Rating: 
Summary: Good and Bad
Review: I've never seen the original "Dune" film, so I will not compare this movie to that movie. The acting was mediocre. William Hurt, who played Duke Leto mumbled his lines and Alec Newman, who played Paul Atreides (he did EXCELLENT in the sequel, "Children of Dune") wasn't given good enough lines. The costumes and setting were downright awful. On a scale of one to ten, I'd give it a two. However, for a movie that didn't have a lot of money in the making, it'd have to do. This aspect is a bit annoying throughout the movie, but the story is nicely illustrated. However, something that is infinitely good, it is a miniseries. Four and a half hours. This book apsolutely CAN NOT be nicely fit into a two hour movie, which is why I will not see the original. So, aside from the bads, I'd say the movie was overall enjoyable.
Rating: 
Summary: Good Entertainment for the Science Fiction Fan
Review: I enjoyed this movie. For a made-for-TV miniseries, I think the cast and crew did an excellent job. Even if you've seen the standard edition, the Special Edition's extra scenes add depth to the movie and explain a few things that may not have been understood in the standard edition. Some of the special effects may have been a bit cheesy and the casting may not have been the best, but if you take it for what it is and let yourself sit back and enjoy the movie, you may be pleasantly surprised. I also recommend the "Children of Dune" miniseries for the serious fan.
Rating:
Summary: Great, but not perfect!
Review: This was a great mini-series and very enjoyable to watch. However, in some of the scenes (especially in the desert scenes) the special effects are just not up to par. You can tell that they are on a sound stage and its a little bit distracting. If you like the Dune movie or the books you'll love this. Its a great addition to any sci-fi fans video library.
Rating:
Summary: A good miniseries, better than Lynch's.
Review: THe rating is actually a 3.5 stars.
Good Miniseries, though the costumes were bad. They looked horrific, especially the Harkonnen. And Irulan's dress has butterflies on them???!!!!
The visual effects are good, except for some scenes, they looked like a videogame. The Sandworms are nicely done.
This miniseries matches to the book very well. Many of the parts from the book were included.
The acting was bad, though. William Hurt and Alec's acting were too wooden. SOme actors did well, like Jessica Atreides. Overall, this miniseries was no too bad, they just needed better costumes, visual effects, and they also need to act in a actual desert.Good miniseries, though, and better than Lynch's.
Rating:
Summary: A classic sci-fi epic...
Review: Before "Star Wars" there was a book called "Dune." The book, written by Frank Herbert is considered a classic among many literature historians and is certainly one of the greatest sci-fi books to ever be written. It was adapted by director David Lynch in 1984 for a big-budget screen adaptation. The film was a very noble attempt and has even acquired a cult following, but it wasn't quite perfect and many "Dune" fans shunned it. Now, years later, director John Harrison has done his own adaptation of the book; a 5-hour miniseries that showed on the Sci-Fi channel in 2000. This version is more faithful to the book and, while it has many downsides, is better than the version David Lynch did. It's very thorough in its telling of Paul Atreidies' rise to power on the desert planet Arakkis, also known as Dune. While the middle chapter drags a little, the first and third do a great job of keeping the story going. The visual effects are not perfect. It is very obvious when scenes are done against a matte painting or a blue-screen. But the story and characters are very well thought out and these things can occasionally be overlooked. I would recommend this movie to any sci-fi buff. It's an epic tale told just right and acted very excellently.
Rating:
Summary: Good Movie
Review: Please avoid the review by scottah. This person does not what he is talking about. I have read the Dune series and seen both the David Lynch movie and the sci-fi mini-series. The sci-fi mini-series is very very good! Neither movie fully represents the book. Both leave out alot of detail. The Lynch movie is God awful. If scottah thinks that's better, then he should explain why Lynch has it raining at the end of the movie! Major major mistake. The Irulan character was quite good and the character development was quite obvious as you watched the movie, i.e. you understood why they spent time on her. I am disappointed that they left out the character Count Fenring - becuase it cuts to the heart of one of the story lines, the breeding program. But overall the mini-series did a good job of telling the Dune story.
