Denis Villeneuve, an ardent craftsperson of the highest order, had a plan within a plan in mind when he began developing the Dune series after Legendary Pictures courted him to direct a modern adaptation of Frank Herbert’s classic novel. On the eve of Dune: Part Two’s theatrical release, the question remains: will audiences take in all its epic gloriousness enough that he and Legendary Pictures, the current theatrical and television rights holders of Frank Herbert’s classic creation, can produce yet another entry?

The year was 2021. Then – Warner Media, the studio whom Villeneuve committed to a two-picture production deal with to cover the intended two-part adaptation of Herbert’s novel, marketed and released the film, made the bold decision to release Villeneuve’s Dune, day – and – date both in theaters and on then-HBO Max. There was still a general concern about theater going having come out of the pandemic shutdowns; audiences might feel far more comfortable staying at home, watching a blockbuster rather than going to the theater.

This reviewer proclaimed Dune to be a modern epic, so grand in scope that it demanded to be seen in theaters. And, the audience, probably the majority of which are like me who enjoy heady sci-fi, answered, turning out a reasonable return on its box office. It helped HBO Max then too.

Dune and its continued saga, Dune: Part Two are a sweeping, modern take on David Lean’s Lawrence of Arabia, replete with that film’s epic scale and an inspired take on the story’s central protagonist, the ducal heir of House Atreides, Paul Atredies, by Timothée Chalamet. The young actor has received criticism in certain circles for his pouty looks and various performances over the years. His portrayal of Paul is spot-on and in line with that of Kyle MacLachlan’s performance in David Lynch’s take on the character in the 1984 version of the film. Villeneuve strikes gold when he casts Chalamet as the destined leader, fearful of a new adventure and dreams he cannot understand. Much like Villeneuve himself, Chalamet’s take on Paul was as ambitious as the film itself.

Chalamet led an amazing cast of stellar performances, including Rebecca Ferguson as the Lady Jessica, Oscar Isaac as Duke Leto, Zendaya as Chani, the ever-sturdy Josh Brolin as Gurney Halleck, Jason Momoa as the reliable Duncan Idaho, Javier Bardem as Stilgar, Chang Chen as Dr. Wellington Yueh, Charlotte Rampling as the Reverend Mother Mohiam, Dave Bautista as Glossu Rabban, and Stellan Skarsgård as Baron Vladimir Harkonen, in an inspired take on Marlon Brando’s Colonel Walter E. Kurtz from Francis Ford Coppola’s Apocalypse Now, an inspiration Skarsgård carries over into Dune: Part Two.

Where Dune is full of the politicking of several factions over a valuable resource, Dune: Part Two is a darker, transitionary film, as Paul ascends to his destiny, while the architects of the epic story arc are revealed, resulting in a good deal of mistrust, of war, of religion, of greed, of unmitigated power and unification.

Scribe Jon Spaihts returns for this second part, co-writing the screenplay with Villeneuve. Dune: Part Two carries the same level of epic scale and grand filmmaking, “the likes of which even God himself has not seen.” Villeneuve and Spaihts craft a story that puts Paul’s coming-of-age ascension front and center, but it does not do so at the expense of the other characters; returning from Dune are Ferguson, Brolin, Skarsgård, Bautista, Zendaya, Rampling, and Bardem. Each actor has much more to do in this second part, integral to the machinations of control over Arakis. Austin Butler plays Feyd-Rautha Harkonen, with the fight between him and Paul, a centerpiece of Dune: Part Two is a commanding figure next to Chalamet. Florence Pugh as Princess Irulan, Christopher Walken as Shaddam IV, the Padishah Emperor, and Lea Seydoux as Lady Margot Fenring, join the returning actors.

Dune: Part Two’s story allows Paul Atreides as a character to breathe, develop, and grow at an organic pace. Each of the characters, both returning and new, are given their fair share of screen time; much like a chess game, each pawn has a position moving in concert with Paul. The technical craft behind Dune: Part Two is as good as Dune and Dune: Part Two requires that it be seen either on IMAX or in a Dolby Atmos theater; Hans Zimmer’s soundscape perfectly encapsulates the various strings being pulled and adds depth to this darker chapter. Butler and Walken are standouts, as is Skarsgård. Bautista menaces his way through the performance, a part of the character. That menacing feeling works, but it also lacks a certain amount of depth, either because the character means more to the story or because of the impending fight between Feyd and Paul. Dune: Part Two is more complex with more action, something that should please naysayers of Dune.

Put together, both Dune and Dune: Part Two make for complex, heady science fiction storytelling. While I might not agree with the direction Villeneuve took Blade Runner 2049, his steady hand and skilled eye are as good as fantasy, fiction comes, and is highly recommended.

Villeneuve’s plans within plans worked story-wise, and the box office should hold strong over the coming weeks.

Dune is available on Blu-ray, Ultra High-Definition Blu-ray, and major premium Video on Demand services and is currently streaming for Max subscribers. Dune: Part Two is now exclusively in theaters.