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A tidbit on the DUNE miniseries

This sounds promising by Pomona88	Dec 16th, 1999 02:30:00 PM
I don't know much about the actors aside from Hurt, but a mini-series is definitely the way to go with "Dune." Lynch's movie, though long, didn't have enough time to flesh out all of the factions involved, so it came across as a freak show. I assume they are only tackling the first book for now.
Promising by Joe Buck	Dec 16th, 1999 02:49:14 PM
Sounds like it could be pretty good, but I have a hard time watching anything on TV longer than an hour. Too many distractions. So like that Joan of Arc thing I'll tape it and still have not watched it 6 months later.
The Worm... The Spice... The Spice... The Worm... The Worm... Th by bswise	Dec 16th, 1999 03:07:59 PM
Wow! The SCI-FI Channel and John Harrison ("Tales from the Darkside: the Movie") - it's got "QUALITY" written all over it! Still, Vittorio Storaro is a genius and master of 70mm - will he be shooting on video? Theodor Pistek - very nice. Ernest Farino for fx - good choice. "Stephen King's The Stand" was 'critically acclaimed?' HA! Best o' luck to William "My Career is in a World of" Hurt. Lynch's DUNE is a terrible, terrible movie, as he'll tell ya', but it's still one of the coolest.
Looooong version of Dune by Yossarian	Dec 16th, 1999 03:08:55 PM
I've seen the movie on video. The best thing about the movie (IMO) has to be the influence by H.R. Giger. Giger kicks arse. Also, I've heard rumours of there being a 3-4 hour version of the film. Is this true? If so, where can I find it? I have read all of the series, well, up to chapterhouse anyway, and I am not a stupid or dense person, but a lot of Dune goes right over my head. Surely, I'm not the only one...
Adaptations by Farmer Cotton	Dec 16th, 1999 03:29:51 PM
I hope they stay true to the books. One of the biggest mistakes that Lynch made was by changing the essence of the Dune mythology to expediate plot. The Weirding-Way in the books was a technique (sort of an East Indian, Yoga-inspired concept) whereby somebody could learn to control others--and even kill them--with the power of the human voice. It was also a way of fighting--a futuristic amalgam of Kung-fu and other martial arts. Lynch created the stupid "weirding-modules," boxes that the Atreides scientists had created to amplify the sound of the voice to kill. This went against Herbert's entire notion that humans were more powerful (and interesting) than technology. The special effects of the Lynch version were abominable. But Lynch got reamed by Lucas Arts, who refused to do the FX for the films. Now it should be much easier to create CG sandworms and ornithopters than in 1983. I hope that the director of this new version stays true to the book and includes key scenes that were left out from the Lynch movie, including the gladiator contest with Feyd and the Atreides prisoner, the duel between Paul and Jamis, and the subtle political behind-the-scenes intrique that is so fascinating in the book. (And it must not rain at the end. This was pure rubbish!) This classic deserves another effort, just like the Lord of the Rings which is currently in production.
Yossarian... by Jacob Corbin	Dec 16th, 1999 03:32:42 PM
You're not the only one. By some accounts, Herbert was getting a bit dotty towards the end, which may account for some of the disjointedness of the later books -- though it didn't help that the planned sequels (which the last pages of "Chapterhouse" were an obvious set-up for) were never made due to his death. Of course, there were problems with the actual themes of the later books, too -- while the first two DUNE books attacked humanity's reliance on mass-murdering, godlike "heroes" to lead them, all the protagonists of the later books were superhuman in one way or another...
unfilmable books by samson shillitoe	Dec 16th, 1999 03:46:35 PM
If this fails, then I think (as I already think) the book joins that ever-growing list of unfilmable books people are always talking about filming ( like STRANGER IN A STRANGE LAND, CATCHER IN THE RYE, ULLYSSES, THE ALEXANDRIA QUARTET) and sometimes try and fail miserably. Personally, I'm more exicited about the upcoming adaption of GORMENGHAST we Canadians will be seeing on SPACE sometime in the new year.
Chapterhouse by Pomona88	Dec 16th, 1999 04:11:13 PM
Yeah, what was the deal with the last chapter of the 6th book? It came completely out of left field. Kind of like Bob Newhart waking up from a long dream...
