Movie Reviews - In theater

“The worm is the spice!  The spice is the worm!”

David Lynch’s Dune might not be the director’s favorite movie-making experience.  It also might not be on any science fiction fan’s top 10 list (although it probably should be).  Those sentences alone do not make Lynch’s attempt at bringing Frank Herbert’s beloved 1965 space epic to the silver screen a worthless endeavor, though. In fact, in the wake of Denis Villeneuve’s ultra-serious attempt at the material, Lynch’s version comes across as anything but worthless.  

Due is science fiction fantasy as only David Lynch could do it.  Stylized, unforgettable, I’d say it is refreshing.  To be completely honest, it is truly a popcorn extravaganza of grinding guitars, glowing blue eyes, cool images, and a floating fat man.

It also makes perfect sense.  You read that correctly.  In the world of Dune, a rare narcotic substance known as the melange, or "spice", is the most valuable commodity and two warring clans find themselves fighting over its control on the worm-infested desert planet, Arrakis.  Sprinkle in some political conspiracies and a mythology which includes blue-eyed Fremen as the prophesied "Chosen One" and there you have it.  Not too hard to understand.  

I originally saw this movie in 1984 and, sure, I was a little kid and knew nothing about the world that Herbert had created, nor did I know anything about Lynch as a filmmaker.  To be honest, Dune was my first exposure to David Lynch, but I will tell you this: there are many, many scenes in this movie which have completely haunted my subconscious since originally sitting through the film.  That was made clear as I watched and then re-watched Arrow Video’s 4K restoration.  

From the starry-eyed opening - in which Princess Irulan (a young Virginia Madsen) clues the audience in on the drama about to unfold - to the stylized score from Toto, Dune is an unrecognized B-grade space opera masterpiece (yes, I said it) from Lynch that time has, thus far, refused to acknowledge as such.  This film continues to be spellbinding in its visual assault as ideas and images collide to create a conflict that characters in a most unusual universe must come to terms with.

Lynch brings his own persona and his own style to Herbert’s work and fuses together two separate worlds where space fantasy collides with the macabre of the Midwest via telekinetic voice powers. Some of the acting from the stellar cast might be a bit unorthodox, but it works - especially in the crazy setting - to create a tweaked-out dreamscape that oozes with Lynch’s own particular brand of punk rock kookiness.

From the sandworms 1,000 feet long to the closing fight between Sting as Feyd Rautha, Lynch’s Dune remains an unforgettable journey full of solid practical effects, a stellar cast, and an unmistakable style of filmmaking.

For what it is worth, Dune - starring Kyle Maclachlan, Jose Ferrer, Patrick Stewart. Brad Dourif, Virginia Madsen, Freddie Jones, Jack Nance, Everett McGill, Richard Jordan, Sian Phillips, Paul Smith, Dean Stockwell, Max Von Sydow, Sean Young, Kenneth McMillan, Linda Hunt, and Francesca Annis as Lady Jessica - remains an unforgettable Dino De Laurentiis produced journey into the heart of B-grade theatrics as large battles with worms becomes a hand-to-hand combated showdown.

Dune is now available on blu-ray thanks to Arrow Video’s 4K restoration from the original camera negative.  Accompanied by hours of comprehensive bonus features, David Lynch’s Dune is finally getting the respect and the attention it rightly deserves.

Limited Edition Sandbox – 4K UHD + 3-Disc Blu-ray – Imprint Collection #426

Home Video Distributor: Via Vision Entertainment
Available on Blu-ray - August 25, 2025
Screen Formats: 2.39:1
Subtitles: English SDH
Audio: English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1; English: DTS-HD 2.0
Discs: 4K Ultra HD; Blu-ray Disc, 4-disc set
Region Encoding: Region-free playback

The year is 10,191, and four planets are embroiled in a secret plot to wrest control of the Spice Melange, the most precious substance in the universe and found only on the planet Arrakis. A feud between two powerful dynasties, House Atreides and House Harkonnen, is manipulated from afar by ruling powers that conspire to keep their grip on the spice. As the two families clash on Arrakis, Duke Atreides' son Paul (Kyle MacLachlan, in his screen debut) finds himself at the center of an intergalactic war and an ancient prophecy that could change the galaxy forever.   Though its initial reception ensured that Lynch largely eschewed mainstream filmmaking for the rest of his career, "Dune" has since been rightly re-evaluated as one of the most startlingly original and visionary science fiction films of the 1980s. Its astonishing production design and visual effects can now be appreciated anew in this spellbinding 4K restoration, accompanied by hours of comprehensive bonus features.

Video:

Presented in its original 2.39:1 aspect ratio, Imprint’s 4K restoration is fantastic in giving the film a clean look without sacrificing too much of the grain. The contrast and colors are restored to extenuate the muted color palette of the film, and the sparkles and other mystical elements really seem to pop out wonderfully.

