tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post5204302200368061665..comments2024-03-28T14:49:36.133-04:00Comments on John Kenneth Muir's Reflections on Cult Movies and Classic TV: CULT MOVIE REVIEW: Dune (1984)John Kenneth Muirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15629979615332893780noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post-80832696472407637462014-07-10T16:04:52.662-04:002014-07-10T16:04:52.662-04:00I grew up in the same town as Frank Herbert and he...I grew up in the same town as Frank Herbert and he and my dad were friends. Frank came over to dinner several times and my dad and he chatted about the politics and allegory of the story. I was too young to remember any of this, however. Years later I worked with David Lynch for one, fondly remembered, day-- cutting a PSA he was doing. We talked and talked about his films. He was really cool, didn't seem to mind at all. I told him how much I liked "Dune" and how I really thought he got very close to portraying the universe. He was ashamed of it, of course, but I said it was a GOOD film. Today I wrote on his Facebook page and asked him to reconsider doing a Director's Cut of the film. He always contended that the studio screwed up the film-- and I believe that's very likely true. I believe a recut of the film could place it squarely in the pantheon of GREAT science-fiction films.agoogahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02697191354402597247noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post-2816972030538489472013-10-30T08:51:05.187-04:002013-10-30T08:51:05.187-04:00For me this deeply flawed film still has merit. Ae...For me this deeply flawed film still has merit. Aesthetically it 100% captures the feel of Herbet's novel for me, and it still remains the best film adaptation. The made for television version was a travesty.<br /><br />Sting's performance was outstanding and iconic and the performances of some of the others, Prochnow, Von Sydow, Stewart and Hunt were all solid and well cast.<br /><br />It's story I long to see remade in film and done right, but the things that Lynch got right will forever haunt any reproduction. Almost I wish Lynch would remake this film. montdidierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08582510323638869405noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post-16780546759007512362013-04-22T12:29:43.572-04:002013-04-22T12:29:43.572-04:00Hi, DUNE's fans....My name is Bruno Landis and...Hi, DUNE's fans....My name is Bruno Landis and I had the previlege to work in the production of the movie in Mexico. I was the special visual effects assistant to Carlo Rambaldi, the creator of the monstruous worms. My experience was incredible and I can surely share it with the curious ones among you. I also have my own opinion about the flop the movie made instead of the great success it was supposed to get.<br />I'm curious to see the Blue Ray version. Regards Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post-81227750114225838882013-01-30T07:36:14.979-05:002013-01-30T07:36:14.979-05:00Thanks Mr Muir, this is by far the best review I&#...Thanks Mr Muir, this is by far the best review I've seen of Dune. It continues to baffle me that other critics rate it so poorly given its astonishing visuals and ambition. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post-36377234658604131422013-01-17T12:43:14.149-05:002013-01-17T12:43:14.149-05:00Great analysis! I saw the film long before I read ...Great analysis! I saw the film long before I read the novel and it was never confusing for me, either, though reading the book deepened my understanding of the themes and character motivations. I actually quite like both of the later television adaptations and think that they do a much better job of laying out the story and not sacrificing the character subplots. I think "Dune" an interesting adaptation and a worthy entry in the Lynch canon.tonyt2000https://www.blogger.com/profile/15059875326815234294noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post-65459010534736320542011-12-21T03:10:29.109-05:002011-12-21T03:10:29.109-05:00I loved Lynch's version and while it is defini...I loved Lynch's version and while it is definitely a 'little' bit of a stray away from teh original Herbert novel, the visuals alone make this film more than worth the watch. <br /><br />My one major issue was the lack of inclusion of the link between the <br />Baron and Jessica. I cannot, for the life of me, understand how such an important fact was just left aside.GODWELLhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00535972584463946339noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post-55133493389922681882011-09-27T06:36:39.280-04:002011-09-27T06:36:39.280-04:00Hi Baron,
