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From: chas@ihuxe.UUCP (Charles Lambert)
Newsgroups: net.movies
Subject: Re: DUNE: judge for yourself
Message-ID: <1015@ihuxe.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 7-Jan-85 22:25:25 EST
Article-I.D.: ihuxe.1015
Posted: Mon Jan  7 22:25:25 1985
Date-Received: Wed, 9-Jan-85 01:48:51 EST
References: <503@ut-sally.UUCP>
Organization: AT&T Bell Labs, Naperville, IL
Lines: 32

After browsing through this newsgroup and becoming ever more astonished
at the favourable comments about DUNE, I am finally compelled to a cry
of despair after reading the recommendation to go and judge for yourself.

PLEASE don't.

My one hope, having seen the film, was that the justifiably lousy reviews
would keep others from going through the same ordeal, and that the makers
would take such a ruinous financial soaking that they'd never attempt
a similar venture again.

Of course, I jest;  I don't expect anyone to take my word for it so my
treasured vision of financial disaster is probably not to be.  I just
wish I'd known in advance what an insult this production would be, so
that at least I could have saved my $4.

This is a gross, pretentious film. It makes continual use of voice-over
narrative as a substitute for articulate screenplay. This "oh, by the
way; in case you're not following..." stuff is an admission of crass
scriptwriting which destroys credibility.  As a cheap substitute for
the magnificent malignance of the Harkonnens we are treated to
gratuitous blood-spraying and a loving close-up of spittle oozing from
the Baron's lips as he spits on Jessica.  Even that might have worked,
along with the splendid art-deco sets, if they'd played it high-camp.

DUNE is so unredeemably bad that it'll probably rate as a masterpiece.
*sigh* ... and I suppose people will flock to the box office in dis-
belief.  Go and see it if you must, but you'll only encourage them to
do it again.

Charlie @ the Death Star, Ill.