Man, I'll watch this just to see by Ilvenshang	Dec 16th, 1999 04:20:40 PM
William Hurt get killed. Can't stand the guy. To the Dunies: yeah, the things that make Frank Herbert's writing distinctive don't translate well to the screen. But the Lynch version was fun (and not just because of the Spot-the-Cameo game). So hopefully, this will be fun too.
why not by samson shillitoe	Dec 16th, 1999 04:30:31 PM
Just do it as a musical featuring Sporty, Posh and Scary Spice Worm. Or perhaps a second kick at the can for using UNCLE FUCKA and getting it nomimated for an Emmy to replace the Oscar it ain't gonna win.
by samson shillitoe	Dec 16th, 1999 04:35:14 PM
I meant "Unka".
This is so damn exciting by kozmicthrills	Dec 16th, 1999 04:46:36 PM
I must admit I've been following this story for a few years now and am glad the cameras have started to roll.I can't even begin to tell you how excited I am about this.Dune is my favourite novel and one that definately needs a second chance.As for William Hurt well he was scheduled to be in Lynch's but was unavailable at the time,guess he's getting aboard this time. I do so hope it's good.I love Lynch's version and all,it did the best it could under those time constraints.Keep us posted on updates,news on this item is a little too slow for my liking :-)
Missed Opportunity by Sorcerer	Dec 16th, 1999 04:48:50 PM
Regarding the "weirding modules"- actually, it wasn't the technology that was so important. It was the words, the sounds that powered it. Thoughts become words, which become energy. Still rooted in human will. I see no problem with that. Lynch's DUNE is in my view the most underrated film ever- it takes some liberties, but retains the power and majesty of Herbert's novel. As for the mini-series, they missed a major bit of perfect casting: Marlon Brando as the Baron Harkonnen. He's fat, old, eccentric, and at times can still be a great method actor.
"But Sire, we can't leave all this great Spice." by bswise	Dec 16th, 1999 05:18:54 PM
Well said FARMER COTTON. RE: CGI effects, has anyone noticed that the forth coming MISSION TO MARS trailer (starring Tim Robbins and Mango) seems to be like a made-for-tv Dune meets 2001, with giant "Twisters" instead of sandworms... sigh. Anyway, YOSSARIAN, I think the rumor about the looooong version goes back to the eighties when it was reported that Lynch's final cut was six hours long (hence the third act told entirely in montage in the theatrical version). Even if this cut wasn't trashed, and am pretty sure it was, I doubt it will ever see the light of day. The "Alan Smithee" version you may have seen on cable replaces the narration and adds some 20 or 30 minutes of footage, mostly in the beginning in a montage of really bad set sketches from pre-production - a weak attempt to to explain the Dune back story. I think they should get Lynch to direct the mini-series and have Paul drive across Dune on a lawnmower.
Lynch's Dune by SamuraiX47	Dec 16th, 1999 05:30:17 PM
One of the things i liked about Lynch's Dune is the use of character's whispered thoughts over the scenes, much like the way the book is written. The scene of the Jom Gabbar(sp?) is great. Sometimes the whispering thoughts were too quiet, but still effective. Another point I'll give Lynch credit for is finding actors who, in my mind, looked the part, except for Harkonnen who I thought should have had bigger fat rolls around the middle, instead of looking like a stretched balloon floating around, he did not look heavy at all. When I first read the Dune trilogy I skipped the first one and read Children of Dune. I guess because I wanted to read a Juvenile novel, versus getting into the heavy adultish stuff i percieved the first book to be. I was 14 or 15 back then. Then I read them in order and really enjoyed it. The Wierding way to me had always been the use of voice. The use of voice by the bene gesserit witch was an example. At some point, the fremen do turn "muad-dib" into a killing word, but with no mechanics involved. I suppose that would have been too hard to explain in a movie, so they went with the mechanical amplification of sound in the film. There is a DVD out of DUNE which may be the director's cut, versus the expanded video version the studio made with the history lesson at the beginning with a male narrator. I think Irulan's brief intro in the original film is better and in keeping with the book. Does anyone know of this director's cut?
different versions of Lynch's film by cripster	Dec 16th, 1999 05:58:28 PM
For a very good overview of the different versions of Lynch's Dune that have (or might have) existed, check out the "Film" page at the World of Dune website ( http://duneworld.spaceguild.co m/ ). The site also has a whole bunch of other Dune-related stuff. Unfortunately, it appears it hasn't been updated since last March, so there's no info about the new miniseries. Personally, I think this project has great potential, and I will anxiously await its debut.
