Dune

Rating:
Summary: Great move if you have read the book
Review: Dune is a good movie if you have read the book. If you haven't read the book, it's very confusing. If you can get your hands on the 6 hour version it will make much more sense. It Has commentary by the author. END

Rating:
Summary: Wow! A Movie You Can Say You Enjoyed...and not lie.
Review: Dune is a movie about the another galaxy, spice, worms, and rockstars in leather. Just Kidding. But Sting has a no less than scarce appearance. I give this thoroughly entertaining movie 5 stars for STYLE!! END

Rating:
Summary: Unrealized Potential
Review: Nobody hates the book. The book is magnificant. A lot of people hate the movie, and with good reason. I like the movie, but watching it makes one realize where it went wrong. It's not as confusing as people make it out to be (but I'm one who thinks so...). The TV longer version was also a misfire. The film is filled with lush imagery and great effects (in certain areas anyway-half the time, it's obvious that the production company got lazy). The cast is in fine form, with strange and compelling performances that both complement their characters but also play in the style of a David Lynch film. The music is exceptional (from Toto and Brian Eno), but was poorly edited (like the fx and most of the movie-both TV versions and the theatrical). Length was certainly a problem, but even when Universal made the TV versions without Lynch's consent they still couldn't save what they had already doomed. If they had allowed Lynch to make his film as long as he wanted, God knows it would have been better. All in all, it's not a bad film, it was just poorly done. At least a miniseries is being made (but I have my doubts about that because Lynch's visuals made the film a perfect tie-in with the novel-as I read the book, I could see certain things in my head, and when I saw the film a year or so later I noticed a lot of them had come out). Simply put, unrealized potential. END

Rating:
Summary: A crossroads for Lynch, still an intriguing, beautiful film
Review: Where does one start? The reason I say crossroads is because I heard David Lynch say that the commercial failure of DUNE was fortunate. His reasoning being a success would have put him in a position of big budget, successful director. Not exactly a fullfilling seat for him. I found that an interesting perspective. I loved this movie the first time I saw it. It has a rich, complex world, a very intense, strange and weaving plotline, characters ranging from "human computers", a floating fatman, a multi-dimensional mutant navigational guild, a universal super-being wielding a nasty sonic blast, the list goes on. The sets are huge and lavish, ultra detailed ,the effective special effects are done the only way David Lynch will EVER do them. In front of a camera. The only area this movie actually suffers is the voiced over "thoughts" of some characters. The effect is somewhat awkward. I read that these bits were shots not filmed, and just put in after production. Otherwise it is a very detailed, very complex piece of filmmaking, and David Lynch should be commended. This movie was put in the unfortunate position of living up to a legendary series of NOVELS. Imagine the kind of drain that would have on you to script something like that! Only David Lynch, or perhaps George Lucas could rise to that challenge.Anyway, I'm violating guidelines here. If I may, I'd like to suggest a book called LYNCH ON LYNCH, a compilation of extensive interviews focusing on all his projects from Eraserhead to Lost Highway. I also recommend the WIDESCREEN version of DUNE. The formatted version steals from the complete vision WAY too much! David Lynch films tell it like it is, and leave the viewer with something to think about afterward, but in the case of DUNE, he was governed by outside influence, and a way too predetermined mold. Though not his best film, it is still a great film. END

Rating:
Summary: Awesome! Simply awesome!
Review: A fantastic film. However, I do agree with another reviewers comments that a 2 1/2 hour film doesn't do the book justice. Dune SHOULD have been a space opera in the style of Star Wars - i.e. a series of films.

It is very difficult to understand the film if you haven't read the book(s) first - don't just stop after Dune, read the rest as well - but don't you just hate film tie-ins where the book and the film follow each other word for word? Most people I know who dislike the film have watched it without reading the books. And, in most cases, if I lend them the books then they re-visit the film they enjoy it a LOT more.
There are gaps in the film that you can only fill in for yourself if you've read the book(s) first.

