Dune (Special Edition)

Advantages: Epic Sci-Fi spectacular
Disadvantages: Poorly received, some naff special effects

...transform Frank Herbert's epic novel Dune into a movie. This grandiose movie looks as epic as Star Wars, but has something dirtier, menacing and almost sadomasochistic about it. Set in the year 10991 Padishah Emperor Shaddam IV (Jose Ferrer) feels threatened; one of his servant races (Atreides) is developing a power that can cripple simply by vocal ability. Choosing not to trust House Atreides he sends them to the planet Arrakis to mine for a rare ...
...first thing you notice about Dune is the way it looks, there is something very Russian about its design, not just in its uniform but in its impressive structures and settings. The House Atreides are the most traditionally dressed of all the races you encounter during the movie their uniforms all black, with coloured lapels and sashes to register their importance amongst their legion of soldiers; varying levels of the Atreides also have some very ... Read review

Advantages: An awesome epic
Disadvantages: can be a little dull

...Since first entering the Dune universe I hav read every book available to date, watched both mini-series and played every game I could get my hands on... It still doesn't compare to the actual awe I feltwatching this film properly for the first time. Ok, it doesn't stick that closely to the original story (unlike the later adaptation by the sci-fi channel) and the earlier DVD edition had an odd green tone but this is IT, the reason I am now obsesive about that universe and that planet. The film is like one of the new LOTR inspired epics, a little stodgy and tough to get into, kind of like the books, if you don't have patience and you don't like this kind of thing don't watch it. If you do then it is a deffinate must, its as memorable as any film I've seen (after the first viewing I had already memorised the opening speech... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Stunning landscapes and buildings, and the worms are great
Disadvantages: Confusing.

...Frank Herbert's long-winded original novel, recreated lovingly in film by David Lynch, and featuring the acting talents of none other than Sting, the man currently topping the classical album charts with a compilation of Elizabethan lute remixes. How could such a film fail? In the event, it doesn't. The landscape of the arid planet Dune, on which Paul Atreides fights to restore his family's honour, is rendered in glorious technicolour, and the sandworms in particular make later monsters from such classics as Star Wars almost pale in comparison. Weird characters look weird, noble characters noble and so on. Whilst the CGI (or lack of it) may look slightly dated today, the film is still highly enjoyable. The plot is complex, and as someone who has read the book I still found it slightly hard to follow. Compressing such a large work... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Makes more sense than the Theatrical Version
Disadvantages: Still doesn't do justice to the books

..., when you're reading, you can pick up on. However, translating these nauances onto the "Big Screen" is no easy task and by removing large sections, viewers were often left confused and baffled in places as to what had just happened, or why something had just happened. I should point out that I have read all six of Herbert's original Dune series, as well as the three 'House' series that his son wrote with Kevin Anderson, so I'm well versed in the world of 'Dune'. For this reason, I probably followed the movie a lot more than others might have done and probably didn't recognise where the uninitiated might struggle with certain aspects. Prior knowledge of the books isn't essential, but it probably does help. This Special TV Edition attempts to correct some of these issues by providing some of the deleted scenes and now run... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful