Post by Fayde on May 26, 2010 0:08:01 GMT -8
Dune has always been interesting to me. I remember seeing the Sci-fi channel version of the book a while back, and now couldn't remember it. Meli got me the actual book and I just finished it today. So of course, I wanted to see the mini-series that I saw a while back. Sadly, they don't have it to stream on Netflix, but, they do have the David Lynch version of it from 1984! So of course, having read the book, I decided to watch it.
For those who don't know the BASIC story, here you go:
The planet Arrakis (Dune) is the only planet where the Spice is found, which is subtly hinted through the book as a drug/substance that prolongs life and opens the mind. This is pretty much the most in-demand substance in the universe, and the main character Paul, and House Atreides are sent by the fearing Imperium Emperor on a sort of suicide mission to relieve a rival House to control Arrakis, knowing that this rival House will use the opportunity to go to war and crush Atreides.
Things go as planed until Paul and his Bene Gesserit mother (Bene Gesserits are a sort of religious leaders with special mind controlling powers) find themselves in league with Arrakis natives known as the Fremen (with the blue on blue eyes, no whites). Paul ends up accidentally (and not so accidentally later on) fulfilling a Fremen prophecy, which also happens to coincide with a Bene Gesserit prophecy.
Paul can view the future, but not in the traditional sense. He can only see the many paths that will lead to different futures, and he can see the individual futures in each path, but he cannot tell which path will be taken at any given time. He reaches a supreme conscientiousness and is considered god-like.
However, later in the series, Paul (while being somewhat aware) leads a Jihad of mass murder across the universe. But of course, that is later in the series and not covered in the book, nor the movie.
So, being the first time I really read a book before seeing the movie, how did it add up?
Well, I now understand why book versions are better. Not to say it was a bad movie! However, the movie was about 10% of the book as far as story, character development, plot and information.
They left out leaps and bounds from the book, most of which I found to be very important. SPOILER ALERT (as if you care, lol).
First, the entire Trade Guild was pretty much left out of the picture. They were a major part of the book and played a huge part in the making of some of the most memorable characters in the book (namely Gerney Hallack).
Second, Fyde's character was pretty much left to a few minor lines and a climactic fight scene at the end. HE WAS A HUGE PART OF THE BOOK!! He was the main driving force behind the rival House being there in the first place.
Third, once Paul's father dies, the book and the movie pretty much go their separate ways. After that, they either go a chapter every 30 seconds, or they don't touch it at all and make up their own stuff (which was still good).
Fourth, Paul never had to ritualistically fight a Fremen and gain "ownership" of the mans wife and family. I felt this was a huge part of Paul finding himself and placing his values in concert terms.
Fifth, Paul never faced the very intense choice of having to fight his Fremen mentor/leader over leadership of the Fremen tribes.
Sixth, Paul's mother was never accused of being the Traitor to House Atreides, which was another major plot line in it's self and rooted most of the characters actions through-out the second half of the book. While the characters made the same choices, the reason for these choices was completely left out, leaving you wondering why the heck they are doing whatever it was. It would seem extremely random to someone who hadn't read the book.
There are several other points, but the above ones were the things I felt really should have been in the movie.
Now, why did I like the movie if it faltered so badly?
It was awesome.
Bad 80's music? Check
Bad 80's effects? Check
Bad 80's acting? Check
Bad 80's hair? Check.
However, the visuals that David Lynch used were awesome, and he did a really good job displaying the surrealist/mysticism of the book. While the movie it's self wasn't ground breaking, nor was it timeless, it was very well done for what it was.
It was cheesy, but they made so many homages to the book, it was hard not to like it. I felt that while it wavered away from the book on many important parts, I think it was a freely interpreted film with a lot of interesting additions that worked well with the story.
Some things I REALLY liked were the direct lines from the book. David Lynch obviously read the book, and seemed to purposely toss in direct lines through-out.
One thing that I really liked, but it seems that most people HATE about it, is the voice-over thoughts of the characters. 90% of the important information in the book is through the characters thoughts and observations. Not through dialogue. The movie was awesome in this area. It helped create a sort of surreal, over-centering atmosphere that was present in the book, and really did a good job fleshing out different things that would have been impossible otherwise. Most people hated the voice-over thoughts, but I really enjoyed them.
Well, that's all folks! I had to do something about it! It was a very good book, even though it took me months to actually read (thank you school).
Now that it's over though, I am looking forward to getting back into reading my Lost Fleet series, of which they need to make a movie of as well.
Lastly, they will HOPEFULLY be making a new, high-budget remake of Dune.
"A new film based on the book was announced in 2008, to be directed by Peter Berg and produced by Paramount Pictures.[39][40][41] Producer Kevin Misher, who spent a year securing the rights from the Herbert estate, would be joined by Richard Rubinstein and John Harrison (of both Sci Fi Channel miniseries) as well as Sarah Aubrey and Mike Messina.[39] Variety reported that the producers were looking for a "faithful adaptation" of the novel, and "consider its theme of finite ecological resources particularly timely."[39] Science fiction author Kevin J. Anderson and Frank Herbert's son Brian Herbert, who have together written multiple Dune sequels and prequels since 1999, are attached to the project as technical advisors.[42] In October 2009, Berg dropped out of the project, later saying that it "for a variety of reasons wasn't the right thing" for him.[43] Subsequently, with a 175-page script draft by Josh Zetumer, Paramount reportedly sought a new director who could do the film for under $175 million.[44] On January 4, 2010, Entertainment Weekly reported that director Pierre Morel was signed on to direct, with screenwriter Chase Palmer incorporating Morel's vision of the project into Zetumer's original draft.[45][46]"
For those who don't know the BASIC story, here you go:
The planet Arrakis (Dune) is the only planet where the Spice is found, which is subtly hinted through the book as a drug/substance that prolongs life and opens the mind. This is pretty much the most in-demand substance in the universe, and the main character Paul, and House Atreides are sent by the fearing Imperium Emperor on a sort of suicide mission to relieve a rival House to control Arrakis, knowing that this rival House will use the opportunity to go to war and crush Atreides.
