Time for a Group Reread of the original Dune Series

Important news:

www.ign.com/articles/2016/11/21/dune-war...es-land-movie-rights

They also call Dune "dystopian", which I interpret as either as the author of that piece knows Dune better than most mortals or doesn't have a clue what it is about.

But, a three film adaptation of Dune a la LOTR is on the top five of my cultural wishlist. And I guess that also must lead to a re-print of Dune boardgame, because after all best boardgame ever.

Vlad wrote: Important news:

www.ign.com/articles/2016/11/21/dune-war...es-land-movie-rights

They also call Dune "dystopian", which I interpret as either as the author of that piece knows Dune better than most mortals or doesn't have a clue what it is about.

But, a three film adaptation of Dune a la LOTR is on the top five of my cultural wishlist. And I guess that also must lead to a re-print of Dune boardgame, because after all best boardgame ever.

Interesting news, I do hope that they don't screw it up. I'm not sure a good Dune movie could be commercially successful. I also have my doubts because any movie hoping to capture Dune needs an informed audience, and, more importantly, an informed director and producer to capture it. Are new people reading these novels? The most recent attempt, I think that comes close to the same type of potential for failure is the awful Golden Compass movie--it should have been awesome--it had a great visual sense, good actors, but, the movie and story presented in the film just didn't capture those novels.

While I love the 80's David Lynch and Dino De Laurentiis Dune movie, I've always thought that the Scifi tv mini-series did a better job of capturing the first three Dune novels. These are worth watching. They have great performances, keep to the story, but, they're obviously lower budget.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Herbert%27s_Dune
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Herbert's_Children_of_Dune

I am not a big fan of Lynch's Dune, while the miniseries, in my opinion, are not watchable by today's standards.
Any adaptation of Dune will be polemic, because there are so many topics, issues and undertones in the original Dune that making an all-encompassing adaption is just an impossible feat. For example, what I find sorely missing in all adaptations (and perceptions) of Dune is the fact that Fremen are really not the good guys. I will be very disappointed if they are given the "Dancing with the Wolves" or "Avatar" noble savage treatment in the new adaptation. But I can understand that other Dune fans might be focused on something else completely and like their Dune story as a fairly straightforward revenge yarn.

That's why I take Jackson's LOTR as a comparison - he had his own vision of the world and the story, and that's the vision he went forward with. It is easy to forget how different the movie trilogy is different to the books. As long as there's such unique vision behind the movie (or TV series), I'm pretty sure I'l find something to like about it. And budget, they do need a respectable budget for this one.

Dune is too dense with ideas to translate well into a movie trilogy. Lynch's Dune managed to hit several important scenes from the first book, but then had to skip over vast amounts of material to get to the end. An HBO style series like A Game of Thrones would be a better format, but even that series had to use gratuitous nudity to help viewers through the exposition scenes. Dune is going to need serious adaptation to avoid boring viewers with excessive talking.

Paul's dick is going to help with exposition?

Hex Sinister wrote: Paul's dick is going to help with exposition?

Dude, the preferred nomenclature is Shai-Hulud.

Shellhead wrote: Dune is too dense with ideas to translate well into a movie trilogy. Lynch's Dune managed to hit several important scenes from the first book, but then had to skip over vast amounts of material to get to the end. An HBO style series like A Game of Thrones would be a better format, but even that series had to use gratuitous nudity to help viewers through the exposition scenes. Dune is going to need serious adaptation to avoid boring viewers with excessive talking.

Agreed what you say about Lynch. It is an acceptable movie with great wardrobe for the first hour. If Lynch had had the budget and 5 hours more, it would have been great and we wouldn't be having this conversation now. I definitely don't want an HBO-like treatment of the original Dune. If they want to do sequels, prequels and spin-offs - fine. But not the first book. If it lands in the hands of talented director/writer, it could be great.

I started re-reading the series for the 4th time at the beginning of June. I wanted to read that last two "Brian" books, so instead of trying to remember parts from my last read, which I believe was in early 2000, I started over

June - read Dune and Dune Messiah
August - read through Children of Dune and God Emporer
September - Heretics of Dune and half of Chapterhouse(It's a long read)
October - Finished Chapterhouse and read through Hunters of Dune.
November - Now about half way through Sandworms of Dune.

I'm giving the "Brian" a chance for these last two, only because I've decided I'd like to at least get an idea of what Frank was thinking for an ending. Truthfully not super bad. The writing style is a lot different, and things seem less philosophical and more engaging. But not bad.

I am planning to write about my experience for each of the books once I am done reading, and then I am planning running a DUNE themed party in the next month of so. I have some good ideas for Drinks(Water of Life), Cinnamon based goodies, gummy worms. And we'll be playing a nine player game. I have a copy of Grand Dune, Spice Harvest and The Duel. Going all out.

I intended to do this last year for the 50th anniversary, but now is good as any.

The Syfy channel's 3-part Dune miniseries had its issues but the screenplay wasn't one of them. It deviated a little but it shows the story can be covered in three movies.

Chapel, please share your thoughts on the hated Brian when you can!

Now that I'm nearing the end of Heretics, this is definitely weak. Maybe even weaker than God Emperor, because at least with God Emperor there's a doubt: "maybe this is not just boring, maybe I am just not smart enough to enjoy it." With Heretics there's no such doubt, it is pure trash in a stillsuit. But, here comes the good part, if Dune series became trash way before Brian, maybe I should give Brian a try... because just how much worse it can get? Maybe, just maybe it is at least not as pretentious, and some interesting stuff happens.

Vlad wrote: I am not a big fan of Lynch's Dune,

That's why I take Jackson's LOTR as a comparison - he had his own vision of the world and the story, and that's the vision he went forward with. It is easy to forget how different the movie trilogy is different to the books. As long as there's such unique vision behind the movie (or TV series),.

I find these comments a bit incompatible. For all its flaws, the Lynch Movie is chock fucking full of his own vision of Dune, many of which were absolutely fantastic and indeed are difficult to disassociate from if you go back and read the books afterwards.

Bojack wrote:

Vlad wrote: I am not a big fan of Lynch's Dune,

That's why I take Jackson's LOTR as a comparison - he had his own vision of the world and the story, and that's the vision he went forward with. It is easy to forget how different the movie trilogy is different to the books. As long as there's such unique vision behind the movie (or TV series),.

I find these comments a bit incompatible. For all its flaws, the Lynch Movie is chock fucking full of his own vision of Dune, many of which were absolutely fantastic and indeed are difficult to disassociate from if you go back and read the books afterwards.

Yes, I am sure a lot of people thought the Weirding Way consisted of strapping an amplifier to your neck and yelling at stuff to kill/destroy it.

I'm sure I could go to Wikipedia or some such to find this answer, but I'd rather ask you guys instead. I've read Dune a couple of times, but I'm a little fuzzy on something. Tell me if I'm reading this correctly.

The Bene Gesserit have planted (metaphorical) seeds about Messiahs in cultures throughout the galaxy. They're there so that any Bene Gesserit in trouble can tap into those myths and take advantage of them.

Simultaneously, they've been practicing a selective breeding program in order to produce the real Messiah, who will be under their control.

Jessica was supposed to be the Messiah's grandmother, but instead she jumped the gun and tried to produce him herself with Paul.

So, when she uses the Fremen's myths to save herself and Paul, she was unwittingly telling the truth about him being the Messiah.

The Bene Gesserit use religious superstition on primitive worlds, such as Arrakis, to protect members of their order. Those sisters who find themselves endangered can use these superstitions or prophecies to manipulate this populous since the sisters know the codewords and patterns of these implanted superstitious mores--they've already conditioned the populous to obey them and they have the keys to unlock behavioral patterns. For the Bene Gesserit, religion is only a means to an end and the opium of the masses. They don't actually believe in religion, instead, they're Deists, attempting to elevate themselves to achieve the same level of consciousness as their Creator (very Kabbalistic in design). Their ultimate goal is to create an oberman or Kwisatz Haderach through selective genetic breeding and by intensive mental and physical discipline and internal exploration.

Paul wasn't the Kwisatz Haderach. He was just close enough to pass. Jessica used the Fremen myths but she unwittingly had created a different and unexpected messiah.