I'm a big Eno fan myself, so I unde...Hi Baron,<br /><br />I'm a big Eno fan myself, so I understand your point. And yet -- something about the Dune score still resonates with me. It may simply be 1980s nostalgia. But I find myself remembering it fondly.<br /><br />But I totally get your point.<br /><br />best,<br />JohnJohn Kenneth Muirhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15629979615332893780noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post-12219893759859092262011-09-26T23:31:48.516-04:002011-09-26T23:31:48.516-04:00I agree with your assessment of the black hole fil...I agree with your assessment of the black hole film score, which is really good and lost against the story issues. But i saw Dune when it came out and hated the score then and still do. If anything my loathing of it has increased. Part of the reason is the few elements of the score done by Brian Eno which are delicate, beautiful ambient pieces of music and are on every ipod playlist i have.I imagine what it would have been with a full score by him....baronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12748367301668468255noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post-1817585924219088072011-06-29T19:24:54.580-04:002011-06-29T19:24:54.580-04:00i wish he'd directed Return of the Jedi instea...i wish he'd directed Return of the Jedi instead. How amazing would that have been?Jockonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post-12484643348943011812010-06-21T16:42:00.809-04:002010-06-21T16:42:00.809-04:00Superb analysis, John. You really hit on a lot of...Superb analysis, John. You really hit on a lot of what I've always felt about this movie but couldn't adequately verbalize.<br /><br />I saw this one on opening day back around Christmas of '84. I was in 7th grade and had heard about but never had much interest in the DUNE books. I just thought the production photos in 'Starlog' and 'Fantastic Films' (remember that one?) looked AMAZING. That was the beginning of my love affair with this movie and the films of David Lynch in general. It completely blew my 12-year-old mind.<br /><br />I, too, have never understood how anyone could be confused by the movie. All the important ideas are made clear without demanding any deep understanding of the larger fictional universe. I understood what the Bene Gesserit and the 'Quizno's Hatrack' (as DVD Savant recently snarked) were at age 12. I think it's simply a matter of how closely you're paying attention. A lot of 1984 reviewers seemed taken aback at having to pay semi-close attention to what they were ready to dismiss as mere 'space opera.' I dunno.<br /><br />You're spot-on about the Blu-ray, as well. It looks sensational. There's so much detail that I've never noticed even though I've seen it a ton of times and owned it on every format since VHS! This and the recent Blu-ray of FLASH GORDON have made my year so far.<br /><br />Tried twice but never made it past the first 2 hours of the the Sci-Fi Channel miniseries. It just feels so...unnecessary. I'm pretty well convinced that Lynch did it as well as it's possible to be done. And the lack of resources is positively painful. Good rule of thumb: Don't try to make WAR & PEACE on a XENA THE WARRIOR PRINCESS budget. Just sayin'...Count Zerohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15711973144626199945noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post-8148373240789289352010-06-11T11:37:49.434-04:002010-06-11T11:37:49.434-04:00Jergy:
I think you hit on an important and valid ...Jergy:<br /><br />I think you hit on an important and valid point there. All of the unique, alien-sounding vocabulary around Dune's world (the names for virtually everything as you point out...) give the sense/impression of a dense, confusing world. But seriously...it's not the case. (Well, maybe a little...)<br /><br />best,<br />JKMJohn Kenneth Muirhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15629979615332893780noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post-57863521520969994642010-06-11T09:57:43.991-04:002010-06-11T09:57:43.991-04:00This is a film I've started many times since i...This is a film I've started many times since it's initial release on VHS and never made it through, but for some reason still have a tremendous drive to work through. It's like I feel I'm missing out on something. Now that it's been some time I'm ready to give it another shot.<br /><br />One explanation I feel about the 'confusion' comes from those I think that don't read a lot of sci-fi/fantasy. Just in reading your initial short summary it's filled to the gills with these very foreign terms (Landsraad, Bene Gesserit, Kwisatz Haderach, Shaddam, Harkonnens of Giedi Prime, Muad'Dib). And when you're dealing with a general audience they convince themselves that it's more confusing then it really is based on the terms alone. <br /><br />Don't get me wrong, there is enough on TV and in movies that is dumbed down and some would say Dune is even one of them. I don't mind having to think when I watch. Just an observation on how language can immediately confuse.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17422296833778007737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post-84270745880487610132010-06-10T20:13:39.772-04:002010-06-10T20:13:39.772-04:00By the way, funny thought, I remember Sting's ...By the way, funny thought, I remember Sting's popularity was so great following the release of Synchronicity [1983] by The Police, his involvement in the film nearly eclipsed every other headline about it. Probably not, but it felt that way. Heck, he had me wrapped around his finger especially with that album.SFFhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04256589316922398158noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post-37008516577144049112010-06-09T14:53:56.693-04:002010-06-09T14:53:56.693-04:00Hey Sci-Fi Fanatic!
Good to be back, my friend. ...Hey Sci-Fi Fanatic!<br /><br />Good to be back, my friend. <br /><br />You are right about those guides: I remember getting one myself back at the Clairidge in Montclair...wish I had kept it now!<br /><br />Thank you for your great comment.<br /><br />best,<br />JohnJohn Kenneth Muirhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15629979615332893780noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post-26252705598721700042010-06-09T14:40:47.598-04:002010-06-09T14:40:47.598-04:00Good to see you back John. Finally getting caught...Good to see you back John. Finally getting caught up. That is a huge analysis set forth by you on Dune. I enjoyed reading it, but the story sounded extremely complex without having any knowledge of the book.<br /><br />It made me recall reading some of the critical lambasting the film took. Apparently, at the time of its release in theatres, a guide book regarding the Dune mythology and characters was handed out to viewers upon entering the theatre. Some remarked the viewers were in big trouble if they needed a guide going into the film.<br /><br />Anyway, it sounds visually appealing to me and your rousing endorsement on that front has me most interested for that reason. I'm still worried about being confused.<br /><br />Otherwise, a tremendous, fair, reassessment of a classic science fiction film phenomenon that I will revisit again.SFFhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04256589316922398158noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post-82754339431063164392010-06-08T00:01:44.323-04:002010-06-08T00:01:44.323-04:00tdraicer:
As I stated in an earlier comment, I fi...tdraicer:<br /><br />As I stated in an earlier comment, I find the use of voiceover THE major flaw in the film, constantly telling me what I can see for myself on the screen. Which makes me feel as though I'm being treated like an idiot. If I had the technical ability to remove 90% of the voiceovers from the soundtrack, I certainly would.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post-88817417187431214822010-06-07T20:05:14.271-04:002010-06-07T20:05:14.271-04:00Hey everybody, thanks for the comments!
Leopard13...Hey everybody, thanks for the comments!<br /><br />Leopard13: We share a real affection and appreciation for this film. I've probably watched Dune a dozen times, but I gotta tell you -- I've never seen it like this before. It's just gorgeous!<br /><br />Grayson: Try the film again on Blu-Ray and see how you feel about it today. You might be surprised at much more you like Dune now.<br /><br />J.D. Like you (and Leopard13) I would love to get a director's cut of the film. I know Lynch isn't interested, but maybe he'll change his mind!<br /><br />Howard: I gotta listen to that!!!<br /><br />Thanks everyone!<br /><br />best,<br />JKMJohn Kenneth Muirhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15629979615332893780noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post-43658782592022517592010-06-07T15:46:08.851-04:002010-06-07T15:46:08.851-04:00I think J.D. makes an interesting point regarding ...I think J.D. makes an interesting point regarding Lynch's succeeding film, BLUE VELVET, as an aftereffect of DUNE. I also agree with him in feeling DUNE feels truncated, and that the extended (non-Director's Cut) helps things. That's why the latter disappointed so many fans of his DUNE when DL turned down Universal's offer to re-visit it. I think we all want to see Lynch's true cut of the film as the final word on this. Maybe, one day we will. Thanks.le0pard13https://www.blogger.com/profile/09421175808461787862noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post-4426274665824431792010-06-07T11:26:09.159-04:002010-06-07T11:26:09.159-04:00I've read that Universal did approach Lynch on...I've read that Universal did approach Lynch on several occasions in recent years to revisit the film but he has turned them down. I guess the scars run pretty deep. But the way I look at it is that the failure of DUNE led to Lynch's greatest triumph, BLUE VELVET. So, there's that.<br /><br />Interestingly, the screenplay for BLUE VELVET also had voiceovers a la DUNE but I guess with its failure Lynch felt that that technique did not work and removed them when it came to film BV.