Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		4.5
Overall		4.0

Dune Blu-ray Movie Review

"I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer."

Reviewed by Kenneth Brown June 17, 2024

Betrayal! War! Love! Politics! Dune has it all, and has in every incarnation since Frank Herbert first put pen to paper. The story follows Duke Leto Atreides (Jürgen Prochnow), his concubine Lady Jessica (Francesca Annis), their son Paul (Kyle MacLachlan), trusted swordsmaster Duncan Idaho (Richard Jordan), and master of war Gurney Halleck (Patrick Stewart) as they embark on a suicide mission to oversee spice-mining operations on the dangerous desert planet of Arrakis at the behest of the Emperor (José Ferrer). Spice, for the uninitiated, is the most valued substance in the Dune universe; powering spacecraft, allowing for long-distance travel across the stars, extending humans' life spans, granting religious orders like the Bene Gesserit and its Mother Superior (Siân Phillips) strange telepathic powers, and unlocking visions of the future in young Paul. However, unbeknownst to the noble Atreides, the Emperor has conspired with their sworn enemies, the Harkonnens, to eliminate their line forever. Facing attacks orchestrated by the evil Baron Vladimir Harkonnen, his scheming advisor and mentat Piter De Vries (Brad Dourif), and the Baron's cunning nephew Feyd-Rautha (Sting), Paul and his mother find sanctuary in the depths of the desert with the native Fremen, allying with the tribesmen's leader Stilgar (Everett McGill) and a beautiful young warrior named Chani (Sean Young).

All hail the emperor...

Click here to read Jeffrey Kauffman's 2021 review of director David Lynch's Dune, which he calls "an often-riveting recreation of one of the more unique fictional universes ever put on film." Adding, that it "retains a positively Lynchian vision, despite the director's insistence that the final version barely resembles what he intended, and it is full of some very appealing performances, from then new star Kyle McLachlan to a whole host of stellar supporting players, including Virginia Madsen, Brad Dourif, Max Von Sydow, Linda Hunt, Sting, Patrick Stewart and Sian Phillips."

Dune Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Comparing Via Vision's 1080p/AVC-encoded video transfer to the film's reigning Blu-ray release -- Arrow's high-scoring 2021 Blu-ray presentation -- reveals very minimal differences. So minimal that the two are quite comparable. The Arrow image is slightly more saturated, with actors boasting rosier cheeks. Compare Princess Irulan in the Via Vision presentation and its Arrow counterpart, as well as the Baron by way of Via Vision and Arrow. I actually prefer the Via Vision coloring (by the smallest of margins), though I can't say I notice the difference while the film is playing. Dune looks as good as it conceivably could, barring Arrow's corresponding 4K release of course. Grain is filmic and intact, lending the presentation a welcome faithfulness to its original photography and theatrical viewing. The film's palette is full of lovely Caladan blues and rich Arrakisan oranges, as well as suitably sickly, altogether vile Harkonnen greens and browns. Lynch may not have enjoyed the final product, but the film here is awash with life and color, not to mention satisfying black levels and vibrant contrast balance. If it weren't for the more underwhelming nighttime exterior sequences, which lack pop yet are perfectly par for the era, the film might easily be said to look as good as new. Detail is excellent, with crisp, clean edge definition and nicely resolved fine textures, and there isn't anything in the way of crush, blocking or banding to sully the remaster.

But there's a decent chance you already own the Arrow release of Dune. So what makes this one tempting? That's an easy one. While the film's theatrical cut is presented on Disc One, Disc Two is dedicated to Dune's extended television version which, I'm pleased to say, features the same remarkable video quality. This is no mere afterthought, nor a poorly encoded add-on. This is a legitimate presentation of the film, albeit one that delivers a new side of Dune you may not have seen before. (Visit our forums to learn more about the differences between the two cuts.) Lynch disowned this version too, with the infamous "Alan Smithee" receiving credit, so don't be fooled into thinking this is some fabled director's cut unearthed from a hidden tomb. But completists will find it worth watching and worth owning, whether they appreciate its alterations or not.

Dune Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Dune's six-channel and two-channel audio tracks are, to my ear, virtually identical to their Arrow Video counterparts. Reviewing those particular mixes, Jeff Kauffman writes, "The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track kicks into LFE heaven from the first moments and rarely lets up for more than two hours. This is one of the most bass heavy tracks in recent memory, full of thundering low frequencies that will leave your floorboards vibrating in ecstasy. Directionality and surround activity are also top notch throughout this effort. The opening palace scene with Ferrer and Madsen is a great example, with a beautiful hall ambience filling the surround channels and various groups of people clearly and perfectly directional as they move about the scene. All of the wonderful foley effects fill the soundfield with a wide array of aural pleasures, not the least of which are the omnipresent wind effects on Arrakis, which whip and pan from channel to channel like an out-of-control cyclone. Dialogue is always clear and precise, though, while directional, is uniformly anchored to the front channels, at least insofar as the main characters are concerned. I'm less fond of Toto's synth-laden score, but it's reproduced here with excellent fidelity. The entire track has incredible dynamic range, even with its omnipresent emphasis on lower frequencies."

