Dune (Extended Edition)
by David Lynch
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Brad Dourif, Francesca Annis, Kyle MacLachlan, Leonardo Cimino, Virginia MadsenDirector: David Lynch
Brand: NBC Universal
Cinematographer: Freddie Francis
Writer: David Lynch
Editor: Antony Gibbs
Producer: Dino De Laurentiis
Producer: José López Rodero
Producer: Raffaella De Laurentiis
Writer: Frank Herbert
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Subtitled); Spanish (Subtitled); French (Subtitled); English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 5.1; French (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo
Format: Anamorphic, Color, Subtitled, Widescreen
Picture Format: 2.35:1
Running Time: 137 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2006-01-31
Audience Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Universal Studios
Movie Reviews of Dune (Extended Edition)
Movie Review: So much material
Summary: 5 Stars
Where to start with this review (Updated Review).
I purchased this from Amazon because it had long been rumored that the original production of Dune filmed so much material that they could slice and rescast this movie into several adaptations. Rumors of a 4+ hour adaptation abound and I have to admit, I saw a very long version of this movie on television but I think they just added commmercials to make it long. Nonetheless, the promise of getting to see some of the previously unseen footage was enough to make me buy. An interview on this extended DVD set clears up the mystery that there was never enough footage for 4+ hour version --- however this new release does include never before seen footage.
I'll tell you what I like about the original:
It made me think. I was a teen when I saw the original movie and I hadn't read the book at that time. I must say, this movie in its original form forced me to think and read into characters.
When you see the original movie, the director did a phenomenal job of adapting the book to a movie and once you read the book you'll see the hard work that was put into this movie in its original form. Lynch dropped subtle details into the movie that added to the mythology like small comments on thinking machines and how they were frowned upon etc that really made you wonder about this world. The Orange Catholic bible etc. Few movies out there and few directors were so careful to add so many small details to this work. I don't know if Lynch was ever happy with the production but his efforts came through loud and clear to me. However, due to the volume of work, the audience had to be an interested audience (this is not a hang your brain at door movie)....you have to watch everything and listen to everything because most things have a meaning.
About the Flaws people see with this movie:
Many people think its incomprehensible....You have to understand that the book Frank Herbert wrote is genius.. It bespeaks of the second coming of Christ only 10,000 years in the future. The book is over 500 pages and then there are several additional books written by Herbert in the series that create a whole mythology around the world he created. This is allot of ground for an audience to cover in a couple of hours.
To add to this, you have to be versed in Science Fiction, Medieval Feudal Europe, The Catholic Church, Physics, Politics, Current Events (Intifada issues) & Middle Eastern Affairs, Mecantile Europe, Medieval life at court, and have an open mind & inventive mind and knowledge of several other areas.
If you don't care for those topics or don't have time to know something about this, then this movie regardless of how they recast the movie, it will be incomprehensible and I recommend you steer well clear of the books as well.
On the other hand, with a bit of reading and an open mind, this movie is reachable to most every 15 year old with a basic Western Education.
About this Extended Edition ---
The good:
Getting the opportunity to see some previously unseen footage is worth the price of admission for this extended edition. They did a good job in knitting the whole story by reslicing the material. However, I would definitely call it somebody's else's Dune because the recutting definitely gives it a different feel and flavor.
The case is slick and exactly what I would expect for a release to a global fanbase for what could be one of the greatest stories ever told.
The extended edition is anamorphic widescreen which is a nice treat. There are some cut scenes that are nice but no commentary or any nicer features that I could see. They did have some nice interviews on how they did it, special effects, costumes etc that were a nice contextual extras.
Now for the Bad:
Some people did not like the original cut of movie and in response the studio, I think, tried to make this rendition more comprehensive by making extended edition in the hopes of engaging a wider audience....the original problem remains -- how to feed 6+ hours of details and content into 2 or so hours.
In The old movie Urulan introduces the movie perfectly and then you cut to a simple communication between the "guild" which has them send a navigator to "demand" from the emperor details. That original introduction was perfect....then you'd cut and see Urulan walk by as the Navigator arrived at the Emperor's palace. An interraction between the Emperor and the Navigator shed so much light to the original movie and most of the context you need to get through it.
