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Pics from DUNE miniseries here!

I believe this comes under the heading of uber cool by Templar of doom	Mar 4th, 2000 03:01:46 AM
But when oh when will people in Australia be seeing this little gem of a television show?
I don't know about this one by 60091	Mar 4th, 2000 03:21:23 AM
I don't know about this one but I hav e the sneaking suspicion that this will suck from the very start. The pics look very STUPID. Another halfassed Stargate typeTV ripoff.
It'll be better than Star Wars by JMS Power!!	Mar 4th, 2000 06:16:53 AM
Let's face it. Star Wars is for kids, and Dune is for adults. Most kids don't understand what the hell is going on with the DUNE movie (and NO it's not because of David Lynch). You see, unlike Star Wars, DUNE has a plot that isn't down at the level of a G.I. Joe episode. That Phantom Menace travesty brought everything down to grade school proportions. Bring on this DUNE miniseries!!!
Stilgar mit blauen Augen! by Reverend Dave	Mar 4th, 2000 06:39:15 AM
Heh heh... Foriegn languages are funny.
It don't mean a thing... by Reverend Dave	Mar 4th, 2000 06:41:34 AM
...if it ain't got that Sting! And Patrick Stewart too! Heh heh...
Dune and coolness issues. by BIC	Mar 4th, 2000 07:16:00 AM
Well, I certainly love Dune. I love the books and I also love the movie. I think the books are great. I can't say the same about the movie. Although I love David Lynch's film, I would not call it an excellent piece of film making. I think that he just tried to do too much with it and stay too true to the book. It would really be impossible to make a movie out of those books. And I stand by that assumption for the making of the mini-series. As far as stupidness in Star Wars goes: As far as I can tell almost all movies are at that intelligence level. Its because people don't usually want to think much when they go to the movies. Lucas said that Star Wars was for kids, and that the three "new" movies would stay true to that. Over and Out.
Rip-Off? by BIC	Mar 4th, 2000 07:18:39 AM
I don't believe that Harry was suggesting that it was a rip-off of Stargate... the Dune movie looked the same way, and it came out years before Stargate. Maybe Stargate just looked rather..."Dunish"?
VUZZ says:IT LOOKS LIKE SHIT. by VUZZ	Mar 4th, 2000 08:12:07 AM
But you never know what they're gonna make out of it.I am from Germany I know the actor who plays Stilgar.He's nice but the total miscast for this role.Well I think this is going to be the biggest piece of caca that they can make of Dune.I've read the first four books.The first is the best and I totally loved the Lynch movie.Bring on a supa dupa 3Disc DVD Directors Cut from Lynch's Dune.-FEAR IS THE MINDKILLER-
Vittorio Sittaro by Stephen Dedalus	Mar 4th, 2000 09:26:02 AM
Great cinematographer. It's nice to know that they have such an experienced individual helming the camera to this project.
Dune Miniseries by Oglethorpe	Mar 4th, 2000 09:26:23 AM
I have no idea whether this mini-series will "rock". I do know that doing it in 6 hours(really closer to 5 with commercials)has a better chance than in 2 or 2 and 1/2. Lynch's movie was a disjointed effort to bring Dune to film. Faithfulness to story is rare in adapatation, but being inaccessible is not -- which is what the film was if you had not read the book. And Paul making it rain at the end? As Herbert said after the film came out, Paul was a boy playing at being God, not a God who could make it rain. The whole point on the ecological end was finding a leader who could bridge the gap after the two Kynes of keeping the Fremen dream of a Dune with surface water and plants alive all the way to fruition. Even Paul's genetically selected powers, enhanced by melange, could not provide immediate miracles like that. It turned out the way to do that came out later, when Leto II became the God Emperor for 1000 years. As to the pics, they look a lot more like a sietch looked in my mind's eye than the high tech sleek granite look in Lynch's version. The stillsuits in the movie reeked: wrong color for the desert and absolutely no head covering. The new pic of Stilgar in what looked like a still suit hood is much better. However, Paul is too old; he is a teenager, not in his mid-20s. His age is very important to the story; he is not yet even a man but he has to take on not only the dukedom but a religious mantle. And Chani's face is WAY too "water fat". Even so, I can't wait and find it hard to believe that this version could be any worse than Lynch's.
Whoops by Stephen Dedalus	Mar 4th, 2000 09:27:55 AM
That's Storaro, not Sittaro. Sorry.
