Frank Herbert's Dune

 

 

review by  Darth Buzz

Picture: 7

Sound: 6

Menus/Extras: 6

Overall: 6

Notes:  The video quality of the transfer is fine but not up to today's standards.  The picture is widescreen with a 1.77:1 aspect ratio, but it's not anamorphic.  The sound also falls short of great with it's Dolby Surround mix and not 5.1.  The extras are nothing to write home about either, with a stirring (lol) 25 minute "Behind-the-Scenes" featurette, that's not that entertaining.  Overall buy this DVD only if your a BIG fan of Dune like I am.

Darth Buzz

SCORE: 7

I'll start out by saying that IMHO I think Frank Herbert's Dune is the greatest work of Sci-Fi ever written, and the Dune series written by Frank Herbert (not that new stuff) is the best Sci-Fi series ever.  The way Dune and the rest of the series handles politics, religion, ecology, sexuality, and science is amazing.  These are great books.

Now in light of how I view the books you may ask: Does Frank Herbert's Dune live up to the book? (lol)  Not even close.  This made for TV miniseries is extremely deficient in many areas, and really when it gets right down to it, this movie sucks.  It's not the worst thing I've ever seen by any stretch of the imagination but there are enough problems with this movie that I wouldn't recommend it to a non-Dune fan.  On the other hand if you are a BIG Dune fan like I am this series did enough right for me to enjoy it over and over and I mentally block out all the stuff I don't like.

Things I didn't like.

  • Chani's acting.
  • Stillsuits looked cheap. (David Lynch Dune stillsuits looked better, but less accurate)
  • Uneven pacing.
  • Some of the costumes were ridiculous. (that fucking kite strapped to Feyd's back is just one example)
  • FX budget in general.  (the David Lynch Dune looks better in many ways just because of budget)
  • Spacing Guild Navigators looked like shit. (looked like a giant retarded bat)
  • the main Spacing Guild "guy" was an acting nightmare. (get that fucking "guy" off the screen)
  • dialog was weakest in some of the most important moments (Paul's speech about being the Fremen's Duke.  Did he take a big leak after that or what?)
  • Alia was not as bad as the David Lynch Dune Alia... but close. (I think she would be hard to do right.)
  • Hasimir Fenring sucks. (He was supposed to be a failed Kwisatz Haderach.  Looks like a lame turd.)
  • Sardaukar look gay with those hats.

Things I did like.

  • Chani's looks.  (exotic babe)
  • Alec Newman is a much better Paul than Kyle MacLachlan.
  • worms looked cool.
  • thopters looked cool.
  • well done music.
  • the shields were better than the DL Dune during the knife practice with Gurney.
  • Saskia Reeves played a good Jessica.
  • Ian McNeice was about 1,000 times better than Kenneth McMillan as the Baron Vladimir Harkonnen.

One thing that was neutral that I thought was going to be a positive was William Hurt.  I think I liked Jürgen Prochnow better.  Hurt looked kind of like he didn't want to be there.

So I think overall my recommendation on this film would hinge on whether you like Dune or not.  For me the choice is easy because I really like Dune.