The sound track is excellent - by TOTO.
And the cast ... what can I say: Kyle MacLachlan, Patrick Stuart, Francesca Annis, Sian Phillips, Max von Sydow, Dean Stockwell, Sean Young, and on and on and on.
Some of the special effects are quite spectacular, considering when this film was made.

You've gotta watch it. But if you really want to enjoy it, read the books first. END

Rating:
Summary: What are they talking about...?
Review: "Joyless, oppressive," says Leonard Maltin. "The only good thing about it is it makes one want to read the book," states Videohound's video retriever. I rented David Lynch's Dune, having read perhaps one hundred pages of the book, and was awestruck. Lynch is definitely a misunderstood genius, and the reason for this film's falliure, as I see it, is its non-conformity, and perhaps its religousity. Well cast and preformed with impressive special effects, don't listen to the critics, WATCH THIS! END

Rating:
Summary: Dune: Which version do YOU have?
Review: The best version of this particular film is the one NOT narrated by Princess Irulan, but by a male narrator. There is a lot of fore-story, and many more scenes that are key to linking the book to the movie (i.e. seeing how the Water of Life is made, more asides, etc.) Although NO movie ever matches the book (known as cinemutation), this one is as close as they come. END

Rating:
Summary: Buy the book instead.
Review: If you've heard all of the hype about DUNE and want to experience it for yourself, DON'T get this movie. A lot of it is hard to understand if you haven't read the book first, and there is so much left out of the movie. They could have made the movie 12 hours long, and it still would have been missing stuff.

The book is my favorite novel of all time; the movie is something I could have lived without. END

Rating:
Summary: A Paradox on Film.
Review: This is one of the most unusual movies ever made. And as a matter of being accurate, it should also be said that it bombed at the box office. Big time.
That said, I believe first I shoud address the film itself. "DUNE" tells the story of young Paul Atreides as he comes of age in a world of political intrgue, violence, and conflict. As he watches his father's empire crumble at his feet, Paul learns that he may in fact be a hero, foretold of centuries before his birth. At first he is skeptical. At last he becomes a warrior.
The reviews for this movie are understandable. This film doesn't really cater to fans of the novel, and it is too long for the average action movie-fan. It seems to be condemned to a sort of limbo for failed movies. I enjoy it. Oh, well...
If you enjoy action movies, and can stand the length, this might be what you're looking for. It doesn't have many references to the false religion often preached in the novel and high-rated miniseries. It's brainless fun, nothing more.

PROS: Little religion mentioned. Action. Nice special effects (for the time period).

CONS: Too long. Odd prologue to the film.

Rating:
Summary: Wears well...
Review: David Lynch's "Dune" has held up extremely well over the years, far better than I ever would have expected.

Part of the reason, I think, is the choice of directors. Frank Herbert's "Dune" is one of those unfilmable novels (in fact, it makes "Lord of the Rings" look like child's play), and David Lynch manages to capture at least the bare essentials of the novel -- the sense of pessimism, dark urgency, and atmospherics. The latter is a sorely-missed quality, and "Dune the Movie" holds up very well compared to the post-movie theatrical wasteland of the early 21st century, and such films as "Planet of the Apes," "Star Wars Episode 1" and "The Time Machine."

Viewers would be well-advised to try and read the book first -- again, like "LOTR," some background is almost a necessity before attempting the film. The story is just too complex to translate well to the big screen, so if you haven't read the book then you might find yourself simply relaxing and soaking up the (very well done) atmosphere and the visuals.

I'm very thankful that this film wasn't made sometime in the past five years. It would be painful to see Frank Herbert's genius placed on the chopping block of some money-grubbing producer and made into (yet another) CGI-based carnival freakshow. Enjoy this film for what it is, a "true" re-imagining of the novel "Dune" as seen by David Lynch's somewhat twisted imagination.