Saturday, August 11, 2018

Is Reboot 3rd Strike for Dune?

Will the third try be the charm for a movie version of Frank Herbert's Dune?  Indiewire reported a few months ago:

With “Blade Runner 2049” behind him, Denis Villeneuve is gearing up for “Dune” and he isn’t hiding the fact he has some big plans in store for his adaptation of Frank Herbert’s 1965 novel. The director appeared at the Rendez-Vous du Cinema Quebecois this week (via The Playlist) where he revealed to the audience that “Dune” is going to be more than just a one-off tentpole.

“’Dune’ will probably take two years to make,” Villeneuve said. “The goal is to make two films, maybe more.”

The franchise plans are all Villeneuve is willing to tease right now, but multiple films sounds fitting considering Herbert’s novel is over 400 pages and incredibly dense. David Lynch’s infamous 1984 adaptation struggled to tell the entire story in just over two hours. As The Playlist notes, there’s a significant time jump in the middle of “Dune,” which would more or less be the ideal place to split the film adaptation into two parts. Warner Bros. did something similar with their “It” movie adaptation....

The director has referred to “Dune” as the movie he’s been wanting to make since he was a child. He previously warned that his take would greatly differ from Lynch’s version.

“David Lynch did an adaptation in the ’80s that has some very strong qualities. I mean, David Lynch is one of the best filmmakers alive, I have massive respect for him,” Villeneuve said in November 2016. “But when I saw his adaptation, I was impressed, but it was not what I had dreamed of, so I’m trying to make the adaptation of my dreams. It will not have any link with the David Lynch movie. I’m going back to the book, and going to the images that came out when I read it.”... Rest of article.


The Lynch production was ambitious but flawed.  The stellar cast was betrayed the the studio's decision to shorten the movie to a little more than two hours.  The plot was changed to include the idiotic weirding modules storyline.  The Harkonnens were turned into cartoon characters when they were much more devious and dangerous in the books.  The Sci-Fi Channel production was more true to the books but the cast was really sub-par.

It is is heartening to see a direcotr of Villeneuve's quality attempt to tackle Dune yet again.  Unfortunately for him, Frank Herbert's son, Brian, will be the executive producer.  He managed to take a science fiction masterpiece and butcher and bastardize it with a series of prequels and sequels.  A Nazi-style book-burning of those books would not erase the sins that were committed against the Father on their pages. 

However, one can hope against hope that Mr. Herbert will stay out of Villeneuve's way and that Dune will finally receive the cinematic portrayal it deserves.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

"He managed to take a science fiction masterpiece and butcher and bastardize it with a series of prequels and sequels. A Nazi-style book-burning of those books would not erase the sins that were committed against the Father on their pages."


Am I to take it from your words that you didn't care for the prequels and sequels? After reading your comments I would certainly like to know what you really thought.


Oh by the way, I agree with the comment you made that I copied above. I always said that coming soon would be the latest book of the series - "The First McDonalds on Dune".


Having said all of this, it will be very interesting to see what they do with this latest attempt to put Dune on the screen. I would go see it if it was 20 hours long and I had to pay for ten tickets to go see it.


Justice for Dune said...

Nerd alert!!! Y’all so lame

Anonymous said...

If you haven't seen Jodorowsky's Dune, you need to. It's about an ambitious attempt to film Dune in the mid 70s. Much of the artwork for that film wound up in Lynch's production or other iconic films like Blade Runner and Alien.

I still love the David Lynch production. Chaaaaaaaaaaa-SOO!

Anonymous said...

I learned about Dune from the Sci-Fi channel. They aired the extended edition which I taped and watched repeatedly as a kid. Years later I finally read the novel and decided that I preferred the extended David Lynch movie. Now it even stands on its own as an 80's classic.

Fear is the mind-killer

Kingfish said...

Take out that weirding module crap and its a much better movie. Lynch did not have final cut authority so it got butchered. Not as bad as Guccione editing Caligula himself but you get the idea. Production value was great, had a distinct British feel to it, opposite of the Star Wars type productions of the time. Just too much to cram into a two hour movie.

Anonymous said...

Al Franken as the Baron. He is big, fat, very gay, and a sociopathic liar.

Anonymous said...

Dune to me will always have a special place because of the Westwood Real-Time Strategy games on PC and home consoles.

StarCraft
Dune
Command & Conquer

If you like RTS games you must get a copy of a Dune RTS.

Anonymous said...

Like it or not, but Dune is the classic example of a what the TV mini-series ought to be about. The earlier Sci-Fi channel attempt was below par, but the medium is perfect for a story that will take a minimum of 8 hours to do justice. No matter how ambitious the pre production talk might be, the Hollywood studio bean counters are going to cut the guts out of any movie that goes beyond the time necessary to make it "marketable" to the impatient masses. If the first installment doesn't hit a home run, there won't be a second or third. I'll take my chances with one very good redux mini-series.



