I expected more

fleonard70

Having just re-read this fantastic book, I was looking forward to the mini-series thinking/hoping that they would have been more faithful to the book that the 1984 movie.

Wellll...they were and they weren't. The mini includes most of the scenes from the book left out in the movie, but it completely fails to come through on the characters and feel of the original.

a) I don't think the actors were nearly of the quality as those in the 1984 feature film (which I suppose is to be expected, but disappointing all the same). I also think the director (Harrison) doesn't understand the book at all. There is no sense of intrigue or politics in the series. It is all reduced to petty scheming and plotting.

b) The characters are all weak.

Paul spends the first half of the series as some rebellious, head-strong teenager. While in the book Paul is completely calm, self-assured, faithful and in control.

In the series Jessica rarely seems confident or aware of the power she possesses. She comes off as a wishy-washy suburban worrying mother. Again, nothing like she is in the book.

Yueh and Hawat are near meaningless compared to their huge roles in the book. While Irulan is given tons of screen time where in the book she has almost none. Why does Harrison think he can do Dune better than Frank Herbert???

And the costumes!?!? Someone's been watching waaaay too much Star Trek.

I gave it a 5 for effort, but be warned - lovers of the book will be very disappointed in this meager attempt.

score 5/10

fleonard70 19 August 2003

Reprint: https://www.imdb.com/review/rw0531848/