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Surrealist auteur David Lynch turned down the intergalactic chance to direct Return of the Jedi in order to work on this screen adaptation of Frank Herbert's epic novel, and a fine decision it was, as Dune certainly creates a better playground for Lynch's infamous imagery. In the year 10,191, the most sought-after substance in the feudal universe is the powerful spice known as Melange. However, the sole source of the spice is the desert wasteland of Arrakis, otherwise known as Dune. Emperor Shaddam (Jose Ferrer) sets up Duke Leto Atreides (Jurgen Prochnow) with the spice trade on Dune, only to attempt to steal it back from him, all in a backwards effort to eliminate competition. Lynch regular Kyle MacLachlan puts in a fine performance as Paul, Leto's son, who is hinted at as a messiah and reminiscent of Luke Skywalker. Lynch had to cut a lot from Herbert's original vision, which sometimes causes for a confusing plot, but oddities such as grotesquely large sand worms and notoriously disturbing villains make up for any convolutions. Kenneth McMillan is beautifully over-the-top as Baron Vladimir Harkonnen, a balloon-like pustule of pure evil and bad skin, and Sting is delightfully cold as the Baron's equally evil but much more attractive nephew, Feyd. Bordering on camp with dozens of classic lines like, "Uzul, we have wormsign the likes of which even God has never seen," Dune is a unique necessity for any sci-fi fan's collection. Simon Goetz

All Movie Guide

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, 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

Product Details

• UPC: 025192018428
• Source: UNIVERSAL STUDIOS
• Region Code: 1
• Aspect Ratio: Cinemascope (2.35:1)
• Presentation: Wide Screen
• Sound: Dolby Digital Surround, Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround
• Language: English, Français
• Subtitles: English, Español
• Time: 2:17:00

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