Rating: Summary: It can't be done...it simply can't be done... Review: Ok, I love Dune. I've read every novel, sit patiently for the prequels, and all that stuff. I was enraptured when I heard of a new mini-series dedicated to the timeless tale of spice and sand. Yet, when I finished this little tidbit, I was left wanting...wanting more, wanting people to stop trying.First, lets say that the cast was acceptable. I mean, I could buy William Hurst as Duke Leto, yet, there was something missing...I mean, I just couldn't feel his performance. But no matter, a weak performance here and there isn't going to seriously cripple a movie. Alec Newman is simply Ok was Paul...I expected them to use two actors as Paul, as he does get much older through the course of the story...but, Ok, I'll let it slide. We got one Paul that could hold the role, much better than we got in Lynch's version. What I can't take is the inclusion of practically non-exsistant characters. Now, I may be tooting the same old horn as many other reviewers, but here is goes: Princess Irulan did not play an intregal part in the book. She was barely there at the end, merely a toy for Muad'Dib to marry so he could secure the throne. She did not flirt, talk, or even see him presumably before that point. This does not jive well with me, o my fellow movie watchers... The whole package left me a bit short, I'm afraid. I mean, I wanted to like it...and I did like it better than Lynch's version. There were just too many little inconsistancies and problems for me to truly like it. I can't buy the open sietch idea, and the wandering around without the stillsuits. On the other hand, though, the graphics were superb. They were done well, and I loved the look of the Guild Navigator...kudos to the graphics team... ...but the money should have been spent on screenplay production. I've seen it tried twice, and I want it to stop. I'm not saying that these movies were bad, but I'm just saying it can't truly be done. No director can truly capture the feel of Dune. That being said, I tip my hat to Sci-Fi Channel for giving it the good college try.
Rating: Summary: Better than the original Review: This is the version that best portrays the novel. Special effects, costumes and scenery overwhelmed me, and a clear, concise script and excellent staging kept the movie rolling. Something the original lacked. I enjoyed this 5 hours 100 times more than the 2 hours I suffered through of the De Laurentis version. Plus the actors made me believe they were involved and kept true to their characters.
Rating: Summary: mediocre all the way Review: weak actors, unbalanced storytelling (sluggish start, hasty second half, abrupt ending)...prove once again: Dune cannot be filmed
Rating: Summary: Absolute Great both as a DVD and as being close to the book Review: On DVD this is better than on the SCI-FI channel. The picture quality when viewed via a DVD player with composite video is mind blowingly good. Widescreen as it was broadcast on SCI-FI but with DVD quality. On top of that, this is very very close to the book. Where it strayed it did so by expanding, not diminishing. In particular Irulan's motivation is explored more fully here than was done in the book. Sound is excellent. Having watched it previously on the SCI-FI channel and having missed some scenes in my attempt at recording it, I was happy to see this available. I sat down to watch a half hour and ended up watching the entire multiple hours of viewing and was totally captivated. I cannot recommend this more highly.
Rating: Summary: Ultimate Cure for Insomnia Review: I'm an avid reader and movie-goer with a high tolerance for pain but this movie I just could not sit through without dozing off.
Rating: Summary: I cannot believe the high ratings for this rot. Review: While the Lynch version had many flaws, this version demonstrates what a superior director Lynch is. TERRIBLE acting (puppets are more expressive) and an overall vision that lacks the creativity and originality of the first version mark the Sci-Fi channels attempt at filming "Dune" as an also-ran in a race that nobody won.
Rating: Summary: Closer to the book. Review: I thought that the mini-series was more closely based on the original book
Rating: Summary: Frank Herbert's Dune (TV Mini-Series) Review: It is amazing that the Sci-Fi channel could produce such slop. Why not do a remake of "attack of the killer tomatoes"; it would probably be just as interesting as Dune the mini series. Bad actors throughout the movie at one point I had to turn it off because it was so painful. For those of you who are Dune fans please do not watch, you will be deeply offended by this filth. If I could give this dire film zero stars I would.
Rating: Summary: Well done and entertaining. Review: A great addition to your sci-fi DVD collection.
Rating: Summary: An Excellent Introduction to 'Dune' for New Fans Review: Face it, no one who read the book first is ever going to be satisfied with any screen adaptation. Even in 4 1/2 hours, there is just too much material that needs to be left out. But the makers of 'Frank Herbert's Dune' have done a creditable job of capturing the feel and the message of the epic work. This miniseries compares favorably with the earlier David Lynch film and will probably earn the same 'love-or-hate' reaction from die-hard Dune fans. I liked this adaptation's Emperor, Chani, Piet, and the expansion of the role of the beautiful and cunning Princess Irulan. The sets and costuming were also greatly improved over the Lynch film (except for the bizarre butterfly collection pinned to Irulan's robes in an early scene). Unfortunately, all of the lead actors were wooden and unconvincing, especially in the first two hours. David Lynch did a better job of casting - this version's Baron Harkonnen was too cerebral and Feyd Rautha didn't radiate an evil aura at all. Still, this adaptation is worth seeing, especially if you are new to the world of Dune. It will prompt you to read the books and learn more about Frank Herbert's stunning worlds of imagination.
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