For he IS the Knick-knack Paddywack! by Electric Toad	Dec 16th, 1999 06:03:05 PM
Sorry, couldn't resist. As to Lynch's version, I agree, the whispered thoughts were a wonderful touch, one of the things that really makes the film for me. I'm looking forward to seeing the miniseries, although I am in no way expecting it to measure up to the book, for down that path lies madness.
Usul, tell me about your homeworld... by Feathers McGraw	Dec 16th, 1999 06:44:45 PM
I read the initial Dune trilogy back in '76 at the tender age of 12. Probably fucked me up real good, eh? Like, for life... Anyway, Electric Toad and Samurai both bring up one of the major sticking points with translating these novels to any other medium - the fact that so much of the story takes place in the mind of the characters. It makes it difficult to do anything other than spoil the movie with nearly constant voice overs or "whispers" just to propel the story forward...
Storaro Spice, Hurt Spice, Farino Spice... Tasty! by Spamjavelin	Dec 16th, 1999 07:02:44 PM
After B5 dampfarting, this is the series I'm going to pin my hopes for a decent SF TV seriees on. It certainly has the right ingredients so far. I'd just like to add a bit more spice and suggest that they ABSOLUTELY MUST use the same theme tune from the film! Dean Stockwell and Patrick Stewart should reprise their rolse as well.
Lynch is the God Emperor! by Fatal Discharge	Dec 16th, 1999 08:35:35 PM
I saw Dune the movie when I was 17 on opening day but had not read the book (dragged to it by a friend who had). He didn't like it - I did. Seems to be the pattern for viewers; I later read the book and liked it too. I don't remember if I had seen The Elephant Man at that point, but Blue Velvet blew me away 2 years later. I agree that the whispered thoughts gave it depth and emotion rarely present in science fiction films. The dark sombre visuals were great too although I admit the film has its flaws (Sting - uck!). That the film was so viciously trashed by the critics (the opening day after-school show wasn't even half full), also puzzled me. Anyway, I admit William Hurt is a sourpuss but I did like Lost In Space as an effects-heavy B-movie. I'm embarassed to say a tear came to my eye when Hurt confronted his embittered son from the future. The thing with television miniseries is that they often have hack directors (newsflash - Tales From The Darkside is not very good!), and use so many tv actors that it pulls you out of the characters life on the screen. This happened to me watching The Stand and "It". Merlin was quite good with the help of performances from Martin Short, Sam Neill, and Helena Bonham Carter among others. The production values and special effects were also well done. So, here's hoping for the best with Dune....
Sorry, Cuthbert... by Deltahead	Dec 17th, 1999 12:25:13 AM
...But the Sci-Fi channel has already mentioned the Dune series in their "Sci2K" promos, which means some of it has already been shot. No backing down now. I'm going to stay hopeful. Lynch's version, while visually stunning, strayed pretty far from the book sometimes, and even the most expansive director's cut (app 4 hours) isnt enough time to do the book right. The other reason I'm not against this is because I support noble efforts. Take the recent adaptation of "Breakfast of Champions" that came and went through theaters like diarrhea. Despite a very talented cast (including Bruce Willis and Nick Nolte), it wasn't very good. But it tried, tried very hard, to overcome the major difficulties that a Vonnegut adaptation is prey to. I give major points for effort, because I'd rather see a movie reach and fail, especially when sci-fi is concerned, than see a timid film that doesn't even attempt. Peace.
I love "Dune", I want to marry it by T	Dec 17th, 1999 04:37:48 AM
Dune is one of my absolute favorite movies: it's just so, so out there. I don't think it's possible to see Dune and not give Lynch credit for definitely walking a different path than that set down by the Star Wars, ET, etc ilk. That credit doesn't mean you'll love the movie, of course, but it all comes together to work so well for me, although admittedly, the movie really doesn't make a whole lot of sense (I've never seen the "director's" cut, but would love to...I guess it's unlikely we'll ever see a DVD release.) Actually, my first exposure to Dune was through that video game that was released a few years ago (followed by a totally different, yet equally fantastic sequel). So great...anyway, William Hurt definitely has the Leto look. I guess that has nothing to do with anything, though. This could either be really good or really, really bad...but the only way it's gonna be really bad is if they decide to ignore the novel and movie (and video games) and go with something as standard and devoid of interest as most Sci Fi channel product. I'm personally hoping for the best, anyway. (DUNE DOUBT THIS MOVIE? ha ha? We shall see.)
