Watching the Dune miniseries for the first time. Thoughts:
Set design makes me think of early 2000s Doctor Who
Paul is such a smartass in this version lmao
Surprisingly good dialogue? Like if the genius of the 2020s films comes from their ability to depict a very narration-heavy story through visuals, this one shines in it's ability to do the same but via dialogue that remains in character while also efficiently Does Exposition
Weirdly sexual reverend mother/box scene? why
there was NO reason to pronounce Thufir like that. Toofer. Who approved this.
I think this is the only version that includes the greenhouse scene?
Turns out this is the only version that includes a lot of specific book plot points people often forget about so that's neat
The soundtrack is weirdly similar to Hans Zimmer's score in places
I'm sorry Paul gives off the same vibes as that one terrible Pinocchio movie in this I"m so sorry
I actually really like the way the Atreides control on Arrakis is portrayed along with Duke Leto's cynicism, I don't *love* the way Leto is played here, I know it's William Hurt but I feel like he was honestly kinda miscast. However, I like that they explained how much he's aware that they're an imperial power no different from any others, and that he has schemes and ways of keeping that power of his own
The scene where Paul imitates the Baron is insane. So out of pocket I'm obsessed. and the actor played it so well too like?? His switch into an actually decent impression was wild
(also sent me down a mini rabbit hole of realizing that actor is Scottish which I would have had NO idea because Paul's vibes in this are . violently American is the best way to describe it.)
A lot of the acting is ....idk a little stiff? Awkward? My favourite performance is probably Saskia Reeves as Jessica
Love the dude playing Gurney too I think this might actually be my favourite version of his character
Introducing Irulan at the feast is...a choice? Idk if it's a good or bad one but it's definitely A Choice
Ok the visuals are reminding me of like. early 2000s Steam games. Myst anyone?
Honestly love the repeated shot of the face emerging out of the sand, if only the cgi was a little better because that could've been sick
The Fremen are all kinda dressed like the Sparrows from Game of Thrones
Oh is this where the "Fremen popping out of the sand for combat" comes from because I don't remember that from the book? Did Denis get it from here? maybe I'm wrong
One thing I don't understand with both this and the '84 film is that they both refer to only the people living in the seitches as "Fremen", whereas I always took that to refer to anyone living on Arrakis basically? Are the city dwellers not also Fremen ? Is this a book thing I forgot about?
This might be the only version of this story where Jessica and Chani have uhhh sexual tension in at least one scene?
AGGRESSIVELY AUSTRALIAN SAMURAI SARDUKAR
I like that even this version has a bit of contention between Paul and Chani - albeit for different reasons than the new films. They deserve a bit of drama yk?
Like near the end after they've lost their son and Paul says "I will bring water to this planet too" (or something of that nature) and she responds with "payed with in the blood of my people" ??? wild
In general I don't hate this version of her character or their relationship, like if they were gonna stick with the book's storyline re: them but still have a bit of that push/pull going on this was a good way to do it
I knowwww it's a low hanging fruit but holy shit I can't get over the green screen. I know it was 2000 I'm trying to look past it but holy shit. Hoooooly shit.
I like the amount of agency they gave Irulan in this version. It's neat because in the book she isn't really present or active for a lot of it, but because of her writing excerpts we get a real sense of her presence throughout the story, so having her be more present throughout was a nice touch
Ughhh insane about the parallels between Paul's fight in this version vs the new films especially that last shot: in this version there's a shot where Irulan approaches him and he turns away and goes to Chani, in the 2024 movie he goes to Irulan and her father and then turns back to Chani only to see her walk away from him. Ghhhhhh this is something I'm obsessed
