Dune & Hollywood

[rsrguy]

An example of the extent of the first three "house" books is that we learn why the baron is fat and dependent on suspensors.

One of my nit picks about the new film is the way Jessica is portrayed, she was not written as a weak emotional wreck, she was created by Herbert as an extremely tough and pragmatic BG with an amazing ability to manipulate her environment, she was also described as quite a bit more appealing aesthetically, than was cast.

[PorscheGAL]

Originally Posted by rsrguy

If you cant get through it the old fashioned way, I suggest the audio versions especially if you work alone, it's an awesome trip through a very well imagineered Sci fi universe.

I spend 2-4 hrs a day in the car. This is how I did it and I really enjoyed it that way

[PorscheGAL]

Originally Posted by rsrguy

One of my nit picks about the new film is the way Jessica is portrayed, she was not written as a weak emotional wreck, she was created by Herbert as an extremely tough and pragmatic BG with an amazing ability to manipulate her environment, she was also described as quite a bit more appealing aesthetically, than was cast.

Yes! Jessica, in the movie, was all wrong.

She was made to look weak which was the complete opposite of the book.

No wonder the actress gave and interview and talked about Herbert was sexist. She can't have read the book, just her script.

[70SATMan]

Originally Posted by PorscheGAL

Yes! Jessica, in the movie, was all wrong.

She was made to look weak which was the complete opposite of the book.

No wonder the actress gave and interview and talked about Herbert was sexist. She can't have read the book, just her script.

That did bug me a bit but, I wonder if they didn't intend to show her love of Paul as her son as one of her real weaknesses? She was sufficiently bad ass in the 'Thopter.

With the lead up into the second movie, I wonder how they are going to develop her into the new Reverend Mother which requires strength beyond the normal BG (on Arrakis).

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Eternals is coming out tomorrow so today was the last day on IMAX. For me, better the second time. Instead of drinking in the sound and fury in pure wonderment, the story slowed down a little allowing greater appreciation for details along the entire arc.

[rsrguy]

Originally Posted by Shaun @ Tru6

Eternals is coming out tomorrow so today was the last day on IMAX. For me, better the second time. Instead of drinking in the sound and fury in pure wonderment, the story slowed down a little allowing greater appreciation for details along the entire arc.

I can see that, lots going on in it. A lot of folks think the score was too loud and less than perfect in terms of Zimmer..

[rsrguy]

Originally Posted by PorscheGAL

Yes! Jessica, in the movie, was all wrong.

She was made to look weak which was the complete opposite of the book.

No wonder the actress gave and interview and talked about Herbert was sexist. She can't have read the book, just her script.

Ya right lol Herbert a sexest. That's why the most potent characters in all of the novels (aside from protagonist) are female. He was ahead of the pack when it came to that issue.

I really liked the way Herbert balanced the saga in that way, maybe w/exception for the cold detachment of the BG. Somehow in the books you got the impression that was what set her apart from the rest, the actual emotional attachment she had to Paul. I think that still could have been portrayed more effectively than it was. My 32 year old son was throwing his hands up in the wtf salute while watching it... Pretty funny actually he got it too.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

I am not one of those folks. the sound and score is one of the high points of the movie. and another reason to see it in IMAX. The sound system in the theater I go to is massive. Movies like Dunkirk in 70mm are remarkably different, an significantly better with big sound.

[rsrguy]

Agree one of the reasons I drive an hour to see stuff in imax, also the hearing loss in the left ear!

[Pazuzu]

We watched it (with 6 other people!) in a basic theater, no IMAX, no HD, no 3D, and my head was aching afterwards because the music track was at the pain level. It was the same for the 20+ minutes of trailers. It was so loud that we missed a few soft spoken parts.

[sc_rufctr]

I do not understand: Jessica was badass & Rebecca Ferguson is gorgeous.

- How many "men" did she dispatch on the Thopter? (3 I think) And then later she got the better of Stilgar!

Again I haven't read the book so I must be missing something.

[flatbutt]

I saw it last night and went away satisfied. It may be that since I am so familiar with the entire series I didn't think it great. It was quite good and worthy of praise.

