1984's DUNE Nearly Broke David Lynch

With the release of Denis Villenueve’s adaptation of Dune, I thought now would be a great time to take a look at the infamous 1984 adaptation by David Lynch, a film that nearly broke him.
To say that earlier attempts to adapt Frank Herbert’s gargantuan sci-fi epic were disastrous would be an understatement.
From overambitious producers, unnecessary studio interference, catastrophic box office figures and an extremely complex story that’s difficult to condense into a theatrical cut, Dune has had a rocky road to the big screen.
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Disclaimer: I do not own rights to any of the source materials I used in this work, appealing to allowance made for "fair use" purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research, under Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976.

[@MetikalMan]

The first time I watched Dune I made sure I was alone, with zero distraction, and I used subtitles. I was invested the whole time. It was very impressive to me. My Mom had talked up this movie since I first saw Star Wars when I was 9 years old. It’s certainly a special film.

[@MK-hh1vo]

This is heartbreaking! I loved that movie and would have happily sat through another hour. (🤔There was a time when movies had an *intermission* , you took a break then went back to the show) Lynch's vision is so stunning. I'm sorry this was a painful experience. I can't imagine what it's like to be ordered to destroy your masterpiece. 😔

[@christophwhiteyz9787]

The world needs the lynch cut.

[@jeremymott]

Agreed

[@MadamFoogie]

I liked Lynch's Dune for what it was. There are so many complaints about the plot being confusing, but I absorbed it pretty well upon my first viewing. Yeah, it's not perfect. But it's got that Lynchian charm that no one else can replicate. Goofy fun. Good cast. Friggin' weird. Ranks highly on my list of entertaining but bizarre films. Fun to watch with friends and a couple beers. Especially the Harkonnen scenes. I'm sad Lynch hates it so much, but I don't blame him. I'd be angry too, if the studio hosed me that badly.

[@Choucheeeenn]

I saw the first time as a kid and didn't found it confusing at all. I think it's a far better adaptation that Villeneuve's one (which is a very beautiful, well shot movie, but a very poor adaptation imho). The book is 60-80% inner dialogues, I can understand they look weird on screen, but I can't see how to adapt the book without them, the whole plot is there.

[@cswann8]

Agreed. It may not have been exactly true-to-source but it was a coherent, and very entertaining film with some really strong performances. Complex stories that aren't dumbed down to the lowest common mouth breather rarely do well at the box office.

[@EYNugget]

I saw the movie as a teenager and I did feel it was confusing. But I did appreciate the production end the acting and I really loved the steampunk style of it all so I was mesmerized by it. It did inspire me to read the awesome book. They should allow a director to do his thing and I think this time, they done it right.

[@kuribayashi84]

I am convinced that an extended cut with all the cut scenes added back in as well as featuring completed Special Effects would be *amazing.*

[@devilxking2]

Spicediver did a pretty good fan edit of the film. It's long, but worth a watch for anyone really into Dune.

[@meesalikeu]

@@devilxking2 that good to hear as its as close as we will ever get. i mite look for it but i dk.

[@shelbyvillemusica]

Spicediver!!!

[@jasonryan3506]

This version of Dune is wonderful. I loved it from the moment I saw it. I'm sad it did not get the credit it deserved when it came out.

[@DerDieDasBoB]

This film will always have a special place in my heart, because i love scifi (and this movie) and it introduced me 30 years ago to David Lynchs work.

[@grapeshot]

I remember watching Dune 1984 back in 1984 when I was a kid and I'm not going to lie to you. I couldn't understand it at all. But I did like the giant sandworms.

[@Eris123451]

Yes that's probably a fair comment, you really have to have read all the books and possibly a couple of time to really get a handle on what the hell is really supposed to be going on, much Like LOTR ?

[@jb-vb8un]

with the entire cast lacking ANY ACTING SKILL, it was destined to bomb ( V. Madsen was big-time looking fine, zero skill )

[@challopea]

It was a love at first sight for me-still my favorite movie to this day….

[@bazanime]

I enjoyed the 1984 version, it's one of my top films of all time. It's a beautiful piece of work. It's unfortunate it got a bad rep due to the production issues.

[@kevinbautsch]

Couldn't agree with you more bazanime! It is actually one of my favorite movies. They (hollywood) expected too much in too little time. Amazing effects for the time.

[@ianinessex]

And too many people listening to critics who have a very narrow point of view and woefully distracted by their own egos

[@Reactionary_Harkonnen]

Another fun fact is that David Lynch originally wanted to make two movies for this one book just like the new Dune. Apparently back then a lot of people had a hard time grasping that concept because they believed if you're going to make one movie it's only for one book Kama and David Lynch fought tooth-and-nail to try to make two movies. You probably had a little bit more battle scenes, as well as longer battle scenes, and would have had better dialogue of the story too.

