Dune (1984): Lynch's Messy, Beautiful Trainwreck

Okay, so I finally tackled Lynch's 'Dune'. I've been putting it off forever. I mean, Lynch is one of my guys (Eraserhead is permanently etched in my brain), but I knew this one was… controversial. And yeah, it's a MESS. Like, exposition dumps everywhere, Sting in a metal diaper, Patrick Stewart with a pug…it's all just SO much. The pacing is wild too, some scenes drag and others feel like they're skipping entire plot points. Where's the director's cut, seriously?! But here's the thing: despite (or maybe because of) its flaws, I kind of loved it? The production design is insane, truly epic in scale. The costumes are bonkers but in a way that totally fits the world. And even with the voiceovers, there's some genuinely cool imagery, especially anything involving the sandworms. Also, I have a soft spot for Kyle MacLachlan, and even though he's a bit wooden as Paul Atreides, he's got that Lynchian…something. Honestly, it's hard to even give this a rating. It's not a 'good' movie in the traditional sense, but it's a fascinating one. I can see why people either adore it or loathe it, there's no in-between. I think I'm leaning towards 'adore,' but with a HUGE asterisk. If you're a Lynch completist like me, you kinda have to see it. Just prepare yourself--it's going to be a ride. A long, weird, spice-fueled ride. Next up I'm going to compare it to Villeneuve's, but I needed to process this first...and maybe rewatch it with a few beers. Has anyone read the book? Curious to know how close (or far...) it is.