Not a day at the beach (Dune (DVD))

Member Name: moronboy

Product:	Dune (DVD)
Date:	07/08/00 (3 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Looks stunning

Disadvantages: Doesn't work

Most people will be lost before the opening narration is over, and David Lynch's catastrophic adaptation of Frank Herbert's colossal sci-fi epic is downhill from there. Herbert's novel tells of a far future where space-travel depends on a spice which allows the user to see into the future and thus tell where the spaceship is going. Huge companies, royal houses and witch religions vie with each other for power and influence, and for dominion over Arrakis, the planet where the spice is mined. And into this world is born a boy who may very well be a new messiah.

Now try to imagine this turned into a two hour Hollywood blockbuster.

Like 'The Lord of the Rings', the only book it remotely resembles, 'Dune' could and should make three films (Herbert had to write a sequel just to tie up some of the loose ends), but Lynch doesn't only fail to coherentlt condense the novel, he ends up adding some complications of his own. A huge, very eclectic cast (Kyle Maclachlan, Francesca Annis, Sting and Dean Stockwell among many others) struggle with stern dialogue, and the grim gimmick that the character's thoughts are heard on the soundtrack. Meanwhile, a lot of gorgeous sets and special effects are drowned in the over complicated plots and stilted action scenes.

Lynch fans will be bored by the spectacle, and sci-fi lovers looking for another Star Wars will be completely confused. Fans of the quite marvellous book should steer very well clear: they'll hate it most of all for being such a travesty.

Summary: