Dune

Rating:
Summary: This Directors Cut
Review: This is a slightly different cut than seen on TV. It has 3 scenes not shown on the cuts shown on TV and leaves out 2-3 scenes that the TV adapted version has. It is not the complete movie yet is a nice compliment for someone with a tape of the of the other cut.

The widescreen effect is excellant and thus much better.

Rating:
Summary: Dune
Review: When reviewing the 137 minute American theatrical version of Dune, you have to be carefull with your criticizms of David Lynch. Lynch's original version of the film was over 3 hours long and included an extensive narration and key dialogue that draws a much more accurate comparison with the book. In fact, I'm told Lynch attempted to completely dis-associate himself with American version (which was somewhat butchered by Alan Smithee) and then later re-released a 3 hour directors cut on Television and VHS...Which I just watched for the first time last week. DO NOT CRITICIZE DAVID LYNCH'S EFFORT OR STORYTELLING UNTIL YOU SEE THE EXTENDED DIRECTORS CUT.

Rating:
Summary: Utterly pitiful
Review: To be completely honest, i was absolutely unable to watch the film in its entirety. i almost turned it off after repeatedly hearing the ludicrous term "orange spice gas." if the film was intended as a comedy, i applaud the director. i do have to give the film some credit though, i never imagined i would hear the terms "orange spice" and "jihad" in the same sentence.

avoid this film at all costs.

Rating:
Summary: Left Slightly Befuddled
Review: While I am very familiar with the six Dune novels of Frank Herbert and the two House prequels by his son, I had never seen the film adaptaion by director David Lynch. Therefore, I decided to rent it before going out and purchasing it. It is hard to judge a movie that is obviously the result of one too many visits to the editing department. The story of Dune is incredibly complex, and the characters are very deep. This depth and complexity is difficult to achieve in a 2.5 hour long film, especially one that was originally a little over three hours after filming concluded. As it stands, the movie is difficult for both types of viewer: the one who has not read the book and the one who has. The viewer who has never read Dune will sit scratching his head over what all the terminology meant and what subplots were motivating characters' actions and what on earth is going on in the dream sequences. The Dune veteran will be wondering where on earth some of the plot elements came from in the movie. (Rain? Heartplugs?) In all, Lynch tries very hard to bring Frank Herbert's vision to life in an original and emotional manner. However, one is left feeling that many points were glossed over too lightly, and the entire set of events just ends up being confusing if the viewer does not already know what is going on.

Rating:
Summary: not the 190min version ...
Review: this is the stripped down 2hr version. i wonder if they will ever release the movie in it's entirety. if it were, i'd bump the rating to 5.

Rating:
Summary: Where is DUNE?
Review: I should have read the book "Dune" and its sequels about ten times. Then logically I had to see how that magnificent book could have been translated in a film.

I saw the film twice. The first time, I was horrified and disappointed; where is DUNE in all this? The only thing that really remains from the book is Paul Atreide's ascension as a political leader, his tranformation as a messiah and his quest to reconquer a lost political power. Definitely not the sharp, complex and detailed description of a raising society and changes of the balance of power that can be found in the book. Arrakis and its ecosystem is almost not mentioned (except to serve the story), whereas in the book, the real hero is this strange planet.

Then I saw the film a second time. As I knew from the beginning that I would not find what made me enthusiastic in the book, I took a closer look at the way the story was filmed and at the music. I looked at smaller details, and realized that at some points, David Lynch really tried to reproduce some of subtleties of the book, like for instance Paul's strong feeling that he cannot control his destiny. And sometimes he succeeded. But I am quite convinced that this can be perceived only by people who have read the book -- and who want to give to the film a second chance.

In fact, the film taken alone would be a masterpiece, if it were not constructed on a complex and rich science-fiction work. For those who consider Dune as "The Book", the film can only be disappointing and incomplete.

Rating:
Summary: "The book was better"
Review: I made the mistake of seeing this movie before reading the book on which it was supposedly based. At first, I thought it was an interesting enough movie, with a few oddities and curious names thrown in, but then I read Frank Herbert's masterpiece, Dune. This film throws all the important details out the window, discarding key concepts that make Herbert's Dune Novels some of the most memorable books in the science fiction world. I must give the director credit for creative (if completely inaccurate) sets and props, and going through all this trouble to create a movie that didn't do so well, but the film doesn't do the book justice. Read Dune first, and you'll see what I mean.

Rating:
Summary: Why did they try?
Review: Having just finished the novel upon which this film is based for the second time, I finally worked up the nerve to rent this movie and see how the filmmakers interpreted the book. Boy was I dissapointed. While the movie did illustrate a few points nicely, for the most part it just butchered the book.

Just to point out a few of the more obvious problems...In the book, Paul is constantly described as small, and even as he grows he stays thin and wiry. Kyle MacLachlan, on the other hand, was one of this biggest actors in this film. The stillsuits aren't how they were described in the book, and the 'thopters were unrecognizable as such. The Baron's character was decimated in action and intent, so as to be nearly unrecognizable as the same character in the book. And the shields and weapons were extremely not as I pictured them.

From this start, factor in that several key scenes (Jamis, for instance), were cut from the film entirely in the interest of time, and that some random stuff was added in as an easy way out of explaining difficult concepts in the book.

I must hand it to the makers, though, that they did a good job with special effects and music, and they get an A for storytelling effort. Although it doesn't always work too well, they did a commendable job trying to explain stuff with narrations, voiced-over thoughts, dreams, and the acting was pretty good as well.

This is an interesting movie to see, but it's just not the book. It will be interesting to see how the SciFi channel handles their upcoming film version.

Rating:
Summary: Great movie that deserves better!
Review: Dune is a great movie for those who didn't read the novels. It has fantastic costume designs, great special fx for it's time, superb performance from the entire cast and a rocking soundtrack by Toto. But i still feel the DVD deserves better. The running time was many times shorter than the theatrical release. There was even a three hour plus DVD version of the movie available only in the U.K. For most part, the U.K release(Extended TV Edition)was better although it was toned down a bit but it improves a lot in the drama, plot and characters' development. Hopefully, Universal will bring the extended version to U.S shores or at least a director's cut of the film. In the audio/visual departments, this is still the best version without any sign of grain but picture tends to be soft at certain areas(the special fx areas)due to the age of the film. A recommended buy but i would wait for the extended version even if it takes ages!

Rating:
Summary: Unearthly Masterpiece!!
Review: What a work of art!! The literary works of Frank Herbert finally come to life on the screen in boundless glory. The conflict faced between the races of the Fremen, the Harkonnen, and the Padishah Emperor himself is displayed magnificently on film. Acting talent fueled from a large group of spectacular actors makes this movie a definite precursor to all of the sci-fi blockbusters of today. The special effects and dialogue prove undoubtedly that this screenwork was far beyond its time when it was released into theatres. "Dune" is a must for fantasy!