Hans Zimmer wrote a great score. Casting was spot on too. Zendaya was a great physical fit for Chani but time will tell how well she plays the role in Part II.

Jason Momoa is a great fit for Duncan Idaho. I kept expecting him to break out the Haka.

I didn't see the new Jessica as weak at all. W/out the book you can't know that she is a rebel BG. The line was easy to miss. "You were ordered to bear a girl, but your love for the Duke made you have a son". Paraphrased of course but indicating the Jessica wasn't a cookie cutter BG. Her fretting while Paul endured the Gom Jabbar wasn't weakness but maternal love.

There some differences though. in the book Paul and Jessica don't kill th Harkonnen thugs. Paul does use the voice but only to get Jessicas gag removed. She then gets the thugs to fight over her. That thopter crashes and they meet the Fremen then. The movie has them crashing twice.

Thge dialogue was taken straight out of the book in many places. The most telling was when Chani said "I would not have let you harm my tribe".

Overall a good effort. Not great but again I could probably play some parts with my familiarity of the story.

[Heel n Toe]

Originally Posted by Pazuzu

We watched it (with 6 other people!) in a basic theater, no IMAX, no HD, no 3D, and my head was aching afterwards because the music track was at the pain level. It was the same for the 20+ minutes of trailers. It was so loud that we missed a few soft spoken parts.

This was my experience also, but I was alone... Miz Toe is not into SciFi.

I don't know if this theater is HQ, but I had no problems with the image quality... it was excellent and very crisp... I only found the sound level to be detracting from my overall enjoyment. I don't think the music track is separate from the other parts of the sound... it was all too high. Hans Zimmer is brilliant, but Villeneuve overplayed that card, IMO. It completely obscured a very large percentage of the dialogue.

I still enjoyed the film for all the excellence that I was able to appreciate... I just tried to ignore the aspects I couldn't enjoy. Compartmentalization... sometimes it can be the key to happiness.

I was the only one in the theater (4 PM on a weekday) and sat about 10 rows back in the center where the screen nearly filled my field of vision. This is how I always choose my seat. Felt like a private screening.

I spoke to the manager afterwards and told her the usual overly high volume during the trailers was never reduced for the film. She apologized and thanked me for bringing it to her attention.

[flatbutt]

Originally Posted by Heel n Toe

I was the only one in the theater (4 PM on a weekday) and sat about 10 rows back in the center where the screen nearly filled my field of vision. This is how I always choose my seat. Felt like a private screening.

I spoke to the manager afterwards and told her the usual overly high volume during the trailers was never reduced for the film. She apologized and thanked me for bringing it to her attention.

The fact that the theatre was empty played a part in the volume too.

[sc_rufctr]

Secrets of Dune

"Duncan Idaho freefalling from space to Arrakis seeking out the Fremen in a scene which was cut from the movie."

[Pazuzu]

Originally Posted by flatbutt

The fact that the theatre was empty played a part in the volume too.

I've sat in nearly empty matinee theaters where they shut down half the speakers, why spend money when no one is in there?
I bet they have no control over the sound levels on a movie like this, where the "aural landscape" is meant to be so important.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

[Tobra]

Originally Posted by PorscheGAL

No wonder the actress gave and interview and talked about Herbert was sexist. She can't have read the book, just her script.

So she is utterly unfamiliar with and clueless about the author; can't say I am surprised. It is beyond my comprehension that someone could be so intellectually lazy they would not bother to read the book their movie is based on.

Rebecca Ferguson, have never seen anything she acted in.

[cassisrot]

Originally Posted by rsrguy

True, I can't think of a book Hollywood hasn't puked all over..
Paul really didn't pull it off though did he? His son went on and iirc that didn't end well either. So, no savior after all?

Lonesome Dove, if you can credit Hollywood for a tv series.

[john70t]

The premises of the Dune series is entirely based on old cliches:
(plus a lot of details to remember)
Three opposing factions, a fight for total control vs. independence, male vs male, male vs female, child vs mother, theology, independents vs authority, etc

The latest movie is very abbreviated...should be 6hrs long.....but a better version than the 1990ish one.