[@kushalrijal9453]

Dune book was also originally an intended trilogy: Dune Maud'dib The Prophet

[@robertdaniels2005]

I love the 1984 theatrical cut. It was so out there that my 15 year old brain was blown away when I saw it on Pay-TV. It's so quotable and I still randomly yell "Long Live The Fighters!!!!". It's a favourite film of mine and while not for everyone, I watch it on a regular basis to this day.

[@Dorelaxen]

You know, I really enjoyed the new film. Having read the original book some odd 30 years ago now, it's always stuck with me. The new film captured a lot this one missed, such as the ornithopters. BUT, I will ALWAYS love this film more, simply because of how offbeat and bizarre it is. It's memorable in ways the new one can never be. That being said, even with bleach and a screwdriver, I'll also never get rid of the image of Sting in a winged diaper...

[@pyroromancer]

what is the connection... ....between the worms and the spice

[@duncanself5111]

I totally agree, Viv!

[@sid2112]

@@pyroromancer Sting in a winged diaper. That is the connection. From that moment all other moments past, present and future sprang. Right from the loins of Sting's winged diaper.

[@stefanbacher8813]

I never read the books, but i loved this movie, when i first watched it. After having seen the 1st part of the new film, i had to rewatch it :) If i had to critisize anything, it would be that the last part of the movie feels a bit compressed.

[@robwebnoid5763]

@@stefanbacher8813 ... It's compressed because of said meddling. During the first days of this movie's conception, it was supposedly designed to be 2 or 3 movies, sequeled together. Later on, once Ridley left due to family issues & David came in, it got cut down to 3 hours, then lastly to the final theatrical cut of 2.25 hours. If you haven't done so yet, you can watch the Spicediver alternative redux cut HD, which edits it closer to the novel, then adds another 45-60 minutes(total 3 hours) & then someone else upscaled this redux to 4k video resolution. Also, the 2020 Villeneuve version REDEEMS the 2-part film concept that the Lynch version was unable to begin with due to distributor meddling. Villeneuve was also aware of the pains that Lynch had to face, thus Denis made sure it was going to be a 2-parter (because the source material is huge in the first place) or else he would have been the one to part from the project.

[@Gneeznow]

Can't believe you listed off all the actors and left out Jurgen Prochnow, he was a superstar at the time thanks to Das Boot

[@santoven]

In my head, every time I've read Dune since then, I've pictured Prochnow as Duke Leto.

[@Billbeaux]

Thank you for covering this, Nyat! I look forward to hearing you talk more about the lore in the books and upcoming Dune Part 2.

[@christopherbladmire]

The sand is everywhere Ani, let the spice flow

[@crazyeyez1502]

I hate sand

[@AlmostEthical]

If Lynch had agreed to Universal's offer to do the cut that he always wanted, he would have eased his own pain and given us fans something to savour. It seems like a lost opportunity.

[@MK-hh1vo]

The opportunity was lost when his original version was cut. No way to relive the glory of *that* creation or forget the following devastation. The Universal offer would have opened old wounds and given fans a sad echo of his mutilated creation. I get why he turned it down.

[@JJ-xt1nc]

I totally agree with lynch when you wash your hands off something you don't look back a man must be true to his word otherwise there's no meaning no trust

[@METALFREAK03]

It would only lead to more. Universal would want to control and ruin it like they did to him in the 80's, despite their offer.

[@nophone9311]

Universal doesn't deserve to have such an easy way out of the mess they made.

[@mikearchibald744]

That might be like an ex wife wanting you to give it another try. Its 'obviously' a lost opportunity,but there's no guarantee its going to ease any pain. However, people are often wrong about themselves. If Universal gave him 'final cut' then you COULD be right, but as they say, you can't live other peoples lives for them.

[@donmackie6086]

Always a pleasure viewing your channel! Ironically, I just rewatched the old Dune a few days ago. Appreciate your sense of history as well, would have been an interesting blend that never happened: P Floyd, Giger, Dali, Wells. Jagger?? Lol. Many thanks from the West Coast of Canada!

[@jordantucker9799]

I had plans to watch my new dune dvd but it got too late to start watching it. But this happy enough, from here in the midwest american state.

[@shainewhite2781]

10:05* love Twin Peaks. "That's the best cup of coffee I've ever had."

