Jodorowsky's Dune (2013)

Jodorowsky's Dune (2013)

Dir. Frank Pavich

A documentary in which Chilean filmmaker Alejandro Jodorowsky talks about his ambitious film version of Frank Herbert's epic Dune novel (1965), a project that he spent two-and-a-half years of his life planning, in the most creative way possible.

A lengthy pre-production began in the mid-1970s, but, unfortunately, no footage was shot and the movie was never made. If it had been, it could've been glorious, or, at the very least, spectacularly disastrous, perhaps even more than David Lynch's version - that did get made, almost a decade later.

Jodorowsky had gathered together a sparkling reservoir of immensely creative people to help him realise his vision, including fantasy artists Chris Foss, Jean 'Moebius' Giraud, and HR Giger, the latter of whom was tasked with painting a Harkonnen stronghold - how perfect is that?!

The planned casting was equally as interesting, with some prospects more fitting than others; e.g., the inimitable Salvador Dali as Emperor of the Known Universe is intriguing, while, on the flip side, Mick Jagger as Feyd-Rautha would probably have been as awful as Sting later was.

It's always fun to see what might have been in the movie-making world. The huge storyboard book that the director has offers an insight into what was dreamed; though, it'd have been a miracle if he'd been able to achieve it onscreen at that point in time. Overall, the film is essential viewing for Dune nuts, even if you're not a fan of Jodorowsky's surrealistic style.