Rating: 
Summary: It's very compelling for those into space operas.
Review: The Sci-fi Channel took the difficult task of adapting Frank Herbert's epic novel into a 3-part miniseries, and I have to say, the results are quite wonderful. Sure, some of the CGI effects are pretty weak and the painted desert background is laughable, but the filmmakers get the story across beautifully. This is a well-crafted and engrossing miniseries from beginning to end, and for me, I never felt a lag in the pace. For those interested, there is action, particularly with numerous knife fights and an epic climactic battle scene. But Dune's success lies in its story, its solid cast, and to whomever constructed the film's magnificent sets and production design. The interiors are marvelous, better than anything I've see on film in years, and no, I haven't forgotten Star Wars or The Lord of the Rings. I liked Alec Newman as Paul Atreides, he was believable and convincing. Saskia Reeves made for a terrific Lady Jessica, so it's too bad she won't be returning for Children of Dune (still, Alice Krige is a fine actress in her own right). The special effects are something of a mixed bag, though mostly with positive results given that you realize this is a TV medium. I watched the visuals with the expectations of something along the lines of Farscape, so I came away very pleased (the effects are much better than those in that overrated show). Some of the CGI does reek of cheapness, but the sandworms are truly an awesome sight to behold and all scenes set in outerspace are eye-popping. To those who don't enjoy sci-fi/fantasy, Dune will probably be too long and slow, but then again, it's not hard to get immersed into this wonderfully diverse and detailed world.
Rating: 
Summary: brand new fan of the dune BOOK!
Review: It was through IMDB I discovered a new series (children of dune)set to premiere soon on the sci fi channel. I watched the trailer and was instantly inspired to read these books before it unraveled itself onscreen. I have now only read "DUNE" and I really liked it. What I then discovered was that there was a mini series of Dune already released and watched it. And let me tell you I couldn't believe how patheticly different it was from my own imagination.
Here I read this book which is pouring with philosophical details, taking its reader through a psycologicly and physically enlightening process (bhuddistic in many ways). The main character ,Maud'hib, is supposed to be a trainée and soon to become master of elementary and universal knowledge. I thought now that YOGA and KARATE have become such mainstream religious sports, one ought to know it has alot to do with living in harmony with the world and its elements. THIS is the approach I felt from the book during paul's training. I was HORRIFIED when "onscreen" it all was totally plastic and too high-tech. As I remebered it, the time in which the story is set the people were moving away from that.
ONE of the key moments in the book of describing what a dry desert hell-planet Araakas really is IS when Paul is sitting in the training room on CALADAN and one of his mentors explains the conditions of the desert planet while its raining outside. It gives the moment a contrastic unconscious message. THIS SCENE WAS NOT EVEN INCLUDED ONSCREEN!
I know its not easy to adapt a book into film and that means leaving pieces out. WELL, it is finding these key moments in the book that seperates good directors from bad ones. I felt that this tv adaption had absolutely no feeling no intesity no intrigue. Alot of this has to do with the bad casting aswell. I agree with one of the reviewers here saying that you couldn't tell most characters apart from the other. Feyd-ruath is supposed to look like a pale dark-eyed evil adolscent. Someone the likes of Jaquin Phoenix would have suited that part much better.
In the beginning of the series when seeing Jessica and Paul, I almost laughed my head off. They looked like they had come right out of the 70's "Starwars" only without acting skills. The reverend mother was a chiep "fifth element opera singer" attempt, while the whole harkonnen scene looked like one nauciously bad MaCBETH play in red filter. The only character that didnt lack facial expression was Leit-Kynes'. Everyone else looked like expressionless catwalk models. How can someone make such a bad choice when evidently paul (with all the things going on in his head) should have the expression of the century. And that expression is not the indifferent one such as Alec Newman tried.
The scnenery looked chiep. We dont wanna look at adjusted paintings, if Dune calls for a desert then go out and film THE DESERT.
