Posted on 12/30/2024 6:07:40 AM PST by Red Badger
Squeezing Frank Herbert's classic sci-fi novel into a two-hour movie was always doomed to misfire.
(Image credit: Universal Pictures)
Frank Herbert's sprawling sci-fi novel was never likely to be tamed in the space of a single movie. Now that "Dune: Part Two" has completed Denis Villeneuve's spice odyssey in box-office smashing style (until the director gets round to making "Dune: Messiah", at least), it's more obvious than ever that David Lynch's 1984, single-film adaptation of a crown jewel of genre literature was always as doomed as poor Leto Atreides. Nonetheless, four decades later the director's version of "Dune" remains an intriguing, if seriously weird, misfire.
In a parallel universe, Lynch might have made "Return of the Jedi" instead. The director, then the toast of Hollywood thanks to his work on the Oscar-nominated "The Elephant Man", ultimately turned down George Lucas's offer of a trip to a galaxy far, far away. But it wasn't long before he was hitching another ride into outer space, bankrolled by eccentric "Flash Gordon" producer (and subject of many a Hollywood anecdote) Dino De Laurentiis.
Like "Flash Gordon", "The Black Hole", "Krull" and numerous other sci-fi/fantasy movies of the era, "Dune" 1984 was at the vanguard of Hollywood's effort to cash in on the phenomenal success of "Star Wars". There's a degree of irony, then, that it's Villeneuve's movies that take more inspiration from Lucas's beloved trilogy, effectively bringing things full circle after "Star Wars" borrowed liberally from Herbert's desert planet setting and "kid with a messianic destiny" plot.
(Image credit: Universal Pictures)
Where Villeneuve doubled down on Lucas's gritty, used aesthetic to create a believable space-faring universe — a stylistic choice that's become the blueprint everywhere from "Alien" to "Rebel Moon" — Lynch's more fantastical film embraces the absurd. With their implausibly ornate eyebrows, the mentats (human computers) look like something out of a Terry Gilliam movie, while the costumes lean towards the elaborate — there's no question Lynch's Arrakis exists in a similar orbit to "Flash Gordon"'s Mongo.
The portrayal of the tyrannical Harkonnens is particularly egregious, their ludicrous bright orange hair and penchant for the theatrical ensuring they never convince as the villains of the piece.
Kenneth McMillan effectively plays the grotesque patriarch Baron Vladimir for laughs, creating a jarring contrast with the character's casual cruelty. Sting, meanwhile, brings plenty of rock star energy to the psychotic heir apparent Feyd-Rautha, but — largely thanks to his bizarre, highly-memeable choice of underwear — he's no Darth Vader. Neither can compete with Villeneuve's chilling, hairless reimagining of the most despised family on Arrakis — Stellan Skarsgård (as the Baron) and Austin Butler (as Feyd-Rautha) are both as threatening as they are charismatic.
It's in the storytelling department, however, that "Dune" 1984 fares particularly badly in comparison to its 21st-century usurper.
Frank Herbert's original novel — a story so dense with lore that it comes with its own glossary — is harder to adapt than most, and it's worth noting that both Lynch and Villeneuve's retellings are liable to leave "Dune" newbies a tad confused. Indeed, Villeneuve's much-lauded duology arguably fails to convey why the spice/melange found on Arrakis is such an intergalactic big deal. The Navigators, mutated humans whose excessive spice use gives them the vision to steer starships through folded space, are barely a footnote.
(Image credit: Universal Pictures)
But let's not pretend that the expanded presence of Navigators — imagined as freaky, fish-like puppets by ET designer Carlo Rambaldi — gives Lynch's movie a free pass. Herbert's original novel makes extensive use of its characters' internal monologues, but this unashamedly literary device feels incredibly clunky when Kyle MacLachlan (Paul), Francesca Annis (Lady Jessica), and other members of the cast dump their thoughts via voiceover. The 1984 film's few female characters are also woefully underserved, with Paul's Fremen love interest Chani ("Blade Runner"'s Sean Young), in particular, having little more to do than simper over the wannabe savior of Arrakis.
In contrast, most of the liberties Villeneuve's movies take with the original text — particularly regarding Chani and Paul's mum, Jessica — actively enhance the story. For Villeneuve, newly anointed Reverend Mother Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson) is the biggest champion of her son's rise to power, while Chani (Zendaya) becomes the one cynical, dissenting voice among the Fremen. Jessica's unborn telepathic daughter, Alia, is a much more disconcerting presence than the precocious kid in Lynch's movie, and the manipulative Bene Gesserit are given some deserved time in the spotlight as cosmic string-pullers-in-chief.
Ultimately, however, the biggest difference between the two adaptations is Villeneuve's luxury to tell Herbert's story over five hours. Running at a mere 130 minutes, the 1984 movie is always in a rush, particularly in the final act where Paul's rise to his prophesized destiny as Kwisatz Haderach proceeds at disconcertingly breakneck speed.
