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Frank Herbert's Dune (TV Miniseries)

Frank Herbert's Dune (TV Miniseries)

List Price: $19.98
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Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Wait for the director's cut
Review: This release is a bit disappointing on a few counts. Despite the claims on the 'Technical Info' page that this DVD is anamorphic, it is not. Also, the audio hasn't been remixed to be 5.1 surround; it's only Dolby 2.0. Finally, the disc is lacking extra footage that was cut from the US TV version of the mini-series to accomodate commercial breaks, rumored to be about 20 minutes of additional material.

Supposedly, this "Director's Cut" version of the Dune mini-series is owned by a German company who wanted quite a bit of money for its' use in the U.S. According to the series' production company, New Amsterdam Entertainment, it is quite likely that a "Collectors Edition" of Dune will be released at some point in the future with the longer version of the series and a 5.1 soundtrack. I don't want to buy the same disc twice; I'll wait for the Collector's Edition.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: A valiant effort to portray the Masterpiece called "DUNE"
Review: I'll give it a B+ for effort in trying to portray what Dune was really about. It follows the overall plot of the book better than David Lynch's version. But, it left out or downplayed several key elements which I thought important to show the depth of the characters, their motives, and the complexity of the political situations Frank Herbert described in his book. The major elements are: Mentats, Thufir Hawat's part, Piter DeVris' part, Suk school conditioning, Sietches were inside caves with moisture seals, and a few others. This one did a much better job in portraying The Baron Harkonnen, Paul's life with the fremen and how the book really ended. Here's how to get the best movie out of both versions that have been made: Use the actors (except for the Baron), costume design (except for the Baron), and the first half of the David Lynch version. Use the special effects and the second half of the new Dune mini-series. I also suggest reading the book to see the differences for yourself.

This Movie is definitely worth owning.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: sci-fi channel's DUNE
Review: I have been a dune's fun for more than 10 years, i own all the books, i have seen david linch's version and now i own the sci-fi version. I am glad to say i recieved great compensation for my money.It is well adapted for tv, acting is good (though not oscar worthy it is suitable),the design of the dune's enviroment ( castles, ships, tools etc.)is well crafted, computer generated images are beatiful and storyline is very much respected. For all these reasons you should purchase it. But be advise, it has also some downsides. Some characters are slightly modifed,the interface between the live characters and the computer generated images is at times sluggish and some aspects of the political arena and history are left behind, loosing some of Dune flavor. Some of facts mentioned previosly by the author of the first review are correct, some things are better in linch's version,like the cast and the stillsuits but not many. Bottomline given the format it was made for (tv), it is a great tribute for the Dune saga, worthy of been seen and bought.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A must see for fans of the Dune book series
Review: For the most part, this new film version keeps to the book. Only a few minor parts were left out, which still leaves viewers that haven't read the book with a good understanding of the plot. Costumes and sets were well done, as well as the special effects (such as the sandworms and the blue eyes). Especially impressive was how Harrison pulled off the "weirding" style of fighting. Acting, while not perfect, was not bad overall and casting was well done to portray that mental image of characters you get while reading. Immensely improved from the old version, I've been waiting for this to be released on video.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: FH's Dune
Review: The best out of the best! Even though I only saw it once I know It's THE BEST!!!!

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Dune DVD?! YES! What the movie stinks? Ahhh!!!!!
Review: First let me say that I am really reviewing the movie here and not the DVD, because I have not gotten it yet. That said even if this DVD has better special features than "Fight CLub" it still will not be worth it(unless your a complete dune fan and have read all the books; i.e. me). The movie was so terrible in its execution that I wanted to turn it off half way in. Yes the characters fit there profiles. Yes the movie follows the book to its entirety but everything else about it is second rate. THe acting is terrible, the costumes are terrible, the setting is terrible. NOTHING about the movie gives ARRAKIS the vast dangerous feel that the book did. FOr example numerous times throughout the movie characters spend hours out in the dessert with out thier stillsuits on. The grand palace has open windows were are blows into them. Maybe I am just beign to hard on the movie but it did not live up to my expectations at all. I can not in my right mind tell any one to buy this DVD. Side note: I am going to buy it when it comes out because I am a huge fan and love DVD's. Ihope Jackson does for tolkien what this doesn't do for Frank Herbert's masterpiece Dune.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Beautiful cinematography and faithful storytelling...
Review: First off, the color and panoramic cinematography makes this mini-series a sweeping victory for those wishing to see Frank Herbert's vivid vision portrayed. Lynch's dark version (the older movie) was an interesting work, but never came close to illustrating the story that Herbert wrote. Secondly, truth is not always a function of fiction, however this rendition's faithfulness to the original story is most admirable. The fabrications protrayed by Lynch, again an interesting work, was not what Herbert wrote for his readers. The Harkonnens were treacherous and lecherous, but not medically grotesque. The Bene Gesserit were mysterious philosophical-descendants of an old mother faith, but not dark or evil. In summary, this newer mini-series has much to share with old fans of the series (the books, not the Lynch movie), as well as for newcomers to the universe of the Atreides!

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Frank Herbert's Dune (TV Mini-Series)
Review: New, yes! Better and improved, no way!

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: A waste of time
Review: This adaptation of Dune is not worth much attention. If you have never seen Lynch's Dune, but are interested in checking out the cinematic versions of Dune, Lynch's Dune would be the better choice. Frank Herbert worked directly with Lynch and was more than satisfied with the results of their collaboration. Herbert said in more ways than one that he felt Lynch's visual renderings of his world equaled or surpassed his own. Lynch's failing to maintain the strength of the narrative was partly his own strengths lying deeper in the visual and partly due to the politics of production. Also, keep in mind that this new version of Dune was produced for television. Budget constraints aside, the quality of most made-for-TV movies is relatively low. In this case, quality refers to the combination of artistry and intelligence that makes a work's sum greater than its parts. This new production is weak in all of its parts.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: No net improvement over the 1984 version
Review: If the only purpose of this version of Dune was simply to be more faithful to the plot of the novel, more thorough, it may have succeeded there and only there. Otherwise, compared to the David Lynch version, its ersatz quality shows in the worst way. The David Lynch version was brilliant as a cinematic interpretation of the Herbert novel, operating on a level of artistic force and intensity evidently quite foreign to the new TV version. This new version comes off as a dull documentary by comparison. Yes the Lynch film took considerable liberties, and it remains the best film version for those who have not read the novel precisely because it inspires the viewer to read the book, whereas the same cannot said for the TV version.

The Lynch version remains unchallenged in its interpretation of the characters, setting, costumes, and speech of the original epic. The Lynch Harkonnen, as the perverse postmodernist punks, the dark distant strangeness of the Bene Gesserit, the mysterious and desperate spacing guild (as well as the convincingly bizarre navigator), were all unforgettable in the original film. There was something curiously familiar in the the Lynch interpretation, an aesthetic for his time that makes it a good cult film candidate. It's in part because Lynch avoided the now familiar TV stereotype aliens (Star Trek, etc) that we will remember the original as a genuine contribution. The Sci-fi version unfortunately contributes nothing in these areas but instead relies on re-use of jejune TVland sets and outrageous, not to mention flamboyant fruitcake costumes, as well as adding a little corny populism to the screenplay.


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