I second that sentiment by Crisp One	Dec 17th, 1999 11:12:05 AM
If the guys in charge of this film are the guys that did Merlin, then they're also the guys that did Odyssey (spelling?) and Noah, which stank badly. Especially Noah. And this! THIS! Dune is a huge epic story. I've read it several times, yet each time I get a little more out of it. There's no way they can approach or even grasp the grandeur of what they're dealing with. Maybe Ridley Scott could handle it. But alas, it's not to be.
Oh, and by the way - Read the new book? by Crisp One	Dec 17th, 1999 11:18:21 AM
Has anyone read the new Dune book by Herbert, Jr.? I read the little preview booklet, and just felt like Herbert Jr was just trying to imitate daddy's style, and falling on his face. And it seemed more action-packed than the others, and action is not what the Dune series was all about. Then again, it was only a few pages worth. Let us know how the book is if you've read it!
let it die by Clameater	Dec 17th, 1999 11:23:26 AM
Dune is just one of those books that will never translate to the screen because much of what makes it so good actually happens in the thoughts of the characters, not their words and actions. A four-hour epic consisting of Paul's voiceover may be the closest thing to the book ever done, but it won't be entertaining. They'll do what they always do...make a bunch of shit up. Sure, they'll throw in some of the things you expect, but you can bet there will be a random car chase or a love scene between Paul and Anna Nicole Smith in the middle of it all. I can see it now, "House Harkonen must fall! But first a little Koochipops on my hangdown for the ladies." Then Paul and his father, resurrected halfway through the film do to poor audience testing, dance to the sounds of the Back Street Boys. The sand worms start doing the wave and I puke all over my shoes. Let it die!
Koochipops on my hangdown for the ladies by bswise	Dec 17th, 1999 11:51:10 AM
That's beautiful Clameater (snif) This is a sad day for Vittorio Storaro, I mean, my god, the man who shot THE CONFORMIST, THE LAST EMPEROR, APOCOLYPSE NOW, REDS, TANGO (awesome film)!?! Oddly enough, each time he is sent to the desert, a turkey is on his hands - and I'm talkin' about ISHTAR, THE SHELTERING SKY and now DUNE. THe Sci-Fi channel, long th egraveyard of science fiction, is now becoming the killing floor of quality material.
One more thing... by SamuraiX47	Dec 17th, 1999 11:55:20 AM
One more thing I want to say about what I thought was good in Lynch's DUNE... The sets showed lots of details and workmanship. The mexican set builders did agreat job... the emperors throne room was all shiny and gold. The scene when Duncan says goodbye, the stairs are very intricate. It helps portray the society as one that admires architectural craftsmanship, and even with the level of technology, it's not sterile looking or simple. Ornate may be a better term... The Houses of Harkonnen and Atreides could afford splendor in their buildings. I wonder if Lynch had the sets stashed away for future sequels.
re: Merlin, Odyssey, Noah by SamuraiX47	Dec 17th, 1999 11:58:43 AM
That production company involved with those miniseries has a contract with NBC to produce more miniseries, they are not involved, as far as I know, in this DUNE production. I think the leprechauns miniseries was the latest for NBC. Probably already something in the works for this February and May rating sweeps.
David Lynch's DUNE sucked ass by Brendan3	Dec 17th, 1999 12:59:16 PM
I had read all the Dune books at the time and ditched school with a buddy of mine to see DUNE on it's first day, December 14th, 1984. Now I like David Lynch's stuff and as the film started I was impressed with the sets and costumes. They weren't generic sci-fi sterile, they were regal and grand as they should be. I noticed in the beginning, the story seemed condensed, but you have to expect that if they're going to squeeze DUNE into one movie. Then came the cartoonish Harkonnens, nothing like the book, and the soundtrack by TOTO.(What the fuck!)and finally this inane subplot about "weirding modules" that had nothing to do with anything in the book. They made room for this kind of crap throughout the film yet they chucked half of the plot of the novel. They changed characters, storylines, and even the ending. What apiece of crap. Now when ever I reccomend DUNE as a great book to some young guy just getting in to sci-fi, they just look at me and say "I saw that piece of shit film, why would I want to read the book?"
