I really enjoyed the first “Dune” movie when it came out in 2021. The original “Dune” novels were actually one of the inspirations for the “Star Wars” movies and I touched on these similarities in my review of the first film. Thus, I was pleased when “Dune: Part Two” took what worked in the first movie and expanded on that, delivering a story that is at once epic and intimate.

Warner Bros.’ “Dune: Part Two,” which was released in theaters on March 1, follows Paul Atreides (played by Timothée Chalamet), the son of the Duke of the planet Arrakis, the late Leto Atreides (played by Oscar Isaac in the first film). Not native to Arrakis, Atreides and his mother, Lady Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson), must navigate the planet’s unfamiliar terrain while also trying to figure out Atreides’ place in an interplanetary war foretold by an ancient prophecy. 

The first “Dune” was lauded when it came out for its sweeping visuals. The cinematography is even more impressive this time around, with Denis Villeneuve’s direction being compared to that of movies like “The Empire Strikes Back” and “The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers.” From the first shot, I felt completely transported to the world of Arrakis. 

There wasn’t a lot of humor in the first “Dune,” but there was some. “Dune: Part Two” has much more humor, which helps keep the audience invested in the characters. Atreides has some good banter with Chani (Zendaya), a member of the native Fremen tribe with whom he begins a romance. Atreides’ mentor, Gurney Halleck (Josh Brolin, reprising his role from the first film), also returns and provides some comic relief.

“Dune: Part Two” doesn’t stop at expanding on what worked in the first movie. It also does things that the first movie didn’t, namely giving Zendaya a lot more to do. Chalamet doesn’t give a bad performance, he has a couple of passionate displays, but Zendaya steals the show.

When Atreides and Jessica first encounter the Fremen, many of them are wary of the outsiders, but Chani shows a soft spot for Atreides. She takes him under her wing and trains him in the ways of the Fremen, and soon their relationship evolves into something more. It is this relationship that grounds the movie and keeps us invested in the story, something the first movie didn’t have.

As a warrior, Chani’s primary allegiance is to her people. When Atreides gets more involved in the prophecy, Chani becomes increasingly conflicted, with Zendaya often having to act with just her face and she nails it. 

One other thing that “Dune: Part Two” did better than the first movie is the Shai Hulud, or the sandworms. In a minutes-long sequence, Atreides must ride a sandworm and Villeneuve’s masterful camera work puts the viewer right there with him, making it feel less like a fantastical creature and more like an extremely fast, unruly horse.

“Dune: Part Two” incorporates even more characters than the first film did. So, naturally, there are some elements that the movie could have explained better for casual viewers who maybe didn’t read the book. There are a lot of villains, and the hierarchy is not always clear. With so many characters, some are also inevitably wasted, like Princess Irulan (Florence Pugh). 

If you liked the first “Dune,” I highly recommend “Dune: Part Two.” It ups the ante both visually and narratively.