David Lynch’s Dune (Original Theatrical Version). Dune is a 1984 American science fiction film based on the 1965 Frank Herbert novel of the same name.

Travel to a time and place beyond your imagination with this definitive edition of David Lynch’s epic sci-fi adventure Dune. Kyle Maclachlan heads an all-star cast (Sean Young, Patrick Stewart, Francesca Annis, Max Von Sydow, Sting) as Paul Atreides, an intergalactic warrior who leads his people into battle against the dreaded Harkonnens for control of the desert planet Arrakis, and it’s most valuable asset: the spice Melange…

Special Features:

• Destination Dune
• Impressions of Dune
• Interview with Golda Offenheim, production co-ordinator on Dune
• Theatrical trailer

“Lynch's third feature may have been a commercial disaster, but it gets under your skin and is marked by unforgettable images and an extraordinary soundtrack. The sets and props – from steaming machinery to dimly lit interiors, via personal bug-juice extractors – are reminiscent of Eraserhead, and also recall Metropolis and Blade Runner…” Total Film

• Nominated for Saturn Awards for: Best Science Fiction Film & Best Special Effects (1985)
• Nominated for Hugo Award, Best Dramatic Presentation (1985)

Dune Movie Review

Whether you like this adaptation of Frank Herbert's classic sci-fi novel or not, you have to admit that the visuals and music are done on a very grand scale thanks to the bizarre imaginings of David Lynch. For a fair number of people, I think that this movie falls into the same category as the Paul Verhoeven's Star­ship Troopers. As a film adaptation of a classic science fiction book, each film is going to have a crowd of detractors who will savage it for butchering the perfection of the author's original story. In each case, I have at one time read the original book, and I think the key is just to accept each version on its own merit. Books and movies are very different media, and I think it is harder to do a book to film adaptation than the reverse.

As for Dune, I cannot imagine the original book being simply ported to a film. It is at times tediously slow and ponderous, and simply had to be chopped down to size and reworked for the big screen. The movie is still well over two hours, and I think is much better than the goes-on-forever version that has shown up on the SciFi cable channel. (That version, incidentally, prompted David Lynch to insist that his name be removed from its credits.)

Even in its theatrical release, this is a long and often slowly paced movie. Many of the immense cast of characters are either introduced with little explanation or exit as easily, or both. However, adding the necessary exposition would have added tremendously to the bulk of the movie at a substantial cost to the pacing and enjoyability of the movie. The area where this movie really shines is in showing off the costuming, set decoration, and generally oddly Nineteenth Century style that is at odds with the usual visual depiction of a science fiction movie. In reality, this is more of a space opera than a usual sci-fi flick, with grand sweeping visuals and music to match. It is a true treat for the eyes, as long as you don't mind a number of obvious (due to poor matting, or some other reason) effects shots.

Perhaps it is due to the length and deadly serious nature of the story that the actors don't get very much room to really strut their stuff. Kyle MacLachlan does a decent job, but you never get a real depth of character from him. A pity, given his importance in the story. Patrick Stewart is pleasantly passionate and dignified, and makes me wish that Captain Picard had as much stern presence as Gurney Halleck did. Oddly enough, I think Sting did a nice job, giving us a convincing performance as a very self-proud and homicidal minded Harkonnen who practically oozes stylish evil from his pores. Dean Stockwell does well with the conflicted, quiet Doctor, as does perennial wierdo-playing Brad Dourif with coiled-snake Piter De Vries…One of the more visually interesting movies I have seen, with a pretty impressive group of actors in a science fiction epic that uses every bit of the big screen." DVD Verdict