Dune (1984)

User Rating:

6.5/10   

Director:

David Lynch

Writers:

Frank Herbert (novel)
David Lynch (screenplay)

Release Date:

14 December 1984 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

You are about to enter a world where the unexpected, the unknown, and the unbelievable meet.

Plot:

In the distant future, a man appears who may be the prophet that a long-suffering galaxy has been waiting for.

Plot Keywords:

Planet | Duke | Emperor | Spice | Desert

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 1 win & 4 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Thur. July 16

2:50 AM

MAX

Cast

Francesca Annis	...	Lady Jessica
Leonardo Cimino	...	The Baron's Doctor
Brad Dourif	...	Piter De Vries
José Ferrer	...	Padishah Emperor Shaddam IV
Linda Hunt	...	Shadout Mapes
Freddie Jones	...	Thufir Hawat
Richard Jordan	...	Duncan Idaho
Kyle MacLachlan	...	Paul Atreides
Virginia Madsen	...	Princess Irulan
Silvana Mangano	...	Reverend Mother Ramallo
Everett McGill	...	Stilgar
Kenneth McMillan	...	Baron Vladimir Harkonnen
Jack Nance	...	Nefud
Siân Phillips	...	Reverend Mother Gaius Helen Mohiam (as Sian Phillips)
Jürgen Prochnow	...	Duke Leto Atreides

Runtime:

137 min | USA:190 min (special edition)

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Italian

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.20 : 1

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) | Dolby (35 mm prints)

Certification:

Iceland:L | Italy:T | Spain:13 | Argentina:Atp | Australia:PG | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:PG (Manitoba/Ontario) | Chile:TE | Finland:K-14 | France:U | Germany:16 (special edition) | Ireland:15 | Netherlands:12 | Norway:15 | Singapore:PG | Sweden:15 | UK:15 (video rating) (uncut) (1986) | UK:PG (original rating) (cut) | USA:PG-13 | West Germany:12 | Canada:A (Nova Scotia)

Filming Locations:

Churubusco Studios, Mexico City, México D.F., Mexico

Company:

De Laurentiis

Trivia:

Feyd-Rautha and The Beast Rabban are men of very few words: as the latter, Paul L. Smith speaks only 34 of them during the entire movie; as the former, 'Sting' says a mere 90. And that's in the three-hour version of the film.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: After the baron is struck with the Gom Jabbar and is flying through the air, a sandworm turns, opens its mouth and takes the floating baron. As the sandworm is turning and comes to a stop, the made-of-rubber creature wobbles like jello and looks, unfortunately, exactly like what it is: a miniature molded latex creation that is stopped too abruptly and jiggles like a slinky.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Princess Irulan: A beginning is a very delicate time. Know then, that is is the year 10191. The known universe is ruled by the Padishah Emperor Shaddam the Fourth, my father. In this time, the most precious substance in the universe is the spice Melange. The spice extends life...

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Koi... Mil Gaya (2003)

I waited a long time before reviewing this...

There are two groups of people who write at IMDb, the pessimists and the optimists. The pessimists love to complain about something or other in a film. The optimists try and find something good. DUNE probably ranks as one of those that feels like it's going to be good, but leaves a confusing, lackluster feeling in its wake. In an attempt to be optimistic, I will try focusing ONLY on the good parts. This might be tough.

I will give David Lynch credit (indeed, as Frank Herbert did when he saw this) for trying to take an enormous amalgamation of things and ideas from the novel and trying to turn them into a movie. Lynch's visual style is very raw here and everything in the production design seems to be under his spell.

The sets, costumes, cinematography, and choice of cast is excellent. All of them lend a flavor of difference that transcends whatever confusion is on the screen. (On the side note: I was sick of hearing Kyle MacLachlan repeating himself over and over) The creature designs by Carlo Rambaldi are very Lynch-ien, even though we rarely get to see them.

Overall, a sci-fi epic that requires a lethargic butt, an open mind, and a copy of Frank Herbert's novel to enjoy. Still, it is far superior to the TV miniseries of late (I know saying that is blasphemy to some). I refuse to rate this with stars or anything else.