Jodorowsky's Dune

Sony Pictures Classics | Release Date: March 21, 2014

8.2	USER SCORE Universal acclaim based on 65 Ratings

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JE61Mar 24, 2014

Highly enjoyable exploration of an eccentric artists effort to break new ground in cinema. No science fiction fan should miss seeing this impressive near miss at creating a film that could have set the standard for this genre for 25 years.Highly enjoyable exploration of an eccentric artists effort to break new ground in cinema. No science fiction fan should miss seeing this impressive near miss at creating a film that could have set the standard for this genre for 25 years. And even unfinished, the concept echoes through the film world with more power than most of the junk that actually made it to celluloid.… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

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MantisOct 26, 2014

Such an entertaining view of 'the best movie never made' and its mastermind. You cannot do anything but be inspired by this documentary. I highly recommend watching it no matter whether you're a Dune, sci-fi, movie or cinematography enthusiast.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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PhoferSep 2, 2014

A fantastic documentary on the greatest film never made. A movie that could have changed the coarse of history for cinema never got finished because of little bit of money.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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alanjames123Oct 24, 2014

A brilliant and subtle reassessment of one man's great dream in the face of the downward spiral of Holywood!
Jodowrowsky should be granted a second chance to create the epic dil he intended to make.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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LowbrowCinemaMar 25, 2014

Who knew cult filmmaker Alejandro Jodorowsky spent years on a film version of Frank Herbert's DUNE? JODOROWSKY'S DUNE is a true treat for film buffs but the doc suffers from the same platitudes you'd expect from a VH1 documentary. EverythingWho knew cult filmmaker Alejandro Jodorowsky spent years on a film version of Frank Herbert's DUNE? JODOROWSKY'S DUNE is a true treat for film buffs but the doc suffers from the same platitudes you'd expect from a VH1 documentary. Everything is brilliant, the best, and Jodorowsky is called a genius repeatedly. Really? His DUNE sounds both fascinating and trite at the same time. It would have been wonderful to have this film produced but what would have been the outcome? Planning does not a masterwork make. But Jodorowsky himself is great company and he comes across like an excited kid who carries no bitterness. Bravo to him!… Expand

3 of 6 users found this helpful33

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LatinCritic13Oct 15, 2020

Fascinating piece of documentary that needs to be seen if you're a fan of Alejandro Jodorowsky's explicit work. If it was made, this would make Dune "The Godfather" over Star Wars.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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LexSmithyMay 31, 2016

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. An amazing documentary into the mind of a truly visionary director, Jodorowsky's Dune may not have come out, yet you are convinced about how much of an impact it would make for film-making for generations to come. Visually the film is superb, and the animations used to bring the concepts to life are breathtaking, and the soundtrack is an audible window into the wonderful if eccentric mindset of Alejandro Jodorowsky.

I'm only slightly skeptical because the documentary is little more than a 'what if?' scenario, and I seriously don't think that many of those who fell in love with Frank Herbert's novels would have liked Jodorowsky's idea of how his film should end; killing off Paul Atreides and then Dune becoming covered with lush plant life to me sounds just as bad as the terrible ending of Lynch's Dune. It's very well expressing how amazing the film could have been, but part of me expects many films to go through this process with high ambition but major compromise. And the nature of how Orson Welles and Salvador Dali were cast for the film just makes me a little concerned about how this film could have very easily gone through the same development hell of Lynch's version.

This documentary is definitely worth a watch for both fans of Dune and aficionados of surrealist film. Jodorowsky's Dune may just have been the greatest movie that was never made.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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talisencrwNov 3, 2014

An outstanding and captivating look at an artistic genius at work, and what steps true genius must take to maintain their artistic integrity. Far better to have dreamed the dream and not to be able to have it brought to life than to sacrificeAn outstanding and captivating look at an artistic genius at work, and what steps true genius must take to maintain their artistic integrity. Far better to have dreamed the dream and not to be able to have it brought to life than to sacrifice your vision and make something that won't stand the test of time. Truly an original, and this candid look at him and his crew at the time is essential viewing for any true artist and visionary.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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JLuis_001Aug 4, 2021

There are many things that can be said about what Alejandro Jodorowsky had in mind for Dune.
But there's an abysmal difference between what you imagine, plan, and dream, and what you actually end up creating and building.
AlejandroThere are many things that can be said about what Alejandro Jodorowsky had in mind for Dune.
But there's an abysmal difference between what you imagine, plan, and dream, and what you actually end up creating and building.

Alejandro Jodorowsky made an amateur's mistake. Being consumed by his ambition. Before he could even have guaranteed to start production.
As they say, he wanted to run before he could even crawl.

I don't deny that what he did may have been very big, and as the documentary itself shows, its influence is evident, even though it's mostly just storyboards, but I doubt very much that Jodorowsky would've created the film he had envisioned in his mind. Even if he had gotten away with absolutely everything, even the crazy 14-hour duration he proposed.

This is a documentary about a dream that couldn't materialize. It happens a lot in this art and business. This is no different.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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ChalkbroodJan 29, 2022

You know what would be a better documentary than this film? being able to actually see the script that is physically present in 70% of the shots. This isn't a documentary, this documents nothing. I've seen a lot of terrible films recently butYou know what would be a better documentary than this film? being able to actually see the script that is physically present in 70% of the shots. This isn't a documentary, this documents nothing. I've seen a lot of terrible films recently but this is the only one I haven't been able to finish. The insight you get into Jodorowsky's work is minimal, he comes across as excitable and ineloquent and not much more. If you've ever talked to somebody planning a DnD campaign then you've already heard most of this. It's a glorified series of interviews and most of the interviews are just aggrandizement of a work that never came to fruition. Sure some of the concept art is fine but again, you don't get to see all of it. If you want to see a lot of unfinished products you can head to deviant art, or go to any artistic forum anywhere. A bunch of other men (and a couple wives of deceased men) show up just to talk about how great Jodorowsky is (I don't get the impression that a lot of women like working with Jodorowsky so maybe that's why there weren't many here). So many of the shots are just Jodorowsky sitting in his chair harrassing his poor cat (this is hyperbole, don't @ me). One shot involved something that put me in mind of those typography videos that people make for high school classes editing classes. People in this film keep talking about his film as the best film never made but you know what? Every film we've each idealized in our own head is the best film never made, who gives a **** I know after spending money filming this Frank Pavich would've been cheating himself by not releasing it, but I wish he hadn't.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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