I'll always love this movie for what it got right, rather than hate it for what it got wrong.

The famous quote "The Spice must flow" originated from this movie. At no point is it ever used in the book.

the soundtrack to this movie is just legendary

The music and atmosphere of this movie will always make it one of the best cult classics ever made.

I have always liked this film, don't care what the critics said.

It's liberating nowadays seeing so much love for this movie after so many years of outright hate. It's a beautiful cinematic work.

I'll always have a huge soft spot for this movie.

I love "Take My Hand." It's as though you've reached the end credits of your own life, and are relieved you got the good ending.

It definitely feels like a David Lynch sci-fi blockbuster. The sets and sandworms looked great.

I love this movie because it's A. delightfully entertaining, B. memorable, C. quotable, D. slappin' soundtrack, E. trippy bizarreness that acts like a time capsule, F. absolutely and utterly unique.

Huge in scope, beautiful imagery, an excellent cast, awesome special effects and a fantastic score by Toto with the Prophecy theme by Brian Eno rounded out by believable performances means yeah... I love this movie. Definitely one of my favourites.

i still love this movie.

I love this movie. When Twin Peaks came out, I was completely captured by Lynch. Only then did I learn that The Elephant Man and this grotesque and unusual Science Fiction epic, that I had seen and loved years earlier, was done by him. I cannot consider it a failed or unsuccesful film. I love the sets, the soundtrack and everything to do with Lynch's absurd vision of the hedonistic and cruel Harkonnens. Also: I love Alia's voice.

Lynch's Dune is bloody briliant in its theatrical form - imagine what it could have been with Lynch's total control and his proposed sequel.

I can watch this movie over and over. The new ones I dont ever want to watch again. I think it's the cast.

My preferred version of Dune. I couldn't see it in theaters as a kid in 1984, but I finally saw it in theaters a few weeks ago. Even more stunning than i had ever seen umpteen times on Cable TV in the 80s. Long live the fighters! Edit: I also like that it's one and done.

I absolutely agreed with you about the soundtrack. My mother took me to see Dune in the movie theater in Schaumbrug, Illinois when it came out, and I was only 8 years old. The music connected with me and I still listen to it today often.

Oliver Harper is the GOAT for cinema reviews.

One of the biggest things missing from the new Dune (part 1 at least, I haven't seen part 2 just yet) is the fantastic distinctive score. The new score is fine, but nothing is as distinctive as the 84 Dune themes.

What I love about Dune 1984 is how it perfectly embraces the trippy weirdness of the book and pushes the 80's sci fi asthetic to the extreme. The Villenueve films just feel like epic blockbusters that are visually impressive but overall seem ashamed of adapting the book's more wild concepts.

when it comes to looks and design its better than any other versions

A timeless masterpiece. That deserves periodical viewings. From the details of story, design and action and acting I never get enough ❤

I absolutely adore this version of Dune. The cast is excellent and the production design and soundtrack are gorgeous. Kyle is perfect as Paul, and the characters' thoughts and voice overs totally work for me. Yes, there are weird and/or gross bits, and the ending paints Paul as a triumphant hero instead of a flawed, tragic figure, but this will always be one of my favorite movies of all time. I was lucky to watch it on the big screen right before the release of Villeneuve's Part 2 and it was magical.

This is one of those rare instances where I actually prefer this movie over the book. I saw this movie first and surprisingly enough I understood everything that was going on and I didn't get lost at all. It actually made me want to read the book. There are parts in the movie that I think work better in the movie than in the book. Paul taking the water of life for one. I really enjoyed that scene and to this day I look it up here on KZfaq and watch it.

"HE WHO CONTROLS THE OLIVER HARPER SPICE CONTROLS THE UNIVERSE!"

'84 Dune needed the balanced narrative of the Villeneuve Dune. Villeneuve Dune needed the visual personality of the '84 Dune.

The Spicediver cut is truest version of the movie. Anyone who wants as full a version as you can watch, this is the edit to watch.

The design and world building is what elevates the movie for me. I wish we had the Space Guild in the Villeneuve one tho.🙁

I've said this before, Lynch's Dune has so much potential.

Best way to start the morning! An Oliver Harper Retrospective!!

For the time it was made, this movie is incredible.

Excellent

Can't help but love this movie. Literal chills when I hear the music.

Love these retro logo intros! First Cannon and now Orion! Next time it should be New World or Carolco!

Will always be my favorite book to movie adaption! This movie is Regal, Acting ,Sound,Costumes,most of the effects for the time, The additions Lynch made were great. "Long Live The Fighters!" Paul Muadib Atreides

"Dune, or Dune not, there is no try" - Cuisinart Bandersnatch

The high quality of most of the cast overcomes alot of its shortcomings.

My no1 guilty pleasure movie back in the day! I got so familiar with the script that I could almost rewrite it from memory like the Book of Eli if society ever collapsed. So then I started watching it in French (I cant speak French but I can describe the effects of Spice Production like a fake polyglot!)

You should definitely watch the 3 hour fan edit of the film. It's great.

The best thing about this 'Dune' is epic soundtrack, one of the best of all times!

Sting was very much trying to break into film for a while, I remember it well. Quadrophenia, Brimstone & Treacle, The Bride, Dune, and a couple of others. He did the whole morning chat-show circuit and everything to promote himself as being not just a musician. He was trying to do the renaissance-man thing, kind of like Phil Collins. He gave up when all the films ended up being commercial duds, though some of them like Quadrophenia were critical successes (his part in that was however pretty small).

Saw this as a kid and have loved it ever since.

What I would absolutely love is the new movies edited with the Toto and Eno music. I love the original score so much.

Point of order Oliver: the plans of the weirding modules were hidden with the still suits on the shuttle that took Lady Jessica and Paul to exile in the desert, so they were able to recreate them. This was explicitly shown in the film.

It's interesting that many reviewers at the time complained they didn't understand the story, and yet it is much clearer and more straightforward than the Villeneuve films, which haven't even explained why spice is worth fighting wars for. Dune 1984 contains all the necessary information; you just have to pay attention.

It was in my Top 3 for ages ... and still is. I have so much love for it. I think Kyle Mac Lachlan and especially Kenneth McMillan nail their performances like noone will do again.

Thanks so much, Oliver. You're by in large probably the best movie critic specifically with classic films. Just really appreciate your format, and your documentaries have been amazing with filling in a ton of info. Please keep up the excellent work, once again, thank you.

Really love your retrospective / review videos !

I love this movie. The design is familiar, yet alien. Futuristic art deco. And many of the performances, including Kyle McLaughlin, are fantastic. It's a gem in its own right.

Jack Nance’s facial expressions throughout the film alone make it worth watching!

Good to know Orson Welles contributed to the final script.

I love how a new generation of DUNE fans are re-appraising Lynch's work positively, propelled by Villeneuve's more conventional adaptation giving them an understanding of the story and unhindered by awareness of the bad press. DUNE 1984 definitely has it's problems, but there's great stuff contained therein. I really hope Lynch returns to DUNE with modern techniques he could nail his vision finally.

God, you're such a talented editor. Really a skill to envy, and shared by the greatest of movie makers only.

Looking back, it’s astonishing how often Siskel & Ebert got it wrong.

The music for Dune was mostly written by David Paich of Toto, rather than the whole band. He wrote it with the assistance of his father, who was a composer. David Lynch had played Paich the first movement of Shostakovich's 11th symphony (well worth hearing) and said he wanted the score to sound like that, but if you know the symphony you'll realise that most of the movie score is original. There have actually been two versions of the score put out on CD: the more well-known version, and a more extended limited edition released by Pendulum, which also had detailed notes about the writing and recording of the music; I am lucky enough to own both versions.

