Dune, 1984 - DVD

Ok, I want to start this review off with a clear understanding. An understanding of my view of the film, along with countless others who bash this version. I respect your opinions, but I think it's necessary for some light to be shed on this particular project. Or at least some facts.

First of all, take into account that Dune was first published in 1965, written by Frank Herbert. Little did Herbert know that he would be writing not only additional Dune novels... there were 6 in all (not including the three House novels by Herbert's son Brian)... but would also be responsible for one of the most influential science fiction books since... well, probably since Stranger in a Strange Land (1961).

Novels turning into films have always been popular. To Kill a Mockingbird is one famous example. Hell, Orson Welles first project was to be an adaptation of Conrad's Hearts of Darkness, which fell through.

The idea of creating a new world, outside of the printed page... creators of film always have their favorites... always want to try and tackle those novels that inspired them, or kept them entertained. I know I have, with a number of works.

I'm sure people had been crying for a version of Dune for a long, long time.

Pre-production started in late 1982 / early 1983. David Lynch would helm the project, coming off of The Elephant Man (1980), which was nominated for 8 Academy Awards. Lynch would get pretty much his choice of projects... and even turned down the opportunity to direct Return of the Jedi which would come out one year earlier than Dune.

For those of you who've never read the novel... it's a very intricate piece of fiction. The world is wholely realized by Herbert... the pacing, the story is solid for its entire length. The book is brilliant.

The first time I'd ever seen Dune... well, as with other Lynch films, it's kind of hard to swallow. But I tried to take into account the time that the film was made. 1984 was a huge year for film. Special effects were coming into their own in a huge way, and spawned movies like Ghostbusters, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, Gremlins... movies that made a ridiculous amount of money for the time... and were paving the way for science fiction, horror and fantasy films to come.

Lynch's original cut was somewhere in the visinity of 4 hours. There are varying reports that there actually is a 12 hour cut of the film... though that might just be a rumor. A television version of the film was released, with Universal re-cutting the film... and Lynch had his name removed (substituting Judas Booth as the director).

To keep a monstrosity like Dune at around the two hour mark... fans have to understand that not everything is going to make it into the film. You can't make everyone happy. That is the first rule in adaptations.

I think that, in regards to the source material, the feeling, the creation of Dune, Arrakis... the characters... Lynch did a superb job in keeping true to Herbert's novel.

Lynch is, by far, my favorite director. Up there with him are John Carpenter, Martin Scorsese and Paul Verhoeven. But Lynch has an uncanny ability to shoot films that are not only unexpected, but also films that don't rely on life as we know it. Lynch is more concerned with showing us a side that people don't think about. Maybe a side he sees all the time. I honestly don't know... but that side has been prevelent since Eraserhead. Blue Velvet, Twin Peaks, Wild at Heart (my all time favorite film), Lost Highway and his most recent film, Mulholland Drive.

One of the things I found funny about Dune is that Lynch would go to use a number of the cast for future films. Kyle MacLachlan for one, who would go on to star in Blue Velvet and Twin Peaks. Everett McGill would go on to shoot Twin Peaks and The Straight Story. Dean Stockwell would star in Blue Velvet. Brad Dourif would show his face in Blue Velvet. Jack Nance has been a staple in pretty much every Lynch film, since Eraserhead.

This film would also sport Patrick Stewart, prior to his reign on television as Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek: TNG (1987). Following Dune, Picard (I mean Stewart) would play in Tobe Hooper's horror / sci-fi film Lifeforce. I think a culmination of these two films helped put Stewart up on the map, in regards to a sci-fi name and face, and would make getting the Star Trek role that much easier.

Sting would also make for a strange casting role... but also a very marketable one. The Police were in full swing in the early 80's... and what better to have the leading man of a hip british rock band half naked on the screen? I mean, really.

Sting didn't do a terrible job on the film. I think I enjoyed his ability to act more in Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, to be honest... but I still think he brought a weird flare to the role. Not bad.

Kenneth McMillan was incredible as Baron Harkonnen. I think his performance was the best in the film. McMillan had done some pretty decent films in his day. The Taking of Pelham One Two Three, The Stepford Wives, Salem's Lot, Ragtime, The Pope of Greenwich Village, Amadeus, Cat's Eye, Runaway Train... not bad roles. I think he really gave this role his all, though. Most convincing.

Francesca Annis, Brad Dourif, Sean Young, Max Von Sydow, Jurgen Prochnow, Jose Ferrer, Virginia Madsen... some incredible actors in this film. An incredible all star cast... some of them not yet stars... but still... all of them giving great performances to help solidify the world that Lynch was trying to recreate for the screen.

Now... I'm not sure if Toto was used to create the music because of marketing or what. They were big, at the time. Huge. And I think they did a pretty incredible job with the score for this film... as much as Queen did an incredible job with the music for Flash Gordon and Highlander. Certain rock groups can just do it... and it hasn't been done like that for a very long time... I think bands, now-a-days, would ask for too much money. Although Aimee Mann did write all of the music that turned up in Magnolia, and that is one of the best soundtracks I've heard in a long time... so...

Freddie Francis shot this film for Lynch. Francis had, at the time, been around the Hollywood block so many times, I'm sure even he lost count. At first having been a cinematographer, Francis would start directing films shortly after 1960 (just after winning the Academy Award for cinematography for Sons and Lovers). He would also direct some television, including episodes of The Saint.

A lot of his directing would be on grade b horror films: Dr. Terror's House of Horrors. The Deadly Bees. The Psychopath. Hysteria.

Between 1964 and 1980 he would direct 22 films and television shows. He would not work behind the camera until 1980, when he shot The Elephant Man for Lynch and producer Mel Brooks. Yes, that Mel Brooks.

Francis would shoot Dune for Lynch four years later... and Lynch would use him one last time in 2000 with The Straight Story. Francis would also shoot The French Lieutenant's Woman, The Executioner's Song, Her Alibi, Brenda Starr, Glory, Cape Fear, School Ties and a few grade-B movies inbetween. But if you look closely, after The Elephant Man, Francis did some pretty incredible work. He would go on to win the Academy Award, again, for Glory in 1989. All in all, between the cheesy projects, a very skilled DP.

All in all I think this is a pretty incredible film. I think that even though I've never seen the Sci-Fi original series (they are making the sequel to Dune, Children of Dune, for 2003)... I still think that it won't hold a candle to this film. Lynch is a master behind the camera and as a writer as well. I think that the choices made to strip down this film were intelligent ones, and must have hurt to do... I'm desperate to watch the original cut of this film, regardless of length... but alas, I'm sure the footage is gone.