[@johnrandolph1989]

A spice that planetary systems fight over eh? Good thing the Pyke Syndicate is in the Galaxy Far Far Away.😋

[@PP237PP]

Having watched Dune 2021 with people who haven't read Dune or even seen david lynch's dune I was surprised how much I had to explain to them what was happening as they had no idea what was going on. I found myself saying "Oh well you will understand why that is in the next movie" Or "If you read the book"

[@shainewhite2781]

6:45, in the Director's Cut, it was novelist Frank Herbert whom narrated the film.

[@Dravianpn02]

Have you seen the Spicediver cut?

[@a.champagne6238]

Harlan Ellison's essay on Dune can be found in the collection "Harlan Ellison's Watching." When he wrote it in back 1985, Ellison was hopeful that a director's cut would soon be released on home video.

[@paulhunter6742]

Harlan Ellison did same thing David Lynch did after he was creative consultant on a TV show called, The Star Lost in 1980s. Ellison hated so much final results, He used synonym in TV production credits. If you ever seen the Star Lost you will understand why he did😃🤣

[@a.champagne6238]

@@paulhunter6742 Starlost was rewritten and reworked to the point where Ellison's vision was completely gone. What wrecked Dune was the editing. I believe that if Lynch had a say in the editing room, it would be heralded as a classic. Starlost would have to be remade in order to resemble what Ellison intended.

[@jeffmarlatt6538]

Although I love the theatrical release at 2 hours & 17 minutes, and the extended cut that Lynch disowned. The best version of this film is the Spice Diver edit on KZbin.

[@EricDeMilio]

I can picture David saying "CUT! Do it again, but this time act less natural."

[@joshuafalken3312]

The late 70's/early 80's gave us some great sci-fi franchises. All highly creative and uniquely different from each other.

[@indyspotes3310]

After seeing this movie, I told my buddy that worked at the theater that he had a typo on his marquee. I was pretty sure the "e" in Dune was supposed to be a "g"...

[@tremorsfan]

He may have had a lot of problems with the final cut, but those scenes on Gedi Prime are pure David Lynch. What other director would have two dwarfs poking a dead cow with a stick?

[@the_once-and-future_king.]

I love this movie. You can see how much love Lynch had for the material because it's right there on screen.

[@harryknapper1133]

I can’t think of anything artistically sadder than David lynch with tears in his eyes as his rips chucks out of the film he put clearly his heart and soul into. Studios will never learn they have done this since the start. Only one film I know of Citizens Kane had full creative authority and that literally goes down as one of the greatest movies of all time.

[@kevinc8955]

Fincher in “Seven” had creative control mainly because he was joining a new studio that had put out nothing. There’s actually tons of directors that had and have absolute creative control. Jordan Peele is a good example of one.

[@lukeholman3180]

With a book series like Dune no film could ever meet expectations. Dunes a decent movie but it’s best on one of the greatest sci-fi universes ever. Hype can be a bad thing. I always try and watch movies with zero expectations.

[@michaelrg3836]

I had no idea of the behind the scenes politics and box office failure, in fact I assumed it was a classic with it's amazing cast, sets, costumes and soundtrack. I rewatch it every year marvelling at what Lynch was able to achieve with limited 1980's FX.

[@AAWOLFE-zc6ly]

limited.... LoL... go look at the original King Kong.... The Fx are there just to help the story along, not the focus which so many now look for.

[@AAWOLFE-zc6ly]

hence why the original King Kong is still a great story told with what was avaliable to tell the story. The rest your imagination fills in, which many today seem not to have, imagination that is, they are just consumers, as they were born and programed to be.

[@JayAr709]

It was asinine ( and a profound mistake ) of Lynch not to at least Frank in the most complete cut, once Universal finally came to him offering a “Director’s Cut.” That version, which we can never observe as we should, is therefore lost.

[@Planetdune]

I always felt the criticisms weird when I understood the movie as a teenager, with English not being my native language and not having read the book.

[@prwapps]

David Lynch seems to be coming around to the idea of re-editing Dune. In an interview about his recent remaster of Inland Empire, he suggested Dune could be worth revisiting. I always thought modern opinions about it being a terrible film were more due to him saying his experience of making it was terrible.

[@ULTRAWIDE.]

Just read the interview and was incredibly surprised if that’s what he actually said. This needs to happen. They’ve been trying to get Lynch to do a longer cut for years and this is their chance. Just having him willing to go back and take a look again is worth the effort alone. This is one directors cut we all need to get behind in some way.

[@prwapps]

@@ULTRAWIDE. Maybe he is interested in his previous work as the current movie business can't seem to get behind anything new, nevermind new and strange. Netflix should cough up for the New Adventures of Toototabon.

[@ellendaylehill4760]

can you do the alliance,Saren,illusive man from mass effect.The hoothi,Selachians,Omega,Rutans and Sontarans from doctor who love the review and video

[@justenbeashel]

Yes to all these please!

