'Dune' -- High-Def Digest review

[PeterB]

Checked out 'Dune'

http://hddvd.highdefdigest.com/dune1984.html

Hadn't seen it in a long time, and though a "bad" movie I still can't hate it. Silly, but fun. And the transfer I thought was quite impressive -- a really nice catalog restoration. Worth considering if you're a fan.

[Blurry]

Originally Posted by PeterB

Checked out 'Dune'

http://hddvd.highdefdigest.com/dune1984.html

Hadn't seen it in a long time, and though a "bad" movie I still can't hate it. Silly, but fun. And the transfer I thought was quite impressive -- a really nice catalog restoration. Worth considering if you're a fan.

I got it and I liked it. I am a big Lynch fan, though this movie is the least typical of Lynch I still enjoy his take on ti.

[Maxx_75]

I picked it up but havent watched it yet. I have only seen it once or twice and not all the way through I dont think. I also havent read the book so I am concerned that I wont understand the entire plot because I have heard that it is too short to flesh it all out.

I do however own the super long 290 minute Frank Herbert remake version and love it. Perhaps this will be enough to keep me up to speed ?

[Tejstar]

Well I don't own the DVD of this, so I probably will go for it. It's heartening to read that the pq is top-notch too!

[cacadodo666]

why would anyone find this movie "hilarious"?

DUNE is one of the best mythologies, and lynch's vision and visuals were totally from another time and world. he had his work cut out for him to tell this story, and he failed with the stupid sheep of an audience that needs everything laid out for them. I saw this film not knowing any background of the story, so I read into alot of the tripped out scenes in the movie. it actually made mee hungry to find out more about the DUNE story, rather than leave the movie confused and irritated.

[eastx]

So people that don't like this movie or don't get the story are stupid, Cacadodo?
Never mind that they shot a buttload of footage and the edited the movie to pieces...

[cacadodo666]

Nah, not liking the movie doesn't make one stupid. Someone can just not have any interest in the movie, or the set, or science fiction. But, to me, like many mythologies and religious stories, for one to enjoy the story, no background or thorough preface or fortelling or good script is needed to tell a story that stirs wonder and interest. These stories are mearly taken at face value, with some references or statements to be taken "as is" and left to the imagination. People who are ment to enjoy these stories pursue the background information. Some poeple might be passed by and COULD have liked the movie, but because in some cases they are products of a "lay it out for me, I don't want to think" school system or society, their minds confuse "don't like" with "don't understand."

[probedb]

I like the movie. I hadn't read the book when I saw the film but it still largely made sense to me. The Dune 'universe' is now one of my favourites and I'm working my way through all the books

Will be buying this definitely! The extended cut on the DVD special edition is...well...not very good....it completely loses everything you're used to like Virginia Madsen's narration to be replaced by some man or other, hand drawn pictures where you'd expect special effects etc.

Oh well, must get my 360 HD-DVD drive ordered with some discs

[sahoward]

Sorry for reviving this old thread, but I'm trying to get the specs straight on this release. So it doesn't have the extended cut, but it has all the additional material from it presented as "Deleted Dune", along with additional deleted footage? Is that right? Sorry, I'm a weird completist.

[Josh Z]

Originally Posted by sahoward

Sorry for reviving this old thread, but I'm trying to get the specs straight on this release. So it doesn't have the extended cut, but it has all the additional material from it presented as "Deleted Dune", along with additional deleted footage? Is that right?

The bonus features are identical to the "Extended Edition" DVD, except for the extended version of the movie itself and some text production notes, which are both missing. There is nothing new to the HD DVD that isn't on that DVD.

Sorry, I'm a weird completist.

I guarantee that you're not nearly as much of a completist as I am.

http://www.mindspring.com/~dunestuff

[sahoward]

Originally Posted by Josh Z

The bonus features are identical to the "Extended Edition" DVD, except for the extended version of the movie itself and some text production notes, which are both missing. There is nothing new to the HD DVD that isn't on that DVD.



I guarantee that you're not nearly as much of a completist as I am.

http://www.mindspring.com/~dunestuff

Awesome, thanks for the clarification! I totally had the MS DOS game!!!!

[wallijonn]

Visually, the reason to buy this version is if on your HDTV it plays fully matted (bottom & top, left & right black bars). There is a disconcerting blue "stripe" along the right side of the film when playing exterior scenes (as if the film canister had been accidentally opened); the inside shots, especially those concerning the emperor, are crystal clear.

Those who have seen the Alan Smitheee (anonymous) cut will be looking for certain audio remembrances, only to find them lacking; Shadout Mapes is introduced and then summarily killed off. There is a lack of character development - Duncan's character is never fleshed out (unlike the books where he plays a prominent role.)

Then there is the blue and green screens which highlight the obvious special effects: space ships stand out or are obscured, a green mist seems to envelope the ground the exiting troopers run into, the rising up onto the worm scenes plainly obvious with cut body oulines.

I tend to think that the studio could have retouched it digitally had they put a little thought into it. It definitely looks like it should have been remastered. At times the contrast between outside looking shots and interior borders becomes painful to watch, taking one out of the movie; a major distraction. When showing outer space scenes there is a noise bar at the very top of the scene, as if it could have been edited better.

And as always, Alia revelling in the carnage seems out of place.

But for those who love the film, and who already own the DVD version, it is a must buy. Just don't be surprised if the experience is sometimes bitter sweet, many times wishing for a better transfer and always wishing that it had been cleaned up digitally: we have the technology and we failed to utilise it.

[kgf]

dune is awesome!considering that it came out 20 years or so ago it still holds up very well today.dune along with starwars is one of the movies i grew up with.i watched it when i was 2nd or 3rd grade and i have loved it since.i watched it countless of times and i stil enjoy watching it.the story is excelent the effects are amazing,even by todays standards.they look better than many modern cgi films.u have to be crazy not to like dune.i guess people that find it funny have to be spoon fed the story in order to get it when they watch movies.i find it very clear and interesting.i think its one of the best sci fi movies ever!just got the hd dvd version aand i cant wait to watch it again in hidef with my speakers turned all the way up:-)

[beyondmediaonline.com]

I haven't seen Dune in years and I think that this will be a pickup for me sometime this week. It sounds like the PQ and SQ are top notch, so that is good to hear.

[mosul210]

Originally Posted by candymangt

I haven't seen Dune in years and I think that this will be a pickup for me sometime this week. It sounds like the PQ and SQ are top notch, so that is good to hear.

Dune is one of my favorite sci-fi classics of all time. It was one of the 1st movies I had to own on HD DVD. The only thing I can say against it is that it doesn't have the extended introduction, but I think it may be included as an extra. Anyway, I highly recommend this movie.