Deep in space, on the planet Arrakis (known to many as Dune), the son of a duke is tasked with bringing balance to the universe. In order to achieve balance, and gain independence, Paul Atreides (Kyle MacLachlan) must defeat the galactic emperor, Padishah Emperor Shaddam IV (José Ferrer), his domineering warriors, and his father’s arch nemesis--Baron Vladimir Harkonnen (Kenneth McMillan). The fate of Atreides’ people, his home planet, and the spice melange rests on the shoulders of the young fighter; but does he have what it takes to free his planet from the rule of Emperor Shaddam and the horrific threat of Harkonnen, or will the people of Arrakis fall and lose everything?
First things first: for anyone watching this film for the first time (people like me) I’m not sure where you’ve been for the past thirty-five years. However, those individuals, if they’ve enjoyed other science fiction films, are likely familiar with George Lucas’ Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope. If you’re a fan of that masterpiece like myself, watching Dune for the first time may be somewhat alarming. I sat back and found myself pointing at the screen on numerous occasions as I noticed comparisons between Lucas’ Star Wars saga and David Lynch’s Dune. Regardless of when these films were released, the fact of the matter is that the story of Dune (originally a novel written by Frank Herbert and published in 1965) was a massive inspiration for all that Lucas accomplished, and, even if you can’t stand Dune, it inspired one of the greatest science fiction franchises in history, and that alone is a sign of greatness.
Lynch is known for films that tend not to adhere to the usual parameters of cinema. His films are unique and even odd. The film Eraserhead is a prime example of just how absurd and nearly unimaginable Lynch’s works tend to be, and, honestly, Dune is no different. The film follows a series of royal families that exist more than eight thousand years in the future, and with that, everything we’ve come to know as reality is thrown to the wayside. With all of that being said, and the world that viewers know thrown into a tizzy, the amount of content present in Dune gets to be too much at times. There is often so much happening, to characters with incredibly difficult names, that it becomes difficult to follow. Honestly, I can get past the names and still appreciate the story, but with all that is occurring, the content seems to lose value. Please don’t misunderstand this critique as me saying that content is poor, or that the film fails, because ultimately Dune is a success and the content is entertaining. Sometimes it simply feels like system overload, which can hinder a viewer’s experience.
I’m going to apologize now for the comparisons that I make to Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope and the other Star Wars films, but it is the most understood piece of pop culture to which I can compare Dune. In 1977 Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope was released, and it took the world by storm. What Lucas was able to accomplish in terms of storytelling, character development, and special effects was unprecedented, far outshining other films of the genre. I’ve often looked at other science fiction films that were released around the same time as Lucas’ masterpiece--films such as Superman and Dawn of the Dead--and question the validity (to a degree) of what they presented the world in terms of special effects that paled in comparison to Star Wars. Dune, however, even if it was released seven years later, compares in this regard to Star Wars. With nearly every aspect of the film needing some sort of special effect to bring it to life, so much was riding on both the makeup and special effects departments. Those departments worked together flawlessly and created something truly brilliant. The one thing that I was most impressed with throughout the course of Dune was the aforementioned makeup, particularly that of McMillan’s Baron Vladimir Harkonnen. As I sat here eating my lunch, seeing the boils on his face for the first time, I was quickly nauseated. While those effects are incredibly disgusting, the reality is that the makeup, throughout the entire film, is done perfectly.
Inner monologue plays a significant role in Dune. I’m a sucker for deeper meaning and metaphor, and what this aspect of the film does is create another emotional and relatable piece for viewers to latch onto. I’m incredibly impressed with the inclusion of inner monologue as it allows the characters to grow and the viewers to better appreciate their development. More than anything else in the film, regardless of how well done it all is, the inner monologue in Dune is what best draws in viewers.
Even if Dune doesn’t entertain you, it’s fair to say that it’s The Beatles of the cinema world in terms of influence. We all know the role that the Beatles played in developing music since the 1950’s, but Dune is often brushed under the rug and overlooked when citing influences for popular films. Films such as Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome, Stargate, and Tremors take pieces not only from Herbert’s book, but directly from Lynch’s film as well. There’s no doubt the role that Dune has played in the history of cinema, and for that, along with the beautiful special effects, the solid acting, and stellar soundtrack, Dune is a true masterpiece.
Directed by David Lynch.
Written by Frank Herbert & David Lynch.
Starring Kyle MacLachlan, Virginia Madsen, Francesca Annis, Leonardo Cimino, Brad Dourif, José Ferrer, Linda Hunt, Freddie Jones, Richard Jordan, Silvana Mangano, Everett McGill, Kenneth McMillan, Jack Nance, Siân Phillips, Jürgen Prochnow, Paul L. Smith, Patrick Stewart, Sting, Alicia Witt, Sean Young, Dean Stockwell, etc.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐½/10
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