The ending of Chapterhouse. by Ed W.	Dec 17th, 1999 12:59:23 PM
Frank might have been losing it at the end of his life, but I always thought the end of Chapterhouse was fascinating. Herbert created one of the "grandest" visions of humanity ever conceived. A humanity which has spread to the edges of the known universe and beyond, and can never be destroyed (simply because it has become so omnipresent). He also instilled me with what I consider true "humanist" ideals (the survival of the human race should be humanity's, and our individual, first concerns). Back to Chapterhouse. After setting up this grand future, and pontificating on random philosophical points for several thousand pages, Herbert pulls back and adds a little "perspective" to the mix. What if, despite all of humanities potential, and the grand future humanity might achieve, our whole universe is nothing more than a single atom in a blade of grass ....and the lawnmower is coming.
Lynch's film rocks in a way that can't happen again by Mickey Finn	Dec 17th, 1999 01:08:45 PM
A few points. 1) Lynch's Dune is an abominable adaptation of a brilliant book. 2) It's Lynch's fault, for prioritising the mysticism and for slapping voice-overs all over it. 3) It's also the studio's fault, for cutting the thing to ribbons. 4) These criticisms only apply to the film as an ADAPTATION. As a FILM, it ROCKS. 5) The reason it KICKS ASS is precisely because it's INSANE - weird suits, big worms, strange suits, music by Toto, Captain Picard from Star Trek playing a wrestler from the WWF, a main character whose role seems exactly like that of Luke Skywalker in Star Wars except it's incomprehensible. 6) All of these factors result from telling a FREAK like Lynch to film an epic sci-fi book. They cannot be reproduced. 7) Furthermore, for reasons already discussed on this Talkback, a TV mini series cannot do justice to Herbert's book as a whole. If we're lucky, it might look good, or have one or two good performances, but not ALL of these. 8) Therefore, IT WILL SUCK.
A sad day for Dune by hastur	Dec 17th, 1999 01:13:45 PM
Mim is most likely right. As a long-time fan of Dune, I was heartened to hear that it would be a miniseries. But six hours? Not nearly enough time to do it right. Sci-Fi Channel Original Production? Can you say kiss of death? The director of "Tales From the Darkside: The Movie?" Nails in the coffin! I disagree that TV miniseries always suck. I liked "The Stand" (although the ending struck me as kind of cheesy) and even though it wasn't sci-fi, "Lonesome Dove" rocked. So it's possible. But Dune is a demanding project (don't forget that the film project went through a number of filmmakers before Lynch finally started shooting) and it sounds like the odds are against it. Someone mentioned Babylon 5 earlier, and I think that show is the first sci fi TV to capture some of the grand scale and scope that Dune could bring to the small screen. This will probably be the project that proves that, alas, one of my all-time favorite novels is simply unfilmable. Actually I take that back--I think Dune is filmable, and could be done well--but not the way we currently make movies and TV, unfortunately. The best we can hope is what we got from the Lynch version, some neat Dune bits here and there.
David Lynch Should Direct! He Must! by alexfinch_2000	Dec 17th, 1999 01:42:10 PM
Sure, Lynch's version was flawed, but it was his first big budget 'epic' and he's extremely comfortable in the tv genre. The Straight Story showed how much he's matured as a director, and I doubt that few others could do justice to such a project. Whether or not he'd be interested is another story...... If you're a fan of Lynch visit Garbled Communications at "http://go.to/garbled_com" which also has an excellent tv news section.
Why, oh why, is this being made? by BSGDAN	Dec 17th, 1999 01:59:26 PM
Who the hell has been asking the Sci-Fi Channel to do this? As far as I can tell, no one has been asking for anybody to make a newer, longer version of "Dune". Face it, the Lynch film was fine. It covered everything without taking three or four parts to do it. Remember, longer isn't better. For instance, take "The Shining". Fans of the book attack Kubrick's version without apology. Stephen King hates the thing. So, what happens? King writes a new screenplay, and ABC produces some long, three-part miniseries of it. What was the result? Total shit! No matter what the complaints about the 1980 film were, there was no way in hell that TV version was going to top it. The same will happen with this. Besides, we all know about the quality of those "Sci-Fi Channel Originals". They all suck donkey nuts. Instead of giving us this shit, why don't they heed the thousands of requests they have been getting to produce a new BATTLESTAR GALACTICA series? Believe me, there are a lot more fans of that than there ever will be of DUNE.