Although Lynch's film has passed into Hollywood infamy, it gets plenty of things right. The stillsuits, thumpers, and glowing blue eyes of the desert-dwelling Fremen are remarkably similar to what Villeneuve would visualize decades later, while the painstakingly rotoscoped 1984 vintage combat shields are a wonderful melange of "Minecraft" and "Tron". The VFX used to create gargantuan sandworms is also impressive for the era, and you can forgive the lack of ornithopters because, well, creating convincing dragonfly-style wings in the pre-CG era would have been borderline impossible, even for George Lucas's Industrial Light & Magic. The catchy score, from rock band Toto, provides plenty of earworms to complement the sandworms.
And in Lynch's defense, the director was famously denied final cut on the movie. Eager to keep things brief, the producers reportedly tore pages out of the script as he worked, and Lynch has since said, "I'm proud of everything [I've made] — except 'Dune'." But even now that Villeneuve's films, like Peter Jackson's "The Lord of the Rings", become the definitive screen version of a classic genre novel, Lynch's noble, if flawed, effort to translate a sci-fi titan to the big screen doesn't deserve to be buried in the sand.
Dune 1984 is available to stream on Max in the U.S. and MGM Plus in the U.K.
The remake of “Nosferatu” that just came out was actually really well done.
Of course, the first one was a silent movie.
I believe it.....and in watching the latest version I followed along just fine and have enjoyed watching it a couple of more times......the original?......I never want to have to experience that weirdness again.
I’ve seen several of Lynch’s movies and I guess they are over my head cuz I can’t make head nor tails of any of ‘em and Lost Highway is a perfect example.......what the hell WAS that???
"Th th that's all, folks!"
Awful film. Sting in particular was the most awful.
My major problem with the ‘84 movie was that the storyline didn’t exactly match the novel, as is the case with most novels made into movies.
The scene where the Guild Navigator threatens the Emperor was not in the novel and was unthinkable breach of societal etiquette in the Dune-Universe.
There were no voice-activated weapons in Dune but they did have Las-guns, laser-based rifles, Hand-to-hand combat was done with short and long swords in Dune. But they did have Body Shields, but you cannot use shields where laser weapons are deployed because they will cause an atomic-like explosion if laser hits shield, killing everyone and everything within a few miles.
The Harkonnen heart rings around their servant’s aortas was stupid. There was no such device.
The piece’s author mentions the Harkonnen’s ‘orange hair’, but that is correct, as Baron Harkonnen is described as a redhead in the novel. The Baron is a homosexual with an incurable disease that was given to him by a Bene Gesserit (Paul’s grandmother!) in their younger days, as retribution for the Baron raping her violently.
Overall, the 1984 version got the costumes, characters and setting correct, but the story was manipulated to shorten the screen time and save money which was a pity.............
I agree. Of all the things from the Lynch film, I think the production of the film still holds up well 40 years later. I think the costuming and props great and the Guild Navigators at least plausible.
I also liked the Sci-Fi Channel’s serial adaptations of Dune/Dune Messiah and Children of Dune.
Villeneuve’s adaptation so far has been masterful. He’s had the two previous adaptations and approximately 30 years of the West fighting in the Middle-East to draw upon for inspiration and reference. I hope he gets a crack at making Dune: Messiah.
Yes, but I thought the sequel "Children of Dune" which combined Dune: Messiah and Children of Dune
was really, really good.
I haven’t seen that one as the first one was so bad I didn’t even try. I have been a fan of Dune since the first novel and have read all of them more than once...............
I much prefer Lynch’s version.
I saw first then read the books.
Talk about cringe!
The one really old memory of the movie that as Paul and the sand worms attack, the Pasha’s general were sitting on some kind of merry go round thing with periscopes aiming and firing their weapons.
It was odd that these leaders and not subordinates were shooting .
Their uniforms were so garish only third word dictators would think they were “stylish”!
Barron Harhkonnon was spot on and terrifying!
Sting was silly!
I .like Lynchs version of Dune waay better than the latest atrocity. There should have been a directors cut showing everything caught on film is my biggest regret.
I enjoyed it. It was very understandable for people who had read the book. Probably didn’t make much sense to people who hadn’t.
Sting was actually fairly close to the character he portrayed, Feyd Rautha Harkonnen, a self-centered, power-hungry, manipulative, treacherous, treasonous spoiled brat..............
It was flawed but I liked it then, and still find it entertaining when I watched it for old time sake after seeing the new Dune movies.
I much preferred Lynch’s effort ...
When I was in the Marine Corps, back in the early 70's, I attended a DOD School in Denver. It had students from militaries all over the world, including Africa and South America, attending different classes at the school. There was a standing order that there would be no saluting while inside the compound because the uniforms of the foreign students were so covered in gold and silver braids and such that we could not tell if they were officers or buck privates!..............
My first choice for a screen moniker on FR was Paul Atreides, but it ha been taken...............
The 1984 Dune film is a masterpiece in sci-fi visuals, especially the 3 hour version. I’ve seen this film at least 15 times just to see the lovely Virginia Madsen as Princess Irulan.
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