Dune

After the first couple of comments I stopped by my mums to borrow her DVD.

I'm still trying to figure out exactly what the hell went on, it was epic to look at much like Blade Runner but the story just seemed overly confusing.
 
shifty_uk said:
After the first couple of comments I stopped by my mums to borrow her DVD.

I'm still trying to figure out exactly what the hell went on, it was epic to look at much like Blade Runner but the story just seemed overly confusing.
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There's a few summaries of the movie on the net which will give more understanding
 
Cult Classic !!

I first watched it years ago on bbc2 late at night pretty sure it was an Alex Cox thing..
made a lasting impression !
Without it there would have been no starwars and in some ways i think it was actually a better, darker film.
 
I like it for what it is, but it should have been a lot more. Lynch hates it, which is a shame. Because it meant the end of Lynch's high budget filming, really before it had even started.
 
_lecro_ said:
Cult Classic !!

I first watched it years ago on bbc2 late at night pretty sure it was an Alex Cox thing..
made a lasting impression !
Without it there would have been no starwars and in some ways i think it was actually a better, darker film.
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Star Wars was 1977, seven years before Dune was released in 1984. It is a much darker film however, a difficult novel to transfer to Screen and it's such a shame that due to infighting and studio interference Lynch's vision wasn't fully realised.
 
Castiel said:
Star Wars was 1977, seven years before Dune was released in 1984. It is a much darker film however, a difficult novel to transfer to Screen and it's such a shame that due to infighting and studio interference Lynch's vision wasn't fully realised.
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Dune the motion picture may have been released in 1977,
however Frank Herberts Novel was released in 1963 and lucas has often acknowledged Dune as an inspiration,

google is your friend ;) !
 
_lecro_ said:
Dune the motion picture may have been released in 1977,
however Frank Herberts Novel was released in 1963 and lucas has often acknowledged Dune as an inspiration,

google is your friend ;) !
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Off the top of my head I think Ridley Scott was meant to direct it (Dune) around the time of Star Wars release and that 'Alien' designer HR Giger was to create the creatures...I think the film was lined up for several directors (who all passed with other commitments) before Lynch.

They hired Carlo Rambaldi (ET & Close Encounters alien designer) who made the Spacing Guild Navigator seen at the start of the movie...
 
Having not read the book, is the style of the film as described in the book? I'm talking about the way the Emporer's and Leto's courts are all done in mock tudor panelling and everyone is either wearing flowing gowns or smart old style uniforms. Its this mix of modern technology and ancient customs which sets the film apart for me in terms of its style. A personal favourite of mine is the antiquated looking translation device the guild navigators use when threatening the emporer, it is just so cool.
 
I found the book to be very Edwardian/Victorian in style yes. It is such a good universes that he and the others have created. Proper epic scifi.

i havent read the other 5 or 6 whatever it is now... and tbh i saw the film 1st then read the book... so that may have jaded me :O
 
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Electronic Dave said:
Off the top of my head I think Ridley Scott was meant to direct it (Dune) around the time of Star Wars release and that 'Alien' designer HR Giger was to create the creatures...I think the film was lined up for several directors (who all passed with other commitments) before Lynch.

They hired Carlo Rambaldi (ET & Close Encounters alien designer) who made the Spacing Guild Navigator seen at the start of the movie...
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Scott and Giger were due to do the film but it was all getting very messy even then. In the Blade Runner additional featurettes, it is said that after Ridley Scott's brother suddenly dying he took it very badly and needed something to occupy him. Dune was taking too long and Blade Runner came along and he took that. There were sets made up for both Dune and Blade Runner and at the time the films didn't even have committed directors. Its all in the wikki pages about the films/directors.

I think after a while the money ran out for dune hence why some of the effects look ropey (the highliner appearing around Arrakis)
 
One of the key points in the Dune universe (way before the events in the film) is the uprising of humanity against computers and AI (which became powerful), eventually overthrowing them and the banishment of most advanced technology/computers. Instead human computers (mentats) are disciplined and serve each major house for generations. One of the reasons why technology depicted in the movie looks old/classic.
 
tron said:
Looks like a Dune remake is in the works http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1160419/ .
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:( Going to be worse than Mr. Lynchs version, that's for sure.
I don't care if the critics caned the original at the time, Its one of my fave sci-fi films & I was 'fortunate' to be working in a Cinema at the time it was on. :D

Still waiting for this to come out on blu-ray here (don't want the French version)
 
I love the Lynch film. I first watched it when I was 5 or 6 and didn't have the foggiest idea what was going on except "big scary worm thing" and "evil floating fat bloke". I later read the book and re-watched the film, and found a new appreciation for it.

The miniseries keeps closer to the books, but I still think the Lynch film is better than the miniseries.
 
Loosecannon said:
Brilliant film... Even just for the actors in it (still to be convinced by Sting)

The music also suits the film very well.
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The soundtrack was written by Toto would you believe, well all apart from the Prophecy Theme which was written by Brian Eno (when you listen to it again it has all the hallmarks of a classic Eno track).

Got the soundtrack on CD - brilliant.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4SwFhfNh1w
 
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It was always compulsory viewing for me and my class mates back in my now long distant school days. Despite the fact that none of knew what was going on, or the ridiculous time Channel 4 would show it at. :D

I haven't watched it properly for several years and though I did have it on DVD once, I'm waiting for a blu-ray release. Though I'm not holding my breath.

The fact that it features Captain Picard, Sting and the Captain from Das Boot, marks it out as something a bit special... and weird. :D
 
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