up to their long-time bullies.

Villeneuve plays this card well, nicely building up the savior trope that will inevitably fall onto Paul. And with each directional decision that guides us along each perspective, he seizes the opportunity to let his viewers make up our own minds regarding Paul’s journey.

One of the greatest sci-fi sequels ever made.

One of my favorite aspects of Dune Part Two is Villeneuve’s magnificent visual storytelling. He uses the magic of the dunes to influence his framing, creating adrenaline-induced sequences that had me on the edge of my seat. The result is a joyous spectacle that is equally daunting and exhilarating as his camera navigates political and religious themes through a simple frame.

Javier Bardem’s believable performance is the heart of the film.

As the story progresses, more examples are revealed to influence the coming of the prophecy and the Fremen’s reaction towards that. It’s simple in concept, but Javier Bardem’s performance leads the way in convincing us that Paul is indeed worthy of his Lisan al Gaib moniker. Whether or not it’s the truth is never the point, which makes Stilgar’s stance all the more intriguing. His beliefs are so strong that it actually dictates his next moves, drawing them closer to the prophecy. Funny enough, Villeneuve masterfully deconstructs religious followership through these characters with such a shrewdly obvious approach. Yet, the emotional journey experienced by these believers are capable of penetrating your heart, one way or another.

A joyous spectacle that is equally daunting and exhilarating.

I may be stating the obvious, but Dune Part Two feels like a masterclass in a plethora of categories like directing, cinematography, and especially acting. I haven’t been strongly convinced by a performance in a longtime until Bardem’s Stilgar. The way he made me believe in Paul is truly an exceptional showcase of dedication and commitment. For so long, I’ve also been waiting for Chamalet to show me his complete star potential. Truth be told, I had never walked away from a performance of his and considered him to be a good actor. But in front of Villeneuve’s lens, consider me a full believer and an official fan.

Sci-Fi movie magic with a masterclass in acting

By now, there’s no convincing needed to see Dune Part Two. The ravings from critics and fans alike tell us everything we need to know: Villeneuve’s Dune follow-up provides a masterclass in storytelling, acting, and directing. But I would be remiss to not mention the sensational sound design and score. For me, they are the finishing touches of this epic to classify it as blockbuster and sci-fi movie magic. All the emotions I felt, from wonder and excitement to skepticism and uneasiness, can be credited to the piercing sounds that took me on these emotional journeys.

And if there’s one thing I’m now fully convinced on, it’s that Denis Villeneuve could (and should) take the horror genre by storm. His work in Dune Part Two feels natural and translatable to the genre. What he was able to accomplish in a few moments to exemplify atmospheres of fear and anguish is better than what some horror film directors manage to do in their entire films.

A monstrous achievement for the Sci-Fi genre, Denis Villeneuve’s Dune Part Two is all guts and glory with an end result that feels like sanctified storytelling. The film balances politics and religion through a simplistic lens while managing to fully entertain by weaving in chilling action sequences that are cheer-worthy. It’s movie magic personified. And thanks to a glorious third act capable of sending any movie lover into electrifying enthusiasm, I’m already prepared to carry that excitement well into Dune Part Three thanks to a very capable and visionary director.