I am surprised no one else started this thread yet... but hey, I have missed them before...
Did anyone else catch this last night? I remember avoiding the first Dune mini-series, since I felt it would be too hard to watch (conflicts with the movie like pronunciation and how damned cool the stillsuits in the movie looked- overall stupid stuff).
But then I heard about Children of Dune, and since I always wanted to see the other Dune books made into movies, I thought I would give it a shot. And they were showing the original Dune miniseries right before it, I figured I would tape it.
Instead I sat in front of the damned TV for 8 hours yesterday loving every minute of it, and Raw has no shot in hell of getting watched tonight because of part II.
So what did you think? Anyone else like it as much as I did?
I loved the first miniseries, I believe I have the whole thing on tape somewhere. As for this one, I'll have to wait until April along with the rest of Canada.
I am thinking that if they could keep up this quality of production, they should go ahead and do them all. I am a big fan of the "latter" two Dune books (Heretics being my actual favorite in the series, believe it or not), and maybe even going on to do the Brian Herbert books. He must have some interest in the series, after all, if they are actioning off things autographed by him as part of the promotion for this miniseries...
(SPOILER if you have not read God Emperor of Dune)
I would be really interested in how they would handle the "wormification" of Leto... I really liked the change they made to the Guild Navigator (over the Dune-film vision of the giant freak in the huge tank). I am just curious exactly how they would present that considering the lack of a real "big screen" budget...
Anyone who liked the first miniseries, be sure to check out the five hour director's cut 3 disc DVD set. Lots more subplots and scenes from the book are back in as well as some more violence and nudity.
For fans of the David Lynch movie 20 years ago. Don't hold your breath, Lynch has refused all offers to recut the film himself. So the studio brain fart that says directed by Alan Smithee is all you get.
"I am many things Kal-El, but here I am god." -Darkseid
Originally posted by The Vile1Anyone who liked the first miniseries, be sure to check out the five hour director's cut 3 disc DVD set. Lots more subplots and scenes from the book are back in as well as some more violence and nudity.
For fans of the David Lynch movie 20 years ago. Don't hold your breath, Lynch has refused all offers to recut the film himself. So the studio brain fart that says directed by Alan Smithee is all you get.
I heard a rumour years ago that his original cut which was like twice the length of the theatrical version or something survived in England but it doubtless Lynch could get the rights to recut it even if he wanted to.
I mean, he had to remaster the Eraserhead DVD himself. I doubt he'd put the same effort into a movie that from all accounts equaled nothing but bad asscoiations.
And this part was. . .OK. Plenty of things going on but the middle part of the original was kinda soft too. Plenty of good character bits here as well. The Alia stuff came off quite well, I thought.
I liked the first episode of Children of Dune. I thought it was a nice way to get past Messiah and into Children. I have to say the score is amazing. The opening and losing montages were excellent. Sci-Fi has done a great job on this series.
I have a friend Chris who has a Jap Lazerdisc of the Lynch version of DUNE, and on the back, the running time is listed as 5hr47min. He refuses to let me watch it or make me a copy of it.
... I hate Chris.
Cerebus: Barbarian, Prime Minister, Pope, Perfect House Guest.
"Graft is as necessary as throwing up when you drink too much."
I haven't read any of the books, because movies do all the work for me, but I remember the Alan Smithee version of Dune from when I was a kid, and having nightmares about it.
I just always thought it was cool that there was a David Lynch sci-fi epic movie that had action figures. Totally unlike anything else he has ever done, and probably anything he ever will do.
Last year, my crazy friend who's into guns bought the DVD of the first miniseries and I was compelled to watch it, since I heard it was more true to the originally intended story. There's a lot of bad, and a lot of good to the first miniseries.
Once you get past all of the cheesey superimpositions of people's heads over planets, insignificant characters - who obviously had bigger roles in the book - playing into important plot points (who was that guy that killed William Hurt again?), rediculous costumes (namely the absurd triangle Feyd wore on his back), the overall "nerd" feel, and the low-budget special effects, you're left with a really good story of ascention and revenge.
Alec Newman, whoever that is, has done a great job playing up the transformation of Paul Atreides every step of the way, at least from a screen acting standpoint. The rest of the cast did pretty well, too, except for those really nerdy characters like that Bene Gesserit guy who looked like a friggin' idiot and talked funny.
Children of Dune, thus far, is better than the first miniseries in terms of direction. There are a lot less effect shots, to keep us distracted from the low budget, and much more of a focus the cast which seems a lot stronger and has more depth given to the scheming women who look to control the galaxy or whatever. There's also a greater sense of mood and art direction in this one, as opposed to the cheesey sci-fi feel of the last miniseries.
That said, you could tell there were only 17 extras that were supposed to comprise the entire city chanting "Muad'dib"'s name.
The closing montage seemed a little over the top in the first episode, but if the first episode was glossing over the first book of the two that are adapted here, "Messiah," I don't feel lost so I guess that's a good sign.
I couldn't decide which was funnier, the article title or the "plot" synopsis. I'll go out on a limb and assume this is headed for the direct to video rack.