<br /><br />I really like Lynch's take on DUNE. And I agree that it isn't confusing at all. If anything it feels a little truncuated. You can tell that the film was edited down from a much longer cut and as a result I always feel that the film goes by too fast. The longer cut that is available does remedy this somewhat.<br /><br />I didn't care for the Sci-Fi Channel version either. Just because it's closer to the source material doesn't always mean it's better. And, I too hate the rebranding of SyFy... ugh. I will always think of that channel as the Sci-Fi one...Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08164105442273577128noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post-72774634305326437082010-06-07T02:38:22.593-04:002010-06-07T02:38:22.593-04:00You can hear David Lynch and Frank Herbert discuss...You can hear David Lynch and Frank Herbert discuss the movie on the November 27, 1984 episode of "Destinies" at www.captphilonline.com/ClassicDestinies.html. The ideas of the screenplay vs. the novel, as well as the different aspects of the film's production, are brought up in the course of the conversation.Howard Margolinhttp://www.captphilonline.com/ClassicDestinies.htmlnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post-33181511108158036592010-06-06T17:01:26.259-04:002010-06-06T17:01:26.259-04:00I saw this on VHS a decade or more ago (although I...I saw this on VHS a decade or more ago (although I may have seen it since on TV). My thoughts then were that the film was quite lacking, although I don't remember too many specifics as it was so long ago. It is true that very few novels (especially ones with the scope of <b><i>Dune</i></b>) can be completely and accurately brought to the big screen. I'll definitely have to watch this one again.Graysonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post-80229085903902167142010-06-05T13:45:25.790-04:002010-06-05T13:45:25.790-04:00One fine examination of this misunderstood Lynch f...One fine examination of this misunderstood Lynch film, John. Like you, I saw this film first before reading the Frank Herbert grand sci-fi series (although, I was already a dozen years removed from high school). In fact, this film specifically is the sole reason for my discovering Herbert's books. Lynch's view, and marvelous art direction in the piece, in my mind captures the feudal interstellar universe most uniquely--something John Harrison failed at with his visuals in the 2000 Sci-Fi Channel (BTW, I think the <i>Syfy</i> rebranding is one of the most inane thing some corporate marketer ever came up with).<br /><br />Even though it is not the most true to the novels, I've always had a soft spot for it. There was time when I first began to the read Herbert's books, that I wished Lynch hadn't made the changes your post highlighted. But, since '84 (and through the early 90's as I went through the novels), I still found myself coming back to the film time and again. Harrison's version ("<i>almost cardboard rendition</i>" is a great description), though more faithful to the novel, is a economical stagebound production at best (not a good thing for a expansive story like this one). I've since come to the opinion that I'd rather have Lynch's revised universe for the reasons you illustrate.<br /><br />David Lynch's use of the voiceover, at first somewhat off-putting, is a brilliant film construct that captures the inner workings of the characters in the most <i>Dune</i> novel-like manner possible. Compare that with the miniseries and Harrison is forced to have characters almost constantly <i>explaining</i> things to make up for the lack of it. It gets tiresome... fast. Plus, the film's cast is a dream in itself. It's filled to the brim with talent we only later realized how great it really was.<br /><br />I really appreciate your analysis, John, and it really makes me understand and further value Lynch's wisdom and vision, here. Too bad the director has remained distant to his final product. Perhaps, it relates to the critical drubbing it received, and what the studio/producers either did to him during or after its release. I'd love to have DL look back at this one. Thank very much for giving this film your keen look, JKM.<br /><br />p.s., I guess you can tell by the length of my comment how much I enjoy the film and your post. And, I've ordered the Blu-ray Disc of DUNE right after reading this, my friend.le0pard13https://www.blogger.com/profile/09421175808461787862noreply@blogger.com