Dune

In some ways, this is probably one of the most fascinating and visionary works of science fiction ever put to screen. In fact, David Lynch turned down the opportunity to direct Return of the Jedi in order to adapt Frank Herbert's novel. To tell you the truth, I'm not entirely sure the specifics of the plot (it was a bit confusing, though not in a Mulholland Dr. sort of way), and I was never really sure who most of the characters were, but by that point I didn't really care because I was immersed in Lynch's visuals and imagery. What I do know is that it's about this rare spice that is only found on the desert planet, Dune, and this spice apparently holds the universe together (or something like that), anyway it's important. So everyone is fighting over the spice, but it is guarded by these giant worms. Then comes along a Messiah figure who was prophesied to restore order. Along with films like Blade Runner and Tron of the same period, this was radically innovative in the use of special effects. It is a visionary work, but I wonder how much of the vision was Lynch's own and how much is Herbert's novel. It's ecclectic cast includes: Kyle MacLachlan, Brad Douriff, Jose Ferrer, Linda Hunt, Virginia Madsen, Jurgen Prochnow, Patrick Stewart, Sting, Dean Stockwell, Sean Young, and Max von Sydow.