When you see “Dune: Part Two,” there are some things to keep in mind.

“Dune: Part Two” is based on Frank Herbert’s landmark science fiction novel “Dune,” published in 1965.

Before there was the “Star Trek” television series, which debuted in 1966, there was the novel “Dune.”

Before there was the “Star Wars” movie, released in 1977, there was the novel “Dune,” and the sequels, written by Frank Herbert, “Dune Messiah,” published in 1969, and “Children of Dune,” published in 1976.

Before there was “Dune: Part Two,” directed by Denis Villeneuve, who co-wrote the screenplay with Jon Spaihts, there was “Dune: Part One,” directed by Villeneuve from the screenplay he co-wrote with Spaihts, released in 2021.

Before there was “Dune: Part Two,” there was the David Lynch-directed movie “Dune,” released in 1984.

“Dune: Part Two” leaves the previous “Dune” movies in the, ahem, dust, er, sand.

“Dune: Part Two” reclaims the worlds of space operas, aka horse operas, or interstellar versions of the western movie genre.

“Dune: Part Two” is not only an epic movie, every frame of it is epic.

“Dune: Part Two” creates a fascinating, fantastic, tension-filled, adventurous, war-torn and, yes, romantic world. And great actors populate the movie’s leading roles.

In “Dune: Part Two,” it’s the year 10,191 on the desert planet Arrakis where Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet, reprising his role), the exiled Duke of House Atreides, teams up with Chani (Zendaya, reprising her role), a Fremen warrior, to wrest control of the planet from House Harkonnen.

The battle is all about control of the mining of Spice, a rare, sparkly mineral seemingly the size of a grain of sand on the planet Arrakis.

Paul joins with Stilgar (Javier Bardem), leader of the Fremen and Chani’s father, in the fight against House Harkonnen, headed by Baron Vladimir Harkonnen (Stellan Skarsgård, reprising his role).

There’s palace intrigue. Lady Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson, reprising her role), Paul’s mother, undergoes a powerful transformation.

Returning in supporting roles: Josh Brolin (Gurney Halleck, a military leader of House Atreides and Paul’s mentor), Dave Bautista (Glossu Rabban Harkonnen, nephew of Baron Vladimir Harkonnen), and Charlotte Rampling (Gaius Helen Mohiam, a Bene Gesserit Reverend Mother and the Emperor’s Truthsayer).

New to the proceedings are Christopher Walken (Shaddam IV, the Padishah Emperor of the Known Universe), Florence Pugh (Princess Irulan, the Emperor’s daughter), Austin Butler (Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen, Baron Vladimir Harkonnen’s youngest nephew and heir to House Harkonnen), Léa Seydoux (Lady Margot Fenring, a Bene Gesserit and friend of the Emperor), Souheila Yacoub (Shishakli, a Fremen warrior and Chani’s friend) and Anya Taylor-Joy (uncredited cameo as Alia Atreides, Paul’s unborn sister).

“Dune: Part Two” and the “Dune” movie franchise and novels are among the best Shakespearean works not written by William Shakespeare.

Director Denis Villeneuve (Oscar nominations: Picture, Adapted Screenplay, with Jon Spaihts. “Dune,” 2021; Director: “Arrival,” 2017; “Blade Runner 2049,” 2017; “Sicario,” 2015; “Prisoners,” 2013) balances the expanse of desert landscapes and action set pieces with intimate dialogue scenes.

Futuristic vehicles, especially the Ornithopter, a kind of helicopter with dragon-fly like wings; the Harvester, which extracts the Spice, and the Sandworms, which the Freman lasso and ride atop, as is if standing on longboards surfing the sand dunes.

Scenes between Chalamet and Zendaya are genuinely romantic. The camera moves in close for each actor. Their faces fill the screen, creating landscapes of emotions.

Chalamet (“Wonka,” 2023; “The French Dispatch,” 2021; “Little Women,” 2019) presents as unassuming, bemused and a bit aloof until he takes on the mantle of leadership.

Zendaya (“Spider-Man: No Way Home,” 2021; “Spider-Man: Far from Home,” 2019; “Spider-Man: Homecoming, 2017) presents as magnetic, innocent yet wise once her heart is broken.

The story unfolds naturally, if a bit difficult to follow for those unfamiliar with the world of “Dune.”

A portion of the movie’s dialogue is in Chakobsa, a language made up by Frank Herbert in his “Dune” novels. For these scenes, there are subtitles.

The cinematography by Director of Photography Greig Fraser (Oscar winner, cinematography, “Dune”) is spectacular and superb.

The score by Hans Zimmer (Oscar, original score, “Dune”; “The Lion King,” 1994) is brilliant.

