Frank Herbert’s classic Science Fiction novel Dune was released in 1965, whilst it was not an immediate success it has endured to become perhaps the most important work in its genre. The story of a galactic power struggle over a single planets natural resource has all the elements needed to not only propel an entire series of books but to cross mediums and inspire filmmakers eager to put their own stamp on its epic narrative.
Jump forward to 1974 and Alejandro Jordorowsky threw his hat into the ring and started to assemble an all star team to bring Herbert’s masterwork to celluloid. Unfortunately the money needed to make this dream a reality proved too much for Hollywood who got cold feet, not trusting Jordorowsky to handle a project of this size.
The cat was out of the bag though. Hollywood had caught the scent, aware of potentially having a ‘Star Wars’ all of his own Dino De Laurentis secured the rights and hired David Lynch to bring Dune to the big screen.
So did Lynch’s adaptation prove to be a successful investment?
The short answer is no. Almost universally panned by critics the movie bombed failing to recoup the cost of its production. David Lynch has subsequently distanced himself entirely from the film, going as far to replace his name on the titles with dreaded Alan Smithee pseudonym. This as we know is never the full story and dollar bills are only a metric businessmen use to measure art’s merit. The movie whilst flawed, messy and at times cringeworthy is still bursting at the seems with invention, wonder and spectacle.
Which brings us to October 2021.
French Canadian director Denis Villeneuve’s adaptation of science fictions lord of the rings has hit the big screen. In what seems like a now compulsory statement the movie has been shuffled back and forth for over a year due to the ongoing pandemic. Joining ‘No Time To Die’ and what honestly feels like every other movie we’ll ever talk about ever again, in the relentless change the date game.
It's no secret Eric and I have been champing at the bit for what feels like forever to sit down In a faux leather, sticky, almost comfy recliner and circulate our germs with strangers to witness one of our favorite film makers right decades of wrongs and finally put the beast that is Dune to rest.
Was it it worth the wait?
Join Eric, myself and special guests Zach Stephens and Jason Sledge for our most ambitious episode yet to find out!