Overall, this is probably a perfect transfer and the best version of the film we will ever see.  You aren’t going to escape the gamey CGI as this film was the first to utilize the effects (especially in the shield scene), but that’s not a problem if you are a fan like me. 

This 4K restoration is a thing of beauty showing off the practical effects and the galaxy with previously unseen details.  The details in the clothing and some of the furnishing items in the warring families' own houses are a reason to appreciate the visual “pop” throughout the high definition transfer. 

The atmosphere – especially the cinematography – is especially nice as Paul  rockets to his glory and goes deep off his home planet to fight a battle he’s more than prepared for.  The crisp image quality is the best you’re going to get with a film like this and, admittedly, this 4K restoration is even better than expected.  Colors are perfect. Blacks are solid. Skin tones are detailed and appropriate.

Audio:

The spice must flow!  The original uncompressed stereo audio and DTS-HD MA 5.1 surround audio keeps it flowing quite well.  Crank it up! 

Supplements:

Commentary:

• See the Special Features for the breakdown of the two new commentaries.

Special Features:

The motherlode is included here!  This is a heavy, bespoke collector’s item, measuring 23 x 32cm, weighing in at 1.5kg, and comes replete with comprehensive physical extras:

• a full-colour matte laminated 27″ x 40″ folded print of the original poster;
• a reprint of the original official 1984 three-issue comic series;
• a hardcover booklet, featuring 60 pages of photographs and original production material;
• a 3D Lenticular Hardcase housing all four discs; six art cards;
• a custom-made transparent PVC display case with anti-scratch film lamination.

Rediscover the original Dune with the Theatrical Cut fully restored on 4K UHD with Dolby Vision, and on Blu-ray, plus the Extended TV Version on Blu-ray.  Dive beneath the dunes and behind the scenes with an exclusive extended cut of the feature-length documentary ‘The Sleeper Must Awaken’, alongside hours of Special Features.

Disc One: Theatrical Cut on 4K UHD

• Dolby Vision and HDR10 presentation of the 137-minute Theatrical Cut on 4K UHD
• Theatrical Trailer

Disc Two: Theatrical Cut on Blu-ray

• 1080p High-definition presentation on Blu-ray of the 137-minute Theatrical Cut
• Theatrical Trailer
• Teaser Trailer

Disc Three: Extended TV Version on Blu-ray

• 1080p High-definition presentation on Blu-ray of the 177-minute Extended TV Version
• Audio Commentary by Max Evry, author of A Masterpiece in Disarray: David Lynch’s Dune, an Oral History (2024)
• Original Aspect Ratio 2.35:1
• Audio: English DTS-HD 5.1 Surround + LPCM 2.0 Stereo
• Optional English HOH Subtitles

Disc Four: Documentary and Special Features

• 1080p High-definition presentation on Blu-ray of The Sleeper Must Awaken: Making Dune – exclusive extended 93-minute cut
• Beyond Imagination: Merchandising Dune – featurette on the film’s promotional merchandise (2021)
• Prophecy Fulfilled: Scoring Dune – featurette on the film’s music score, with interviews with members of Toto and film music historian Tim Greiving (2021)
• Destination Dune – featurette (1983)
• Impressions of Dune – documentary on the making of the film (2003)
• Interview with production coordinator Golda Offenheim (2003)
• Deleted Scenes with introduction by Raffaella de Laurentiis (2005)
• Additional Deleted Scene with introduction by actor Molly Wryn (2024)
• Designing Dune – featurette on the work of production designer Anthony Masters (2005)
• Dune FX – featurette on the film’s effects (2005)
• Dune Models & Miniatures – featurette on the film’s model effects (2005)
• Dune Costumes – featurette on the film’s costume designs (2005)
• Interview with actor Paul Smith (2007)
• Interview with make-up effects artist Christopher Tucker

	Movie
	Video
	Audio
	Extras
Composite Blu-ray Grade

MPAA Rating: PG-13.
Runtime: 137 mins
Director: David Lynch
Writer: David Lynch
Cast: Kyle MacLachlan; Virginia Madsen; Francesca Annis
Genre: Adventure | Sci-fi
Tagline: A world beyond your experience, beyond your imagination.
Memorable Movie Quote: "Father! The sleeper has awakened!"
Theatrical Distributor: Universal Pictures
Official Site:
Release Date: December 14, 1984.
DVD/Blu-ray Release Date: August 25, 2025.
Synopsis: The year is 10,191, and four planets are embroiled in a secret plot to wrest control of the Spice Melange, the most precious substance in the universe and found only on the planet Arrakis. A feud between two powerful dynasties, House Atreides and House Harkonnen, is manipulated from afar by ruling powers that conspire to keep their grip on the spice. As the two families clash on Arrakis, Duke Atreides' son Paul (Kyle MacLachlan, in his screen debut) finds himself at the center of an intergalactic war and an ancient prophecy that could change the galaxy forever.