Wha? (Dune (DVD))

Member Name: thegoldencat

Product:	Dune (DVD)
Date:	17/11/08 (55 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Dares to be different, visually innovative, if sickening, will divide opinion.

Disadvantages: See above.

Overview
Dune is an obscure sci-fi film written and directed in 1984 by that prime peddler of the peculiar, David Lynch. Starring Kyle McLachlan, Patrick Stewart and Sting(!). Dune polarises opinion, optitimising the idea of a cult hit.

What?
That will most likely be your first reaction to a multi-layered, multi-plot-lined monstrosity of a film, during the course of which your eyes will see many things they do not wish to see, your ears will be thrilled by truelly stunning sound, and your eyes and your ears will generally just be baffled really, by all that they see and hear.

Whats it all about then
I don't know. Or to go into more detail I really, really don't know. A knowledge of the book and a general grounding in the mythology of the series would probably help but I think not. Its nigh on impenetrable for much, if not all of the time.

Here are just the basics then. The plot centres around Duke Leto Atreides (Kyle McLachan) and a grim conspiracy going all the way to the top surrounding a much sought after spice. No not oregano but some sort of super substance upon which space travel is dependant called Melange. This eventually leads to the planet Arrakis, a desert planet home to enormous sandworms and the only source of Melange in the universe. In other words, its all gonna kick off.

A full plot layout would take up the rest of the review so the real question is whether or not this an entertaining film. The answer is, again obscurely; yes and no.

Positives
A sprawling Sci-fi epic this certainly is. One can't really fault the sort-of grungy, dischordant sense of place the film invokes. The stamp of Lynch, the auteur, is unmistakeable. He does a good job of creating a universe you're very glad not to inhabit. Everything in it seem slightly (or often extremely) off.

Obscurity is everywhere in this film and that extends to the characters. Even the main character played by the fresh faced Kyle McLachlan doesn't seem quite right. And thats the theme everywhere. Everything is seemingly designed to put you slightly on edge, such as the relentless sense of impending doom for the universe with the over-arching conspiracy miring it all. Either that or is designed to be overtly off-putting. The films primary villians, for example are a sub-race of humanity that all seem to exhibit hideous disfigurement, on top of being severely ugly in the first place. The leader of the this group floats about like a balloon. You've never seen anything like it.

And this general oddness is classified as a positive because its something different. Thats what dune shows you whether you like it or not.

In terms of sound this film is incredible. Atmosphere is ramped up to vertiginous heights with masterful recording. The spiralling, howling maelstrom of the desert sands, the full throated bellowing roar of the sand worm, all serve to add an extra edge of emphasis to the proceedings. This is in my opinion the films best feature. And, honestly, its worth a look purely on the basis of enjoying the excellent sound.

Theres more. Early on in the film the main character and Patrick Stewart engage in a bizzare form of combat which is again enough to warrant watching this film. The two men, cloaked in armour made from what looks like perspex boxes grapple with each other using knives. The armour effect is about the worst special effect of all time and so this deadly serious scene becomes a hilarious joy.

Negatives
There are so many obvious negatives I could state that it hardly seems fair. By daring to be different Dune opens itself up to a lot of criticism. The plot is a bloated incomprehensible mess for a start. You're bombarded from the beginning with too many diferent characters, plotlines and details to ever have any hope of tracking:
Whats going on?!
Also much of it is hard to take seriously. The commodity over which wars are fought and conspiracies are wrought is a spice. Its properties are inferred to be simillar to oil but still; a spice? And thats before we even get onto sandworms, glowing blue eyes, psychic guns, flying fat ginger men and oddest of all, Sting. Whats he doing there?

That accepted theres also some extremely dodgy scripting. Much of the dialogue is leaden and like the floating fat man; hideous.
Some of the visual grotesquery seems to serve no other purpose than to provoke a reaction.
I could go on but you get the idea. Its a deeply flawed film.

DVD Special Features
None too many. A trailer and a dodgy stills gallery. Cheap though.

Verdict
I didn't know what to make of Dune. Ultimately I didn't love it or hate it and so I'll say that while there is much in Dune that is interesting, as a film: it fails. Fails to tell a coherent story. Fails to form an emotional impact, but succeeds in being worth watching if only to witness the wierd and the wonderful. And sandworms!

Summary: See it for yourself and come to your own opinion. Worth a look if only for its relentless oddness.