[@garolstipock]

The extended version has always been #1 in my heart. Fantastically epic! Glaring flaws and all.

[@ronwalker908]

I was 19 when I first saw Dune at the theater, I had no problem understanding the story or any aspect of the movie, and to tell the truth I have never understood how people could not get it. I love the sets and costumes the cinematography is magnificent, the cast was excellent. I had not read the books prior to the movie in fact the movie enticed me to read the books. The only thing that the books did better in my opinion was to fucus more on the Nitchie Esque philosophy that under toned the original story.

[@AAWOLFE-zc6ly]

well said...

[@ObiClon]

I remember the first time I ever saw this film as a kid in 4th grade. Then I remember the first time I saw it-and understood it-as an adult. A very different experience in both instances. 2 years ago I watched with it a friend who'd never seen it & fondly remember her reaction to seeing it

[@ligmasack9038]

Somebody got laid because of this Movie!

[@jeffmarlatt6538]

I saw this film when it was 1st released in '84. I was 11 years old at the time and I had no problem understanding it even though I had zero familiarity with the novel. So how could these professional film critics have difficulty understanding of it ?

[@MrWesleyDP]

The first time I saw this movie was late night on WGN. Honestly, I thought it was pretty straight forward and easy to follow. Admittedly I am a Sci-Fi nerd, but I have always found people being unable to follow the movie more confusing than the movie. Years, later when I would finally read Dune I would be shocked to learn how much of it Lynch managed to cram into the movie and also realize that I actually liked the movie more than the book...a real rarity.

[@Dancestar1981]

Probably because they don’t have the vision of sci-fi genre that many who were called nerds previously

[@shainewhite2781]

Wow, I remember. The movie bombed at the box office, making $37 million dollars against a $45 million dollar budget, and that he was fighting over the final cut of the movie. The Director's Cut made it's TV debut on Syfy in 2004, and Lynch had nothing to do with the cut. He was considered to direct Star Wars: Return Of The Jedi and BATMAN. Luckily, those projects went to other directors.

[@christophercombs7561]

The thing is the 84 dune movie isnt bad its just not user friednyl to people who dont know the source material just like the ghost in the shell movie with Scarlett Johansen in it

[@kevinc8955]

Lynch is one note. Twin Peaks, Blue Velvet, Lost Highway, and Dune all fall into that psychedelic experience. That has nothing to do with Dune…at all. It’s incredible scifi, not “Cheach and Chong have a bad trip”.

[@Ravell52]

I still love this movie. I read the books, watched the new one, the Lynch one and the made for tv movies. First game I loved was Dune 2 for PC. I seem to enjoy all Dune related content.

[@cdnnorsedogdad5119]

When Dune came out in 1984 my sister, her then boyfriend, my current girlfriend & went to see the movie. Gladly my sister BF had read the book and I had, because we sent the next 3 hours explaining all the parts that I am sure Lynch wanted to leave in HIs Cut of the movie that would have made it make sense. There is a Director's cut of this file that includes a Prolog that takes you from today to 10191 in the Year of the Guild. Which is actually 20,000 years from today. So you get to see how we as humans got from 1965 through the "The Old Empire", "The Butlerian Jihad", the "New Age", year1 After the Guild. to the "Reign of Shaddam IV" in 10156 A.G, Which makes the whole film make sense. It "added" scenes can easily be differentiated by fact that the Fremen do not have hand painted Blue eyes. Yes 1984 was way before the CGI we now take for granted. The only way they could give the eyes the "Blue within Blue" colour was to hand paint each and every frame of the final "studio" cut of the film.

[@SuperBullInvestor]

I have an idea. How about the studio compiles the entire uncut movie, tidy it up, and then re-release it as 2 movies? Just a thought. How cool would that be...

[@kevinbautsch]

As a kid in 1984 I hated this movie. But now as an adult I consider 1984 Dune one of my favorite movies. Nostalgia set aside of course.

[@Eudaimonist]

Personally, I love the film. However, I had read the novel a few months before seeing it in the theaters and so I wasn't confused in the slightest.

[@nikushim6665]

Having read the books, i didn't mind lynchs dune. Visually it was great, and yeah ALOT was cut out. My only real issue was the ending, which was outright wrong.

[@skywise001]

I remember stumbling across this movie in the tape store and renting it. I liked it - enough I went and bought the book to read.