Stargate, my ass by monkeylucifer	Mar 4th, 2000 10:03:37 AM
About the only similarities between these shots and Stargate, is that it's set in the desert. That's like seeing scenes from LOTR and saying "This looks just like Willow, what a rip off." You guys need to get your shit straight, Dune was written well before that piece of fecal matter called Stargate was even though of. I do like these shots, and I hope that they are doing this book justice, as it is one of, if not THE greatest science fiction novel ever written. It is my second favorite science fiction book, second only to 1984 (yeah, I know this could be argued about, but I separate science fiction (actual literature) from sci-fi (bubble gum, pulp novels), and as such, I stand firm that 1984 is a science fiction novel. Accckthhhhppt!!!!
Oh, and by the way by monkeylucifer	Mar 4th, 2000 10:18:07 AM
The David Lynch Dune film is a guilty pleasure of mine.....Dino De Laurentiis is my hero!!!! He's like Steven Spielberg crossed with Roger Corman, and it's seems like he's been on a crusade to outdo Star Wars and create the greatest sci-fi/fantasy pic of all time, but his efforts are all cheese, but guilty pleasures none-the-less. Just look at his score sheet:King Kong, Flash Gordon, Dune, both Conan films, and the truly awful King Kong Lives. Sure, he's had some critically successful films like Ragtime, but I will always love his fine campy Star Wars wannabes. I should probably try and track down his Italian films, anyone here seen any of them?
Lynch's Dune by Playhouse	Mar 4th, 2000 11:19:43 AM
The motion picture Dune could have been so much better if Lynch hadn't succumbed to the pressure to eidt it down. If he had gone for a longer film (and we all know he had the footage to do so), it might have made more sense. I saw the movie before I read the book and it was somewhat entertaining but not that coherent. After I read the book, I understood the film more but felt it didn't adapt the story well at all. I can't help but think that is because of the diting they had to do, both to make it a two hour film and to appease the studio. Of course, they really could have done without all the damn whispering to indicate each characters thoughts. That still goes down in my book as one of the worst conventions in film ever. I hope to god they don't do that in the miniseries.
Reply on Lynch's Dune by Oglethorpe	Mar 4th, 2000 11:34:12 AM
The whole "whispering of thoughts" thing bugs me in any movie. Accomplished screenwriters, directors, and actors deal with that through good writing of dialogue and good acting. Look at Al Pacino at the end of Godfather II. His face and eyes speak volumes.
I like the Colors by Tornado_Jackson	Mar 4th, 2000 11:36:56 AM
I hope this T.V. movie bombs. The Sci-Fi channel put all of their money into this? From what I read the director considers Dune as Shakespeare so I expect to be bored. Sci-fi should've renewed Sliders and not put there money into this crap
Oh my God... Paul is so... old... by Cassius the Evil	Mar 4th, 2000 12:10:48 PM
This thing's probably gonna suck big time. Ah, well... speaking of Lynch, anyone here seen Erasorhead?
It will be better than... by zerorez	Mar 4th, 2000 05:50:20 PM
a Renny Harlan directed effort with Matt Damon as Paul, Harry as the Baron, and Pamala Lee as Chani.
Translated Text here by No-Op	Mar 4th, 2000 07:29:11 PM
Using Alta-Vista's Babelfish at http://babelfish.altavista.dig ital.com ##### DUNE Miniserie: The first pictures of the set! On 22 November 1999 begin towards in Prague the turning work for a 6-stuendige TV filming of the novel " the desert planet " (" Dune ") of franc Herbert. The TV project budgetierte with 20 million US Dollar can offer thereby a hochkaraetigen occupation and crew. Thus William Hurt (out " draws in space ", " Dark admits town center " among other things or also " to to the end of the world ") took over the role of the duke Leto Atreides, which will have to be seen Italian actors Giancarlo Giannini as Imperator Shaddam IV and to Ian McNeice as a bad baron Harkonnen. Barbara Kodetova plays charismatischen Paul Atreides, the main figure of the film as Chani at the page of Alec Newman, that represents. With Uwe ox farmhand, who embodies the Fremenfuehrer very convincingly, is represented also a German actor in this internationally filled production. The film script to " desert planet " wrote John Harrison, which leads also direction; executing producers are Richard P. Rubinstein and Mitchell Galin. The line of the camera work took over the three-way Oskar winner Vittorio Storaro (Apocalypse Now). The marvelous kostuementwuerfe come from Theodor Pistek (won a Oskar for the costumes in Amadeus). Additionally the special effect conductor Ernest Farino and the production designer Miljen Kreka Kljakovic is involved in the project. The digital trick effects will come from three of studios, among them AREA 51 and nice one digital (Babylon 5). " Dune " produced of new Amsterdam Entertainment Inc., the Scifi Channel and KirchMedia in co-operation with tandem Communications. The US Austrahlung is planned for the last quarter 2000, in Germany the television filming in the spring 2001 to see will be (thus only little later). World-exclusively SF Film.de can show the first photos of the set and the turning work here now. Thank you for it at Torsten Dewi!