I dont really understand when people say that the costuming was any good. Sure, one needs a grave imagination to create such ugly costumes. I on the other hand would think it more beautiful not to mention believeable if the costumes were a LITTLE MORE simple and toned down looking a little more earthly. ONE must not forget that the secret to the heart of the viewer is to make them relate, which is hard to do with looking at costumes that wont even get through the door. I KNOW, I KNOW it's sci-fi but that does not mean it is to become a HIGH-tech dollhouse. One might aswell have painted the furniture on the wall! And indeed the characters were as expressionless as dolls.
Rating:
Summary: Go read the book.
Review: I wanted to love this. I admit that adapting Frank Herbert's masterpiece is an incredibly daunting task, but for TWO films to completely miss the mark is unforgivable given the power and majesty of the text. Besides the surprisingly bad production and art design [not to mention costume work], this film manages to drain any and all tension or interest out of the tale. One of the biggest shortcomings of the Lynch version is the length: a story so large cannot be told so quickly. Harrison simply didn't know what to do with the lavish running time he was given.
The underlying problem here is a screenplay that is faithful to the plotline but not to the themes. Opting to omit the voice-over narration concept, Harrison *tries* to blend the internalized thoughts of the characters into dialogue. Not a good idea when the book is almost entirely made up of internalized narration. Somewhere in the transfer, the resonance was lost. The importance and the urgency were lost, along with the characters.This mini-series is flat, boring, and ugly to look at. This is a film that should look like 'Lawrence of Arabia', not an episode of Xena. Bad as it looks, the budget isnt to blame. Maybe they could have cut down on the superfluous Irulan spaceship scenes and Harkonnen hot tub goofiness and shot the exteriors in an ACTUAL DESERT, not a ten-foot soundstage. For God-sakes its called DUNE for a reason, much of the tone and power of the book comes from the hostility and absolute desolation of the location.
Dune. Arrakis. Desert planet.
They spent so much time designing the intricacies of their palace bedrooms and courts they forgot what was important. The lighting is gaudy and embarrassing [ease up on the color gels, bucko], the end scene looks like a bad Cirque de Soliel parody, and the cinematography is sad and uninspired.
This one makes me want to watch Lynch's version again, not that I liked that one either.
Someday this story will become the movie it is destined to be. Not today, alas.
Rating: 
Summary: Think Again
Review: The TV Miniseries takes six hours to play out what the Peter Lynch version does in two hours. The main differences: Peter Lynch Version
Weirding Modules - Not in the book
Folding Space - Not in the book
4 Hours shorter than TV Miniseries
Costumes and sets are awesome and character appropriate.
Paul seems regal and a leader.
Special effects are very good. TV Miniseries
Paul and Chani's child die - In the book, not in Peter Lynch Version
Character-building of Liet - In the book, not in Peter Lynch Version
4 Hours longer than Peter Lynch Version
Costumes and sets are pathetic. Imperial and Harkonmen characters look like "duded-up girly men with a bad fashion sense". Fremen look as if the wardrobe department bought the stillsuits at a local Army/Navy Surplus store.
Paul is never referred to as Usul.
Mentats are never mentioned.
Paul seems a spoiled manipulative brat with no leadership abilites.
Special effects are very bad.
Rating: 
Summary: The acting needs work, but other then that...
Review: Much better then the movie that was released in theaters The cinematography is a little odd but at least this one does a much better job of following the storyline then the David Lynch version did. My one beef with this movie is that some of the time when you have a camera shot in this movie it is situated in wide pan, not close up. This means to me that the camera shots look fake(really fake) in some places I think that the little parets the scifi channel added actually made the story better. Overall-Some parts great some parts not so great but it is still allot better then the 1984 version.
