Amazon.com video review:
Even more than most of David Lynch's deliberately bizarre and
idiosyncratic movies, Dune is a "love-it-or-hate-it"
affair. An ambitious, epic, utterly mind-boggling--and, let's admit
it, all-out weird--adaptation of Frank Herbert's classic science
fiction novel, Dune remains one of the most controversial films
in the director's exceedingly provocative career. The story (if
Dune can be said to have just one story) is complex and
convoluted in the epic tradition; it has something to do with
political intrigue and a planet that is home to a precious spice and
gigantic sand worms. Think Shakespeare's Henry IV with a dash
of Tremors, and set in another galaxy. But despite plenty of
strangely whispered voice-overs that explain the characters' thoughts
(and endlessly detailed exposition), storytelling is not really among
the film's strong points. There are, however, a lot of memorably
fantastic/grotesque images, an extraordinary cast, and a soundtrack
featuring Toto. I told you it was weird. Among the stars are Kyle
MacLachlan, José Ferrer, Dean Stockwell, Brad Dourif, Sting,
Kenneth McMillan, Patrick Stewart, Sean Young, and Linda Hunt.
--Jim Emerson
Amazon.com video review:
Even more than most of David Lynch's deliberately bizarre and
idiosyncratic movies, Dune is a "love-it-or-hate-it"
affair. An ambitious, epic, utterly mind-boggling--and, let's admit
it, all-out weird--adaptation of Frank Herbert's classic science
fiction novel, Dune remains one of the most controversial films
in the director's exceedingly provocative career. The story (if
Dune can be said to have just one story) is complex and
convoluted in the epic tradition; it has something to do with
political intrigue and a planet that is home to a precious spice and
gigantic sand worms. Think Shakespeare's Henry IV with a dash
of Tremors, and set in another galaxy. But despite plenty of
strangely whispered voice-overs that explain the characters' thoughts
(and endlessly detailed exposition), storytelling is not really among
the film's strong points. There are, however, a lot of memorably
fantastic/grotesque images, an extraordinary cast, and a soundtrack
featuring Toto. I told you it was weird. Among the stars are Kyle
MacLachlan, José Ferrer, Dean Stockwell, Brad Dourif, Sting,
Kenneth McMillan, Patrick Stewart, Sean Young, and Linda Hunt. The DVD
contains the original release version; a shorter version cut for
television has been disowned by Lynch, who insisted his name be
replaced by that famous Hollywood pseudonym "Alan Smithee."
--Jim Emerson
