3/4  You've gotta see the Director's Cut on DVD!
Director's Cut is a must see! The theatrical version makes little sense and I often times thought one must be on drugs to "get it". However the Director's cut actually makes perfect sense and is really an epic movie. This should have been ... (read full)

1/4  Dune Quick Review
The Sci-fi channel did a mini-series that was much better. However, this one has sting -- and that's gotta count for something.

3/4  Dune Quick Review
Turning one of the greatest sci-fi novels of all time into a workable film is hard work, but David Lynch was up to the task. I think this would have been an easy four stars if his original vision had been allowed.

3.5/4  Dune Quick Review
Although it is incredibly confusing, very badly directed at times (cut by the studio many times), and anti climactic, the story is amazing. I enjoyed the music, the set and location shots, and acting. Too bad it was hacked up by the studio.

3/5 A visually stunning though fairly dreadful and confusing movie
  by B. Nelson (Glen Arm, MD USA)
This is a good film to watch once because it has some very visually stunning images and it makes you think, though not a very good film, just messy and confusing with good bits and awful bits. I think the movie could have been amazing, but sadly it isn't. The overall story is completely mind-boggling dealing with giant worms, psychics, dreams, other realities & dimensions, ecology, a spiritual world, and of course a valuable spice which everyone seems to be after.

5/5 A Fistful of Spice
  by Paul Ess. (Holywell, N.Wales,UK.)
I set my mind to reviewing David Lynch's film 'Dune.' I sat diligently, adopting my usual scrupulous technique: watch twice, jot down points, events, slivers of music, shudders, inane trivia etc - then write it all up on the WP to be sliced down to a palatable size later...
Blankness.

So, basics: Did I enjoy it? -- yes, very much. Did it have breathtaking set design and production values which left the inferior 'Bladerunner' in its dust.. comprehensively. Was I horrified and delighted in equal measure by the antics of the prime villain - Baron Harkonnen ? -- indeed I was. Was the music suggestive and grandiose..? The Sand-Worms completely awesome....? Sting bad...?
Yes, and more...

Lynch is a curious film director. His films are not like anybody else's. People go on about them - say things like: "Lynch doesn't normally do sci-fi, but you could argue that ALL his films are sci-fi..." Heavy stuff like that.
Some admit that they do/don't/can't/won't understand them - others imagine. Some can't see the point in bothering...

All his films are comedies - Kyle MacLachlan's 'Dune' voiceover for example, is as pointed a clue without being blatant - and is otherwise inexplicable.
Much like 'La Cabina,' funny/weird people start the day with just a suggestion of funny/weird, escalating into hardcore funny/weird by the final quarter.
As someone who doesn't understand film at all, I have to wonder how Lynch gets finance. Imagine taking 'Lost Highway' to a bunch of execs and hoping for some millions to make it happen... yet happen it did. Does anybody think studio money-men are sympathetic to an 'artist' ? Lynch is bankable you say...?

Lynch's 'Dune' is a surgical burrowing through the bowels of an enormous omnibus of a novel. The plot is helpfully zilch: a spice controls the universe; everyone wants it; shenanigans ensue when they all try to get it; big battle.
Cue 'Prophecy' theme.
Why everybody makes SUCH a fuss is beyond me: "Fans and critics alike, are divided in equal measure..." What? Why.....!?

Then again, why would anyone even contemplate reviewing 'Dune' ? It's a movie, it runs about 2 ¼ hours and is big and quite exciting.
It's a David Lynch film, and that means you can spout the most abstract, pompous, selfish, insanely reversed clap-trap about it - and people will still take you seriously.
(And despite the proximity of incendiary words like 'spice,' 'girl' and 'power,' I've resisted all temptation to mention Mel B's extraordinary breasts - so delightfully omnipresent in all sections of modern media. Aren't I the good boy...?)

1/5 Misleading release, poor
  by Kirk S. Thorley (canada)
This so called extended cut is a mess i think.
It's flip disc with extended and theatrical.
Dune is a particularly long movie, and i do like it put there are times it drags so an extended cut which does'nt do it any favours and the opening credits look daft with Alan Smithee as the director, then there's this awful cheap animation cut into the film to extend elements from the book it all feel very rushed and cheap.

I think Dune is a great movie but i don't think this release or previous have just left the movie on it's own merit instead director's cuts and special editions.

I'm not in favour of theses extended cut's on any films because end of the day they are usually the bit's that were'nt good in the first place and they just spoil the film.

1/5 Absolutely horrible
  by A. Bucci (Providence, RI United States)
I am a sci-fi buff, but this movie is nothing short of horrible. Horrible stiff acting, horrible scenes, etc. Do yourself a favor and get the Dune that came out in 2000 as a mini series. That is a great movie, much better acting throughout and much easier to follow, but it is very long (not in a bad way).

1/5 Big Rip Off
  by WATCHER (LOS ANGELES)
This version of the movie has MANY DELETED SCENES which were in the original theatrical release. So when it says WIDESCREEN EDITION, that is a misleading lie, because you will be expecting the full length theatrical release.

This version is a reduced version which has scenes which were deleted for television release.

So, the version that says EXTENDED VERSION, is actually the regular theatrical release, nice little shell game they are playing.

I called AMAZON and specifically requested that they look at the version I was getting in exchange for the one they had sent me to ensure that the deleted scenes were included, which the operator agreed to do. BULL, THE VERSION THEY SENT ME WAS THE SAME VERSION I WAS EXCHANGING, and when I called to complain, they BLAMED ME FOR THE ERROR and were rude on the phone.

In case you are wondering I have spent THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS on videos and CD's from Amazon and returned about 4 items, I am not very picky. Buyer beware, Amazon hates to admit when they are wrong, and their operators suck (at least the idiots I had to deal with on this transaction).