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Francesca Annis, Leo Cimino, Brad Dourif, José Ferrer, Linda Hunt ... see more see more... , Freddie Jones , Richard Jordan , Kyle MacLachlan , Virginia Madsen , Silvana Mangano , Everett McGill , Kenneth McMillan , Jack Nance , Sian Phillips , Jürgen Prochnow , Paul L. Smith , Patrick Stewart , Sting , Dean Stockwell , Max von Sydow , Alicia Witt , Sean Young , Daniel Bryan Corkill , Judd Omen , Honorato Magaloni , Jane Jenkins

David Lynch wades through dark waters in his adaptation of Frank Herbert's cult science fiction novel. In condensing Herbert's rambling and complex book by eliminating characters and compacting events... read more read more..., Lynch succeeds in rendering the story incomprehensible to those unfamiliar with the novel and making the film look like a sketchy greatest hits collection of the book for Herbert fans. The story takes place in the year 10,191. The universe is governed through a system of feudal rule, presided over by Padishah Emperor Shaddam IV (José Ferrer), who appears to take his marching orders from something that resembles a talking vagina. In the kingdom are two rival houses -- the House of Atreides and the House of Harkonnen. Each house is trying to gain dominion over the universe, but that dominion can only be gained by the house that controls the Spice, a special substance that permits the folding of time. The Spice is only available on the desert world of Arrakis, or Dune. Shaddam, tired of the feuding between the two houses, permits the Atreides to take over the Spice production on Dune, while secretly working with the Harkonnens to launch a sneak attack on the Atreides and destroy them. The leader of the Atreides is Duke Leto (Jürgen Prochnow), who rules with the help of his concubine Jessica (Francesca Annis) and son Paul (Kyle MacLachlan). The rival Harkonnens are headed by the pus-oozing degenerate Baron Vladimir Harkonnen (Kenneth McMillan, in a thoroughly through-the-roof performance) and his two unsavory nephews, Rabban (Paul L. Smith) and Feyd (Sting). When his father is murdered by the Harkonnens, Paul escapes to Dune, where he is greeted by the Fremen (the desert dwellers on Dune who prepare the Spice) as the messiah foretold in Fremen legend. Paul assumes the mantle of messiah and leads the Fremen in a revolt that topples the balance of power in the universe. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi

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65% liked it

66,801 ratings

Critics

59% liked it

34 critics

PG-13, 2 hr. 17 min.

Directed by: David Lynch

Release Date: December 14, 1984

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DVD Release Date: March 16, 1998

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Stats: 4,546 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (4,546)

  • paulkoh110
    March 5, 2012
    paulkoh110
    Ehhhhhh, its a decent sci-fi story. Its no eraserhead though and docent have the grittiness of blue velvet.
  • garyX
    October 26, 2011
    garyX
    A strategically vital mining planet is the subject of a power struggle between duelling Houses that form part of a planet spanning empire in the far future. David Lynch's ambitious stab at bringing Frank Herbert's complex series of novels to the silver screen was something of a h... read moreeroic failure. Vilified at the time because of its wordy script and erratic fidelity to the source material, Dune is nowhere near as bad as many make it out to be. It has much to commend it; it includes a believable sense of galactic empire, some nice costume design and (for the most part at least) a strong cast all presented with a really nice otherworldly, dreamlike atmosphere. Unfortunately its flaws include poor sets, very dated special effects and some unbelievably hammy performances from the villains of the piece (unsurprisingly, Sting is particularly bad). Add to the fact that some pretty hefty plot points are skimmed over using montage and voice overs and you have a very mixed bag of successes and failures in bringing what (certainly at the time) was probably an unfilmable story. A brave, if flawed attempt that with the right creative team could be ripe for a remake.
  • tolkienfan101
    September 27, 2011
    tolkienfan101
    This film is a wonderful mess. David Lynch is a great visionary director that supplies a surreal, disgusting and enthralling movie that is one of my favorites in the sci-fi genre. Great (and frequently over-the-top) acting from some really great actors (Francesca Annis, Kyle MacL... read moreachlan, Max von Sydow, Jugen Prochnow and Kenneth McMillan), amazing set and costume design, the special effects should be far better than they are considering the year of release and that we had entered the age of Industrial Light and Magic, but they are still fun to watch. The story is told remarkably and creatively well, though the recuts of the film are nowhere near the same quality or succinctness of the original release. There are several problems I have with the film, especially that the film doesn't explain enough in certain areas. However, that is better than the extended edition which explains too damn much. Great movie-going experience, amazing to see on the big screen and one of David Lynch's more underrated masterworks.
  • TheDudeLebowski65
    September 3, 2011
    TheDudeLebowski65
    Dune is yet another prime example of a film that's much underrated. I strongly believe that the film was a very well done action sci fi film. Of course at times, the plot doesn't make sense, but in the end, who cares? What you have with Dune is a terrific sci fi film that is over... read morelooked due to the bad reputation it has received in the press. Dune surprised me; the film has an interesting story, a good cast and good special effects. The effects though they look slightly dated, are still impressive. I thought that that Dune was a very good looking film esthetically, and the film looks stunning. There are some very good performances and the film is quite thrilling. I thought that the film was very good, despite the fact that this film has a reputation saying otherwise. I would recommend Dune to people that are die hard sci fi fans. If you're going to watch this film, do so with an open mind. This isn't as bad as everyone claims it to be. This is a very entertaining film that will probably appeal to the most diehard sci fi fans. Dune is a far better film that you might think, and is a wonderful cinematic experience. Even though the film has it flaws, this is still a very entertaining film with lots of action and stunning visuals. Dune is a film to view with an open mind. I thought the film was great, and I think it's much underrated. This may not be a perfect film, but it definitely isn't among the worst of sci fi films. A great looking visual spectacle that is very entertaining.
  • lewiskendell
    April 8, 2011
    lewiskendell
    "The spice must flow."

