When the first installment of Denis Villeneuve’s Dune, I was taken with the astounding technical achievement in building a visually stunning world. But I wasn’t always taken with the characters that populated that world. So, approaching the sequel, I wondered if that would change.

It does in a big way. The film is still a stunning visual marvel with incredible world-building. But it’s the depth of character and the resonance of the journeys—particularly for Paul Atreides (Timothee Chalamet)—are the heart of the film. That’s what helps Dune: Part Two rise to be the first great film of 2024.

The film picks up in the aftermath of the first installment. Paul and his pregnant mother, Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson), are with the Fremen. They’re trying to gain favor with a leader named Stilgar (Javier Bardem), from whom Paul hopes to learn the ways of the desert. Paul is also drawn to a Fremen fighter, Chani (Zendaya), who he’s seen in his dreams.

In order to secure their spot, Jessica agrees to become the Fremen’s new spiritual leader—another step in fulfilling the prophecy surrounding her son. Paul, meanwhile, eschews the worship of some Fremen and sets about earning their respect.

Elsewhere, the Emperor (Christopher Walken) seeks to solidify his power in the wake of the attack on House Atreides. He turns to his daughter, Princess Irulan (Florence Pugh), to help with the planning, owing to her training and closeness with the Bene Gesserit and the Mother Superior (Charlotte Rampling).

The Bene Gesserit, in turn, put some faith in a rising member of the Harkonnen clan, Feyd-Rautha (Austin Butler). The vicious heir to House Harkonnen is eventually sent to Arrakis, setting up a showdown with Paul and his new friends.

Much like the first installment, this film is a technical wonder. The look and the feel are incredible, from the beauty brought out in the desert locations to the cool lack of color during the sequences under the black sun for the Harkonnen’s. It brings you in and creates something of epic scope and scale.

That’s particularly true of the battle sequences. The third act climax is worth waiting for with its scope and its coordination. It sucks you in and creates something of epic scale. That’s a credit to Villeneuve, who has a feel and love for this material that comes through on the screen.

But what sold it for me was the depth of the performances. Chalamet and Zendaya are great working off one-another. The slow build of their relationship, anchoring it to the film, makes the third act that much more powerful. I also appreciated the work of Ferguson and Bardem, who play key roles in the narrative.

The villains also work better here. Our introduction to Feyd-Rautha is intense, and Butler delivers a great, creepy performance in a character that feels miles from what we’ve seen before. His final confrontation with Paul is worth the wait.

Overall, this was an epic film that hooked me from the jump. You don’t feel the run time—which is 166 minutes—as you’re taken with the story and the journey. I can’t wait to see what comes next.

Dune: Part Two is now playing in theaters nationwide.

Matthew Fox is a graduate of the Radio, Television and Film program at Biola University, and a giant nerd. He spends his free time watching movies, TV, and obsessing about football. He is a member of the FSWA. You can find him @knighthawk7734 on Twitter and as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast.