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Sci-Fi Channel's DUNE Mini-Series Review And TALKBACK!

I've been mulling over this review for a few of weeks now, having seen a 99.9 percent complete version of the upcoming (this Sunday, December 3rd through Tuesday, December 5th) six-hour miniseries, brought to us by the Sci-Fi Channel (check out the website, it's got a TON of stuff). You may have even seen the trailer for this miniseries, which has been showing in cinemas.

DUNE tells an interesting story, and the Sci-Fi Channel is a highly accurate adaptation of the original text, accuracy being a common complaint about the previous film by David Lynch. The main questions to be answered by this series are of the execution of a story that we already know to be compelling, and of the comparison to be made with the previous feature film, which is enormously well-known by fans of science fiction.

One of the most notable characteristics of the miniseries is the extended depth with which every story element is explored. We are given a greater understanding of the relationship between the Duke and Paul's mother, we learn more about who Gurney is, who Irulan is, how Paul's relationship with Chani mirrors that of his parents with each other, and how the Harkonnen house plots both against others and against itself. I found this to be a great improvement over the feature film, which to a large extent left most of these issues unexplored. The miniseries' mirroring of the original division of the book into three parts makes for a considerably clearer telling of this story.

More than that, though, the miniseries has a genuinely interesting look, an atmosphere all its own, which at times is exceptionally impressive. The set designs are inventive and elaborate, and there is a genuine feel of a separate universe and culture from our own. At times, I found the detail in the set designs to be stunning.

There is an interesting mixture of feels, at times the look is that of a feature film, at times, of typical television, and at times, one feels as though one is watching a stage play. Some might find this treatment inconsistent, but I found it interesting. I also thought that the extensive use of unusual lighting created a greater feel for the fantastic nature of this story. Certainly, the lighting was frequently not realistic, but fantasy by definition contains elements of the unreal.

Beyond unconventional lighting, many outdoor shots are done using large backdrops on sound stages. These are some of the instances which feel a lot like stage plays. Some might look upon these scenes with derision, because, again, they're not realistic. I happened to enjoy them a great deal, I thought they created a distinct and clearly intended look. Obviously, they made making this series easier too. Realistically, not everyone can afford to spend millions of dollars doing location shoots. In any case, the work done on sets looked great, and the costumes were excellent as well, I thought, I found only a few not to my liking.

I was surprised by the casting as well, since having previously seen a 45-minute rough cut of some scenes, I was almost sure that I wasn't going to like this series. In the end, though, most of the casting choices were good, I think. After a time to get accustomed to the new look of the various characters, I came to appreciate characters I thought I would loathe. The only character who I didn't come to appreciate in the end was that of Feyd, whom I simply didn't find to be a powerful enough or evil enough portrayal. This isn't to say that I thought the cast was amazing, I simply think that they did a fair job, and that in light of other television, including made for television movies and miniseries, I thought they were comparable and of good quality. Remember, this is not a feature film. It is television.

The effects were frequently very well done, although they sometimes lacked the cinematic qualities of the Lynch film, notably during external shots and with the worms, which have a definite CG feel in this miniseries. In the end, though, I thought that all of the effects in this miniseries served their purposes well, and were executed with competence.

The perfect DUNE, for me, is not to be found either in the Lynch film, or in this newest television adaptation. Certainly, the Lynch film found a mood and atmosphere that was exceptional in its own right, even if it diverged sharply with the original text. This new series is not as powerful in its presentation, but is in some ways more interesting, and certainly more faithful. Some scenes didn't work for me at all, and some worked very well. I enjoyed seeing the story presented more thoroughly. I enjoyed the new set designs and costumes, with few exceptions. So how does the series really rate? Well, let me make a few comparisons. First of all, it's better than most of the stuff playing at your local cineplex. I'm not sure that's saying much, but it's true.

The DUNE miniseries is also better than most other made-for-television miniseries that I've seen. Likewise, it's better than most sci-fi television out there. I'd say it's worth catching if you're either a Dune fan or a sci-fi junkie. Definitely. It's also, in my opinion, a fairly significant milestone for the Sci-Fi Channel. This is the first attempt by them to produce a high-quality miniseries of their own, to show their independence and growing maturity as a network, and their ability to compete with the biggest and best television networks. On that basis alone, this is an interesting project.

So, while the miniseries is far from perfect, it's better than the vast majority of made-for-TV movies or miniseries that I've ever seen. The middle two hours are a bit slow, but in general, I found myself enjoying watching it, and wanting more...which is a good thing, because the Sci-Fi Channel has already ordered production of a sequel mini-series. Nice, I think, because it's never been committed to film. Anyway, I hope a bunch of you folks tune in and support this series, because I think it's a worthwhile venture. There you have it. Keep an open mind, (fear is the mind-killer), and enjoy this series for what it is. I'm pretty sure you'll be eager to see the sequel when it's over.

-El Cosmico

elcosmico@aintitcool.com

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Reader Talkback

Cable Guy Coming Saturday
by Mr. Ho Ho
Dec 2nd, 2000
02:40:06 AM
This is the closest we will get to a cinematic Dune, folks.
by Andy Travis
Dec 2nd, 2000
03:22:53 AM
Now, if only they would..
by Bereave
Dec 2nd, 2000
04:00:21 AM
Dear Old Dad
by MCVamp
Dec 2nd, 2000
04:25:16 AM
Any Dune Film
by Playhouse
Dec 2nd, 2000
08:12:39 AM
Any Dune Film
by Playhouse
Dec 2nd, 2000
08:23:05 AM
sci-fi channel keeps gettin' better and better
by themightyra
Dec 2nd, 2000
12:23:31 PM
Any one know when and Where this will show in the UK?
by Roborob
Dec 2nd, 2000
01:29:50 PM
Don't forget B5
by Maagic
Dec 2nd, 2000
01:52:48 PM
Now, if they would only make a trend of picking up bad films mad
by Tender Branson
Dec 2nd, 2000
02:29:05 PM
From what I saw on the T.V. commercial....
by IAmLegolas
Dec 2nd, 2000
03:47:02 PM
B5 Widescreen Not SciFi's Fault
by Old Trekkie
Dec 3rd, 2000
11:19:23 AM
Dune hot, Crusade not.
by nazismasher
Dec 3rd, 2000
12:57:46 PM
Dogstar, you fucking moron...
by crapola
Dec 3rd, 2000
02:27:21 PM
Re: B5 Widescreen not SciFi's fault
by G'Kar
Dec 3rd, 2000
04:53:18 PM
A Review Of The Review
by knox21
Dec 3rd, 2000
05:28:40 PM
Re: B5 Widescreen not SciFi's fault
by Old Trekkie
Dec 3rd, 2000
05:40:52 PM
ah, knox21, yet another asshole.
by stinkypoo
Dec 3rd, 2000
05:56:45 PM
I'm trying hard to keep an open mind...
by Oberon
Dec 3rd, 2000
06:17:28 PM
Duke Leto's on PROZAC and those wings ain't flapping! The rest
by Fourmyle
Dec 3rd, 2000
09:08:17 PM
Please!!!
by nochains
Dec 3rd, 2000
10:10:57 PM
Overall a pleasure, so far
by mikehammer
Dec 3rd, 2000
10:15:42 PM
Shows promise but disappointing
by Skylewalker
Dec 3rd, 2000
10:20:26 PM
I'll say one thing . . .
by moviet00l
Dec 3rd, 2000
10:34:26 PM
All in all...it's okay
by DMark
Dec 3rd, 2000
10:38:37 PM
DMark
by wato
Dec 3rd, 2000
11:21:56 PM
Not bad, all in all
by agentsculder
Dec 4th, 2000
12:16:31 AM
Dig those crazy sous chef hats!
by Uncapie
Dec 4th, 2000
12:34:00 AM
Not bad but seems to lack something
by Hearding
Dec 4th, 2000
12:54:48 AM
Dune (book) vs. Dune (film) vs. Dune (mini-series)
by NewAndrew
Dec 4th, 2000
01:24:40 AM
Dune Mini-series vs. Lynch vs. Book
by THX1127
Dec 4th, 2000
01:40:30 AM
How is this more faithful to the book?
by Shawn
Dec 4th, 2000
01:48:02 AM
What Dune need is more triangles!!!
by Uber Neuman
Dec 4th, 2000
03:38:00 AM
Terrible, but drawn to it like a car accident
by nuclearcowboy
Dec 4th, 2000
03:46:06 AM
Pleased, overall
by Achilles
Dec 4th, 2000
07:22:09 AM
Who dat? Who dere?
by QuizKidDonnie
Dec 4th, 2000
08:20:39 AM
To be different, just to be different
by chrismajik
Dec 4th, 2000
08:25:39 AM
Dune was TRASH
by Lannon
Dec 4th, 2000
09:17:56 AM
Give SciFi a break, you Fanboys!
by geekzapoppin
Dec 4th, 2000
09:56:29 AM
Dune miniseries rocked
by ___JonBoy___
Dec 4th, 2000
10:03:44 AM
Ok, saw part one....
by wingman
Dec 4th, 2000
10:11:18 AM
Kwizatz Hadarach
by Automaton
Dec 4th, 2000
10:35:47 AM

by LeonardTheLizard
Dec 4th, 2000
11:17:36 AM
My TV just kept making this loud sucking sound
by Crisp One
Dec 4th, 2000
11:21:14 AM
Too all those who think we're being too picky about details
by Lannon
Dec 4th, 2000
11:54:07 AM
Dune
by Azure Tyger
Dec 4th, 2000
12:00:39 PM
Mixed Feelings
by LordoftheFries
Dec 4th, 2000
12:20:08 PM
Another Phantom Menace
by MandM
Dec 4th, 2000
12:35:18 PM
To those who read the book to "prepare" for the miniseries...
by Mockingbird Girl
Dec 4th, 2000
01:15:39 PM
It could have been ALOT worse
by ZocaloHobo
Dec 4th, 2000
01:36:55 PM
It sucks
by usagibrian
Dec 4th, 2000
01:39:20 PM
Dune
by swavill
Dec 4th, 2000
01:44:56 PM
As a fanboy myself...
by Hayt
Dec 4th, 2000
01:52:09 PM
just another review
by Deathass
Dec 4th, 2000
02:14:45 PM
Tv vs Film
by jasonbw
Dec 4th, 2000
02:21:18 PM
Pretty cool
by Chronwood
Dec 4th, 2000
02:51:33 PM
Dialogue
by DrJubal
Dec 4th, 2000
03:16:14 PM
Not by a long shot....
by pelcbarone
Dec 4th, 2000
03:33:21 PM
Completely Paralyzed
by Pabodie
Dec 4th, 2000
03:52:06 PM
dune miniseries - for your consideration
by krjam
Dec 4th, 2000
05:16:35 PM
A second round of thoughts
by wingman
Dec 4th, 2000
05:56:19 PM
Compression
by H.Protagonist
Dec 4th, 2000
06:25:29 PM
Get this through your heads, you morons....
by Tender Branson
Dec 4th, 2000
10:01:07 PM

by thrustbucket
Dec 5th, 2000
12:21:31 AM
RE: QTN's Dune/Matrix comment
by Peter Buldge
Dec 5th, 2000
03:16:41 AM
"Interesting" count:
by Beageal
Dec 5th, 2000
03:35:07 AM
More thoughts
by agentsculder
Dec 5th, 2000
04:21:02 AM
Grade B, Far Better Than Lynch
by SunsetMan
Dec 5th, 2000
06:34:29 AM
Pretty damn good
by los rookie
Dec 5th, 2000
07:07:52 AM
Not a disaster, but rather disappointing...
by Oberon
Dec 5th, 2000
07:20:12 AM
The Two Versions
by rocksalt1
Dec 5th, 2000
07:31:33 AM
Dune
by cyfynatic
Dec 5th, 2000
07:43:06 AM
just another review (Part 2 redeemed the series)
by Deathass
Dec 5th, 2000
08:05:03 AM
dune miniseries - episode 2
by krjam
Dec 5th, 2000
09:17:19 AM
May your blade chip and shatter
by Duke Leto
Dec 5th, 2000
09:20:52 AM
Harrison deliberately misled about being faithful to the book.
by kernelm
Dec 5th, 2000
10:15:54 AM
Two quibbles
by ___JonBoy___
Dec 5th, 2000
10:31:35 AM
Kernel, for your consideration...
by Neuteronomy
Dec 5th, 2000
10:37:42 AM
Part 2 Thoughts
by DMark
Dec 5th, 2000
10:47:14 AM
thanks for that link deuteronomy
by kernelm
Dec 5th, 2000
11:06:59 AM
it works for what it is
by rogerboxlightner
Dec 5th, 2000
11:36:33 AM
dune
by jaminator45
Dec 5th, 2000
12:05:43 PM
DUNE miniseries sets ratings record
by Mockingbird Girl
Dec 5th, 2000
12:17:14 PM
2nd night was better
by Crisp One
Dec 5th, 2000
12:48:27 PM
You People OD'd On Spice
by hesiod2k
Dec 5th, 2000
01:03:34 PM
CrispOne...
by hesiod2k
Dec 5th, 2000
01:15:46 PM
Dune Characters
by Marius31
Dec 5th, 2000
01:44:49 PM
Sci-Fi Dune better job on Fremen
by Gmoney1
Dec 5th, 2000
02:44:12 PM
Part 2 and impressions so far
by wingman
Dec 5th, 2000
03:15:36 PM
Where's Usul?
by LSHB
Dec 5th, 2000
03:49:38 PM
Oh and about "Faithful to the book" v. anti-'nit-pickers'.
by LSHB
Dec 5th, 2000
03:58:14 PM
Not great but good enough for me to tune in for the third part
by nazismasher
Dec 5th, 2000
07:34:42 PM
Jessica, you conniving bitch!
by Mr. Morden
Dec 5th, 2000
10:03:02 PM
Reverend Mothers
by Mr. Morden
Dec 5th, 2000
10:56:08 PM
"Little Mu'Adib And Pals"...
by Uncapie
Dec 6th, 2000
12:04:36 AM
Dune was fun, but not perfect
by Brian J Mason
Dec 6th, 2000
12:32:30 AM
Something for everyone to mull over.
by vroom socko
Dec 6th, 2000
02:40:35 AM
Old Spice...
by hesiod2k
Dec 6th, 2000
08:14:27 AM
Old Spice...
by hesiod2k
Dec 6th, 2000
08:16:11 AM
Too Mr. Morden - Leto II did die in Dune
by Deathass
Dec 6th, 2000
08:25:49 AM
Weirding Modules gone!!! BAD CALL.
by Bedlam666
Dec 6th, 2000
08:27:37 AM
The only failure
by RobRed1
Dec 6th, 2000
08:29:16 AM
Mostly replies to Mr. Morden and more thoughts...
by Duke Leto
Dec 6th, 2000
08:53:26 AM
Too Mr. Morden - Leto II did die in Dune
by Deathass
Dec 6th, 2000
08:58:34 AM
I only got one thing to say about the Dune miniseries
by Grimly
Dec 6th, 2000
09:31:47 AM
To Grimley
by Duke Leto
Dec 6th, 2000
09:44:02 AM
They had me, then they lost me
by moviet00l
Dec 6th, 2000
10:38:04 AM
clarifications
by the annoyed one
Dec 6th, 2000
10:51:19 AM