    Dune is a mess. An ambitious mess. A brave mess. But still, a mess.

    I don't totally blame David Lynch. He really went for it and brought a version of Dune to the screen that tried to be faithful to the novel. But it's incredibly hard to translate somethi... read moreng as complex and epic as Dune to film. This is a story that works better when your imagination brings it to life. Your vision of a Guild Navigator, the revolting Baron, or the opulence of the Emperor's court is bound to eclipse the cheesy and low-budget (in appearance, at least) sets, costumes, and special effects of Dune.

    Some flaws can directly be laid at Lynch's feet, though. The tone of the movie is often wildly over-the-top and absurd and the casting is questionable, at best.

    Good try, but this adaptation doesn't work.
  • ythelastman89
    February 11, 2011
    ythelastman89
    When you watch the extended 3 hr cut of the movie, you really do get to see what David Lynch was trying to accomplish with this sci-fi epic. Many special effects from the 80s don't hold up today, but surprisingy the ones in this do. It also manages to tell this very large and spa... read morerse story quite well, even non-fans are able to grasp the concepts and character motives. Why a lot of people complain that this is too weird and odd, I feel that that's what separates it from things like Star Trek and Star Wars. This truly is a story that is hard to relate to because it has such a developed world and characters. I think that the actors should be commended, especially Kyle MacLachlan, for saying so many outlandish lines without coming off as corny.
  • ajv2688
    January 18, 2011
    ajv2688
    This is a film for those who've read Dune, otherwise it's confusing and weird. If you know what's going on, this is a fantastic sci-fi film, and you'll love it.
  • mjgildea
    January 17, 2011
    mjgildea
    Not David Lynch's best moment but not as bad as everyone thinks it is. If you've never read Frank Herbert's novel of the same name, you shouldn't have too much to bitch about as far as how grotesquely, oddly, and randomly Lynch decided to tell the story instead of going the route... read more of a faithful adaptation. Avoid the extended version (Lynch himself disowned it) if you can help it.
  • ironclad1609
    March 1, 2010
    ironclad1609
    A science fiction classic after Frank Herbert's novel. Full of inner monologues, odd characters and a beautifully weird production design - it's a David Lynch movie after all. A great cast with many stars and Toto's fantastic soundtrack complete the movie as one of the most uniqu... read moree films of the genre. Yes, it's all very odd and confusing but always entertaining and with countless unforgettable images and a really unique atmosphere. The scenes with the sandworms are pure movie magic. No remake will ever be this cool.
  • ScoopOnline
    December 12, 2009
    ScoopOnline
    In a twisted kind of way I enjoyed the Original one then the Remake of 2000?

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Critic Reviews

Richard Corliss
July 18, 2011
Richard Corliss, TIME Magazine

Most sci-fi movies offer escape, a holiday from homework, but Dune is as difficult as a final exam. You have to cram for it. Full Review

Dave Kehr
July 18, 2011
Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader

The problem is that the imagery isn't rooted in any story impulse, and so its power dissipates quickly. Full Review

Variety Staff
March 26, 2009
Variety Staff, Variety

Dune is a huge, hollow, imaginative and cold sci-fi epic. Full Review

Roger Ebert
October 23, 2004
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

This movie is a real mess, an incomprehensible, ugly, unstructured, pointless excursion into the murkier realms of one of the most confusing screenplays of all time. Full Review

Janet Maslin
May 20, 2003
Janet Maslin, New York Times

Several of the characters in Dune are psychic, which puts them in the unique position of being able to understand what goes on in the movie. Full Review

Emanuel Levy
April 13, 2012
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

Misconceived, incomprehensible, and only decently executed, Dune is arguably Lynch's weakest film in an otherwise brilliant output. Full Review

Ian Nathan
July 18, 2011
Ian Nathan, Empire Magazine

It's not for everyone, but if you don't mind the brain-bending confusion of the plot and occasional feeling of '80s high camp, this isn't as bad as its detractors would have it. Full Review

July 18, 2011
Film4

Mammoth, unwieldy and completely ahead of its time. Full Review

July 18, 2011
TV Guide's Movie Guide

Visually delightful but choppy, confusing, and overloaded with exposition. Full Review

Jeffrey M. Anderson
April 25, 2010
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid

Anyone looking for a satisfying and coherent science fiction epic will have to look elsewhere. Full Review

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Facts

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    • Duke Leto Atreides: The sleeper must awaken.
    • Lady Jessica: A million deaths is not enough for Yueh.
    • Stilgar: Usually, we have wormsigns the likes of which even God have never seen.
    • Paul Atreides: I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer.
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  • What movie has this tag line :You're about to enter a world where the unexpected ,the unknown, and the unbelieveable meet ?  Answer »
  • Who directed the 1984 version of Dune?  Answer »
  • In the move "Dune", which planet is referred to as the Desert Planet?  Answer »
  • In Dune, if you take too much spice your eyes turn into what color?   Answer »
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