Casting could be WORSE by floob	Mar 4th, 2000 09:25:57 PM
Be glad they didn't cast Dennis Franz as Baron Harkonnen; I can just see it: "Tell me of yer homeworld, Asshole ..." Hmmmm ... anyone for John Lithgow as Emperor Shaddam???
Who'd they cast as ... by floob	Mar 5th, 2000 12:19:50 AM
The Beast Rabban? It WILL be hard to beat Paul "Bluto" Smith's interpretation of the character.
Yes, this has a good chance of sucking by Sir Mordred	Mar 5th, 2000 02:48:01 AM
But it will all stand on Alec's protrayal of Paul. And as for Sci-Fi channel paying for this, I'm glad they took Sliders off the air. Don't get me wrong, Sliders was great, until the Sci-Fi channel picked it up. That's when Sliders turned into a piece of shit. Anyways I hope the Sci-Fi Channel won't screw Dune up like they screwed up Sliders. I really hope they don't screw up Farscape too. So, this can be great, and I realize that some actors can perform without whispered thoughts, but there are paragraphs of chants and dialougues that cannot be expressed by a good actor, even one such as Pacino. Oh, and JMS Power!!, I love the name, but don't ever dis Gi Joe again.
Low Budget Dune by Astro Pud	Mar 5th, 2000 07:24:01 AM
But, then again, maybe with a lower budget they'll spend more time telling the actual story. Lynch's version was brilliant visually and the casting couldn't be beat. But Lynch was the wrong person to tell a story this complex. He's much better with simple plot lines where he can weave all of his subtle undertones into it. So hopefully, maybe this time without all the special effects, they'll concentrate on the story and get it right.
only 6 hours long?! by Chesire Cat	Mar 5th, 2000 09:44:59 PM
How is it that "The 10th Kingdom" is made as a 10 HOUR miniseries and DUNE only gets 6 hours? 10 hours comes out at about 7 hours and 20 minutes w/o commercials (if every hour has ~16 minutes of ads)), 6 hours is about ~4.5 hours w/o commercials. If telling the 10th Kingdom's story requires 7.5 hours then I don't see how Dune, a much more complicated story, could be told in only 4.5 hours. Sigh.
re: cheshire by SpoilerMan	Mar 6th, 2000 12:54:08 AM
If it makes you feel any better, the NBC exec who said "yes" to the 10th kingdom as the network's big february sweeps event was sacked before it ever aired. As for this new Dune mini, the people behind it are the kings of low-budget tv (Tales From The Darkside, etc) so I'm not expecting anything earth-shattering from the project.
DavidLynch's DUNE sucked ass by Brendan3	Mar 6th, 2000 01:14:17 AM
I grew up on the DUNE novels as a kid and remember ditching school with a friend to catch the first showing of Lynch's DUNE on opening day. I went in knowing it would have to be dumbed down and shortened to fit the required running time for the big screen, but fuck, if they had room to throw in an invented plot about "weirding modules" maybe they could have kept some of the characters and story from the book. Maybe they could have kept the ending the author intended. And what the fuck was up with that four note soundtrack by TOTO? Fuckin' TOTO... I still don't believe it. (I will say though that costumes and sets, with the exception of the now cartoonish Harkonnens, were regal and captured the spirit of the book)Until that piece of crap film came out, DUNE was considered a respectable Sci-fi classic. Then it became a joke. A miniseries is appropriate to cover the depth of the novel and maybe this time they'll stick to the story of the book. To those of you defending or praising Lynch's DUNE, I think many of you were exposed to the film before you read the book, so you might not have been offended by it the same way as those of us who were fans of DUNE before being let down by the film.
been dune before.... by Oh Blimey	Mar 6th, 2000 07:18:07 AM
OK so sue me. I like David Lynch's Dune..it's pretty to look at, it had a Smashing Cast, though it was edited by a half-bake, it still pleased the eye. Few Films if any EVER capture the depth of a novel and to try it with DUNE was a tall order. And if these Huns want to give it another go then best of luck to them,they've got a first rate Cinematographer so how ever the story is chopped and made a cobblers off, it will at least look good. As for being offened by Mr. Lynch's effort? Humbug! Just except the Film as a work apart and you'll be "offended" and "let down" less Often.
Four note TOTO??? by Jonte	Mar 6th, 2000 10:17:49 AM
Well, maybe it seems a little to poporiented now, but it sure has its moments. "Four note TOTO soundtrack" is a little harsh =) And don't forget Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois ambient track.
Don't look like the Fremen I read about by Crisp One	Mar 6th, 2000 12:38:31 PM
I MUCH preferred the portrayals of the Fremmen in the Lynch version . Now don't get me wrong. The Lynch version did a lot of things wrong. But the Lynch Freman looked great. These Freman don't. They're wearing leather and cloth. What happened to the stillsuits? Is that what Stilgar's wearing in that one shot? There does seem to be a tube at the side if it, but it looks mighty primative for a stillsuit, which is supposed to be this special technology, of which the Fremen produce the best. And that one shot with the Reverend Mother and Stilgar and Jessica - what are they doing outside without their stillsuits on? Same thing for the shot of Paul and Chani. Okay, I'm being picky, but in keeping with the spirit of the book, the Fremen were held in awe by those that encountered them. These guys don't look all that awe inspiring. But then again, these are just still shots. And actually, one of them is a still Stil shot. Okay bad joke. But anyway, perhaps the acting will make up for the lame look. But I'm not holding my breath.
None too imaginative looking ! by Horus	Mar 6th, 2000 12:38:40 PM
This looks even drearier , than Lynches version!The pics don't seem very imaginative,in terms of costume and production design and could pass, as out takes from Luc Bessons the MessengerIt all looks more like medieval Europe than a distant sand world.Wheres the technology?Even more worrying is .the fact that I can barely recognise any of the characters, for who they are meant to be and i cant recognise any scenes at all!
Have to agree with Playhouse by Francie	Mar 6th, 2000 12:55:41 PM
I too saw Lynch's movie before reading the book. I loved the casting and costumes in the movie, but felt cheated after reading the entire story. I really hope that the end product looks better than these stills. Paul looks a little too southern California for my taste and Jessica looks like terrible casting. Here's hoping it turns out ok.
Jodorowsky's DUNE by LOS GORDOS	Mar 6th, 2000 04:59:18 PM
Years ago I was lucky enough to spend several hours with a fat hard-bound volume of Jodorowsky's proposed version of DUNE. It contained full color costume designs, masses of storyboards and production designs by Moebius and H.R. Giger (some of which appeared in his books). It was awe inspiring. It was epic. It was psychedelic. Like a cross between Ben Hur and Jodorowsky's own psychosis magnet The Holy Mountain. Above all it was original, colorful and bizarre. Unfortunately the funding for that would be mind bender fell through at the last minute. But at least it had VISION! Lynch's Dune, if nothing else, has mind blowing set and costume design. If you pissants think that this new version has potential, which by the looks of those pictures makes Star Trek: Insurrection look like a masterpiece of costume and production design, then you must reaaaal desperate to see Dune instead of just reading it. Those pictures look like a joke. Period. That guy who plays Paul looks like half-wit and the girl looks like she fell out of a Bangles video. Gimme a break. Stop watching Babylon 5 and get some taste.
Sting's nut wings by Horus	Mar 6th, 2000 06:10:56 PM
Nothing in this miniseries is likely to come close, to the awe inspiring sight of Sting in a winged, black leather posing pouch!!It looked like his nuts could fly around the room!
Ridley Scott's DUNE by Brendan3	Mar 6th, 2000 07:49:37 PM
Someone mentioned the Jodorowsky attempt at Dune from the early 70's that never came to fruition, but what few people realize is that Ridley Scott was only a few inches away from doing DUNE in the late 70's but the studio pulled the plug before a single set was built when they saw the price tag and proposed running time. Scott was working with HR Giger and Moebius on costume and set design. Some people believe the Moebius and Giger work was for the Jodorowsky DUNE instead of the Scott DUNE. The one positive thing about this project being cancelled was that the three of them worked together on ALIEN after they lost DUNE. It might have been interesting to see a Jodorowsky DUNE, but a Ridley Scott DUNE with Moebius and Giger could have been a masterpiece
David Lynch's REVENGE OF THE JEDI by Brendan3	Mar 6th, 2000 07:57:25 PM
Here's an interesting tidbit of information. Lynch was originally considered to helm REVENGE OF THE JEDI for Lucas, but passed on it to do DUNE where he would have more control. Had Ridley Scott filmed DUNE in 78 when he had planned there would have been no need for Lynch to do it in 83. Scott's version would have probably been a thousand times better, not to mention more faithful and Lynch would have had no reason to turn down REVENGE OF THE JEDI. Imagine Jedi as a David Lynch film. That would have been cool. I'm sure he would have had a much different take on the Ewoks among other things.
Movie? by Orange Bat	Mar 6th, 2000 09:59:16 PM
Why must there be a movie made from this book? Why must movies be made of most great books? Most of them suck. Just read the book, skip the movie.
And how can this be? for he IS the Kwisatz Haderach! by photon_wordsmith	Mar 7th, 2000 02:25:36 AM
Mein Gott in Himmel, it EXISTS!?!?! The long prophesied Dune television Mini-series really IS in production, we now have pictorial proof! Many years have I, and other Dune fans I know, been hoping and praying for an adaptation of a book that we hold so near and dear to our hearts that is closer to the Herbert classic than Lynch's 1984 movie; Sure, as a Dune fan, I own a copy of the Lynch version, it's okay, I don't mind it, but this new version promises to take the time to tell the story properly. These pics look great, and this mini-series is sure to rock. Now, as Templar of Doom before me asked, when are we Aussie dune-fans to see it?
Greatest fear... not capturing the flavor or feeling! by Ecaz	Mar 7th, 2000 10:10:20 AM
Like I said on another post somewhere else in regards to Lord of the Rings, also applys to this version of Dune (More or Less): How can you get a feeling down of film? Simple enough question. The feel that we are projecting on to this Cinematic project is based on the countless images generated for Hardcover/paperbacks, picture books, calendars, plus other images we bring to the novels our selves. I don't know how the movie could compete against the daydreams of so many people that these vary books- Lord of the Rings & Dune- inspired! Lynch's version came real close, close enough to make me want to make films like this on my own... be intresting to see if the new production will do the same with there flavor and vision.
My mother always told me "Never trust a monkey" by monkeylucifer	Mar 7th, 2000 02:23:08 PM
Lord of the X-Dune will suck because the costumes are lame-ass rip-offs of H.R. Puff'nstuf with nipple rings and crotch spikes, and Brian Depalma couldn't direct his way out of damp plastic bag and the Rock is a lame ass excuse to play Bilo and L. Ron Hubbard should have never written it anyways and Queen's soundtrack will suck. There, that should cover it.
Dune miniseries by Wee Willie	Mar 7th, 2000 10:04:32 PM
Years ago when I was a tadpole, I read in Starlog (or was it Cinefantastique)that David Lynch had prepared a nine-hour cut of Dune. Anyone else ever hear oif this? Why didn't the Sci-Fi channel try and get the rights to that version and air it, rather than spending the money on a new version.
TomThorn et al -- re the Reverend Mother by dsy	Mar 8th, 2000 06:13:24 AM
Ye who claim to be fans of Dune...of course the "Reverend Mother" with Jessica looks shabby. She's not really Bene Gesserit, she's the reverend mother of the sietch. In the book, the Fremen had a reverend mother in each sietch, adopted from their half-remembered memories of the Bene Gesserit's Missionaria Protectiva. She's shabby and not-so-powerful-looking because she's not really Bene Gesserit. The book specifically comments on the whole situation.
It looks real bad by Razorfist	Mar 8th, 2000 06:50:53 AM
The casting for the Dune mini-series does not look inspiring. Particularly the actors chosen to play Paul and Stilgar. The David Lynch movie may have been very deeply flawed but this looks worse. The guy playing Stilgar just does not look hard enough as the Everett Magill did in the 1983 film.
