Dune

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Year:	1984
Country of origin:	USA
Director:	David Lynch
Genre:	Space epic
Starring:	Kyle MacLachlan, Virginia Madsen, Brad Dourif
Rating:	4/5
IMDB link:	http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0087182/
Tagline:	A spectacular journey through the wonders of space and the mysteries of time, from the boundaries of the incredible to the borders of the impossible.
Favourite line:	"I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer."

Barely comprehensible interpretation of the Frank Herbert novel, this is David Lynch at his most pompous.

The planet Arakas, also known as Dune for it never rains, is the only known source of that most valuable of commodities, Spice. People wil pay handsomely for Spice, even kill for it, and he who controls Spice, controls the galaxy.
The Emperor of the Galaxy sends a Duke and his family to the sand planet on a mission that he believes will kill the Duke, but the Duke survives, and sets out for revenge, calling on the planets native inhabitants, The Fremen and their secret powers.
Throw into the mix two mighty warring families, The Atreides (of which the Duke is a member) and The Harkonnen, some giant sandworms of monstrous proportons (and well realised, it has to be said), a maniacal Baron hell bent on controlling the supply of Spice, and you have all the ingredients in place for an epic space opera, with political intrigue, battles and psychadelic special effects. Indeed, at times the effects are sumptuous and awe-inspiring, at others, they look like classic Doctor Who, but they are never less than ambitious.

A curious film, with as many flaws as triumphs (Sting's inclusion being one dubious note of caution), this is a film every sci-fi fan should check out at some point.
NOTE - Set for a remake 2014, apparently.