[@Narco42]

Saw this movie in the mid 90s when I was about 10. Loved it. Still love it. I would love to see Lynch's Directors cut. For those that think this movie is too confusing (read haters for anyone under 30 or critics when it was released) I have two "talking points." 1) This movie was released after the most famous Sci Fi franchise in history (Star Wars) had finished its first trilogy. A franchise that was HEAVILY influenced by Dune. Tatooine = Arrakis.... sansanna spice = spice melange...... Jedi, Sith, non aligned Force users = Navigators, Bene Gesserit, mentats (In no particular order. "Specials" in Dune are much more neutral than Star Wars). If "magical beings and weapons" are a problem at that point you should probably look in the mirror. You are the problem. 2) The expositions by the princess were never difficult for 10 yo me to follow. If she spends 6.9 mins explaining the backstory good! Now I have a jumping off point. If she fucking says Paul spent x number of the years uniting the desert people, learning, leading and other plot points amazing! If this was all happening at the same time in any other movie that is a fucking montage. It is simply a way to convey a vast amount of information/plot advancement in a visual or audible way so we can move to the next act of the story. Cue Eye of the Tiger. Get wrecked haters. This is a great movie. It would have been even better and absolutely groundbreaking if Lynch was allowed to release his full vision (see the LOTR 12+hr full run trilogy).

[@AAWOLFE-zc6ly]

As a creator for over 55 years, this is a prime example, of two things. 1. creators vs the brain dead suits. 2. Genius and passion vs Greed and Ignorance. PEOPLE NEED TO stop ASKING LYNCH ABOUT DUNE! He has made his point crystal clear, and I happen to agree.

[@WarDog793]

I never understood why so many who saw Lynch's Dune without reading Herbert's book ended up confused by the story on screen. They explain virtually everything from the book in the movie! Aside from the silly sonic weapon, the revolting appearance and behavior of Baron Harkonnen, and the final rainstorm, this adaptation was amazingly faithful. It even includes important dialogue from the book, which Villeneuve eschewed, more's the pity. The way the "Voice" was done was the best I've heard. Rambaldi's sandworms are still the best, as are the wormhooks (real thought went into their design.) The stilsuits were great-looking, except for being black. Kyle McLachlan's performance was perfect. IF ONLY the studio hadn't gotten skittish about the orginally planned length and messed around with Lynch's final cut. It would be fantastic if we could be treated to that someday.

[@shainewhite2781]

2:08* good thing they did a documentary called Jodorowsky's DUNE, showing us WTF happened to this movie.

[@Lethgar_Smith]

I have always held a sneaky suspicion that some producer or executive , when they first heard the name David Lynch they got him confused with David Lean and thought "Oh! He would be the perfect director for Dune!"

[@jeffgreiner4007]

for me, personally, i loved this movie as a kid and still do as an adult! i realize that it isn't the movie that D.L. made, and i wish the gods that there WERE a director's cut(!)...but i remember trying to read that book and my brother said "hey, they just made a movie of that...want to go see it?" my little eight year old mind was BLOWN THE FUCK AWAY!!! much love to D.L. and much respect! but 1984 Dune will always hold a beloved place in my top ten sci-fi movies!

[@Concreteowl]

The Spicediver edit is the best way to view Lynch's film thus far.

[@shainewhite2781]

8:56, shame these books never got adapted.

[@TheFLViking]

Having read the majority of the novels before seeing the movie, I never had an issue with lack of context. As much as I begrudgingly admit I liked the new adaptation, David Lynch's Dune will always be "my Dune".

[@kushalrijal9453]

Completely depends upon which version one saw first. DV's Dune is shockingly faithful to the book.

[@themightypen1530]

I enjoyed the 1984 version of the movie. Considering the level of technology they had at their disposal I think they did a good job.

[@SmegInThePants]

I liked his version of Dune. But I had the advantage of having read the book. I wasn't in the shoes of most people who needed the movie to be the vehicle that explained the plot to me. I already knew the plot. All I wanted from the movie was to see some cool visuals and acting put to the story I was already familiar with. And it delivered. With even a few surprises. And usually I dislike movie adaptations of books i've already read. But I liked this one. I can see however how the movie would be a completely different experience for someone who had not read the book and was relying on the movie itself to explain the plot to them. Especially if they were the kind of person who was only ever used to 1980's level of television and movie plots. The plot is just too thick to appeal to everyone and to be a seat filler on the level of star wars, no matter how well it was made. You can bring your kids to star wars, and they'll scream at you to see it again, but what kid will get immersed into all the politics and intrigue and dialog and unspoken metaphors to real life issues present in Dune? Though of course it could have done way better than it did, could have been a monetary success, had things been different. Too bad they didn't just let lynch do like w/this latest version of dune and split his movie into 2 releases. They could have avoided a 3 hour movie and had two 1 and 1/2 hour movies, w/out any of the painful cuts. Wonder if it was even considered as an option.