Rating:
Summary: Exceptional adaption of Herbert's novel
Review: Bold, creative and intelligent John Harrison's adaption of Frank Herbert's Dune is operatic in tone and style with theatrical flourish. While Harrison's adaption isn't completely faithful to the letter of the book, it is to the spirit. He manages to condense much of the politics and action of the book into a comphrensible 5 hour film. It's best moments are as lyrical as David Lynch's film but Harrison's focus is creativing a cohesive and involving narrative. On both counts Harrison is very successful. Shot entirely on soundstages in Prague, Dune has a number of stunning performances. Alec Newman faced much criticism for his portrayal of Paul Atreides but his performance grows in confidence as his character moves from the shadow of his father Duke Leto to the savivor of an entire planet. Herbert managed to meld ecology, his fascination with the messiah myth and the court politics of 17th Century Europe into a cohesive, powerful tale set in the year 10,000. William Hurt, again, much criticized for his tepid portrayal of Duke Leto captures the right amount of anguish and sense of duty & responsibility that faces him in taking over Arrakis the planet where Spice is found. Spice allows humans to live longer, see bits of the future and travel the universe by "folding" space. All of the performances are very strong although James Watson as Duncan Idaho isn't given much screen time to demonstrate his abilities. The actor who took over the role in the sequel Children of Dune (based on Dune Messiah & Children of Dune)had more to work with. The role wasn't fleshed out a bit more but, given the confines of the screen time and the characters part in the novel, that's not a surprise. The optical effects are frequently very good to stunning. Although CGI has come a long way since Babylon 5, there are some limitations. Still, the opticals involving the sandworms are stunning and put the visuals in Lynch's film to shame. It's a pity that Harrison didn't have a larger budget to work with but he does wonders with the budget here. The cinematography is stunning using color and lighting in imaginative new ways compared to most films and television programs. This special edition has more than a couple of nude scenes; there's 30 minutes of additional footage for international broadcast that helps to broaded the characters, story and explain the politics and forces Paul into a forced evolution from Duke to messiah. The direction, writing and performances are very strong. While Harrison's version of Dune could have benefited from the internal monologues in Lynch's film, his actors are quite subtle in conveying the emotional state of the characters. In many respects, the cinematography and use of color is another actor in the film commenting on the actions and situations in the film. Some of the extras here are the same as on the previous edition but there is an interesting roundtable disscussion included on technology and its effects on humanity (hosted by science fiction writer Arthur Byron Cover and featuring Harrison, Harlan Ellison and Octavia Butler among others). The interview with Harrison and his audio commentary (along with the visual effects folks and producer)enhances the DVD. There are many fascinating tidbits included throughout the commentary track. Harrison's adaption of Children of Dune benefits from better CGI effects, a bigger budget and a much more complex plot (over the course of the two books). The direction of that film is also quite good although, again, I feel it misses Harrison's affinity for the material.
Rating: 
Summary: A Better Dune Arises!!!!!
Review: This is a much better version than the intentionally weird David Lynch 1984, MOCK UP!!!! This aired in December of 2000, on the SciFi Channel, and I was very impressed. This version was held more closely than Lynch's movie. I thought that despite other people's objections, William Hurt was PERFECT for the role of Duke Leto Atreides. He had a kind of "unwilling leader" feel to him. I thought the best performance however came from Ian McNeice (Baron Vladimir Harkonenn). He was a villian that you hate and love at the same time. I like that this was filmed on a stage because it gave me the sense that I was watching a play. The last thing I like was that Vittorio Storaro was the Cinematographer. He did such an amazing job in Apocalypse Now with the surrealistic lighting and in Dune it was the same, especially when Jessica and Paul drank the Water of Life. All in all, a great movie and a good DVD that should be in anyone's DVD collection.
Rating:
Summary: A Job Very Well Done
Review: Frank Herbert's Dune was very well done. The mini-series always did have it's ups and downs though. They should have put the charater's thoughts into the script which reveals the hidden plots and grudges of the contending houses. It also needed to really explain things a lot more in a few sentences like in the old film,"They tried and failed?...They tried and died." I also liked Kyle MacLachlan's view of Paul Atreides better than Alec Newman beginning the film as a spoiled son of a Duke. I loved the way they did the eyes of the Fremen in the mini-series. And man Chani was pretty!! The best performances of this film belongs to Baron Vladimir Harkonnen and Gurney Halleck. I'm sure William Hurt loved working this project as Duke Leto Atreides since he is a die-hard Dune fan. The special effects fitted into the movie well. This is a masterpiece worth sitting down and watching for 6 hours which explains much more than a 2 hour movie. I'll give it a five star rating!
Rating: 
Summary: whatever you do, don't watch this
Review: This is a truely awful miniseries. I don't know where to start. the acting was flat. With the exception of the females in this movie, the acting was TERRIBLE. Whoever was in charge of casting did a bad job, especially with Paul and the Baron. Also, most of this movie was shot in a weird orange or blue light, and in sceens with the Harkonnens, the camara was tilted at a funny angle. Most of the four hours was dialog, or showing Paul having long and weird dreams. I did like the Fremen eyes, but besides that this movie was awful.
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