Dune Vs. Dune... Fight!!!

[DacaZ]

A while back I picked up the Sci-Fi Channel treatment of Dune on DVD and absolutely loved it. I thought it did a great job of capturing the gist of the book (with a few exceptions). Well, its been a while since I saw the David Lynch version, so I rented that the other day. I didn't care much for it the last time I saw it, and brutha, it hasn't aged well for me at all, so you can imagine what I think of it now.

Story Presentation...
In the original Dune, Lynch fell back on the lamest possible devices to help convey the story. First, have a character lecture at you before the film begins. Yeah, new Dune had some narration, but I thought it did a much better job of incorporating the backstory into the actual dialogue.

Second, Lynch's version had characters expound on their thoughts to the audience through whispered voices. Sheesh, this was both lame and annoying. Its also a cheap cop-out. If you can't convey what the characters are thinking through their thoughts and actions, you have no business making the film. This ruined a lot of credibility for me.

Actors...
Ok, gotta give this to the original... Max Von Sydow, Dean Stockwell and Patrick Stewart to name a few. I also liked the guy who played Baron Harkunan better in the original. He was far more perverse and repulsive. New Dune has... um, William Hurt who I actually thought did a better rendition of Baron Atreites then the guy from the original film. And while most of the actors in the remake were no-names (at least to me) I thought most did a goood job.

Special Effects...
You may argue that its not fair to compare them, since the first film is so old now, but we are comparing a feature film to a made for TV production, so I say allow it. Either way, I have this to say about Lynch's Dune... did this movie ever look good? Christ, I can watch plenty of movies from that era and still think they look great, but Dune '84 looks like total shit to me. The personal shield effects are laughable. About the only thing I have to criticize New Dune for is that it was so patently obvious that the outdoor scenes were shot against studio backdrops.

Its ironic, but as much as the original film tried to spell out everything that was happening to the audience, I still feel it would have been more confusing to someone who hadn't read the book then the 2002 version.

I have to tip my hat to John Harrison... nice job, indeed. I would die a happy man if he teamed up with Sci-Fi channel to do a treatment of Chapterhouse Dune, or any of the other books for that matter.

DacaZ

[sleeve]

I haven't seen the Sci-Fi Channel's version, but I'm a long-time defender of the David Lynch (a.k.a. "Alan Smithee") version.

First off, I have to disagree with you on the visuals. Sure, the special effects could have been better in places, but the overall look of the movie is outstanding. The conceptual art is just wonderful -- Baron Harkonnen and the Spacing Guild navigators are but two examples.

I also appreciate some of the shorthand devices Lynch invented to bring larger, difficult-to-film concepts from the novel into the film. Take for example the "weirding modules." Although this is clearly not in the book, I thought it was a clever means of explaining both the significance of Paul's messianic power and the special fighting skills of the Fremen.

The casting is also uniformly excellent. I just wish Lynch did more with Feyd-Rautha. How does the miniseries handle him?

[DacaZ]

Hey Sleeveboy!

I will certainly concede that Dune 84 had a great look to it vis a vis the physical production values (except the ornathopters which looked like flying shoeboxes, I liked the new ones better), but the architecture, the uniforms, all of that looked spot-on to how I envisioned it in the book. Dune 02 certainly has a more scrubbed look to it, which seems a bit out of place on Arrakas itself. Oh yes, and the Distill Suits from Dune 84 were certainly better looking then the flimsy ones in Dune 02.

I actually liked the way the Navigators were treated in the new version better. They looked more humanoid and I was convinced that these could have been humans that were changed by the spice. The Navigators in the Lynch film were certainly impressive looking, but it was a bit hard for me to buy that the huge creatures were ever once human, although I suppose the change was supposed to take place over a very long period of time, so my argument there could be moot.

As for Feyd Rautha... I think casting Sting was more a gimmick (and a very poor move) then anything else. The Sci-Fi production cast a fellow named Matt Keeslar (sp?) who I am totally unfamiliar with. I found he had a better screen presence then Sting's character, and was more believable as an actual person whereas Sting seemed like a prop. There are some great scenes in the new production with Feyd taking on slaves in gladitorial combat and he has a good play with the Baron, although I find the character still could have been treated better.

DacaZ

[Lagomorph]

As a long time Dune afficianado, I awaited w/ baited breath for the Sci-Fi version. I'd long loved the Lynch version, but I'm always open to a new take. Upon viewing it, however, I was let down. Why? It certainly was closer to the book and had a lot more time for exposition, however, I found the Sci-Fi version lacked the all important aspect of the novels that Lynch's version captured. Mysticism. I felt that Lynch nailed the air of mystery and unseen power while the sci-fi version was just too sterile. Oh well. I'll watch it again tho. Why? I'll probably buy it the SE DVD. I'm a slave to all things Dune and have owned two copies of the Dune Encyclopedia in my time....Don't even get me started....Oh what the hell, a parting shot....God Emperor of Dune is my favorite!!!! ::Prepares for the hail of stones::

[Regus]

Dude, come on, Lynch's version has...wait for it.....wait for it....

PATRICK STEWART!!!

Giving the movie 1,000 ownage points.

But, I did enjoy the Scifi version a lot more, though.


Oh and, you ever play Dune on the Genesis?

[Lagomorph]

Nope. But I played it on the PC where it was called Dune II.

[DacaZ]

Patrick Stewart ownz joo all.

"Spice Flow reported... Shall we prepare to mine it, Captain?"

"Make it so, Mr. Data."

[Despair]

Now, Thats a Dacaz of old

[Nash]

i thought lynch's dune sucked. i hate kyle mclauclin (that's mispelled, so i apologize) in every role. that and the fact that it wasn't even how i pictured dune when i read it, so i couldn't relate to it.

the new dune was a lot better, and a lot closer to my own picture of dune. i still didn't like the portrayal of paul's character.

[Despair]

Cant say that I'm a big fan of Dune, both book or movies, and Nash summed up how do I feel about these 2 productions pretty well, so I dont see if I can add something else to that.

I do like the FX Lynch version had, they were pretty good for that time, from what I remember.