[@TonecrafteLuthiery]

The new Dune film is almost identical to David Lynch’s version for like 75% of its total run time. It literally goes scene-for-scene with the original for over an hour, and I think that speaks to the fact that David Lynch was on the right track. The biggest problem with the original is just that it’s too fast paced, especially toward the end. The studio is partly to blame for that, but I also think the source material is a big part of it. The new film received a lot of the same criticisms that the old version did, despite the fact that they’re splitting the story up into multiple parts. Two and a half hours just isn’t enough time for such a dense story to be told in a way that actually makes sense to someone who hasn’t read the books.

[@MrJinxmaster1]

Good grief imagine if Lynch's cut had released to widespread acclaim. Dune Messiah, Children of dune? God emperor of dune?

[@paranoyd70]

I personally liked the 1984 Dune, but agree that it felt disjointed, which comes as no surprise when you learn the studio demanded literally an hours worth of content to be cut out. To me, a compromise should have taken place, in which they cut out half an hour and no more. I think this would have gone a long way to salvage the movie and the people involved. 9 times out of 10, studio interference ends up ruining a movie. As for the recent Dune, I have zero interest, since I can't stand a few of the actors.

[@javimirelesjr5601]

I’ve read the books several times. It’s damn near impossible to make it into one or two films each. It should be a anime series. But even that would be insanely expensive.

[@Shiftdougler]

“It was a nightmare” - David Lynch

[@MackeyDeez]

And let's not forget that the Baron wasn't a raving lunatic

[@milesgerschefske6231]

I remember like nine years ago I saw an extended cut of dune via bbc and it really struck with me, it was long but not much longer than watch a trilogy of starwars. I was surprised to read reviews and articles complaining about dune, it was like they'd seen a completely different movie but now I understand maybe they had.

[@codebasher1]

I remember absolutely loving the original movie back in 1984. In Townsville (35c on a cool day) The Cinema Aircon died and it was hot and raining outsidell. We all purchased big 50c movie posters to use as fans. This made watching Dune seem as hot as Dune itself.

[@michaeljf6472]

-"..was actually pretty faithful to the book.." All fans of Dune books: "Oh I dont think so"

[@jdraven0890]

I hated it on seeing the theatrical version around 1988, especially the narration by the princess, and it seemed weird just to BE weird. The TV version with the 30 minute introduction helped a lot, and I realized I enjoyed the music and the look of everything Lynch created. I finally read the book a few years ago and realized how good of an attempt it was at adapting Dune, especially with the limitations put on the production. I was worried I'd constantly be comparing the new Dune movie to it, now being a fan of Lynch's movie - but they are both excellent in their own way.

[@aishalee5924]

It’s ironic that the blue glow of the eyes is now a mainstay in all Dune adaptations now lol

[@gwiz6278]

It's in the book. The eyes of Ibad, blue within blue 🔵

[@the_freebeard]

It makes me sad that Lynch still feels so much pain about this movie. I would love to see his real vision come to life one day.

[@AAWOLFE-zc6ly]

you still don't get it...Lynch is done with DUNE, and as a creator myself for over 55 years I completely understand. They literally raped his vision, over and over and over again... WHY WOULD ANY ONE WANT TO REVISIT THAT, would you?

[@the_freebeard]

@@AAWOLFE-zc6ly Dude, chill out. It's not like I'm marching up to his door and demanding he make a director's cut. I was just expressing my sadness over the whole situation.

[@mosriteminioncause7741]

It was rumored at the time, (80's) that Lynch had commented: If he could have erased his "fingerprints" from the film he would have....He refused to talk about the film for decades after its release.

[@andrewglazebrook1585]

Lynch recently talked about revisiting Dune!

[@piggyharris7988]

It’s by no means a good movie, but I found it pretty entertaining and I liked the music.

[@redschafer7804]

I got to watch as kid in school after reading the book and it wasn't a bad way to end the school year lol

[@piggyharris7988]

@@redschafer7804 I watched the new movie first, then read the first book, then watched the 1984 movie. In my opinion it’s definitely an overhated movie.

[@redschafer7804]

@@piggyharris7988 agreed i feel bad for the director because he tried to make a faithful adaption and due to studio meddling it became what we got. it wasn't like he wanted to make a bad movie.

[@jawstrock2215]

I had no issue understanding the plot of the movie, and I had never read the book.. 🤔 Then again I was a kid then, kids don't worry about possible plot holes or details not making sense. :D

[@powerbalancevathelastkitsu2504]

New request, I know it's not probably something you'll go over, but would you be willing to go over the Greater Rathalos or the Diablos from the Monster Hunter movie

[@304Kid]

I think Dune would have been better as a miniseries then a movie. You could have added more from the book and would have more time to add details you need and cutting out you really don’t need. Like for example I wouldn’t bother why to explain why you don’t have computers in Dune. The moment they see a mentat at work it will click with the viewer.