And yes, the extended TV version boasts a comparable DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track as well, meaning once again you'd be hard pressed to identify which version you were watching if you didn't already know the differences between the two.

Dune Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Via Vision's 3-disc Blu-ray release of Dune comes housed in a sturdy slipcase with a lenticular cover. Inside is a standard Blu-ray case and an envelope with six art cards featuring character stills from the film. Simple, classy, solid.

• Theatrical Trailer (Disc 1, HD, 3 minutes) - A less-than-ideally preserved version of the film's theatrical trailer.

• Teaser Trailer (Disc 1, HD, 2 minutes) - An extremely rough presentation of Dune's original teaser.

• Dune: The Extended TV Version (Disc 2) - As mentioned above, this 2-hour, 57-minute extended cut of Dune features the same video and lossless 5.1 audio quality as the theatrical version of the film, which makes this a significant bonus and reason enough to snag the import.

• Extended TV Version Audio Commentary (Disc 2) - Author Max Evry provides a newly produced (2024) commentary that covers the entirety of the film, its theatrical and extended version, the tumultuous post-production process and more.

• The Sleeper Must Awaken: Making Dune (Disc 3, HD, 93 minutes) - An engaging and comprehensive feature-length production documentary that charts the course of Dune's first trip to the big screen, with chapters including "Vision" (essentially the book, adaptation, movie prep & pre-production), "Populace" (the film's take on the Herbert's characters and cultures), "Execution" (the production itself), and "Epilogue" (its reception and legacy). A little self-important at times, sure, but excellent nonetheless.

• Beyond Imagination: Merchandising Dune (Disc 3, HD, 23 minutes) - A 2021 look at the challenges involved with "selling" Dune to the movie-going public, fans and consumers.

• Prophecy Fulfilled: Scoring Dune (Disc 3, HD, 25 minutes) - Thank God, a music score featurette that's longer than five glossy minutes... twenty-five to be exact, which is more than enough time for this 2021 gem to seriously delve into the scoring of Dune.

• Destination Dune (Disc 3, SD, 6 minutes) - A vintage 1983 featurette. Nostalgic. Mercifully short.

• Impressions of Dune (Disc 3, SD, 38 minutes) - Next up is a solid talking-heads doc from 2003 that covers the gamut of the production and the film, from adaptation to original release and beyond.

• Production Coordinator Interview (Disc 3, SD, 26 minutes) - A great little 2003 interview with production coordinator Golda Offenheim that offers additional tidbits and anecdotes for completists and super fans.

• Deleted Scenes (Disc 3, SD, 17 minutes) - A 2005 collection of finished deleted scenes, presented in standard definition, with an intro by producer Raffaella de Laurentiis.

• Additional Deleted Scene (Disc 3, HD, 2 minutes) - Actress Molly Wren introduces a short deleted scene.

• Designing Dune (Disc 3, SD, 9 minutes) - The production design team reminisces in this 2005 featurette.

• Dune FX (Disc 3, SD, 6 minutes) - Another 2005 quick-hit DVD-era quickie.

• Models & Miniatures (Disc 3, SD, 7 minutes) - A 2005 look at the ships, creatures and other miniatures.

• Costumes (Disc 3, SD, 5 minutes) - A final 2005 featurette.

• Actor Interview (Disc 3, SD, 8 minutes) - 2007 interview with actor Paul Smith.

• Make-Up Interview (Disc 3, HD, 3 minutes) - A brief interview with uncredited make-up effects artist Christopher Tucker.

Dune Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

1984's troubled adaptation of Dune exists in a strange state of limbo between what if and what coulda woulda shoulda been. Famously disowned and disavowed by director David Lynch, altered beyond his ability to recognize his own work, and left to wander the desert of the decades as divisively as it arrived forty years ago, the film is a curiosity that's loved by some, appreciated by others, yet panned by many. But even at its worst it remains a wholly unique and colorful realization of Frank Herbert's warring worlds and clashing space-magics, with only its much too brisk pace taking a toll on what might have been a fuller, more engrossing lore-drenched epic. Thankfully, Via Vision's import Blu-ray release (available domestically from Amazon) is a strong one, with two cuts of the film (one being an extended TV version), excellent video quality, and impressive lossless audio. Add to that a bevy of supplements including the feature-length production documentary, "The Sleeper Must Awaken," and this 3-disc release easily justifies its price tag.