Why the new version is better than the old one.

Three years ago, I viewed David Lynch’s 1984 take on Frank Herbert’s book “Dune,” which had Kyle MacLachlan, Virginia Madsen, Patrick Stewart, Sting, Max von Sydow, and Dean Stockwell, among others, and I must say as much as it gained some cult followings, it bored me to death. It had no vivid performances, no visual styles at the level of “Star Wars” or “2001: A Space Odyssey,” and no life whatsoever. 

For years now, despite a made-for-TV film with William Hurt, there hasn’t been anyone who can give it another theatrical chance, which is why there was the documentary “Jordorwsky’s Dune.” But, rising on the success of “Arrival” and “Blade Runner: 2049,” Denis Villeneuve takes on this Sci-Fi epic, and he does it just right. For one thing, he divided the story into two parts. The first part, which in my Honorable Mentions in my Best Films of 2021 list, and the second part, which was supposed to come out last year, but got pushed to March, because of the SAG-AFTRA and Writer’s Guide of America strikes.

We all haven’t seen the second part yet, but I can compare and contrast the old version, which celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, and the new one, which I still think is a bold and daring cinematic experience.

At the time of the 1984 version’s release, it was a box office bomb, grossing $30 million on a $40 million budget, which was a cheaper price back then. At the time of the 2021 version’s release, it was released simultaneously in theaters and on HBO Max, when Warner Bros. decided to release all their movies that year, because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Nonetheless, and thanks to the Oscar buzz, it grossed $402 million on a $165 million budget.

But I don’t really want to make this article about money. After all, box office bombs (whether they’re good or bad) manage to find cult followings. I like to make this article about the quality of each film. When you see the old version, you’re looking at special effects as if they were part of an old “Star Trek” episode. When you see the new version, you’re amazed at the spaceships with dragonfly wings.

Let’s compare the actors in both movies. Among the cast in 1984, you have Kyle MacLachlan in his film debut as Paul Atreides, the rightful heir of House Atreides, Francesca Annis as his mother Lady Jessica, Jurgen Prochnow as his father Duke Leo Atreides, Kenneth McMillian as the evil Baron Vladimir Harkonnen, Everett McGill as Stilgar, the leader of a tribe known as Freman, and Virginia Madson as Princess Irulan, an Emperor’s daughter. Among the cast in 2021, you have Timothee Chalamet as Paul, Rebecca Ferguson as Lady Jessica, Oscar Issac as Leo, Javier Bardem as Stilgar, Stellan Skarsgard as the Baron, and Zendaya as Chani, Paul’s love interest and Freman warrior. And in “Part 2,” new cast members include Florence Pugh as Princess Irulan and Austin Butler as the Baron’s nephew.

The new version is more patient towards the story than the old version, which seemed to squeeze an 896 page book in a 2 hour and 17 movie. The new version is able to divide itself in two parts. The first part runs for 2 hours and 35 minutes, while the upcoming second part runs for 2 hours and 46 minutes. So combined, it would be 5 hours and 21 minutes. We don’t need to rush all the time. And we all can’t wait to see how the rest of this chapter pays off.

“Dune” (1984)

☠️ Poison for the Mind (0/4)

“Dune” (2021)

If you are part of the old “Dune” cult following, then it will be having special screenings everywhere this Sunday and Monday.