Rating:
Summary: Great MiniSeries
Review: The mini series presented in this DVD shows justice to the masterpiece Frank Herbert created. Frank Herbert created an amazing universe of politics, economics, culture and society like Tolkien created the world of his books such as Lord of the rings or the Hobbit. I am a fan of Frank Herbert and this miniseries is as good as the book even when some characters are not the same and obviously a great deal of plot development is not presented in this miniseries it does recreate the world as i think Herbert had pictured it with an amazing archtecture, an elegant yet functional technology and classes so different as the Bene Gesserit and the Mentat. The acting is fantastic and even when Mr Hurt only appears a short time his performance as Duke Leto is fantastic i can't think of anyone better for the role. I also recommend the movie by David Lynch although not instead but in adition if you are a real fan of the story, Lynch's version is much more close to the vision in the book but you don't really get the story in the movie unless you read the book before. Just remember the miniseries is very different from the movie and the book although the idea is the same there are many interpretations to it sort of what happens with The Ring, Ringu and the actual book so its up to you what to buy I recommend you buy the book read it then watch the miniseries and then the movie.I can say that I watched the movie first and didnt completely understand the world that herbert created nor did I while watching the miniseries, and if you dont like reading (because its a pretty long book) when you see both the movie and the miniseries youll get a pretty good picture of the idea. hope this review helps you!
Rating:
Summary: Yes, yes, yes!
Review: The inevitable battle between Lynch people and the fans of this version trivialize the subtle greatness of this movie.
The stunning sets - Frank Lloyd Wright Santa Fe on Arrakis, Frank Lloyd Wright Urban Hotel for the Emperor's Palace - are matched by the Renaissance style costumes.
The costumes are where the errors are made; no sapphu stained lips, no Suk diamond tattoo, and funny hats. The Bene Gesserit costumes in Lynch's were better, too.
ALL of the fx were well beyond Lynch; ornithopters were still something out of Leonardo da Vinci meets Buckminster Fuller.
This is a movie you can watch over and over - a better Paul Atredies than Kyle Maclachlan (and MUCH more believable as Muad Dib), a more realistic Baron Harkonnen - if these guys had the budget of a Speilberg or a Lucas, it would be on a par with "The Matrix."
Tremendous work - particularly for the money they spent.
One thing both movies have in common - when they chose someone to play Lady Jessica, they chose perfectly!
Yes, Sir!
THAT'S the kind of Lady who raises, and grooms, Emperors!
Rating:
Summary: A true space opera
Review: Goes to show that with creativity, passion and a willingness to take a few risks you can create a (near) masterpiece. Nevermind the special effects aren't up to full-blown Hollywood CGI standards. The producers and, especially John Harrison, make do with what they had, and the result is a bold vision that is a worthy compliment to one of the greatest sci-fi epics of all time. Imagine yourself witnessing the Dune saga as if you were watching it performed on a stage, in a post-Atreidean time (just like the Globe Theater patrons would watch Henry IV or Julius Caesar). Dune is, after all, a Shakespearian drama, and by confining it to the "stage", Harrison and company challenge your imagination. The script succeeds where so many adaptations fail: remain true to the logic and ideas of the story, and never sacrifice characterization for the sake of plot momentum. The art direction (especially the costumes and set design) are simply stunning. The acting is only over-the-top where necessary (and expected, as in the Baron Harkonnen), or subtle and subdued (Duke Leto) as befitting the rigid social order that bound humans in the pre-Atreidean era. I never saw the series on television (don't have cable), but rented it once it was available on VHS. After I bought my DVD player last year, this was one of my first, essential purchases. If you haven't read the novel, please do so first. You won't be disappointed. How does it compare to Lynch's "Dune"? I respect most of Lynch's work, so out of courtesy, let's not go there...
