Dune (Extended Edition)
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Movie Reviews of Dune (Extended Edition)
Movie Review: LONGER IS BETTER IN "DUNE: EXTENDED EDITION!"
Summary: 5 Stars
THEATRICAL VERSION (Approx. 137 Minutes):
David Lynch's adaptation of Frank Herbert's novel "Dune" is an awe-inspiring, lavish production that features impressive visual effects, as well as fine performances by an all-star cast, including Kyle MacLachlan in an empressive turn as Paul Atreides, the son of a Duke who becomes the messianic legend of the Fremen.
Sadly, the theatrical edition is a letdown. Due to some hodge-podge editing, the plot is confusing; during the first half of the film, things fly by at a rate that the viewer cannot easily assimilate. Though the action, visual effects, and acting make up for most of it in the second half, the shorter version is a disappointment.
THE EXTENDED EDITION (Approx. 177 Minutes):
While David Lynch didn't approve of the extended version of the film, "Dune" fans will. Although the forty minutes of additional footage doesn't add anything "necessary" in terms of character development and action, it makes things run more smoothly. The plot is less confusing, and the movie runs more smoothly, thanks to some sharper editing. Still, it will take more than one viewing to "get it all," but it is a fascinating film full of intriguing characters, breathtaking action, and top-notch visual effects.
THE DVD:
Both versions of the film feature a stellar audio track, and the picture looks better than ever before. The four featurettes give great insight into the making of this thrilling motion picture, while the deleted scenes and photo gallery are a treasure for film buffs. "Dune" fans will not be disappointed in this edition.
Theatrical Cut Grade: B-
Extended Edition Grade: A-
DVD Grade: A+
Movie Review: I liked it then and I still like it now, more than ever...
Summary: 5 Stars
David Lynch's vision and take on Dune may not compare to the book from which it is taken, but as a stand alone movie, both in its theatrical, as well as in its lengthened (directed by Alan Smithee...) version, are a product that can be considered valid.
The story is there, in its essence, the characters are there, although not really all as in the Novel, but then there is really no need for all of them, since it would just complicate an already intricate storyline.
Suffice it to say that this movie, even after all these many years, can still stand a comparison with newer Sci-Fi/Fantasy movies.
The style, the actors, the music and the scenery alone, lend it an aura of mythical proportions and this makes it far more than just another "cult" movie, but rather the vision of a true artist, confronted with a vision of another artist and mixing his own to the latter, and in this, David Lynch truly excels.
The cast includes a very young Kyle MacLachlan, masters of the trade, such as Max von Sydow, Juergen Prochnow, Patrick Stewart, Sian Phillips, Jose Ferrer, Freddie Jones and many others, whose talents are undisputed to give life to so bigger-than-life characters.
For the first time ever, we get both "takes" on the movie on a single, double-sided disc. One, as mentioned before, the Theatrical version, and the second, the lengthened TV version of the same, in 2.35:1 ratio and in Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Stereo.
For the price this is a well worthy buy, unless you already own an HD-DVD Player, in which case you may also opt to have that copy, but be warned, that copy only includes the theatrical version.
Movie Review: Excuse me, folks, David Lynch is an artist, not a hack
Summary: 5 Stars
I suggest you run out and rent/buy ERASERHEAD now available in a new edition on DVD. Lynch is a genius and none of his films, save perhaps ELEPHANT MAN, are straightforward narratives easy to watch or discuss afterwards. That's what makes him a great artist. DUNE is flawed, but the opinions about the "cheap effects" (not for the time, fanboy) and overwrought scenes (hey, it's high opera, kiddo) are based on simplistic armchair criticism and total lack of film knowledge per se. I have made movies and written screenplays and appreciate art when I see it on celluloid (digital movies will never achieve the heights of beauty of real film - yes, happily a purist). DUNE may be one of the last great epics actually shot on FILM. Internet pixel jockeys can buy all the $5000 camera packages and student Avid software they want, but to make the movies Lynch has made requires actual vision and talent, something digital moguls like George Lucas left for dead long ago. DUNE has everything the first book has (the other books mainly cash in, although some of the scenes with Alia as a goddess and Leto as Worm Emperor are very interesting) in scope, imagination and milieu. Peter Jackson proved with LOTR that you can dice and slice and even improve on the original (for the most part). I defy anyone to watch this science fiction epic and believe you are anywhere else than a beautiful, bewitching, dark and dangerous desert planet in a far more interesting galaxy far, far away. And Lynch didn't have to rip off anyone else to do it!Movie Review: Watch it for the Extended Version if nothing else
Summary: 5 Stars
I remember the movie Dune on TV one time when I was a young man, and I loved the movie, even if I didn't fully understand it. What I didn't know at the time was that this was the famous "Smithee Version" with extra scenes added in. So, recently I purchased this Extended Version DVD and was surprised at how many scenes were missing from the Theatrical Version. The film felt choppy and there wasn't a lot of context to what was going on.
However, when I watched the Extended Version on the other side of the DVD, I really enjoyed the film so much more. There were a lot of scenes added in that helped round out the story. The bonus deleted scenes are pretty interesting too, as is the alternate ending (which more closely matches the novel).
Overall, Dune was way ahead of its time. The cast was really stellar and had some very believable characters (Piter de Vries, Rev. Mohiam, the Emperor to name a few), and the scenery was just awesome. I never get tired of watching the ships board the Guild Highliner for example.
The one nagging problem in the Extended Version was the way small scenes were needlessly recycled. The Wikipedia article mentions that this was done to give the illusion of more scenes, but it was easy to spot scenes that were recycled.
In any case, I have already watched this DVD twice in one week, and really felt that this Extended Version was worth the purchase. Dune fans will definitely enjoy all the features and extra scenes found here.
Movie Review: A must have edition of a Sci Fi classic.
Summary: 5 Stars
This was the first book where I had to ask other people to help me pronounce character names.
I waited by the theater door to be the first one in on release day. This movie is to scifi freaks what Passion of the Christ is to Christians (without all the anti-semitism).
I recorded this from the Sci-fi channel when they first aired it and then again when they aired the special extended version with all the cartoon drawings to initiate the uninformed. It is my "comfort food" of movies, in that I can watch it with my eyes closed and still vividly see Calladan, Arakis or Barron Harkonnen murder his homosexual love slave. It is the staple ingredient to all sci fi aficianados DVD collection and is more gritty than the Sci Fi channel's recent redux with John Hurt at the helm.
Dune is gorgeous sets with an eery old feeling to every nook and cranny. It is lots of obscure actors giving once in a lifetime performances as well as some very well known actors in their first big roles (Patrick Stewart) and even some in forgettable ones (Jose' Ferrer). It has everything from beautiful Princesses (Irulan), and MILFy moms (Jessica), to vagina mouthed-gas bellowing aliens (third stage guild navigators). Kyle McClachlan and Sting give their all in a no-holds-barred battle at the end with a finish you have to see to believe!
With this release you will have finally found the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow!