Dune

First I'll give you a very short review of the movie. If you're already a fan, skip to part two where I talk about which version to get.1) This movie has a fanatical cult following for good reason. You will not find visuals like this in any other movie out there. the sets, costumes, and special effects are all incredible. You have never seen anything like this, I guarantee you.Imagine Lawrence of Arabia in space while on drugs, except *more*. More *everything.* It's like someone ran through all of human history, grabbed everything that looked the coolest, and fashioned it into a seamless, beautifully crafted tableau.It is definitely hard to follow (I recommend reading the book beforehand--it's simply one of the best works of science fiction extant), but the fact that it's a hot baroque mess is part of its charm. If you love visually intense directors like David Lynch, this is definitely your jam.~2) So there are a million versions of this movie out there, and on Amazon it's no exception. I own six copies of this movie. All of them are different versions.I got the Dune Extended Edition with the yellow "PG" rating in the lower left corner this time around because the DVD in the metal case version got messed up somehow. I expected it to be the same version. It isn't. Unlike every other copy of this movie I own, this version has had the lighting cleaned up. You can actually see everything. No more moody shadows obscuring the beautiful sets! While I adore the mood lighting in other versions, if you really want to get the full impact, this version is the one to get

In 1984, my dad took me to see DUNE at a big theater in Washington, D.C. As we sat down, an usher passed out one-page "glossaries of terms" for the film's terminology. Though only twelve years old, I was already a veteran moviegoer (we probably saw 50 movies a year as a family when I was growing up, not including matinee rewatches) and remembered thinking, "Uh-oh...since when does a film need a glossary?" I'd never seen anything like that before. I never saw anything like that since. But that's David Lynch's take on DUNE. It's unique. And the "Extended Edition" in this pretty steel case is even more unique.DUNE was an almost incredibly deep science-fiction work by Frank Herbert which developed a rabid cult following and finally became the best-selling sci-fi novel of all time. Eccentric director David Lynch was tapped to helm what its producers hoped would be another "Star Wars" - style mega-hit. He tackled the intimidating task of cramming an enormous and intricate universe into a single movie by making the most lavish, operatic film you've ever seen. It's bad opera, but it's SO lavish, and so curiously sincere, that it too has developed a rabid cult following. I don't know if I belong to the cult, but I respect those who do. The book DUNE sucked you in with the complexity of its creative surround; this movie does the same, but on a largely visual level. If I can use a different metaphor, it's like that scene in "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom" when our famished heroes sit down to the royal banquet and get served fried insects, live snakes, and monkey heads. The food is weird and disgusting, but it's served on silver platters and white linen, and all the cutlery is gold.DUNE is set in the distant, distant future, when humanity spans the entire galaxy and is theoretically ruled by the corrupt and devious Padishah Emperor Shaddam IV and his terrifying legions of Sarduakar. Balancing the emperor's might are the Great Houses, the hereditary rulers of each individual planet in the imperium, each with its own army. The most valuable substance in the universe is the spice melange, a substance which extends life and gives prescient powers to those who take it in large quantities, but also allows spaceships to "fold space" and travel instantaneously anywhere in the galaxy, "traveling without moving." This substance is found on only one planet, Arrakis, known as Dune because its a giant desert. At the story's opening, the emperor schemes to destroy a particular house of which he has become jealous, House Atriedes, by throwing his weight behind the Atreides' worst enemy, House Harkonnen.House Atreides is ruled by the virtuous Duke Leto, his witch-concubine the Lady Jessica, and their teenage son Paul. Although Paul does not know it, he is the end-product of a breeding program 90 generations old, designed by the witch sisterhood the Bene Gesserit, to produce a superhuman being. In the mean time, the Atreides have developed a new battle technique called "the weriding way" which uses sound as a weapon, but the technique is in its infancy when the Emperor orders the Atreides to take over spice-mining from the Harkonnens on Dune. The Atreides know it's a trap, but have no choice but to obey; in any case the Duke hopes to win over the local populace, the fierce desert warriors known as Fremen, to his cause. He suspects the Fremen are the key to holding Dune. Not long after the Atreides arrive, however, they are betrayed from within and largely wiped out in a sneak attack conducted by the Harkonnens and Sarduakar. Only Paul and his mother Jessica survive, and flee into the deep desert. They soon join the Fremen, who are awed by the fighting abilities Paul and his witch-mother possess, and accept them into their tribe. Paul, whose powers are growing due to his proximity to so much spice, becomes a religious figure among the Fremen, a warrior-prophet, and, after mastering the secret of "desert power" begins the long bloody process of trying to wrest Dune from Harkonnen control. This guerilla war prompts the exasperated Emperor to openly side with the Harkonnens, and he arrives at the film's climax with his entire army, ready for the showdown. Because, after all, he who controls the spice controls the universe!If this seems a bit involved for a recap, just imagine everything I left out! DUNE, as a novel, was layered with all sorts of ideas, concepts, and unfamiliar terms. Mentats, sandworms, guild navigators, Bene Gesserit witches, Sarduakar, sword-masters, thumpers, body shields, Suk doctors, Great Houses, the Landsraad, CHOAM, the spice, etc., etc. What's more, much of the book is written via internal monologue, which is a very tricky thing to translate to film. David Lynch manfully attempted to drag as many of these concepts into the movie as possible, including many sequences in which we can hear the characters' thoughts, and probably did too good of a job; he overloaded the 127 minutes of the theatrical version to the point where it could barely move...hence the "glossary" I got as a twelve year-old. What's more, it's fairly evident that a great deal more time was spent on the costume and production design than on the script, which is horribly clunky and often falls out of the actors' mouths like wet wooden blocks. Though the movie is positively jam-packed with talent (Kyle Maclachlan, Juergen Prochnow, Jose Ferrer, Sean Young, Patrick Stewart, Dean Stockwell, Sting, Kenneth McMillan, Virginia Madsen, Freddie Jones, Brad Dourif, Max von Sydow, etc., etc.) one gets the sense some of the cast just didn't know what the hell they were doing or how to approach doing it. Some scenes are terribly over-acted, almost to the point of silent movie style emoting. The final theatrical product is a bold, brassy mess of a movie, visually often stunning, intellectually charismatic, but executed in such an eccentric, awkward style that it's just bizarre...too weird for most people to enjoy.After DUNE bombed -- if it wasn't a bomb, it was certainly a disappointment critically and commercially -- many people voiced the opinion that a longer version with less choppy editing and a more fleshed-out story would have worked wonders. So a massive 176 minute version, incorporating many deleted sequences as well as a completely different opening with much more exposition and backstory, was put together and released on television. I watched this when it came out, and was very intrigued by the added sequences, some of which -- like the dining-room scene where Gurney Halleck plays his balliset, or where Feyd-Rautha stuffs the Atreides insignia into Dr. Yeuh's mouth, or the fight scene between Jamis and Paul -- would have helped the story flow more smoothly together had they been shown in the theater. Unfortunately, others, like some of the scenes where Paul is taught Fremen mysteries, are so badly written as to be embarrassing. Everett McGill was saddled with nearly all the film's worst lines, and one gets a sense that Lynch was aware of this, for he made sure to employ McGill (and Machlachan) in TWIN PEAKS. A few sequences, like the throne-room confrontation at the opening of the movie, both gain and lose by the changes: some of the takes used in the Extended Edition are worse than in the Theatrical, but they reveal more information. One thing that particularly annoyed me was that even though this version is 39 minutes longer, it has several cuts -- the Baron's infamous "heart plug" assault on one hapless Harkonnen minion is cut out, as is the sequence where he spits on Lady Jessica's face. So amidst all the addition there are some subtle subtractions meant to make the film more palatable to a TV audience.It is well known that David Lynch wanted nothing to do with the Extended Addition and had his name taken off it, hence the "Alan Smithee" at the beginning. And truth be told, it's not an easy film to watch at one sitting. It's slow and heavy and sometimes quite incomprehensible, and while you can be visually seduced by the uniforms, gadgets, sets and props, it takes a better man than me to sit through some of it with a straight face (or open eyes). Having said that, if you watched the Theatrical version of DUNE and felt frustrated by what seemed to be missing, or are a hardcore fan of the film period, you pretty much have to own this version. It contains enough extra material to more than pay for itself and as I've said, some of the added stuff is well worth watching. This is one bad opera that will have you coming back for more.

