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Help: looking for... Any 'DUNE' 3-hour cuts out there?

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 (Edited)

Wondering if anyone knows which of the many extended, fixed-up 3 hour versions out there, is the best version to watch?..and if there are any links to that version floating around. Humbly and hopefully…Andrew

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Don’t know about the best 3 hour cut per se but having a quick look around fanedit.org I’d say this version sounds like it could be my definitive version of Dune once I get a chance to download and watch it.

https://ifdb.fanedit.org/dune-the-alternative-edition-redux/

Hadn’t thought about a Dune fan edit till now thanks to your thread and it is one movie that definitely needs some fixing. I’ve actually been looking out for the theatrical release on DVD for ages as the 3hr version is absolute rubbish despite the extra footage. Seems though that I won’t need to now though 😃

.Val

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There is one called the Third Stage Edition that I really like.

I’ve long wanted to make my own cut, but the Extended Edition has never come out on BR so the highest res I could do it in would be 480. I might stretch that to 720 if I could enhance the missing shots. Plus the BR has even more missing scenes. I picked up the script long ago and I’ve always wanted to realize the opening as it is there - it opens on the prophesy. Always thought that would be cool. Need more aerial shots of dunes to make that work.

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Valheru_84 said:

Don’t know about the best 3 hour cut per se but having a quick look around fanedit.org I’d say this version sounds like it could be my definitive version of Dune once I get a chance to download and watch it.

https://ifdb.fanedit.org/dune-the-alternative-edition-redux/

Hadn’t thought about a Dune fan edit till now thanks to your thread and it is one movie that definitely needs some fixing. I’ve actually been looking out for the theatrical release on DVD for ages as the 3hr version is absolute rubbish despite the extra footage. Seems though that I won’t need to now though 😃

.Val

It’s on the spleen so I’m going to check it out. Claims he did a lot of work that would be useful not to have to redo.

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yotsuya said:

Valheru_84 said:

Don’t know about the best 3 hour cut per se but having a quick look around fanedit.org I’d say this version sounds like it could be my definitive version of Dune once I get a chance to download and watch it.

https://ifdb.fanedit.org/dune-the-alternative-edition-redux/

Hadn’t thought about a Dune fan edit till now thanks to your thread and it is one movie that definitely needs some fixing. I’ve actually been looking out for the theatrical release on DVD for ages as the 3hr version is absolute rubbish despite the extra footage. Seems though that I won’t need to now though 😃

.Val

It’s on the spleen so I’m going to check it out. Claims he did a lot of work that would be useful not to have to redo.

One of the reviewers for the redux version said the Third Cut used to be their definitive until watching the redux version which blew it away, so based on that I definitely agree it would be worth your time checking out the redux.

.Val

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Not the Lynch movie, but my favorite Dune edit by far is Spence’s movie cut of the SciFi Channel miniseries.

As far as the Lynch movie goes, Third Stage and Alternative Redux are both good. I’d probably give the edge to Alternative Redux.

Here’s hoping Villeneuve’s movie makes all prior versions irrelevant…

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Thanks everyone for quick, and as usual, helpful, informative and intelligent responses. I shall now go over to the spleen!!

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yotsuya said:

There is one called the Third Stage Edition that I really like.

I’ve long wanted to make my own cut, but the Extended Edition has never come out on BR so the highest res I could do it in would be 480. I might stretch that to 720 if I could enhance the missing shots. Plus the BR has even more missing scenes. I picked up the script long ago and I’ve always wanted to realize the opening as it is there - it opens on the prophesy. Always thought that would be cool. Need more aerial shots of dunes to make that work.

i´m interessted in the extendet version with all available material.
will you do it?
i have several releases of dune in germany.if you need something,let me know.

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Valheru_84 said:

Don’t know about the best 3 hour cut per se but having a quick look around fanedit.org I’d say this version sounds like it could be my definitive version of Dune once I get a chance to download and watch it.

https://ifdb.fanedit.org/dune-the-alternative-edition-redux/

.Val

Just finished watching this, in two sittings. I had high hopes for it after reading the glowing reviews, but sadly it falls far short of what I’d like in a David Lynch Dune movie. There are now two prologues when there should be only one. The first 20 minutes are even more of an infodump than they were in the Theatrical version, and much of the extended material fails to add anything of substance. The Harkonnens are still entirely too gross, the story still entirely too somniferous.

One bright point is the addition of more Gurney Halleck. Never say no to more Patrick Stewart. Some of the additional Fremen scenes added welcome perspective. The ending is much more in keeping with the spirit of the book.

In summary: I’m glad I watched it, but I’m still waiting for a leaner, more dynamic edit of Lynch’s work.

