The Two Dunes:
Comparing the 1984 Cult Classic and
the 2021 Blockbuster

When Dune: Part One hit theaters, it reignited decades of debate about Frank Herbert’s sprawling sci-fi epic — and for the three of us, it also brought back memories of David Lynch’s strange, fascinating 1984 version. In this week’s episode, we dig into both films to see what worked, what left us scratching our heads, and why this story still inspires such passionate reactions.

Gil dives deep into the history of Lynch’s production troubles and the lost “Alan Smithee” cut, while Wyatt weighs in on how the 2021 film looks gorgeous but sometimes loses its story under all that spectacle. Meanwhile, Gayle comes at it fresh — no book, no background — just trying to make sense of the politics, planets, and people with glowing eyes.

It’s part film analysis, part confession of confusion, and a reminder that even when a movie misses a few marks, there’s always something worth talking about.

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