David Lynch's Dune Sucked. by Roborob	Mar 8th, 2000 03:07:47 PM
So why bring it back? I first saw it before I had read the books, I thought "Nice cast, Good costumes but the Giant Worms stink". I was right, the poor quality worms proved to be the factor that stopped Dune from being a Major Hit. Later I read the book I realised that the costume in the movie were wrong, The storyline had been changed and the SFX don't hold up for most of the shots, the sound weapons still are effective shots. This prompted me to down grade Dune from "a film that could do better" to "a poor version of a good book". I don't know what the final version of the TV series will look like but 6 hours, even if it is realy 4.5 hours is a better length than ordinary film lengths to tell the Dune Story correctly.
this sounds interesting by Hooligan	Mar 8th, 2000 06:02:21 PM
the movie was great but if you see it on tv as a special 4 hour version it much better. I dig the extra shit that was never shown before. the miniserise my be good or bad but let wait and see before you jackasses pass judgemen and by the way since someone mention Luc Bessons the Messenger-the story of Joan Of Arc first of all I heard read some stuff that asshole ruin that pile of crap and release that damn joke 5 months after the CBS miniserise "joan Of Arc" came witch is rocks!!! Shit they made at least better looking J.O.R. Then Luc Bessons brough in and made her look like a fucking dyke on staroid. Luc Bessons was trying to be Mel Gelson The Director wannabe.
Looks cool but.... by Al The Brit	Mar 9th, 2000 07:21:33 PM
Certainly these shots all look so much more how I imagined it than the Lynch abomination did, although Paul looks too "ruggedly handsome". However, question (dunno if anyone has the answer), if this mini-series is a success does anyone know if they are planning to film any of the other books? If so, does anyone know who's playing Duncan in this one, as he may not be a big character in the first book, but he is the string that ties all the six books together so if the others are going to be filmed, then this is the most important casting of the lot.
Staying on my own side of the Atlantic by Al The Brit	Mar 10th, 2000 05:52:27 PM
Hey, I thought that was what the internet was all about, big global village and all that. Still... Well Tom, you're right, it's your opinion. I don't know what your age has to do with it, I'm about the same age and probably read Dune for the first time at the time you say you became an avid reader. The later books do have a different feel to them, they are more about the politics of the universe Frank Herbert created, and as such are fascinating although I admit they probably wouldn't make very good telly, they're more for the literary minded. However, as mentioned, I first read Dune when I was about 11, was fascinated by it and returned to it again and again, so that when Lynch's movie came out I was first in the queue to go see it, and that was one of the most disappointing cinema experiences of my life. David Lynch did not make a film of Dune, he made a David Lynch film using Dune as its basis. The look and feel are all wrong. As said before, it is hard to condense such a long and detailed book into two hours, so why did Lynch have to add so much of his own stuff to further confuse the storyline. Not only the utterly naff ending, but what was all that utter pants about Baron Harkonnen's collection of skin diseases???? As for the stillsuits, they looked more like some leather SM freak's fantasy bondage gear than something a real ancient desert dwelling people would wear. I suppose it may be just due to my opinion that David Lynch is the most overrated film-maker in history (who else could have taken a subject as fascinating as "The Elephant Man" and made such an unfeasably dull movie) but I for one would love to see Dune done again and properly this time, and while I'm not sure this mini-series is it, it still looks like it could be an improvement.
Lynch-stillsuits by Nihl	Mar 11th, 2000 02:11:11 AM
Ok, i do admit that the stillsuits in the David Lynch film were not evn close to what I thought of when I read the book. But if you think about the situation a bit, you might notice that, especially in a film with as many charachters as Dune, it might be a bit hard to differentiate them if their heads were covered in any way, especially given they are supposed to be wearing idential suits. As for the colour, it would be a bit hard to pick sand covered fremen out in their sand covered suits in ANY desert shot if they had got what I had thought was the right color when I read the book. The stillsuits were an effective compromise, they allow characters to not blend into the scenery and be identifiable. The worms sucked. I would rather have seen Harryhousen (sp?), the guy who did the monsters from jason and the argonauts, etc. doing them then the crap that they did. I really think rather than remaking dune, they should have done the second book of the series. FIrst it is shorter, second I think it would translate to serial form a bit better.