If you are fan of the “Dune” novels, ”Dune” movies, science fiction films, films of Denis Villeneuve, Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya, don’t miss “Dune: Part Two.”

“Dune: Part Two” is event cinema. See it on the largest movie theater screen possible.

And then, you might want to see it again.

“Dune: Part Two,”

MPAA rated PG-13 (Parents Strongly Cautioned: Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.) for sequences of strong violence, some suggestive material and brief strong language; Genre: Action, Adventure Drama, Romance, Science-Fiction. Run Time: 2 hours, 46 minutes. Distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures.

Credit Readers Anonymous:

“Dune: Part Two” was filmed in Budapest, Hungary; Veneto, Italy, Wadi Rum, Jordan; Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, and Namibia from July to December 2022.

“Dune: Prophecy” is an upcoming “Dune” prequel television series.

A movie sequel, “Dune: Messiah,” directed by Denis Villeneuve, based on the 1969 novel, is said to be in the offing.

At The Movies:

“Dune: Part Two” was seen in Imax at AMC, AMC Center Valley 16. For this movie, Imax lives up to its billing with the sense that you are part of the movie.

Theatrical Movie Domestic Weekend Box Office,

March 15-17: “Kung Fu Panda 4” made it two in a row at No. 1 with $30 million in 4,067 theaters, $107.7 million, two weeks, with “Dune: Part Two” staying at No. 2, close behind with $29.1 million in 3,847 theaters, $205.3 million, three weeks.

3. “Arthur the King,” opening, $7.5 million in 3,003 theaters. 4. “Imaginary” dropped one place, $5.6 million in 3,118 theaters, $19 million, two weeks. 5. “Cabrini” dropped one place, $2.8 million in 2,850 theaters, $13 million, two weeks. 6. “Love Lies Bleeding” moved up 15 places, $2.4 million in 1,362 theaters, $2.7 million, two weeks. 7. “Bob Marley: One Love” dropped two places, $2.3 million in 2,272 theaters, $93.3 million, five weeks.

8. “One Life,” opening, $1.7 million in 983 theaters. 9. “The American Society of Magical Negroes,” opening, $1.2 million in 1,147 theaters. 10. “Ordinary Angels” dropped four places, $1 million in 1,753 theaters, $18 million, four weeks.

Movie box office information from Box Office Mojo as of March 17 is subject to change.

Theatrical Movie Domestic Weekend Box Office,

March 8-10: “Kung Fu Panda 4” opened at No. 1 with $57.9 million in 4,035 theaters, kicking sand on the screens of “Dune: Part Two,” dropping one place from its one-week at No. 1 to No. 2 with $46.2 million in 4,074 theaters, $157.2 million, two weeks.

3. “Imaginary,” opening, $9.9 million in 3,118 theaters. 4. “Cabrini,” opening, $7.1 million in 2,840 theaters. 5. “Bob Marley: One Love” dropped three places, $4 million in 2,764 theaters, $89.3 million, four weeks. 6. “Ordinary Angels” dropped three places, $1.9 million in 2,323 theaters, $16 million, three weeks. 7. “Madame Web” dropped two places, $1.1 million in 2,015 theaters, $42.6 million, four weeks. 8. “Migration” dropped two places, $1 million in 1,507 theaters, $125.2 million, 12 weeks. 9. “Yola,” opening, $827,632 in 200 theaters. 10. “The Chosen: 54 Episodes 7-8” dropped six places, $748,821 in 1,037 theaters, $6.5 million, two weeks.

Movie box office information from Box Office Mojo as of March 10 is subject to change.

Unreel,

March 22:

“Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire,”

PG-13: Gil Kenan directs Paul Rudd, Finn Wolfhard, Mckenna Grace, Bill Murray, Kumail Nanjiani, Patton Oswalt, Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson, Celeste O’Connor, Annie Potts and Carrie Coon in the Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy, Science Fiction film. A second Ice Age threatens Earth. Who you gonna call?

“Immaculate,”

R: Michael Mohan directs Sydney Sweeney, Simona Tabasco, Benedetta Porcaroli and Alvaro Morte in the Horror film. A nun is offered a new role at a convent, which has a tragic past.

“Problemista,”

R: Julio Torres directs Tilda Swinton, RZA, Isabella Rossellini, Greta Lee and himself in the Comedy. An aspiring toy designer from El Salvador tries to make it in the United States.

“Sleeping Dogs,”

R: Adam Cooper directs Russell Crowe and Karen Gillan in the Crime, Mystery, Thriller. A detective copes with memory loss as he tries to solve a murder case.

Movie opening date information from Internet Movie Database as of March 17 is subject to change.

Five Popcorn Boxes out of Five Popcorn Boxes