In the new adaptation, you start off with an overly long cartoonish explanation that indeed doesn't shed enough light to really state what is at the heart of the problems the imperium faces (details that Lynch expertly peppered into the original with a casual comment here and there already). Albeit this new intro has some very engaging cartoons, I think its still best to say less and force the audience to think...all the cartoon does is destroy mythology...but don't get me wrong, I appreciate the hard work they did in extending the movie and showing us more.
Overall, I think the original movie where Urulan introduces the movie and then the cut to her at court in the original movie is perfect (not to mention that she's gorgeous....gorgeous princess introducing vs voice of some guy?) ---- even the sci fi channel adaptation ends with a beautiful fadeout where Urulan is left alone. The original can't be beat.
On packaging, I would've expected 2 or 3 CDs to go with the gorgesous case for the fans....but instead we get a single CD that you flip to get both versions of the movie. This should've been 1 original, 1 extended, 1 extras CDs. It seems like they paid for the case and skimped on the CDs...I would've paid $29.99 for better packaging and extras.
Overall:
Not everyone likes all movies and this one is no different. I am a believer as other reviewers have noted that Dune is a "love it or hate it affair." Indeed I have found this to be the case. First you have to get this movie and then you have to apprecite it. Many people don't even get to the "getting it part" for whatever reason....because they're turned off by sci fi, the graphic gothic nature of some scenes, or don't know about the various topics you have to know about etc.
Personally, I think this extended edition is worth buying just for the extra scenes and some of the special featurettes. I am however, still a huge fan of the original rendition and prefer it to this extended edition, the extended tv edition, and the sci fi channel miniseries. I'll visit Lynch's Dune over any other to date.
Summary of Dune (Extended Edition)
Dazzling special effects, unforgettable images and powerful performances highlight David Lynch's stunning film version of Frank Herbert's classic science fiction epic about an intergalactic warrior's messianic rise. Starring Kyle MacLachlan, Jose Ferrer, Max von Sydow, Oscar winner Linda Hunt and Sting, Dune is the ultimate adventure experience that goes beyond the imagination. Starring: Kyle MacLachlan, Jose Ferrer, Max von Sydow, Linda Hunt, Sting, Sean Young, , Francesca Annis, Brad Dourif, Freddie Jones, Richard Jordan, Virginia Madsen, Kenneth McMillan, Sian Phillips, Jurgen Prochnow, Paul Smith, Patrick Stewart, Dean Stockwell, Alicia Roanne Witt Directed by: David LynchEven more than most of David Lynch's deliberately bizarre and idiosyncratic movies, Dune is a "love-it-or-hate-it" affair. An ambitious, epic, utterly mind-boggling--and, let's admit it, all-out weird--adaptation of Frank Herbert's classic science fiction novel, Dune remains one of the most controversial films in the director's exceedingly provocative career. The story (if Dune can be said to have just one story) is complex and convoluted in the epic tradition; it has
 Kyle MacLachlan as Paul Usul Muad'Dib Atreides |
 Sting as Feyd-Rautha |
DVD features
Melange fans have a lot to be excited about with this impressive edition of Dune, though the "Extended Edition" label is a bit misleading. If you are expecting the mythic 4 hour "David Lynch preferred" version that is rumored to be sitting in a vault, don?t get your hopes up. This isn't it. In an attempt to quickly sober spice-fueled giddy fans, producer Raffaella De Laurentiis (daughter of Dino De Laurentiis) immediately reveals in the 'Deleted Scenes' introduction that the rumored 4 hour version is just that; a rumor. What this DVD set does contain is the 2 Hour 17 Minute original theatrical release digitally remastered, available for the first time in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen and 5.1 surround sound. The presentation on this edition is a drastic improvement from the original letterboxed release. On the flipside of the DVD
 Knife fight! |
Further Explore the World Of Dune
 Dune (Dune Chronicles, Book 1) |  Dune Messiah (Dune Chronicles, Book 2) |  Children of Dune (Dune Chronicles, Book 3) |
 Sci-Fi Action Films on DVD |  The Dune TV Series |  David Lynch Essentials |
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