DVD Reviews

Dune - Blu-ray Review

By Jeff Swindoll Apr 28, 2010, 16:22 GMT

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, José Ferrer, Max von Sydow, Oscar® winner Linda Hunt and Sting, Dune is the ultimate adventure experience that goes beyond the imagination. ...more

Talk about weirding ways, David Lynch’s adaptation of Frank Herbert’s novel is certainly a cult film. A woeful production resulted in a film that is at times as fascinating as it is frustrating.

Padishah Emperor Shaddam Corrino IV (Jose Ferrer) has disposed the House of Harkonnen from the management of the planet Arrakis to the House of Atreides. Arrakis is the only known source of the powerful spice mélange. This substance extends life, expands consciousness, and allows space travel by the ability to fold space.

Fearing the halt of production of the spice a Navigator, one who can fold space but who has been seriously deformed by so much spice absorption, comes to the Emperor to explain the changes on Arrakis. The Emperor reveals that his ulterior motive for the move is the destruction of the Atreides by their enemies the Harkonnens, whose popularity and invention of a new weapon is threatening his rule.

The Navigator agrees but also tells the Emperor to kill Duke Leto Atreides’ (Jurgen Prochnow) son Paul (Kyle MacLachlan). Leto is married to Lady Jessica (Francesca Annis), a follower of the Bene Gesserit sisterhood, she was commanded to only bear Duke Leto daughters but her love for him resulted in their only son Paul.

The sisterhood, led by the Reverend Mother (Sian Phillips), has been trying to breed a superhuman for centuries. House Atreides takes control of the mining on Arrakis, but the diseased Baron Harkonnen (Kenneth McMillan) with the aid of his corrupt nephews Rabban (Paul Smith) and Feyd (Sting) have sinister plans for them.

Paul has had dreams of Arrakis and will find his destiny in its deserts that are populated by huge worms and the scent of spice.
Dune is the stuff of legend. Herbert’s 1965 novel was an esteemed one in certain circles and a film had been in the works it seems as soon as the novel was published - shades of Lord of the Rings perhaps. Well, at least since the 1970s, but those productions fell though.

Tellingly or ironically, the one in 1974 that had the participation of Salvador Dali might have been foreshadowing of things to come with David Lynch. Lynch would be brought on as director in the 1980s and Dune would grace screens in 1984. It tanked at the box office and was critically savaged. The film reeks, to me, of production interference.

For example, there’s too much narration to try and clarify things for those in the cheap seats. Sometimes that narration is repetitive or gives away some of the suspense or mystery that might’ve been generated. It comes across as silly more than informative.

There are also the rumors, only rumors it would appear, of a 4 hour cut. There are numerous cuts of the film, 137 minute theatrical as on this disc, 190 minute TV cut, and 177 minute extended cut, with Lynch removing his name from the later two. The films’ beginning plays better. The second half (Paul in the desert) feels like that was where the most abbreviation occurs.

Dune has only been available in high definition on HD DVD and Universal rectifies this by finally making it to Blu-ray. Where they disappoint is that this disc is a direct port over of that HD DVD. It would’ve been nice to perhaps include the other cuts or new special features, but they took the lazy route. However, for fans it will be a stunning revelation. I was absorbed in the sets and costumes, made better in high def. It’s certainly a cult film and the cult should be pleased.

Dune is presented in a 1080p high definition transfer (2.35:1). Special features are presented in standard definition and include 17 minutes of deleted scenes with an introduction by producer Raffaella De Laurentiis, 9 minutes about the production and design, 7 minutes of model footage, and 5 minutes about the costumes. You can also bookmark via My Scenes and the disc is BD-Live enhanced.

There are some wonderful moments in Dune (Atreides’ Hamlet influences, production design and costumes, etc.) but some of the other elements (over narration, slow second half) made the general public turn away. Lynch still has some power as a director but I think it was tempered by some interference. Even so, the film does have much to love and made even lovelier in high definition.