Dune

[steve12553]

That's absolutely right. I hadn't put it into words but the first movie did have a high degree of mysticism. Respect for the desert as a character. An aura about the fremen and a religious fear of the worms.

[flynx]

Interesting views on 'the voice' and I was comlpletely appalled that in the film they transformed it into a physical weapon usable by anyone. It seems they were trying to describe the power of voice by physical means but they didn't need to do that at all when you hear The Reverend Mother in one climactic scene order "Sardaukar. To me." as she sweeps out of the hall.

A lot of the subtle nuances of the book were actually embodied in the film but were easily missed because of the medium, for example, that same scene displaying the powers of the Bene Gesserit in opposition to House Atreides and the attendant difficulties faced by a powerful family supposedly culminating their breeding programme for a kwitatz and that very child (the mother of Paul and his sister) producing inimical forces in not one but two abominations.

[topspin]

Respect for the whole DUNE series. Also check Brian Herbert and Kevin J Andersons PRELUDE TO DUNE series and BUTLERIAN JIHAD series, gives loads of background info.

[Fay Re Nuff]

Originally Posted by flynx

Interesting views on 'the voice' and I was comlpletely appalled that in the film they transformed it into a physical weapon usable by anyone. It seems they were trying to describe the power of voice by physical means but they didn't need to do that at all when you hear The Reverend Mother in one climactic scene order "Sardaukar. To me." as she sweeps out of the hall.

A lot of the subtle nuances of the book were actually embodied in the film but were easily missed because of the medium, for example, that same scene displaying the powers of the Bene Gesserit in opposition to House Atreides and the attendant difficulties faced by a powerful family supposedly culminating their breeding programme for a kwitatz and that very child (the mother of Paul and his sister) producing inimical forces in not one but two abominations.

i do agree, and yet, they still managed to carry a lot of the original intent within the film.

[steve12553]

Originally Posted by Fay Re Nuff

i do agree, and yet, they still managed to carry a lot of the original intent within the film.

The film needed to be eight hours long to carry it right but that exceeds "The Alfred Hitchcock bladder rule for movie length." At the time it was produced I remember hearing the a lot of money and time was invested in sets for certain scenes that were only a minute or two long.

[Marky Lazer]

I didn't like the movie.

[Brown Rat]

I read Dune when I was a teenager, and after I finished reading it, I felt torn: I was glad that Arrakis would become greener, but I was sad that the desert culture would change as a consequence.

I put down the book and went to sit halfway up the stairs in my house, where I moped around until my mother asked me what was going on. I explained, and she sympathized and agreed that where I was sitting--halfway between up and down--reflected my mental state well.

[j. d. worthington]

Nice. Very insightful parent, that. Sounds like a neat lady.

As for the long discussion of Voice -- I'm not sure I'd completely agree on the contemporary analogies, but I'd say there's something there. As for those who found the miniseries boring: did you watch them broadcast, or after they'd been released on dvd/video? I find that many such are boring as hell when broadcast, yet are rather good if seen without the interruptions; due, I think, to the director simply not being used to working in the television medium, but thinking still along continuous movie lines, therefore not building tension in blocks, but over a long, gradual, incremental process that works well when seen uninterrupted, but fails miserably when broken up by commercials, by being broadcast in different parts, etc. Those directors who are used to the medium seem able to work with that handicap; those who tend to direct features do not, or not so ably.

Myself, I have a liking for each, but feel Lynch violated some of the basic ideas at the end of the film (at least, as seen here; I understand there are about 3-4 versions of that film, one of which is around five hours in length; though I've not spoken to anyone who's seen it). I also understand he's completely disavowed the film, as he feels the studio first butchered it to fit it into the theatres and then raped it by adding their own expository material when it was later broadcast as a two-part (roughly 4 hour) version; where they often used storyboard art for visuals with v/o to explain -- sort of a "Dune for Dummies" scenario. One of these days, I'd like to see the film as Lynch actually intended, but I think he's so soured on it that's highly unlikely to happen.

[purple_kathryn]

What do people think of the Brain Herbet & Kevin J Anderson prequels? I enjoy Kevin J Andersons writing and i've been tempted by the books.

[Space Elf]

I've read the House Corrino, Harkonnen and Atriedies ones, they were good editions to the Dune world certainly .. not brilliant, though they were readable, i've not read any of the other ones thoough.

[Taltos]

Originally Posted by purple_kathryn

What do people think of the Brain Herbet & Kevin J Anderson prequels? I enjoy Kevin J Andersons writing and i've been tempted by the books.

Don't read them. I managed to gnaw through them, but wouldn't recomend it to anyone.

[Cozener]

I thought that Lynch's movie did a fantastic job of capturing the look and feel of the novel. The music did a lot for the movie too. Where the movie failed most miserably was with the Harkonnens and the skipping of some important parts that might have explained more. The Harkonnens were awful. They made the Baron into a moustache twirling caricature of all things depraved. He was an insidiously clever and beautifully articulate man in the book. The movie totally threw that over the side. Feyd was also grossly underdeveloped in the movie. Lynch needed more time to tell the story I think. The casting was very good over all. The costumes were good with the exceptions of the Fremen whose would have been perfect with a jubba cloak and hood. And the Sardaukar who, while looking deadly as all get out, were a tad to remincent of Storm Troopers from Star Wars in that they're bodies were covered in "space armor" or something. The Sardaukar uniforms wouldn't look much different from the Atriedes uniforms except for the colors possibly. (unless of course if you're talking about the initial assault on the Arrakeen when they attacked dressed as Harkonnens)

The minis were good as far as packing as much story in as could be but they dragged a lot. Also, a lot of the costumes were completely ridiculous...some of the hats the women wore...the Sardaukar (aka Bakers of Death)...oh I could go on and on about the costumes. The casting was awful for the most part. The only exception being the Baron...he was damn near perfect.

[Cozener]

Originally Posted by Taltos

Don't read them. I managed to gnaw through them, but wouldn't recommend it to anyone.

Yeah, I got through the House series...not that bad really...not good....but not that bad. The Butlerian Jihad...awful...sacrilege. I won't read Hunters of Dune. I can't do it to Frank. I can't do it to myself.

[Princess Ivy]

Originally Posted by purple_kathryn

What do people think of the Brain Herbet & Kevin J Anderson prequels? I enjoy Kevin J Andersons writing and i've been tempted by the books.

i've only managed the butlerian jihad, and it was a struggle. they seemed to miss herberts almost simple descriptions of the machinations of power, making them complex and dull.

[Krystal]

Originally Posted by purple_kathryn

What do people think of the Brain Herbet & Kevin J Anderson prequels? I enjoy Kevin J Andersons writing and i've been tempted by the books.

I have to admit that I enjoy Bryan and Kevin's prequels. It definitely was kind of different but at the same time have some of the ambience of the series. And I like the new characters and their stories and also learning more things about the old ones and the Dune universe. Right now I'm reading Hunters of Dune and I'm not dissapointed with it. So I'm sure I will buy the next ones.