[@andrejmucic5003]

The 1984 Film was the masterpiece. Denis fell short.

[@sleepisoptional]

streaming would have saved films like this… they could have broken out of the 2hrs or less format. dune is really a soap opera, it needs episodes, chapters. the world is so vast it needs to be lived in over time. 6 episodes or so… peter jackson style sequels

[@curiousworld7912]

I understand why all those who strongly dislike the '84 adaptation feel as they do, but I still enjoy it. Yes, I wish the studio had simply trusted Lynch, and allowed him final cut, but I don't see it as a 'total failure' - more of a flawed, but imaginative effort.

[@damonappel]

David Lynch's Dune is an absolute masterpiece, even trimmed-down. I didn't like it the first time I saw it on opening night in 1984. I'd read all about it in eager anticipation in Starlog and other magazines of the time. So, I knew a lot of background, but it was still overwhelming to me. Over the next week or two, I couldn't shake the incredible scenes and characters from my head, or the way the film sets you into this quasi-dream state, where you directly experience things from Paul's point of view, both visually and mentally, through the 1st person narration. My view started shifting towards, "I think I love this movie!" Fortunately, I got to see it in the theater one more time before it's premature pull from distribution. That solidified it for me, and I still consider Lynch's Dune my favorite movie of all time. The detail, the complexity, the realism of the characters and their motivations...it's all just magnificent. In the last couple of years, I got to see the well-made fan-edit of Dune that intelligently splices lost and extra footage into a 3-hour narrative, and I'm so saddened that Lynch might go to his grave not being willing to make a director's cut, or even talk in detail about this film. For what it's worth, I find that Villeneuve's Dune, while having received such accolades, is derivative of Lynch's film. He has a plethora of time, but then rushes the same things Lynch was forced to rush, makes characters like Yueh and Piter so shallow that we don't even know why they do what they do, and wastes all the extra time wandering around the desert for an unnatural midpoint end. While I don't hate the new film, I find it ironic that Lynch fleshed-out characters better in the studio-hacked version. And then seeing that 3hr fan edit proves that Lynch actually did film far MORE character scenes than what Villeneuve seemed to have done (who knows if we'll get an extended cut of HIS film, someday, after both parts are released). 1984 Dune is the movie that made me eagerly watch all of Lynch's other films, and enjoy the bulk of his career of completely unique and often unsettling works. I guess I can see why he divested himself from Dune, because it's clear how much pure passion he puts into every production. Nevertheless, I think a reworked/finished version of his epic, with the benefit of some of today's effects capabilities to fix some of the budget-crunched effects, would be well-received by today's audiences. And some of the practical effects of old still stand-up so much better than the all-digital creations of today. Lynch's worms and Geidi Prime, in particular, are far more menacing than that depicted in Villeneuve's big budget win. And, I guess I can't end this without giving mention to the significant score primarily by Toto (with a special theme by Brian Eno). It's an unforgettable part of the film, its lifeblood and heartbeat, accentuating all the strangeness and otherworldliness of everything. What some see as failed choices, I see only as perfected cinema, from passionate artists, visually, audibly and in every element. There'll probably never be another film like David Lynch's Dune, and that's a sad thing. It would've been amazing had it been a success and we'd gotten to see Lynch film the other books. Heck, we still don't know that Villeneuve's sequel will be the record-breaker everyone expects. Part One got a bit of a 'free pass' because it did decently as one of the first films after the shutdown, and because HBO Max day-and-date streaming releases clouded matters. I think they were already pretty well committed to doing a Part Two, unless there were signs of total failure. Whether or not any of the other Dune books ever gets made is not a certainty, which is ironic for the classic sci-fi legendary status they have.

[@TANehls]

I was a teenager when this movie came out and although many people hate it, I still enjoy to this day. I also like the Sci-Fi Channel series in 2000 and love the new version. I enjoy the entire Dune canon.

[@tylergermanowicz5756]

Being an anti fan of David Lynch, Dune was the only movie he made that I ever liked. The reason was very apparent to me at the time-I’d read the book prior to seeing the movie and understood what was going on. I was actually impressed by the overlay of the characters’ interior dialogue-that being such a prominent part of the novel. I would have loved to see a director’s cut, but I completely understand Lynch’s fuck you to the studio. Cutting the movie by an hour was a mortal sin and the studio execs should burn in hell for all eternity.