My take by Osprey	Mar 11th, 2000 03:44:47 AM
I'll throw in my 2 cents here. 1) Lynch's Dune was terrible, in my opinion. It was faithless (what in the world was that squid in the tank supposed to be?), drab, and was made before technology was good enough (post-production blue eyes, outdoor scenes mostly done at night because orange sky was hard to make, and generally low-quality effects). For those that liked it, that's fine... but I've always felt that Dune could be made very much like Star Wars. It'd lose the depth and be simpler, but it'd be widely more revered. If I could make a movie, I'd make a Dune in the mold of Star Wars. 2) The mini-series is going to be terrible. I'm very good at telling quality from trailers, video clips, or pictures... and this mini-series just reeks of TV garbage. That leads me to my point... nearly all TV movies are garbage. You have your screenwriters, directors, and producers that are good enough to do theatrical movies. Then, you have the ones that are in the middle doing cable (ex. HBO) movies and such. At the bottom, you have the TV movie and mini-series makers that aren't good enough for the other two levels. It's almost a given that the Dune mini-series will stink. I'd love to be wrong, but I highly doubt that I am. 3) Why does Paul look a modern sex symbol? Wait, I know the answer. Another question: why is he at least 10 years older than the character is supposed to be? Lynch's Dune did this, too. I'll tell you what I'd do. I'd wait 3-5 years and grab Haley Joel Osmond (The Sixth Sense kid). That's part of the whole point of Herbert's Dune... a ~15-year old kid whose maturity spooks the heck out of you. 4) Why were Lynch's stilsuits black? If the Fremen were to really wear full black bodywear in a Saharan-like desert, they'd shrivel up so quickly that no technology would be able to save them. A minor detail, yeah, but kind of indictive of the lack of effort to create an honest adaptation (or even to be realistic).
Reverend Mothers by Stainles Steel	Mar 11th, 2000 06:11:07 AM
I don't think that the pic with Jessica is with an actual Reverend Mother. I think this is the scene where Jessica changes the water of life in that huge room in sietch Tabar.I forget what the Fremen called her. She was not Bene Gesserit thought. The only problem I had with the stillsuits in Lynch version was the lack of hood and gloves. The worst thought were the Ornithopters. Man! Those just sucked. Didn't anyone look up just what an ornithopter looked like? With CGI you could do some cool looking ones now. I am looking forward to all this suck or no suck.
I love Lynch's DUNE by Sorcerer	Mar 13th, 2000 08:23:57 PM
First off, compare it with the rest of his filmography and it's clear that Lynch suppressed his more "extreme" instincts in service of the story. This is a film made with dignity and love for the original material, and the changes made are no more heretical than those in the average novel-to-film adaptation. Secondly, the characters are wonderfully rendered. The Baron Harkonnen becomes a perfect representation of the worst excesses of imperialism- greasy, unkempt, feeding off the masses. It's a great performance by McMillan, and the rest of the cast is great too. The standout is Kyle MacLachlan- Paul Atreides visibly matures and develops throughout the film. A lot of the other performances are virtually definitive renditions of the characters (Francesca Annis's Jessica comes to mind.) The film perfectly evokes all the various environments, from the windswept seas of Caladan to the barren south polar regions of Arrakis. The music is superb, from the strident opening theme to the delicate end piano suite. Paul's visions contribute brilliantly to the atmosphere, and the film's subtexts about shifting power and catastrophic change. As for the story, I honestly can't say whether it's developed properly. I knew the score going in thanks to an Avalon Hill wargame version of the material- I knew who the Emperor was, the Harkonnens, the Atreides, the Guild, etc. But considering that several key points are reinforced both through spoken dialogue and inner voices, it can't be THAT hard to follow. The film drags a bit while the Atreides are at Arrakeen, but once Paul and Jessica are in the deep desert, the film is back on track and never loses its momentum. I do hope Lynch is persuaded to assemble a full version, but he seems determined never to speak of the project again as long as he lives. Can't blame him, but a nudge in the right direction wouldn't hurt. I'll tell you one thing, after the disastrous TV version of the film, I'm not trusting anyone else to recut the material.
Sorcerer, you are a bit off..... by Nihl	Mar 14th, 2000 02:48:25 AM
Dont get me wrong, I love David Lynchs take on Dune. The point most people take is that it is not Dune as told in the book. Lynch had to make changes to convert the book to film and also made changes as he thought they should be made (part of being a director). I will admit, from an FX point of view that Dune would have been able to be done better if it were made 20 years later, 20 years later the cast Lynch had available would not have been there. Kyle McLaughlin (sp), true he was not 15, but he did manage the role better than anyone else will ever be able to. Sure it would be nice to have a 15 year old for the part, but it would be impossible unless you wanted to make a CGI charachter for the film (ie jar jar binks). Why? Because you are trying to make a film, using a 15 year old, using a person who is physically and mentally changing more than they probably will at any other time in their life. Add to that the fact that child actors are notorious for fading rapidly, it would be difficult to even cast the role. Choosing someone at 13 and hoping they still look/act right at 15 is a poor bet.
