4K UHD Review: Dune (Limited Edition)

Blu-ray Reviews, Reviews, Top Story

When I saw David Lynch’s Dune back in the winter of 1984, I was a bit confused. The problem happened after I had flipped through the illustrated children’s book at NC State’s student bookstore a few days before the opening weekend. There were photographs in the books from deleted scenes. Thus as I was watching the movie, I kept getting disappointed that the various moments were missing. It wasn’t even like I was questioning why they left out moments from Frank Herbert’s original novel. since I hadn’t finished reading it before the lights went down. Over the years however, I’ve had chances to rewatch Dune and I do appreciate it more and more. Now Arrow Video is putting out a 4K UHD Dune: Limited Edition boxset that celebrates the movie.

The set up of the film is a backstabbing disguised as a promotion. Padishah Emperor Shaddam IV (Jose Ferrer) has ordered Duke Leto Atreides of House Atreides (Das Boot’s Jürgen Prochnow) to leave his moist planet to take control of the desert planet Arrakis better known as Dune. Why is this bleak globe covered in sand such a valuable gig? Because this is the only place that a powerful substance known as Spice can be mined. The Spice is what allows interplanetary travel thanks people being able to fold space. But the Emperor has a plan to use this promotion to attack the relocated Duke with his rival Baron Harkonnen (Carny‘s Kenneth McMillian), the previous ruler of Dune. The Emperor wants to wipe out the Duke and his son Paul (Twin Peaks’ Kyle MacLachlan). There’s a massive attack and Paul must survive in the barren world with his only help being the local Freman. Is that enough?

A new version of Dune arrives in October and it’ll be easy for critics to trash David Lynch’s version. But this original doesn’t deserve the spite. Lynch and his team grabbed the essence of Herbert’s novel and put it on the screen. Sure there are scenes that would have been nice in the film, but it was already 2 hours and 17 minutes long. Back in 1984 we weren’t down with spending 3 hours in a movie theater that’s now the norm for Avenger movies. Getting to see Lynch and his team’s production work in 4K UHD really ups the magnificence of the movie. The sets, costumes and special effects are top notch. The Sandworms remain impressive as they rise up from the sand dunes. If this is your first experience watching David Lynch’s version of Dune, do not look at the illustrated book so you can enjoy what it is and not wonder where are the missing moments.

Video is 2.35:1 anamorphic. The 4K UHD transfer was taken from the original camera negative so this is prime resolution. 4K (2160p) UHD Blu-ray™ presentation in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible). You’ll want to fold into the space. The audio is Original uncompressed stereo audio and DTS-HD MA 5.1 surround audio. You’ll hear all the great sounds of the distant world. The movie is subtitled.

Blu-ray with the movie and bonus features.

60-page perfect-bound book featuring new writing on the film by Andrew Nette, Christian McCrea and Charlie Brigden, an American Cinematographer interview with sound designer Alan Splet from 1984, excerpts from an interview with the director from Chris Rodley’s book Lynch on Lynch and a Dune Terminology glossary from the original release

Large fold-out double-sided poster featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Dániel Taylor

Six double-sided, postcard-sized lobby card reproductions from the original release.

Audio commentary by film historian Paul M. Sammon

Audio commentary by Mike White of The Projection Booth podcast

Impressions of Dune (39:39) is a 2003 documentary on the making of the movie. The cast and crew discuss what went into the production. Interview subjects include star Kyle MacLachlan, producer Raffaella de Laurentiis, cinematographer Freddie Francis and editor Antony Gibbs.

Designing Dune (8:55) gets into the international art department working on the film in Mexico. Production designer Anthony Masters and others talk and show off photos of production work from sketches to finished visions.

Dune FX (6:01) explores the special effects used by Kit West, John Baker and others. Turns out they burned a lot of tires to get that rich dark smoke on the location.

Dune Models & Miniatures (7:03) takes us into the model effects. They had a few different crew collaborating. Emilio Ruiz del Rio goes into how he came up with a few of the designs. He is a master of forced perspective tricks.

Dune Costumes (4:05) gets into how the wardrobe and costume department were working on outfits until the last minute.

Eleven deleted scenes (14:21) from the film, with a 2005 introduction by Raffaella de Laurentiis includes her explaining there was no 4 hour cut of the film created by David Lynch. There is even more of an introduction scene. There’s also a few more moments from the big finale scene with the Emperor.

Destination Dune (6:16) is a film meant to promote Dune at conventions and publicity events before it came out. David Lynch looks happy on the set. There’s a great moment when Lynch and Dino embrace. We get to see Hammer Horror legend Freddie Francis behind the camera.

Theatrical trailers and TV spots includes the long version (3:09) and the shorter version that goes straight for the action (1:31). The TV spots promises you a new world of the mighty, the mad and the magical. One TV spot had the focus on Sting battling Paul. This must have aired more on MTV. Finally there’s a VHS promo (0:37) which grabs the good reviews.

Extensive image galleries, including hundreds of still photos covering production stills, promotional images, production designs and the posters from around the world. It’s a film vault.

DISC TWO – BONUS DISC (BLU-RAY)

I didn’t receive the second disc. This is a list of what should be included on it:

Beyond Imagination: Merchandising Dune, a brand new featurette exploring the merchandise created to promote the film, featuring toy collector/producer Brian Sillman (The Toys That Made Us)

Prophecy Fulfilled: Scoring Dune, a brand new featurette on the film’s music score, featuring interviews with Toto guitarist Steve Lukather, Toto keyboardist Steve Porcaro, and film music historian Tim Greiving

Brand new interview with make-up effects artist Giannetto de Rossi, filmed in 2020

Archive interview with production coordinator Golda Offenheim, filmed in 2003

Archive interview with star Paul Smith, filmed in 2008

Archive interview with make-up effects artist Christopher Tucker

Arrow Videos presents Dune: Limited Edition. Directed by David Lynch. Screenplay by David Lynch. Starring: Francesca Annis, Leonardo Cimino, Brad Dourif, José Ferrer, Linda Hunt, Freddie Jones, Kyle MacLachlan, Virginia Madsen, Kenneth McMillan, Jack Nance, Jürgen Prochnow, Paul Smith, Patrick Stewart, Sting, Dean Stockwell, Max von Sydow, Alicia Witt, Sean Young. Rated PG-13. Running Time: 137 minutes. Boxset Contents: 1 4K UHD disc and 2 Blu-ray discs. Release Date: August 31, 2021.

Joe Corey is the writer and director of "Danger! Health Films" currently streaming on Night Flight and Amazon Prime. He's the author of "The Seven Secrets of Great Walmart People Greeters." This is the last how to get a job book you'll ever need. He was Associate Producer of the documentary "Moving Midway." He's worked as local crew on several reality shows including Candid Camera, American's Most Wanted, Extreme Makeover Home Edition and ESPN's Gaters. He's been featured on The Today Show and CBS's 48 Hours. Dom DeLuise once said, "Joe, you look like an axe murderer." He was in charge of research and programming at the Moving Image Archive.