Things go as planed until Paul and his Bene Gesserit mother (Bene Gesserits are a sort of religious leaders with special mind controlling powers) find themselves in league with Arrakis natives known as the Fremen (with the blue on blue eyes, no whites). Paul ends up accidentally (and not so accidentally later on) fulfilling a Fremen prophecy, which also happens to coincide with a Bene Gesserit prophecy.
Paul can view the future, but not in the traditional sense. He can only see the many paths that will lead to different futures, and he can see the individual futures in each path, but he cannot tell which path will be taken at any given time. He reaches a supreme conscientiousness and is considered god-like.
However, later in the series, Paul (while being somewhat aware) leads a Jihad of mass murder across the universe. But of course, that is later in the series and not covered in the book, nor the movie.
So, being the first time I really read a book before seeing the movie, how did it add up?
Well, I now understand why book versions are better. Not to say it was a bad movie! However, the movie was about 10% of the book as far as story, character development, plot and information.
They left out leaps and bounds from the book, most of which I found to be very important. SPOILER ALERT (as if you care, lol).
First, the entire Trade Guild was pretty much left out of the picture. They were a major part of the book and played a huge part in the making of some of the most memorable characters in the book (namely Gerney Hallack).
Second, Fyde's character was pretty much left to a few minor lines and a climactic fight scene at the end. HE WAS A HUGE PART OF THE BOOK!! He was the main driving force behind the rival House being there in the first place.
Third, once Paul's father dies, the book and the movie pretty much go their separate ways. After that, they either go a chapter every 30 seconds, or they don't touch it at all and make up their own stuff (which was still good).
Fourth, Paul never had to ritualistically fight a Fremen and gain "ownership" of the mans wife and family. I felt this was a huge part of Paul finding himself and placing his values in concert terms.
Fifth, Paul never faced the very intense choice of having to fight his Fremen mentor/leader over leadership of the Fremen tribes.
Sixth, Paul's mother was never accused of being the Traitor to House Atreides, which was another major plot line in it's self and rooted most of the characters actions through-out the second half of the book. While the characters made the same choices, the reason for these choices was completely left out, leaving you wondering why the heck they are doing whatever it was. It would seem extremely random to someone who hadn't read the book.
There are several other points, but the above ones were the things I felt really should have been in the movie.
Now, why did I like the movie if it faltered so badly?
It was awesome.
Bad 80's music? Check
Bad 80's effects? Check
Bad 80's acting? Check
Bad 80's hair? Check.
However, the visuals that David Lynch used were awesome, and he did a really good job displaying the surrealist/mysticism of the book. While the movie it's self wasn't ground breaking, nor was it timeless, it was very well done for what it was.
It was cheesy, but they made so many homages to the book, it was hard not to like it. I felt that while it wavered away from the book on many important parts, I think it was a freely interpreted film with a lot of interesting additions that worked well with the story.
Some things I REALLY liked were the direct lines from the book. David Lynch obviously read the book, and seemed to purposely toss in direct lines through-out.
One thing that I really liked, but it seems that most people HATE about it, is the voice-over thoughts of the characters. 90% of the important information in the book is through the characters thoughts and observations. Not through dialogue. The movie was awesome in this area. It helped create a sort of surreal, over-centering atmosphere that was present in the book, and really did a good job fleshing out different things that would have been impossible otherwise. Most people hated the voice-over thoughts, but I really enjoyed them.
Well, that's all folks! I had to do something about it! It was a very good book, even though it took me months to actually read (thank you school).
Now that it's over though, I am looking forward to getting back into reading my Lost Fleet series, of which they need to make a movie of as well.
Lastly, they will HOPEFULLY be making a new, high-budget remake of Dune.
"A new film based on the book was announced in 2008, to be directed by Peter Berg and produced by Paramount Pictures.[39][40][41] Producer Kevin Misher, who spent a year securing the rights from the Herbert estate, would be joined by Richard Rubinstein and John Harrison (of both Sci Fi Channel miniseries) as well as Sarah Aubrey and Mike Messina.[39] Variety reported that the producers were looking for a "faithful adaptation" of the novel, and "consider its theme of finite ecological resources particularly timely."[39] Science fiction author Kevin J. Anderson and Frank Herbert's son Brian Herbert, who have together written multiple Dune sequels and prequels since 1999, are attached to the project as technical advisors.[42] In October 2009, Berg dropped out of the project, later saying that it "for a variety of reasons wasn't the right thing" for him.[43] Subsequently, with a 175-page script draft by Josh Zetumer, Paramount reportedly sought a new director who could do the film for under $175 million.[44] On January 4, 2010, Entertainment Weekly reported that director Pierre Morel was signed on to direct, with screenwriter Chase Palmer incorporating Morel's vision of the project into Zetumer's original draft.[45][46]"
If they madea Dune movie with a good budget and and a well written script, it could easily become one of my favorite movies of all time. Heck, the book is one of the best I've ever read! It's got everything Holly$$$ is needing right now..