Rating: 
Summary: uh....what happened?
Review: When I first heard that a movie of Frank Hebert's "Dune" was being made I was very intrigued. My first thought was how in the world would they pull off the sandworms? And I was very excited when I first went to see the movie in the theatre... but I knew we were in trouble when they started passing out flyers with explanations of Dune terminology in the lobby. Turns out the sandworms were one of the few elements of the book that the movie managed to display fairly well. Much of the rest, however, was a huge disappointment. I was forced into watching the movie again with a friend recently and noted why I wasn't particularly impressed the first time around. A lot of major characters were turned into nothing but footnotes. And you just couldn't get a sense of the immense psychological and spiritual journey that led Paul 'Maud'Dib' Atreides to realizing his destiny. I have to give David Lynch kudos for trying. The visuals were facinating. A lot of concepts were wonderfully realized (such as the aforementioned sandworms, the Fremen stillsuits, the appearance of the Bene Gesserit sisters, even Arrakis itself). But the story itself was sadly lacking, the characters were not fully fleshed out (though decently acted), and the pacing seemed all over the place. There were some crucial scenes that should have been in there but weren't and quite a few that didn't need to be there at all. And the ending, though I imagine necessary, was a bit of a copout and way to pat. It would be extremely hard for anyone to make a movie that would do Hebert's book justice and those who have not read it will probably be more impressed by this movie. However, the epic scope of the novel makes it more suitable for a mini-series. I hope the next attempt at screen adaptation gives more focus to the story.
Rating: 
Summary: Lynch's Effort at Dune as Arid as Arrakis
Review: One of the most complex stories in American literature fell into the hands of one of the most shallow art-poseurs ever to hit the silver screen ...it seemed like a good idea at the time. Not. If Dune had been Lynch's own invention, it might not be as harshly judged. We would not be obliged to note the miscasting, the triviaizaton in the movie of major characters in the book, or the omission of of sequences vital to the integrity of the story and the addition of sequences that added nothing to it. We could just say it was another bit of late-night cult fluff from the master of the genre.But Frank Herbert's classic deserved better. What Lynch presents here is te Cliff Notes version of Herbert's saga, which was a deeply philosophical and introspective journey into the soul of humankind. A theologian as well as a novelist, Herbert pondered the difference between the natural order of the universe and the arbitrary order of civilization. His characters were complex and alive, and the labyrinthine plot was held together by a clarity of thought only accessible to a philosopher of his stature. Lynch's characters were hand puppets.The cast, wth the exception of Lynch's onerous sidekick Kyle McLauglin, was first-rate, but they can only use what they are given. And they seemed to have been brought along to demonstrate their roles more than to become them. The script was hokey and maudlin. What's more, it was delivered at a pace that gave the movie the same feeling as the "here are scenes from the next episode" part of Battlestar Galactica.The layers of patient conspiring that made the novel so intriguing were turned into a series of Fawlty Towers skits sans the laughs. The stentorian Patrick Stewart was anomalous as the ugly, folksy Gurney Halleck. Duncan Idaho was an extra. Sean Young made a good Chani, I think, but she wasn't around long enough to tell. Corn-fed, Sean-Cassidy haired McLauglin made the schizoid Muad'dib look like Al Gore. And who the hell was Sting supposed to be? He was nothing ore than a tool,tacked on by Lynch to economize his already rambling, scatterbrained plot. On the up side, the special effects were cool. "Were" being the key word. Now, if want to see a silly western with great FX, we can watch the Matrix. The best effect, of course, was the Sardukar dressed in 1960s asbestos suits.I would like to see this movie done over. Directed by Ridley Scott.
Rating: 
Summary: Good, but not as good as the book
Review: When I saw this film the first time, I really liked it. I was interested in the topic, so I read the book a few years later. I still think that the film is great, but after you have read the book everything is easier to understand. Besides there are a few things different in the film. Finally Dune is a fascinating film and I would have given it 5 stars, if I hadn't read the book.
Rating: 
Summary: Freaky Movie
Review: First of all, the DVD quality is pretty good. It is nice to see this film in widescreen. There are not very many extras, though, which is disappointing. When will the studio include all those cut scenes that turned up in the horrible tv version by "Alan Smithee" ? Seems like a great wealth of bonus materials to mine...Now, as far as the film goes, I stayed with it until we meet the Fremen about half way through. Then I think the movie falls apart. I am a big fan of the books. I think Mr. Lynch lost his story at that point. It becomes hard to follow. There is nothing to unite the movie. The design of the film is incredible. I quite like the bald Reverend Mothers and the Guild Navigators in their different stages. I even approve of Lynch's addition of the "Weirding Module". However, fantastic design does not a good film make! Lynch gets so close to the tone of the books when he uses the thought-voiceovers, which is quite daring. I've never seen voiceovers done like that before. I think he was almost on to something. However, ultimately the film fails. When will studios understand that STORY drives a film, not funky special effects. DUNE could almost be made without effects (or very few) because it is a story about power and the "plans within plans" of feuding powers. I look forward to the Sci-Fi Channels DUNE mini-series. Here's hoping second time's a charm!