You probably don’t recognize me because of the red arm.
Episode 9 Rewrite, The Starlight Project (Released!) and ANH Technicolor Project (Released!)

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There is somone working on a special edition that updates the effects shots.

I only got the TV cut recently but it has become a cherished DVD in my collection. The rdgion 1 steelbook It is the sort of film i would have a go at. It’s in the realm of “it did not go entirely as planned”.

There is no way i would add 2 prologues is this the redux version? With the book chapters?

The worst thing you can do to a lynch film is turn a visual cerebral feast in to a book! Although i can not say i have seen redux. I have seen the third stage and i really like it.

There needs to be another montage showing pauls daughter being born and so on. Too much missing material still and I say bring on the sick Harkonans. There is another cut fight when sting is in that steam thing acording to the script also.

I think it needs more Lynch weirdness less book personally. It’s about 20 minutes off being complete the TV cut. They had 4 hour+ workprint. It’s a shame David Lynch walked away from it but I can’t say i blame him he did an amazing job really.

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Out of all the Dune fanedits Redux is easily the slickest and most professionally done. I doubt anyone will top it. The pacing, editing, structure an FX are damn near perfect… the amount of effort thats gone into this really shows.
5/5

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Ooh, I think I got the Third Stage and Alternative Redux backwards. The one with the two prologues is the one I wasn’t a big fan of.

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I only watched the beginning, but there are some things I would change already. I would start with some shots of sand with the Prophesy Theme and then cut to the great hall and some chanting then to the Freeman Reverned Mother holding her hand up. While the book did have Irulan narrating, that is unnecessary in a film. What I would first do (and might if I ever finish with my Star Wars projects) is compile all the footage in the proper order. Then do some judicious cutting where it is too long or repetative. What I hate about the theatrical version is that some big pieces are missing. Paul’s two step-sons show up but are never explained. That was one of the worst cuts in the SciFi version as well.

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Alternate redux sounds good to be honest on the changelist. Perhaps there is confusion as he has done 3 versions of the edit and it basically needs confirming the latest version on fan edit links?

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Ah, that might explain things. If I remember I’ll check when I get home from work to see which version I have.

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From my understanding, the link I posted above is the latest version. The Redux is basically a special edition of his original “The Alternative Edit” where he’s fixed a number of things pointed out on this earlier version and redone the edit with his now more polished editing skills than when he first made the edit.

Interesting to hear you didn’t like it all that much Neverar, will definitely have to give it a watch now to see how our views differ.

I’d read the book a number of times as a kid before seeing the movie as a teen. Thought the movie was pretty epic though at the same time lacking but it satisfied me enough at the time as a big screen adaptation. Having then bought the 3hr extended edition on DVD years later assuming it was the same movie and trying to show it to my girlfriend at the time (now wife - I must be an OK catch if she’s still with me after sitting / sleeping through that experience LOL) we both thought it terrible and I couldn’t even finish watching it myself. So it will be very interesting to finally watch an edit that claims to be better than both official versions. I’m actually a little excited at the prospect of maybe really liking the movie again 😃

.Val

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NeverarGreat said:

I wouldn’t say I didn’t like it, just that I had hoped for something more than merely making it a bit truer to the book.

It could be that it is much like the PTs…recoverable to a point of enjoyment but impossible to edit with existing material into a great movie that does justice to it’s source material.

Anyway, I will watch it before commenting further now though that will be in another 3 weeks or so as I’m to low on my current internet quota to download this edit and not piss the wife of who needs it for uni work.

.Val

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This thread is being so useful in contemplating what I want to do with Dune. I think I might have to do two versions - an extended theatrical version and a closer to script version.

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yotsuya said:
I think I might have to do an extended theatrical version

with ALL missing scenes from ALL available extras include the tv scenes??
i like extra long movies with all scenes in…

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Sorry…try again…thanks again to everyone for the input. yes, this redux version I find is pretty spectacular…

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Just having a quick play with color.

Guess at what shot was meant to look like

Original version

Pretty big difference and I think even if it meant fixing up the washed out effects through grading it better, it would be worth doing something like this to unlock the potential some of the shots already have which are sorely lacking vibrancy.

Would make for a very interesting color grade project for the special effects shots just to bring those up a notch would propel the film towards a much more enjoyable experience. It looks far less like a cardboard cut out now also. Forgive youtube screen grab it was only a quick test.

One more guess

Original

Doing this sort of process would not perform a miracle but I do think it’s exactly what it needs. It can look and feel much better than it does.

guess

Original

guess

original

The last 2 space shots are nowhere near as bad IMO

Missing Matte Element???

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That fiddling with the color already looks mighty promising to me. I really hope there’s a chance for the cut scenes to somehow eventually be available in hi-def so we can get something alone the lines of the Alternative Redux in hi-def.