In the middle of the 1970s, cult surrealist director Alejandro Jodorowsky had the dream of turning Frank Herbert’s DUNE into a mind-altering sci-fi experience.  He assembled his spiritual warriors to help make it including artists Jean “Moebius” Giraud, Christopher Foss, and H.R, Giger (who would go on to create the ALIEN monster for Ridley Scott) and actors Orson Welles (as the Baron Harkonnen), Salvador Dali (as the Emperor and Dali’s muse as the Princess Irulan), Mick Jagger, David Carradine, Udo Kier, and Alejandro’s own son as Paul Maudib.  He was also going to get Pink Floyd and Magma, two rock bands of the era, to do the music.  His version of DUNE is the tale of one of the greatest science fiction movies never made.   This astonishing documentary tells the tale through artwork and interviews with Jodorowsky, his producer Michel Seydoux, H.R. Giger, Christopher Foss, Dan O’Bannon’s widow, Dali’s muse, and directors who appreciate Jodorowsky’s work (Richard Stanley and Nicolas Winding Refn).   JODOROWSKY’S DUNE is the must watch documentary for sci-fi and film fans.

 

SPECIAL FEATURES:

Nine deleted scenes (approx46 minutes total):

A Nice Killing (Jodorowsky comments on how nice it would to kill the arms manufactors), Costumes of Dune, Frank Herbert’s Novel( how Herbert refused to sell to Hollywood plus Jodorowsky and Seydoux having different memories of what the adaptation rights sold for),  Jodorowsky and Seydoux Reunited, Jodorowsky on Dune’s Length, Jodorowsky on Hollywood, Jodorowsky on Film Philosophy, Seydoux on Dino De Laurentiis (and the selling of the novel rights after the movie failed to secure the last $5 million for the project $15 million budget), and an animated storyboard sequence of The Conception of Alia.

 

The deleted scenes are recommended viewing as there is no waste here and I wish some of these scenes remained in the 90 minute documentary.  Also included among the extras are the theatrical trailer and previews (for Sony technology, THIRD PERSON, FOR NO GOOD REASON, ONLY LOVERS LEFT ALIVE, THE LUNCHBOX, and TIM’S VERMEEER) in addition to the movie in standard definition on DVD.

 

FINAL ANALYSIS:  After watching this heartfelt tale of a version of DUNE that never got made, it made me wish it could have been made.   JODOROWSKY’S DUNE is the best documentary of 2014.

 

This blu-ray review is ©7-14-2014 David Blackwell and cannot be reprinted without permission.  Send all comments to feedback@enterline-media.com

 

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