I absolutely love your retrospectives, and when I saw this today I couldn’t believe you hadn’t done a Dune one yet!

I started watching this weekly when I was 19 to 23 , back in the early 90s. Then in 2010 I found myself working the gate in Farah Afghanistan 🇦🇫. That's when I started watching this again. I even read the books there. Nothing better to pass the day stuck in the tower than imagining a sandworm tearing up the long range and airfield.

For all its flaws, I must say I still prefer this adaptation of Dune over Denis Villeneuve's, because it fully embraces the book's inherent weirdness, whereas Villeneuve seems ashamed of it.

I saw this movie in my very early teens, on rented VHS. It scarred me, informed me and shaped me - I immediately started reading the books. When I saw Star Wars a while later, also on VHS, it thought it was dull compared to Dune.

I actually went and saw an anniversary showing of Dune earlier this year in the theater. It was quite enjoyable on a big screen. Before the movie they had a seven minute video about the special effects.

I'm glad you came back and did a longer review. When it would come on any of the cable channels, I would always make sure to watch the end credits. I like how they show the cast with that great music in the background.

That Sîan Phillips frustrated growl at the end is great though!

Thank you for making this video! Always appreciate your insight. I'm surprised that you have never covered this. This movie got me into the books and thus changed my world forever! 🤘😎

I always loved that Elephant Man ends with a shot from the stars and this film begins with a shot from the stars

One of your best retrospectives in a long while

I watch a lot of videos on KZfaq at 2x speed. I watched this video at normal speed to savor every moment of this bit of nostalgia. I saw this movie in theaters at 10 years old. It’s really hitting it’s been 40 years since then.

'Kept making trips to the bathroom for ANOTHER piss' has done me 🤣

All your reviews are thorough, well researched and spot on.

40 Years Ago, This year marks the anniversary of this masterpiece... Thanks David Lynch...

Always loved this film, own all cinematic versions,, waiting for part two on home video, re-read the books every couple of years, very thorough video 👍🏼

I thought the special effects of some of the ships, the costume designe, sets, and music erre better in the Lynch version than in the new films.

My friends and I were so excited to see this in the cinema, and absolutely loved it. I was a sci-fi nut, and most of them were into fantasy. None of us had read the books, and had no trouble following the story. Haven't seen it in a few years, looking forward to checking out the Spicediver edit sometime. Also, the soundtrack was the first CD I ever bought!

Wow. You've redone your retrospective review - now it's more complete and updated with latest movies. Great job! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

I watched this film for the first time after seeing Dune Part 2. I knew going in that it would feel crammed because a long complex book was adapted into a single film but didn't expect other issues like the large amount of exposition and inner monologue moments. If I hadn't read the book and seen the newer films I feel like I would've been a little confused watching Dune 84. However despite the film being a mess I do admire the flair that David Lynch brought to the production design, the insane sci-fi elements, a good cast and the film's score

I didn't even remember that THE UDO KIER was supposed to be in Jodorowsky's DUNE, but it makes sense, that man is the most underappreciated working actor living today. A true Directors Actor, a man who will always deliver a stellar performance no matter how bad the written material is. One of the GOATs along with Clancy Brown.

This is indeed a muckup of a movie in many ways, yet... although I've enjoyed Villeneuve's take on Dune and found it very accessible regarding the story - sort of like that tv version which was hampered by a tv budget - I missed the DIFFERENCES in the Worlds on show here. The polished gold and jewels of the Emperor's palace, the wooden construction of House Atriedes and the full on steampunk aesthetic of the Harkonnen's lair... Oh, to be in an alternate dimension where all 3 of these versions could take the best of each other and be one glorious whole!

Always a good day when there's a new Oliver Harper retrospective!

I'm not a fan of dune but I love this movie, the visuals are spectacular. I'll always remember the navigator in his tank, nothing in the new films compares.

I love this movie

This movie had the absolute best trailer ever.