This version has been hacked to pieces and bears little resemblance to the original full uncut movie....Recommendation don't watch this version.. The original movie gets a 4.. This version 1..I don't know who is cutting these movies but this is the second one I've watched on Amazon and both where hacked to bits and ruined

We have the usual game being played where all reviews for all versions are just slapped together and you have to sort out which review goes with which version. Good luck with that. My review is for the new Arrow Video 4K version that comes in a slim box with book, 2sided poster and lobby cards.I could complain this doesn’t have the extended cut included. I could, but I’m not. Instead ima slap 5 stars on it because for me it certainly is worthy of 5 stars.I’m a fan of the movie, and a fan of director David Lynch. So it has everything I need. Lynch won’t put his name on the extended cut, and my understanding is Universal wouldn’t let Arrow use the extended cut. I have the extended cut and I prefer the theatrical. It’s not that big of a deal for me, but vote with your dollar.The film has never looked better, the package is first rate as most Arrow Video are and it’s truly a pleasure to watch this movie in 4K.4K discs don’t always wow me compared to standard bluray. This one does. Dolby Vision

Nachdem ich kritisch in Villenneuve‘s Dune gegangen bin und doch positiv überrascht wurde wollte ich mir gleich nochmal das Original meiner Kindheit anschauen ( in 4 k HDR) . Was soll ich sagen obwohl der ,, Neue ,, der ja auch erst ein Drittel des Originalfilms erzählt in allen Belangen bombastischer ist gefällt mir das Original immer noch genauso gut wie damals als ich ihn in den 90ern das erste mal gesehen habe .Das Original ist deutlich kompakter erzählt man muss aufpassen wenn man die Bücher nicht kennt . Das ist der Länge geschuldet aber trotzdem schafft es Lynch die komplexe Story in nur ein 1/3 der angepeilten neuen Triologie zu packen . Er geht da geschickt vor , durch den Erzählmodus aber auch die Gedankenspiele der Charaktere treiben die Story voran und erklären die Welt von Dune . Gerade die Zwiegespräche sind ein stilgebendes Mittel dieses Films .Es ist Geschmackssache aber mir gefallen einige Charaktere im Original besser dazu gehören Paul , Jessika , Chani .Auch der Baron Harkonnen ist deutlich gruseliger/ ekliger weil er als völlig verrückt dargestellt wird und nicht so düster und aalglatt wie Skärsgard .Stilistisch ist der Film immer noch grandios und auch die Effekte sind für einen 38 Jahre alten Film gut gealtert . Wenn man bedenkt das fast Alles ohne GCI auskommt grandios . Was mir aber auch auffällt das mir echte Requisiten / Puppen meist besser gefallen als die perfekteste Computeranimation . Liegt wohl an meinem Geburtsjahrzehnt und der filmischen Prägung.Gerade die ,, einfachen ,, Darstellung der Schilde gefällt mir besser als im Neuen . Da wären wir auch gleich beim 2 . Stilistischen Punkt , der Stimme . Das Original setzt diese deutlich besser um . Sie wirkt fremdartig und hypnotisierend und auch etwas unheimlich .Bildtechnisch lohnt sich die 4K unbedingt . Auf 55 Zoll 4K LED sieht das Bild knackscharf und detailliert aus . Die Farben sind passend nur ab und an gibt es minimales Rauschen in halbdunklen Passagen ( machen neue Filme aber auch ) . Der Sound ist klar und orchestral . Der 80er Synthy Einschlag ist einfach zeitlos und TOTO hat mit dem End Theme einen Gänshautgarant komponiert .Für mich definitiv ein zeitlos episches Meisterwerk.Ich verstehe Lynch keinesfalls sich von diesem Film zu distanzieren. Eines seiner größten Werke die man noch ohne Canabiskonsum verstehen und genießen kann .