Rating: 
Summary: Dune - An Epic for Those Who Love Epics
Review: While David Lynch's film adaptation of Frank Herbert's sci-fi classic DUNE is not without flaws, it offers the lover of expansive, detailed politico-military epics much to enjoy. The plot is not as byzantine as some reviewers made it out to be, but is complicated enough to keep the film from being predictable. The filmaker's efforts to make the plot come alive on four entirely different planets is both ambitous and wholly successful. Even if enjoyed only as a visual feast for the eyes, DUNE is a pleasure. Be warned however, film-goers who prefer comedy, constant action, or heavy romance may not enjoy DUNE that much. But if you love large, beautifully filmed epics like SPARTACUS, BRAVEHEART, and ALEXANDER NEVSKY, then DUNE is probably for you.
Rating:
Summary: "He IS the Kwisatz Haderach!"
Review: I had heard about this movie for some years before I actually saw it. I remember when it first came out back in the mid 1980s, when I was in Grade 4. At the time shops were selling Dune pop up books, as well as activity and colouring in books. I finally saw Dune for the first time in 1998. I have to admit, I would never have understood it if I hadn't read the book first. How could you expect someone who hasn't read the book to know what a Kwisatz Haderach is? David Lynch was quite brave to take on the task of making a huge bestselling book into a movie. The film would still get a negative response no matter who directed it. There was something in the movie that made me wonder if I had read the book properly. Baron Harkonnen drinking the blood of his subjects. He rips a "heart plug" from a young man's chest. I don't remember that happening in the book. The Baron's first name is Vladamir, which is a Russian or Hungarian name. Did Lynch want to make the Baron a descendent of that Hungarian tyrant Vlad the Impaler? People who criticize this film tend to point out things like bad acting, incoherence, or poor plotting. None of them yet have pointed out the fact that people still speak our modern English in the year 10 191! I thought Kyle MacLachlan was a good choice for the part of Paul Atreides. He looked like a would-be messiah. It was also Kyle's first movie. David Lynch paid a lot of attention to details to try and get into the atmosphere of the book. Even so, it looked different to how I imagined it. Everyone has their own interpretation. I give this film four stars because of the production values, distant futurism, and inspired casting. The plot is mostly there as well, you just have to understand the terminology.
Rating:
Summary: Strange, Overlong, Fascinating
Review: Really, if you want to watch this, and maybe you do, you should read at least the first two Dune books, which will give you some idea of what's going on--though, to be honest, much of what happens here seems to have sprung directly from Lynch's warped mind. It's hard to complain with the art direction and cinematography, which are astonishing, but the script tries way too much and delivers too little. A quick glance at the cast list, for instance, should clue you in to the fact that no one seems to have considered cutting even a single character from a book that comes up on 600 pages. Bad idea. Some performers, like Linda Hunt, Patrick Stewart and Virginia Madsen are given so little to do it's a wonder they agreed to appear in this at all, especially in light of the obviously uncomfortable costumes and makeup they were forced to endure. Others, like Sean Young and Sting (talk about an uncomfotable costume!), simply can't pull off dialog that's so stilted it hurts (The spice! The spice!) Only the members of the royal family, played with as much dignity as the circumstances allowed by Kyle McLachlan, Jurgen Prochnow and the beautiful Francesca Annis, make it out with pride in tact. The unauthorized, TV-only version of this IS better. While it's length is almost flabbergasting, the extra scenes and narration clear up at least a few of the convoluted antics here.
Rating:
Summary: A movie beyond your imagination
Review: Dune blends many worlds into one unique story. Dune is a story of love, hate, revenge, and so many more aspects of humanity. The cast, including Kyle MacLachlan as Paul Atreides and Sting as Feyd Rautha, does an exquisit job. The views of the barren planet of Arrakis are positively breathtaking. Some of the special effects might be seen as old fashioned, but all in all, an outstanding film that has stood the test of time. This is an absolute must-have for any true sci-fi collector.
Rating:
Summary: A Huge Disappointment
Review: I had read and enjoyed the first 3 Dune novels and was very excited about seeing this film when it first came out. I'm not quite sure how I managed to sit through this dreadful mess. I did like some of the look of the film but too many things, like the Guild Navigator, looked so silly it made me groan. And the special effects were very poorly executed. The giant sandworms looked like glove puppets. The last scene with the totally miscast little girl lisping the final grand statement was so bad I still can't imagine what David Lynch was thinking. Lynch should have just told this story as a straight ahead adventure and dropped all the internal thoughts, they felt very awkward. Even with all its fights and battles Dune never generates any real excitment or mystery. Flashy and weird yet dull, like a ball gown on a dead horse.
Rating:
Summary: Almost Great but, No 4 hour version ...
Review: Fortunately, I read the book prior to see the film however, the movie theatre I saw it in provided glossary handouts explaining all the unusual terminology. I felt the special effect were excellent for the time. Nobody can beat George Lucas anymore, I guess. A star-studded cast really into their roles helped immensely to draw you into the story. Really comes down to a masked version closely aligned with our own modern day mid-eastern oil crisis. The following 5 books in the series wold make great flix. NO - there isn't any 4 hour version available people! 5 1/2 hours of footage was shot but much is extra takes or poorly shot scennes. Enjoy!
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