[@graemewilson7975]

Terrific review. I one of those people who really liked Dune on initial release and still do, it has many failings but the look feel and atmosphere are uniquely lynchian. Lynch had a number of major issues to deal with-no final cut, a studio evidently thinking it getting a star wars film and a audience unprepared for DUNE , the same year Sergio Leones swansong once upon a time in America came out and was similarly butchered by its studio again because of no faith in movie and then the horrible reviews, which weren't warranted as DUNE is understandable but not easy. At the time of release I think be early hills cop on horizon, Indiana Jones 2 and Ghostbusters 1, Supergirl was around then and Baby (that awful dinosaur movie) as well as Santa Claus the movie so fair to say studios weren't falling over themselves to make darker pictures.

[@billyalarie929]

The review about psychic characters got a GOOD chuckle out of me

[@Dancestar1981]

I’ve seen both and prefer villenue interpretation I’ve only read the original Dune novel and not the sequels but was well immersed in the lore from all the computer games too

[@moppenboek]

I think this movie adds to David's legacy due to the battle he had with the production team. This clash is something David had to put up with many times throughout his career. Even the return of Twin Peaks was first scheduled to be shot without him. Because he is so surreal and does not compromise his vision, he will never truly appeal to the mainstream and this clashes with the corporate side of the film industry, yet helps to portray him first and foremost as an artist.

[@bradfordwilson4742]

If they would've kept in Paul's fight with Jamis, and did an 80's special effects version of Feyd Gladiatorial fights, this movie may have had a fighting chance at the time, and felt more fuller than what we got.

[@drewmurdaugh6264]

I think that the people who can't understand the whole story of Dune or of the band Rush are simply shallow minded and don't have the mental capacity for deeper thought period. Unfortunately many people don't like to think, they have to have it spelled out for them. I was 18 years old and 1984 and I have absolutely no problem following the movie in fact that is what entice me to read all six books. They were quite intriguing frank Herbert has to be one of the greatest science fiction riders of our time

[@Wimmle]

Dam, Zack Snyder and David Lynch need to get a beer 🍻

[@Haesslich1962]

I first saw it in the theaters in 84, and I absolutely loved it. I'd read the books, so I had no problem following the story. I've watched Villeneuve's version and found it dull in comparison.

[@karachaffee3343]

I saw the Villeneuve movie and after 3 hrs , I could not have cared less about the characters. In Lynch's movie the characters were memorable and the movie , however flawed , stayed with me.

[@kushalrijal9453]

Nostalgia factor. DV's Dune is actually way more faithful than old Dune. And those monologues only seemed great in books.

[@simoncarlile1965]

There's a three hour cut called the Spicer cut on KZbin that is seriously good.Check it out.David Lynch is GOAT.

[@allnamesaretakenful]

I still love the 1984 Dune.

[@CMAzeriah]

Oi. I could understand the new adaptation. They told the story at the right pace and wisely chose to divide it into multiple movies. Heck I haven't even read the books and didn't even know of it's existence until I heard the word "imperium". I'm a 40k fan.

[@benb3316]

If only they'd given him 6 hours. That, IMO, is the only advantage the SyFy dry epic had and the modern throw tons of money on big name actors and a little for CG effects has over him.

[@lrochfort]

It's ironic that Ridley Scott was initially involved. It was exactly the same kind of studio interference with Blade Runner that caused him to create his "Scott free" production company

[@trashteamracing8262]

I love Dune (the source material), and I love the aesthetic of sci-fi/fantasy from this era, so Lynch's Dune holds a special place in my heart. Looking back on it, it's astounding that David Lynch got involved with this film. It's such a different kind of film for Lynch to have attempted, and it's great seeing some of his regular actors in this. I don't care what anyone says, this is a classic.

[@shelbyvillemusica]

Search for Spicediver final cut. I love 1984 Dune but this edit puts it on another whole level. And plus one hour

[@mattbeckwith]

Hey I saw this film in the theater when it first came out and I loved it. It was not confusing at all. Moviegoers who were confused by it either we're not smart enough to understand it or we're not paying close attention during the first few minutes of the film. The remake recently released was disappointing by comparison.

[@duncanself5111]

The aspects Lynch added to Dune are brilliant in my opinion

[@fearlessfreap8093]

Didn't care for much of them. Weirding modules? Cat and rat? The ridiculous caricature of a Baron with all the boils? No gravitas to the main villain. How could such a boob come up with a plot to destroy the Atreides? All those warts aside. I liked the movie anyway.

[@alleygh0st]

@@fearlessfreap8093 Piter did much of the thinking I guess

[@sha1tan138]

Thats the movie that brought me to the Dune books. Its far from perfect but I like it. I haven't seen Denis Villeneuve's version yet but I cant wait. Its a universe I really enjoy.