by jasonbw
Dec 6th, 2000
01:43:38 PM
Dune: 6 hours???
by Islington
Dec 6th, 2000
01:58:15 PM
Liked it but . ..
by Playhouse
Dec 6th, 2000
02:57:36 PM
Did you watch the same series I did?
by OmegaMan66
Dec 6th, 2000
02:58:15 PM
Setting aside the Book and Lynch...
by DunwichHorror
Dec 6th, 2000
03:14:21 PM
Clarifications (I guess)
by TheOneCalledBen
Dec 6th, 2000
03:18:47 PM
The Spacing Guild
by TheOneCalledBen
Dec 6th, 2000
03:21:21 PM
I liked it
by Paul W
Dec 6th, 2000
03:30:32 PM
lynch
by kylerayner
Dec 6th, 2000
04:08:58 PM
Another post
by Paul W
Dec 6th, 2000
04:10:35 PM
adaption & tired eyes
by kylerayner
Dec 6th, 2000
04:39:33 PM
Drawing insperation from Dune...
by Ecaz
Dec 6th, 2000
05:19:31 PM
May Thy Adaptation Chip and Shatter
by DMark
Dec 6th, 2000
05:34:22 PM
I was with it right up until the ending....
by Tender Branson
Dec 6th, 2000
05:56:16 PM
A few issues with the "adaptation"
by Insyncopia
Dec 6th, 2000
06:15:01 PM
Salieri's Space Opera
by Insyncopia
Dec 6th, 2000
06:51:59 PM
excellent
by Ally_Kat
Dec 6th, 2000
08:01:02 PM
the imperial millinery
by aeonflux
Dec 6th, 2000
09:54:36 PM
Final Verdict
by los rookie
Dec 7th, 2000
01:13:37 AM
Enjoyable Miniseries, Deficient Paul, Lame Sardaukar
by SunsetMan
Dec 7th, 2000
06:16:26 AM
another inane opinion, just for the record
by iaido
Dec 7th, 2000
03:20:38 PM
Irulan vs. Chani
by Mr. Morden
Dec 7th, 2000
04:12:18 PM
Dune CAN'T be filmed properly
by Shai-Hulud
Dec 7th, 2000
04:17:12 PM
Follows the book, if the book flew out the window
by Mordine
Dec 7th, 2000
08:45:36 PM
Possible the worst Novell adapation I have ever seen
by Faolin
Dec 7th, 2000
11:13:25 PM
Fanatics are funny.
by Aerophire
Dec 8th, 2000
12:18:14 AM
Damn you naysayers
by Mr. Morden
Dec 8th, 2000
01:56:15 AM
The High Road to Dune
by GW
Dec 8th, 2000
09:40:10 AM
Apologists
by Insyncopia
Dec 8th, 2000
11:32:14 AM
I'm annoyed
by the annoyed one
Dec 8th, 2000
12:43:32 PM
I'm hella annoyed
by Insyncopia
Dec 8th, 2000
02:43:22 PM
Longer Version Coming...
by bferr1
Dec 8th, 2000
03:09:24 PM
To Insyncopia
by Mr. Morden
Dec 8th, 2000
04:36:32 PM
Too much overanalyzing
by Paul W
Dec 8th, 2000
04:51:31 PM
OK
by Paul W
Dec 8th, 2000
04:57:16 PM
Hey Mikey! He likes it...
by Insyncopia
Dec 8th, 2000
05:11:46 PM
Cool...Ringworld
by Paul W
Dec 8th, 2000
05:48:05 PM
DUNE MINI is below the Dune Movie
by DMS01
Dec 8th, 2000
06:00:38 PM
Longer Version isn't much longer....
by Charles Murphy
Dec 8th, 2000
07:27:32 PM
DUNE WAS OK BUT I TAPED OVER IT THIS MORNING TO GET THE HR PUFNS
by QuizKidDonnie
Dec 9th, 2000
03:29:18 PM
Physicall aperances were certainly not the only problems
by Faolin
Dec 10th, 2000
04:43:12 AM
Literary ignorance
by Pelham
Dec 10th, 2000
06:09:33 PM
Dune? More like "Doze".
by Count Dookie
Dec 11th, 2000
02:46:32 PM
worms
by Greedo79
Dec 12th, 2000
04:50:51 AM
Hmm, upon reading this talkback, I see that that old saying, "He
by Mr_Intimidation
Dec 13th, 2000
12:01:58 AM

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