Despite some undisclosed issues surrounding the lack of the feature length documentary on the making of the film, this set yet again shows why Arrow are market leaders in the special edition. The film has truly never looked or sounded better, an amazing remaster has given the film colour, depth and clarity: I spotted details in this version I'd never seen, and I've seen it a few times. Whilst the film itself is far from perfection, the box set shows off the depth of creativity and artistry that went into crafting it. The extras are spread across the two discs, and I'm still working my way through them. The beauty of an Arrow release is the astounding amount of care and adoration for film in every little detail. The menus are their usual clean and concise selves and the extras range from a lot of material you may have seen (sourced from a 2005 release) to new material made for this release. The book includes in the limited edition is a wonderful read and it also comes with reproductions of lobby cards and a poster. As always, Arrow have outdone themselves.

I read the original novel back in the seventies, specifically, the copy which my father had bought for himself.The additional introductory text, which includes additional material background, aids both the non-reader and reader of the novel in understanding what is going on. Also, the additional scenes [such as the extended backgroound with Shadout Mapes (The Fremen Housekeeper), the Water Bond, the fight with Jamis, his subsequent funeral & water recovery, and the drowning of a miniature Sandworm in order to provide the poisonous Water of Life for a Bene Gesserit Reverend Mother to transform into a safe-to-drink Water of Life, are all useful.Bene Gesserit = Latin "Those who will do well".Mentat = Latin "He thinks" or "she thinks". Also, "One who thinks".

Prima cosa: non sono due BR come inizialmente indicato da Amazon ma un BR e un DVD che contengono entrambi il film. SOLO IL FILM: niente extra, solo dei credits. I due dischi sono quindi identici nei contenuti a parte l'audio (DD 2.0 ITA e 5.1 ENG sul DVD, DTS-HDMA 2.0 ITA e 5.1 ENG). Nel 2019 qualcuno ha ancora il coraggio di far uscire dei dischi con due sole lingue (in questo caso italiano e inglese) e con i soli sottotitoli ITA. Il volume sul BR è altissimo, su DVD è normale: alla partenza il main theme mi stava facendo saltare i vetri di casa nonostante l'amplificatore fosse a meno del 50% del volume. L'immagine è altalenante: alcune scene sono buone (Il primo dialogo tra Paul e Leto) altre sono decisamente peggiori (Il combattimento con gli scudi tra Paul e Gurney è la fiera della spuntinatura). L'audio italiano sembra provenire da un giradischi di quarant'anni fa, chiuso in uno scatolone di cartone, su cui gira un disco in vinile graffiato dal gatto; d'altronde da un doppiaggio storico non ci si può aspettare granché e un ridoppiaggio è improbabile. L'audio inglese invece è tutto sommato buono ma senza sottotitoli molti lo salteranno. Paradossale che l'audio del logo Eagle faccia miglior figura di entrambe le tracce del film, una cosa ributtante.Da comprare solo sotto i dieci euro e, come direbbe Les Gold, ci state comunque rimettendo.

The packaging is nice.The extras are certainly good.The extras though are only ever going to be the icing on the cake.We're mainly concerned with the film here and to be honest it's not bad, all things considered, but it's not gonna wow you either.This is a film with a devoted following and if you are like me you are going to buy it just as I did. It's not really disappointing...I was just hoping that the film would look better than it does.I would say that it's a lot better than previous versions but that's quite a low bar anyway.For fans it is a great version of Dune (that I can't help but think could have been better).If you're showing this to non fans or new viewers I doubt this will convince them that this is a film they need in their own collections.