a fan of the movie not really of the book by Everett Robert	Dec 17th, 1999 02:26:32 PM
I read the book a couple of years ago over Christmas break becasue I was interested in a girl who loved the series. After reading the first 2 books and being totally bogged down by the 3rd quit, sorry but I did, couldn't handle it. Then I saw the movie at like Wal-mart for 6 bucks, I like lynch so I picked it up. Loved it. I love the music I love the look. To me it works in ways that the book didn't. But I'm a very visual person. I like to see things in my mind not read mind numbing philopshy(that said I do enjoy the works of George Orwell and William Shakespere so...)Hell even Sting worked for me in the movie. It gets a thumbs up from me(if that means anything) and it definetly isn't the most fucked up David Lynch movie in the world, that dubious honor goes to Lost Highway
God Emperor by Pomona88	Dec 17th, 1999 02:36:45 PM
Dude, the 3rd book sucked. You need to read the 4th one. 1 and 4 are righteous.
"Twin Peaks" was better directed than the X-Files could ever hop by Peregrin	Dec 17th, 1999 04:35:02 PM
Absolutely, positively bar-none; without any form of argument. Just watch both shows. X-Files as one mood which, I'll admit, it does well; where as "Twin Peaks" encompasses that mood and so many others it becomes scary. Plus, no one has seen Lynch's 4-hour "Dune" and so I don't think it is fair to comment on it!
David Lynch as a director by Brendan3	Dec 17th, 1999 05:03:01 PM
I don't think anybody here is knocking David Lynch as a director when we're attacking his version of DUNE. When I saw DUNE when it came out, I was a fan of Eraser Head and The Elephant Man and I'm still a David Lynch fan. But even great directors can make a turkey once in a while and his dumbing down of the book on film is his turkey.
Dune a great film? GAG by dwalter3	Dec 17th, 1999 08:29:43 PM
It always astounds me how many people think that piece of garbage is a great film. Perhaps it is, if you're too lazy or shallow to understand the book. You actually think David Lynch was doing everyone a favor by dumbing-down this story? It was insulting, not to mention visually ridiculous. Lynch managed to completely avoid all of the themes that make the novel so great. He traded a brilliant, evil antagonist for a flying, boil-pinching lunatic. Why address the origins of loyalty when you can just show a voice-activated zap-gun. Why explore environmental effect on culture, or the dangers of messianic belief, when you can get the idiot public off by simply showing a really cool worm eat a spice harvester. Don't you get sick of these directors feeding you what they think you're limited intellect can handle? The film simply was not Dune. Let's hope the SciFi channel is trying it because they understand this and are going to try to do it right.
Blame Someone Else by Feathers McGraw	Dec 17th, 1999 08:37:45 PM
OK..it finally hit me. Don't rag on Lynch for the failure of the film. I feel he did the best he could do. The true culprit in that murder is most likely DE LAURENTIIS!!!
Dune-oh about this... by Salmon La Sac	Dec 18th, 1999 12:43:05 AM
Sci-Fi channel...well, ill wait and see, but usually this made for TV shit sucks ass BAADDD...and theyll be too frightened to film it letterboxed,(even at 1.85) Was watching BRAVO and they were interviewing Lynch. When asked about DUNE he basically stopped the question, with an "I really dont want to go there..." answer, and mentioned something about 'painfull memories' ...and then, 'Next Question..?"
What? No Sting in tight leather...in that case it'll suck! by Severen	Dec 18th, 1999 02:46:08 AM
Sorry, but I just had to add something equally rediculous to the vast amount of 'I haven't seen, read or heard any of it yet but it'll suck' posts. I'm done now, flame on.
Kull wahad ! :))) by Chapaev	Dec 18th, 1999 06:20:27 AM
Sounds interesting! Haven't read the novels yet(shame on me), but I'm a huge fan of the movie...
I'm dying! by Tangent Z	Dec 18th, 1999 08:37:16 AM
samson shillitoe, your post ("why not") is the funny thing I've read in awhile. I laughed until tears rolled down my face! If you missed, it go back and check it out!
