The design of Dune is pretty damn impeccable for a 1984 production. Creative usage of early CG can be found in the form of blocky looking body armor that still looks awesome today because, while it feels alien and foreign, it is perfect for Dune’s settings. Same goes for the weaponry and knife work on display, everything is other-worldly, which is obviously what you want to shoot for when making a film of this nature. So many crazy ideas lead to unique wonders as opposed to shoddy craftsmanship. An addition to the film that is nowhere to be found in the novel is a weapon known as the Weirding Module, a device that uses the sound of your voice to fire and energy blast that can destroy solid rock and would reduce a man to pulp. I can’t imagine the world of Dune without this weapon and just love the creative audacity to add something new to the already elaborate world Frank Herbert established.

Matte paintings, made to sell the various planets’ scale, and hand-built model shots for spacecraft and creature design, like Star Wars before it, round out the look of the piece and for my money this the only way to fly when bringing FX-driven cinema to the masses. While CG has definitely made huge leaps since 1984, there is nothing like a beautiful painting or a physical model to sell depth on a production of this scale which at the time was a huge deal, taking years to pull off. (Yes, I am aware of Alejandro Jodorowsky’s hustle, but we’re on a Lynch kick here, so, moving on.)

The vibe of Dune will always stick with you because they enhance the film with crazy voice over work—an inner dialog often whispered by damn near every character you encounter. It becomes a peek inside their true intentions and feelings and helps us grasp the outlandish nature of the piece for those uninitiated. You basically can’t say ‘What the hell is happening?’ because it is all laid out there for you. A genius move really, considering there's a ton of ground the film has to cover.

The final secret weapon to Dune is the unforgettable score from the band Toto. The themes they brought to the table will never be erased from you mind once you hear them. Seriously, just try to fight the goosebumps as Kyle MacLachlan rides a huge ass worm and the theme blasts your soul out of your body. The film also has music from genius Brian Eno who provided "The Prophecy Theme" that is laced throughout. Simply put, adding rock stars to this thing was a great idea. It is powerful stuff that many would argue saves the day.