Recent Comments

Search Jackson Jambalaya

Subscribe to JJ's Youtube channel

Archives

Trollfest '09

Trollfest '07 was such a success that Jackson Jambalaya will once again host Trollfest '09. Catch this great event which will leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Othor Cain and his band, The Black Power Structure headline the night while Sonjay Poontang returns for an encore performance. Former Frank Melton bodyguard Marcus Wright makes his premier appearance at Trollfest singing "I'm a Sweet Transvestite" from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Kamikaze will sing his new hit, “How I sold out to da Man.” Robbie Bell again performs: “Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be Bells” and “Any friend of Ed Peters is a friend of mine”. After the show, Ms. Bell will autograph copies of her mug shot photos. In a salute to “Dancing with the Stars”, Ms. Bell and Hinds County District Attorney Robert Smith will dance the Wango Tango.

Wrestling returns, except this time it will be a Battle Royal with Othor Cain, Ben Allen, Kim Wade, Haley Fisackerly, Alan Lange, and “Big Cat” Donna Ladd all in the ring at the same time. The Battle Royal will be in a steel cage, no time limit, no referee, and the losers must leave town. Marshand Crisler will be the honorary referee (as it gives him a title without actually having to do anything).


Meet KIM Waaaaaade at the Entergy Tent. For five pesos, Kim will sell you a chance to win a deed to a crack house on Ridgeway Street stuffed in the Howard Industries pinata. Don't worry if the pinata is beaten to shreds, as Mr. Wade has Jose, Emmanuel, and Carlos, all illegal immigrants, available as replacements for the it. Upon leaving the Entergy tent, fig leaves will be available in case Entergy literally takes everything you have as part of its Trollfest ticket price adjustment charge.

Donna Ladd of The Jackson Free Press will give several classes on learning how to write. Smearing, writing without factchecking, and reporting only one side of a story will be covered. A donation to pay their taxes will be accepted and she will be signing copies of their former federal tax liens. Ms. Ladd will give a dramatic reading of her two award-winning essays (They received The Jackson Free Press "Best Of" awards.) "Why everything is always about me" and "Why I cover murders better than anyone else in Jackson".

In the spirit of helping those who are less fortunate, Trollfest '09 adopts a cause for which a portion of the proceeds and donations will be donated: Keeping Frank Melton in his home. The “Keep Frank Melton From Being Homeless” booth will sell chances for five dollars to pin the tail on the jackass. John Reeves has graciously volunteered to be the jackass for this honorable excursion into saving Frank's ass. What's an ass between two friends after all? If Mr. Reeves is unable to um, perform, Speaker Billy McCoy has also volunteered as when the word “jackass” was mentioned he immediately ran as fast as he could to sign up.


In order to help clean up the legal profession, Adam Kilgore of the Mississippi Bar will be giving away free, round-trip plane tickets to the North Pole where they keep their bar complaint forms (which are NOT available online). If you don't want to go to the North Pole, you can enjoy Brant Brantley's (of the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance) free guided tours of the quicksand field over by High Street where all complaints against judges disappear. If for some reason you are unable to control yourself, never fear; Judge Houston Patton will operate his jail where no lawyers are needed or allowed as you just sit there for minutes... hours.... months...years until he decides he is tired of you sitting in his jail. Do not think Judge Patton is a bad judge however as he plans to serve free Mad Dog 20/20 to all inmates.

Trollfest '09 is a pet-friendly event as well. Feel free to bring your dog with you and do not worry if your pet gets hungry, as employees of the Jackson Zoo will be on hand to provide some of their animals as food when it gets to be feeding time for your little loved one.

Relax at the Fox News Tent. Since there are only three blonde reporters in Jackson (being blonde is a requirement for working at Fox News), Megan and Kathryn from WAPT and Wendy from WLBT will be on loan to Fox. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both and a torn-up Obama yard sign will entitle you to free drinks served by Megan, Wendy, and Kathryn. Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required. Just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '09 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.


Note: Security provided by INS.

Trollfest '07

Jackson Jambalaya is the home of Trollfest '07. Catch this great event which promises to leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Sonjay Poontang and his band headline the night with a special steel cage, no time limit "loser must leave town" bout between Alan Lange and "Big Cat"Donna Ladd following afterwards. Kamikaze will perform his new song F*** Bush, he's still a _____. Did I mention there was no referee? Dr. Heddy Matthias and Lori Gregory will face off in the undercard dueling with dangling participles and other um, devices. Robbie Bell will perform Her two latest songs: My Best Friends are in the Media and Mama's, Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to be George Bell. Sid Salter of The Clarion-Ledger will host "Pin the Tail on the Trial Lawyer", sponsored by State Farm.

There will be a hugging booth where in exchange for your young son, Frank Melton will give you a loooong hug. Trollfest will have a dunking booth where Muhammed the terrorist will curse you to Allah as you try to hit a target that will drop him into a vat of pig grease. However, in the true spirit of Separate But Equal, Don Imus and someone from NE Jackson will also sit in the dunking booth for an equal amount of time. Tom Head will give a reading for two hours on why he can't figure out who the hell he is. Cliff Cargill will give lessons with his .80 caliber desert eagle, using Frank Melton photos as targets. Tackleberry will be on hand for an autograph session. KIM Waaaaaade will be passing out free titles and deeds to crackhouses formerly owned by The Wood Street Players.

If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.

Note: Security provided by INS
.