Rating:
Summary: Director's Cut
Review: I have never read Dune or any of the accompanying books. When I first seen the regular version on the Sci-fi Channel I was a bit confused. A few of the scenes didn't make much sense and I was left missing the overall moral of the story in itself. Essentially, the story begins with Atriedes family and the numerous political intrigues revolving around the production and gathering of spice, an essential element in the universe (sort of like oil). Duke Leto Atriedes is sent by royal command of the Emperor of the Universe to take control of the spice production on the barren planet of Arrakis. Once the family, which includes the Duke's concubine and his son, arrive on the planet. A plot to overthrow them is soon hatched by the Duke's enemy, the Harkenon family. The plot succeeds and the Duke is killed. Paul Atriedes, the Duke's son, and his mother the concubine are sent helpless into the desert. They soon find help from the battle harden Fremen. The Fremen are a tribe of warriors who are awaiting the coming of a Messiah to end their long and fruitless struggle against Harkonen and the Emperor. It becomes clear very quickly that Paul is that Messiah. Through a wierd ritual of mysticism and fanatic religious devotion, Paul quickly transforms himself into Mau-dib, or Messiah. He begans leading the Fremen in a fight to retake Arrakis and defeat his father's enemies. The director's cut is over 30 minutes longer then the version shown on Sci-fi. There are a lot of added scenes and some scenes are enhanced from the original version. This version does provide a little more scope and background to the characters, yet, it doesn't really change the story. Had I not done any research into the books and the story of Dune itself. I would still be as confused as ever. I haven't read the books, nor have I seen the Lynch version. I am therefore a virgin watcher/reader of Dune. To be honest, I really liked the movie. I thought the special effects were good, and the acting was too bad either. To be honest, the movie inspired me to read the books, which any good movie based on a novel should. I have so many question and I need more definite answers then the movie could provide. Yet, taken by itself the movie was very entertaining.
Rating:
Summary: Much Better Than Anticipated
Review: After reading the reviews here I was torn between buying this DVD or just forgetting it. I chose to purchase it. Although 288 minutes of film is considerable time to get things across Dune is a dense book filled with intrigue, politics and religious philosophy. David Lynch created a weird and wild universe for Dune and failed miserably as far as plot went. Still it was enjoyable to watch and he made House Harkonnen more interesting than House Atreides. In John Harrison's version we get a balanced look along with more of the religious and political wrangling. William Hurt plays a quiet, almost Gary Cooper like reluctant leader. Many of the notions of a Star Wars/Star Trek hero are unwarranted. This isn't Hurt's finest acting but it's not bad and he get's the point across. Alec Newman's petulant, spoiled child isn't all that bad a decision. We need to see he grows up and matures quickly and out of necessity. The first disc is a lot of exposition that is still interesting to watch. In disc two we see the processes and driving forces behind the Fremen and Bene Gesserits (also with the word witch attached as invective) along with The Spacing Guild. That makes six sets of people, including The Emperor we have to be familiarized with which Harrison pulls off to his credit. Beyond the big cast of important characters and politics there is quite a lot of backstory to make up for which happens on the 2nd DVD where we learn about Fremen culture and it's religious beliefs which prohpecises the coming of Muad'Dib, the messiah from another world. We find that this prophecy is probably true. By disc 3 we see preparation for holy war and more cultural issues as Paul/Muad'Dib gets his people ready for war. Now throw in a culture similar to Middle Eastern cultures with more than a fair shot of Muslim themes to the story line and we have a film that tells the story decently but also manages to put a spin on different ways of life and like it or not cultural relativism. Harrison doesn't get off the hook for some poor sets. I'm sure the desert is difficult to shoot but when you see wind whipping around people's faces and the background is a still shot of land the continuity can break the otherwise good suspension of disbelief he keeps throughout the film. There is too much in Dune to ever get right and Dune is one of those books that everyone who has read it has a certain idea of what it's universe should be about. My view of the Dune universe differs but not enough to let it get in my way of enjoying a well crafteted film on a television budget. Some of the acting seems bland but at the cost of exposition and plot which is something acceptable to me. I would advise checking this version out. I liked the David Lynch film which is vastly different and visually more interesting but I enjoyed this production for it's better storyline and intrigue over action. The features on the DVD are worth watching and are informative. Between that and the modest price it is worth checking out.
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