"You young pup! Yoouu young pup!" by Tangent Z	Dec 18th, 1999 08:55:15 AM
My favorite flaws in Dune is the ridiculous way all the Hakkonen were portrayed. And the fact the stillsuits, as good as they were, let the head totally exposed! How in the hell can it keep your water when your whole head and hair are open to the air? And it needed to be much long, several movies in fact. I did see this TV version - an abomination extend with still picture, dumbed-down narration and this worst decision ever, the Toto score was replaced by a medicore orchestra. I never liked Toto until "Dune" and then I was in shock when I see the credit. I saw the first movie on opening and I never will figure it. In spite of it's flaws, I love it.
"Oh, yes. I almost forgot..." by Tangent Z	Dec 18th, 1999 08:57:29 AM
I was so happy when Sting go killed. Damn I wish he was not in "Dune". I do like Sting but he attempts himself that he was so out of place in this film, with all of the GOOD actors in it.
The new DUNE book is C-R-A-P by shalott	Dec 18th, 1999 12:24:05 PM
I'm reserving judgement on the miniseries until it comes out, but I wanted to warn anyone who's tempted to pick up the new book (Dune: House Atreides). It's crap. Awful, dumbed-down, commercialized crap. Stay away from it. (Unless you think Kevin Anderson's writing is better than Frank Herbert's. In that case, buy the book and stay away from me. ;>)
I see two Great Houses. . .Feuding. by The_Tooth	Dec 18th, 1999 02:55:01 PM
I had never heard of David Lynch OR Frank Herbert when I saw Dune at twelve. It totally blew me away. I didn't get some of it, but I've since learned just what the spice trances were, and I can appreciate both how difficult it would be to bring the ideas behind such events in the book (even for Lynch), and how to convince the American public that a film about messianic fervor and the next evolution of humanity is cool. "Dune" turned me on to the novels, I think I've read the series eight or ten times now. When I found out some years later that the guy who was making this bizarre "Twin Peaks" thing that had Paul Atreides with a geek haircut (my initial impression of Twin Peaks), I watched Dune again, and enjoyed it a hundred times more. Lynch captured Herbert's universe perfectly. Yes, Maud'Dib didn't bring peace and love, and Patrick Stewart is hardly an "ugly lump" as Gurney is described, and no self-respecting Fremen would be caught in the open bled in the daytime, but from the royal pups on Kaitain to the scrollwork on the heighliner bay doors to the poison snooper that chimes "safe!", Lynch's film is such that any remake will probably fall short, visually and in casting. If the mini-series is truer to the plot, I'll forgive it the inevitable flaws. But Everett McGill -is- Stilgar; Lynch's casting was absolutely perfect. Sting sucked, but who would've been a good Feyd-Rautha at the time? And who will this time around? The curiosity factor alone will make the mini-series interesting. Who cares if it's no good? It could never possibly be as good as the book anyway.
Fear is the mind killer... by Twisted Mentat	Dec 18th, 1999 03:46:26 PM
Who ever said the thing about the stillsuits is kinda right, but then, think about it...Do you want to see a movie where you can't see any of the actors heads? Plus...running around in the desert with a Rubber helmet on would not be very much fun. When i first saw the movie, i loved it, and i still do. Visualy, the movie is how i pictured herberts universe. Not the clean tech world of trek, but like 19th century Imperial. Its definatly been a big influance on alot of people. I mean, I'm sure that JMS was thinking of Dune when he was comming up with the Centuari. I really can't wait to see this. I just hope that Space will carry it here in canada...or at least i can ask my friend with the burnt card for his Dish to tape it for me.
to mickey finn... by Fatal Discharge	Dec 18th, 1999 06:39:59 PM
I'd rather have a FREAK like David Lynch direct a science fiction movie (at least he brings ideas and innovation to it) than any average big-budget action HACK who treats SF as an excuse for action and special effects with a space/alien setting. I think it's fruitless to compare most movies with the books they came from. Reading is an experience of thoughts, descriptions and words while movies are about visuals and action. I can only think of a few movies which improve on a book - CARRIE comes to mind; and ROSEMARY'S BABY is very faithful to the book using dialogue word-for-word from it. These books were slim and the problem with large books like DUNE is that whatever you leave out will upset fans.
Kevin Anderson by psycoticloonie	Dec 19th, 1999 02:27:18 AM
Who thought that Anderson should be involved in any f@#$% way with dune???!!!! This asshole cant write for shit, as he proved by single-haNDEDLY trashing the star wars novels. Then, within the first 10 pages of house atreides, the f^%# mmanages to give away what it took frank herbert an entire novel and part of a second to reveal. And this was a prequel for chrissake. What is a new reader to get from dune now. Sheezus, tell me this is a bad dream.