Brilliant work Oliver. You have really captured what makes Lynch's film a memorable experience after all these years. I still love it.

I prefer this version over the Denis Villeneuve movies, it nails the atmosphere annd feeling of the source material far better even if it takes liberties with the plot

Saw it in the theaters as a kid - loved it. What I didn’t fully understand then, I eventually did and it never changed my perception. As an adult, I still love it. Proud to have it in my physical media collection. Still have my Baron Harkonnen figure as well. This is one of the earliest examples that I remember where I didn’t bother anymore with these paid movie ‘critics’ - because their opinion and mine (along with others) were usually wrong. This movie was no exception. Paid ‘critics’ opinions did nothing for me. This movie is still great and with a hell of a soundtrack to boot.

About a month ago i saw this in theaters for a 40th anniversary showing. As a kid i loved the movie and then proceeded to read the book 16 times it's one of my favorite books. The recent Dune part 2 in imax was SO well made, it was funny watching the 84 Lynch version a few weeks before seeing Denis' version. What a difference 40 years has made in the movie industry🤣

I am really glad you covered this. I've always enjoyed the David Lynch version, but haven't watched it in a year or two now. I just saw part 1 and 2 back to back of the new DUNE films, so it was perfect timing. It was good to get a refresher on the '84 version and see what had changed.

I’m glad you did a re retrospective, I need more from the first one

I never had any issue following the story of this film, and can happily sit through the extended cut. It has a visual style that is so striking and unique, and I love it. I saw the new ones and they were good too, but I have no real desire to watch them again.

Regardless its faults I have had endless admiration for this film always and I’d rather watch it over the new films a thousand times over. It’s got magic, style and pathos that films made today can only dream about. Every time I watch it takes me to an incredible journey. Thanks for the great video!

Love the intro! I haven't seen an Oliver Harper video since I was a kid, so I don't know how new that is lol

Great film Great Soundtrack that's all I can say for the moment. 😉

Such a high quality review, as always. Thank you!

Visualy so much better than the new cuts. I just accept it as its own thing .....and what a great thing it is!! Love it!!!

The visual style of this movie was used for the adventure game Dune (1992). That game was followed up by Dune 2. It wasn't a narrative sequel and the gameplay style was completely different as well. But that gameplay was the first true Real Time Strategy game and is essentially the grand daddy of Command and Conquer, Warcraft, Starcraft and all RTS games. Dune 2 itself has two 'sequels' which lean even more into the visual style of the movie. It's a fascinating history. The genre might not have existed without this movie.

I got into this film though playing Dune and Dune 2 on the Amiga and I think it was those games that helped me understand it and love the books . I love that it’s cool again to like this film again now the latest films have put Dune to the for front of sc fi and I could not be happier 😊

There is a scene shown in the film, when Paul & Jessica first escape to the dessert, where they find stillsuits, the duke's ring and Plans for the weirding modules in the crashed ornithopter. You see Paul unfold a blueprint for the guns as dialogue is heard saying " Yueh Has Left us Plans for the Weirding Modules".. so it's not outta nowhere the Fremen have them a year or two later, despite the Atreides arsenal being destroyed in the invasion.

The Heart Plug Scene - the only make up sfx that makes me feel sick......very effective.

Surprised to hear Lynch talking about possibly revisiting it. Surprised and pleased. I get that it was a painful experience for him. But even in its butchered form it is still a remarkable visual treat that i never forgot from the first time i watched it as a teenager. And I've seen it a dozen times since. And i still hear the Toto and Eno music whenever i think of Dune

I'll still watch the Lynch version over Villeneuve's overly long and preachy version. Yeah, I get it, it's more faithful to the idea Herbert was initially trying to convey, but one is more entertaining to watch than the other, no mater how great the cinematography.

This version of the movie was been with me for many years. thanks

I'm always excited when one of your retrospective videos come out. They are great!