Rating: 
Summary: Time For A Special Edition Or Director's Cut?
Review: A fairly decent DVD transfer of the oftimes murkily-photographed epic. David Lynch should have looked at the way George Lucas shot the original Star Wars film. THAT is the way a desert should look. Many of the open desert scenes look as though they were shot on an overcast day, in spite of the fiercely-squinting actors. It seems that every Dune fan I've talked to either loves or hates this film. Maybe that makes me different, because I feel neither way towards it. It has an excellent cast with the then-rookie Kyle McLachlan doing a fine job. Ken McMillan's version of Baron Harkonnen is a fine David Lynch creation, but is not the brilliant, resourceful deviant of the Herbert novel. And it seems to me that because of the non-Dune familiar general public, there were too many crucial scenes shot that ended up on the cutting room floor. Namely: practically everything to do with Duncan Idaho and Alia, Paul Atreides 'coming-of-age' battle with the Fremen warrior Jamis, and the various scenes with Paul Atreides and his Mother getting to win the trust of the Fremen. Perhaps it's these scenes that could be restored for a special edition. Another thing that needs redoing is about one quarter of the special effects. I remember thinking at the time that even by '1984 standards' they were a little cheesy. Those scenes refer mainly to the Guild Highliner, the Harkonnen spaceships and the 'folding of space' sequence, which I think is the worst of all now in hindsight. At least the Worm sequences were not too bad. With the above-mentioned changes, I think David Lynch's ambitious creation could reach full potential. But who knows, maybe one day, someone will do an 8-hour TV miniseries covering the first trilogy. That would afford more modern effects and the luxury of telling an uncompressed story.
Rating: 
Summary: A film the likes of which even God has never seen
Review: I don't feel Dune stands completely on its own. I strongly recommend that you read the first book in Frank Herbert's series before you see this movie. This is because the story, squashed as it is, into movie length, is enormous. Therefore if you are not familiar with the details that the novel provides, a lot of the film may soar over your head. If you'd like to dive a little deeper into Frank Herbert's head, I recommend reading the transcript of an interview he gave in 1969.
It is a Messianic story. Set mostly on the desert world known as Dune, (Arrakis), we follow the son, (Paul), of a powerful Duke, (Leto Atreides), as he struggles, all but unaware, toward godhood. The backdrop of the story is filled with the political fencing of the emperor of the known universe, (Shaddam IV), some other powerful planetary leaders, (including the Duke), and some interesting Guilds. Two of the guilds that are crucial to the plot, are the Navigators and the Bene Gesserit Witches. Through centuries of interbreading, the mysterious powers of both guilds are eventually combined in the form of the movie's hero, Paul "Muad'Dib" Atreides.
This transformation is brought about during Paul's exile at the hands of the evil Baron Harkonnen. Paul escapes into the deep desert only to find the native Fremen who's relationship to the giant sand worms and therefore the spice, (an immortality drug unique to Dune), is pivotal to Paul awakening.
This film defies description, as you might be able to tell from my jumbled attempt. However if you have read the book, it is a very accurate translation. I have watched this film so often I fear my Laser disk is wearing out.
Rating:
Summary: deserve a second view
Review: I know the book by heart... The whole depth of this complexuniverse is totally missing, we just follow a story of a messiah-to-beyoung noble boy (who never chaves nor sweats) and the director' cuts make the scenery a succession of episodes with merely no links between them. Some actors are bad (Sean young), and others annoy themselves to death (Max Von Sydow). But i believe it would be a beautiful, amazing and successful movie if some of the missing parts were put back. I have at home the marvel' Dune Comics, it includes cut passages. and, sorry for advertising, get the n° 33 & 34 of VideoWD, and read them. You'll get surprised. I wish i could see the "long" version of Dune, as it was never released in Europe, or so expensive that no-one could buy it. To me, Lynch tried to do his best with that book, to make something that would not be too stodgy on screen, give body to a thousand ideas, with not so much money and not so much time, that the result could not possibly be what he expected. That was simply impossible. In other hand, except for the weirding devices, the story was not so much changed. Read "Blade Runner" then read the Philip K Dick' book, then try to find what's in common... This is why i think we should not be so severe.
Sorry if i wasn't completely understandable, after all i'm French !