I wasn't criticizing McLachlan by Sorcerer	Mar 14th, 2000 09:51:26 AM
By saying he "visibly matured", I meant that he conveyed both in his look and mannerisms how Paul was developing over the course of the story. In the early scenes, he's energetic, confident, impetuous. Later, he remains confident, but is also reserved, aware of the responsibility of his power, in touch with his thoughts and feelings in a way he wasn't before. It's a great performance. There are some weak FX, but I think the quality of the design makes up for flaws in their execution.
another bad Paul by Tortured Soul	Mar 15th, 2000 07:31:01 PM
Paul is described at the beginning of the first book as "fourteen and small for his age." In other words, more like Frankie Muniz then the soap opera refugee in the photos. No, I am not seriously suggesting Muniz. But it wouldn't be any more outlandish than undercutting the complexity of Herbert's novel by reinventing the main character. One of the things that makes Dune compelling, is that Paul is thrust into adult obligations while he is yet an adolescent. Why not just cast him as a talking dog--or a poached egg? I get so tired of this stuff.
Paul by p_vergilis	Mar 15th, 2000 09:26:54 PM
I hate posting at the bottom of a 100 post talkback. Anyway... First, to the guy worried that stilsuits couldn't be black: the Bendui (sp?) of the Sahara DO wear black. It creates convection currents which help to cool them though they are worn loosely and not tightly as a stilsuit is. Secondly, casting would be difficult, true, but Paul HAS to be younger. Lynch's casting was phenominal in my opinion except for Paul's mother and Paul. (Notice I said "casting"...the performances were atrocious, not the fault of the actors, but, well...there it is...) Finally, am I the only person who thinks that the Dinner Party chapter in the book was by far the best? THAT should set the tone for the movie; political intrigue, not all of this magical mumbo jumbo. I know, I know, "not sci fi" many will say, but futuristic governments are a lot more sci fi than the futuristic FANTASY that Lynch created. p.s. if you create bumbling idiots for the bad guys in a movie (Lynch's Harkonnens) you get a bumbling idiotic movie.
Blair Witch Project by Baha	Mar 16th, 2000 10:53:10 PM
I have recently seen that movie in the students' movietheater. To be quite honest with you, I was not actually scared while watching it. However, I was very much impressed how the actors acted and i was convinced that this indeed happened. I am not saying that this Blair Iwtch thing exists or wahtsoever, I am convinced that these students have actually disappeared. Who can act like them, really scared? Even the best actor can never do it. I told my friends that documentary was true but they were trying to convince me otherwise. One of my friends even told me that her sister happened to see the interview with these actors last year. Anyways, the very next day i was still thinking about this movie and somehow during the night I was shivering with fear. All my fear from my childhood came back to me and I hated this feeling. Now I was again checking the web site of this blair witch project and in the middle of it i really had to go to the bathroom. As soon as i went into the bathroom,I had a feeling that something was present right around me. Any noise could have startled the crap out me, and frankly as I was doing my job something happened with the tube in the there that produced a horrible sound. I just ran out of the bathroom.Now I am waiting for a friend of mine to finish up with his work so that we can go back to our ooms together. I hate being scared!!!!! I just wanna foeget this Blair Witch thing.I'd recommend that everyone see it and feel the chills up on your spine. Regards, Baha
Well, shit by SteppinRazor	Mar 17th, 2000 02:52:20 AM
That looks entirely lame as hell. sigh.
No location filming.!!?? by Horus	Mar 19th, 2000 03:25:35 PM
This posts a bit late, but I've only just read this in sfx magazine., The entire Dune miniseries ,is going to be filmed on soundstages!.I was at least expecting them to do 2 cheapo weeks filming in Mexico or something.It sounds like theyre going to just dump two and a half ton of sand {from a builders supply firm}... and romp about on it!The way this is going the sandworms ,will be achieved by an fx guy sticking his knob thru a hole ,in a bucket of sand!!!.
How about House Atreides? by Belgarion	Mar 21st, 2000 10:31:40 PM
I think most of you have forgotten about the new (relatively) book from Brian Herbert and Kevin Anderson. I personally think that would be much better adapted to film or TV than Dune itself, as much as I love the book, I really don't see it being visualised better or even close to the readers mind.

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