Bene Gesserit by Stainles Steel	Dec 19th, 1999 10:31:27 AM
How strange, The movie had a great cast, great sets, suck FX and suck story. sigh What I always wondered was why Herbert focused on Duncan. I wanted to know more about the Bene Gesserit! The ultimate expression of Feminisim and he just leaves it all to watch clone after clone of Duncan. Oh, I knew that that new book would suck. It could only suck.
Worms by Garyman	Dec 19th, 1999 01:29:27 PM
I heard a while back that steve johnson's XFX company was doing some of the worms for this project. Are they still involved, or are the worms going to be CG? As far as production values go for TV movies, the only decent one I've seen is Alice in Wonderland. Granted the script was absolutely awful, but hey, it looked nice...
Dune TV by kempo	Dec 20th, 1999 04:30:11 PM
I my self have always thought that Dune would translate very well onto TV. Many will disagree with me, but is fine with me. However, if it were to be on TV, it would best be as a full series, and not a mini-series. The characters and plot, could easily be well covered and pleasing to all Dune Purests if done in a 26 episode format, each being an hour long. Infact i even visualized that it could be posible to make 7 seasons worth, just each book made into a season. There is problems though with this idea, such as i think that the second book (Dune Messia) could be done as a shorter series, then some of the others, and problebly the third book, (Children of Dune) could potentaly be even longer. All in all, i think the first book, is probibly the hardest of the bunch to put to the screen, but i think that Dune is not as hard as most think, it is that they will refuse to do the work required, or even make the characters who they were ment to be. As for my coments on the Mini-series... I think it will not be bad if they do two things... Make the Baron Harkkonen as compedent as he is in the book, and make him thin (meaning not fat) also like he was in the book...
Why DUNE? by TheWanderer	Dec 20th, 1999 05:56:14 PM
David Lynch's DUNE, for good or ill is untouchable, whether you consider it the biggest piece of crap ever or the greatest SF film ever made. It is UNIQUE -- there is nothing else like it, even its harshest detractors admit that there is nothing remotely derivative in the subject matter, the source material, or the finished product(s). All this being the case, why would Sci-Fi put so many resources into a project which has already BEEN DONE, when there are many SF "epics" begging to be made? My suggestion? Heinlein's "The Moon is a Harsh Mistress"...American Revolution replayed on the Moon, with BIG ROCKS being tossed at major sites on Earth -- This can be sold, people, the public will buy this!
Dune long version by ROCKCUTTER	Dec 20th, 1999 06:38:29 PM
Just in case anyone is interested, the "Alan Smithee" 4-hr version is available from revok.com
The perfect medium for Dune by Hammer & Pickle	Dec 20th, 1999 11:54:19 PM
Anime. The Japanese can tell a story through animation without dumbing it down to Disney levels or getting squeamish about violence, nudity or any of the other taboos that domestic animators avoid like the plague.
Anime Dune by Chapaev	Dec 21st, 1999 02:00:24 PM
Yep. That'd be cool. Anime is definitely a perfect media for the Herberts universe.Well, almost. The only thing is that characters from Dune are a bit too complex for animation. I mean - they're usually saving money on the lack of facial expressions for the characters in anime projects.In my opinion, Dune requires live actors..
Viva Storaro! by Shrevie	Dec 22nd, 1999 10:09:43 AM
Well, whatever happens, Vittorio Storaro is one of the greatest cinematographers ever. So...that's good.
The Kumquat Haagen-Daaz? by Genghis	Dec 24th, 1999 01:13:50 AM
I'm one that read the books before seeing the D. Lynch film, and was greatly disappointed in that treatment. Some major characters were non-existent, for one. I'll be looking forward to the mini-series. Steak for dinner soon! (Anyone else read Nat'l Lampoon's "Doon")
ups, Ochsenknecht as Stilgar?? by Travis Brickle	Dec 26th, 1999 12:47:58 PM
Hi, my name is Matthias from Berlin, Germany. I hope that they don`t make some cheap looking tv-thing like "The Stand". This tv-miniseries was really bad - if you ever read the book. And "Dune" will be much harter to realise. Uwe Ochsenknecht is a good actor, but he is no Stilgar-Type. He
essential persons missing by dunkan	Apr 7th, 2000 05:51:29 AM
I

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