Rating:
Summary: Great visuals, but often annoying
Review: Advice One is this: if you haven't read the book, don't waste your time. What is good is that the visuals are outstanding. Lynch did a superb job constructing Herbert's universe. Beyond that, there are some real problems. Some of the acting is really good (Patrick Stewart as Gurney Halleck, especially), and some really bad (Sting totally overdoing Feyd-Rautha). Jessica wasn't nearly as impressive as in the book. Perhaps the worst part is Kyle MacLachlan's continued whispering of his thoughts (Dune...desert planet...Dune...desert planet...ENOUGH ALREADY!). Like other reviewers, I'd be curious to see the version with all the deleted scenes. But since Lynch supposedly isn't allowing that, I can just say c'est la vie.
Rating: 
Summary: Great Book
Review: Dune was such a great book, and this movie didn't do it justice at all. I would call this one of david lynch's worst works and a discrace to Frank Herbert
Rating:
Summary: good film, yet not like the book
Review: I have just recently finished the book Dune, and found it to be one of the greatest works of science fiction I have ever read! Normally I do not read outlandish material that is out in the market today, yet I once I finished the book, I had to see the movie. The film had a great cast of actors that portrayed their roles wonderfully. Yet some of them were not what I had expected, considering the pre-knowledge of the book. My major disappointment I had found was the changes to the plot the reduction of important descriptions and the expansions of material not in the book. Over all the movie was worth seeing I just wish some directors and producers could stick to the original plot!
Rating:
Summary: Read the book series first
Review: I love this film only because I love the series, and lets face it, you will not understand this movie unless you have read the Dune series and I don't mean just the first book. The film makes a lot of references to things that you don't learn about until later books in the series. If you like the book series you will like the movie as a supplement to them. Otherwise, you won't like this film because a lot of the scenes require information that just isn't given. It's almost as if this movie was made for the people who have read the series.
Rating:
Summary: Great bits, flawed whole - Worth seeing, maybe not buying
Review: I think the biggest flaw in this film can be traced back to the source material. Dune is one of the most overrated novels in all of science fiction. Herbert's book, like the film, had some great parts and was a masterpiece of conceptualization, but his writing is dull and he often lost touch with his vision, turning out many, many pages of boring exposition. Lynch made a gallant attempt to translate the book to the screen but no one could have done much with such a long book, unless they made it eight hours long. Lynch would have done this, but we all know why it could have never been done. What we do have here are some stunning set pieces, strange and beautiful images, fantastic set and costume design (anyone who's played the annoying computer game, MYST, will know where the makers of the game stole all their ideas from once they see this film), a few interesting performances (Brad Dourif and Kenneth MacMillan, among others) and one or two cool scenes. This movie was made for fast forwarding and freeze framing, which is why it's best to have the DVD. For some reason, the makers of the DVD saw fit to withold what must be at least an extra hour or so of removed scenes. The DVD was the best and only chance for something like a "director's cut" to exist and they blew it. Add to that the many irritating aspects of the film you get one big mess. Buy it used or in the cut-out bin, but fer heaven's sake, if you're not a rabid fan of this film then DON'T TAKE THE CHANCE. 99% of you will be sorely dissapointed.
Rating:
Summary: Read the book instead
Review: In Dune, Frank Herbert crafted a complex society with extreme deftness. The book contains so many layers that one can read it again and again -- as I have at least once a year for the past 30 years -- appreciating it anew each time. OTOH, this movie is so cartoonish and ham-handed, that it made me squirm with discomfort. All of the subtlety of the book was discarded in favor of special effects and carpet-eating performances. Possibly the most distressing feature was the transmutation of Voice from a special physical ability developed through diligent effort into a mechanically-produced effect. Since one of the underlying tropes of the book is the development of self, this betrayal of the essential unity of the piece was shocking in the extreme. Save your money, and read the book!
Rating: 
Summary: GODS AND MONSTERS
Review: How does one write a review of such a polarizing film such as DUNE? Somewhere in this fascinatingly flawed film are the seeds of religion, idol worship, salvation, and rebirth. Endlessly interesting to watch, it reminds me of movies like BLADE RUNNER - your first, second, even third viewings leave you perplexed. Yet - the themes of salvation and rebirth are similar. Singular characters faced with overwhelming odds, yet able to overcome adversity through cunning and persistance. These are time-honored themes that play well when viewed repeatedly. DUNE is a movie in the mold of 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY. It reveals new layers of meaning with each viewing, giving it a timeless quality. Do I like and recommend it? Absolutely - many of today's films will not hold up as well as DUNE after the years have ripened them. As for the DVD quality - it is quite good, with excellent 5.1 surround envelopment. Unfortunately, for those of us with widescreen displays, it is not anamorphically enhanced. Still, this is a movie worth buying. Enjoy!
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