Dune (2010): What would you do?

Kurgan · Post by **Kurgan** » 2008-09-05 10:41pm

Okay, since I can't listen to people bitch about Dune 7, how about this?

I'm really excited about the promise of a new Dune film (which would be the third attempt, after Lynch's cult classic theatrical attempt, and the passable but not as memorable Sci Fi Channel treatment).

I confess I got very excited about the possibility when I saw the "Chronicles of Riddick" Trailer for the first time (and imagined Vin Diesel as Muadib, even though he's way too old for the part).

So, while I'm hoping it'll be great, who are your picks and what would you do with this movie if it were up to you? (please no saying "I wouldn't make it")

I'd say give it back to David Lynch, or maybe Tim Burton, and make it as weird and wacky as possible (spirit of the 1984 film, but true to the spirit of the original novel), with lots of action. It might be worth breaking up into two movies, filmed simultaneously, and use a mix of CGI and traditional effects.

Kurgan · Post by **Kurgan** » 2008-09-06 02:57am

Info on the real movie, in case anyone missed it:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1160419/

Spyder · Post by **Spyder** » 2008-09-07 12:06am

David Lynch wanted to introduce an incest scene, Alliyah was going to be Paul's sister and daughter, thankfully this was stopped. I think we should keep David Lynch as far away from Dune as possible.

Kurgan · Post by **Kurgan** » 2008-09-07 05:21am

Did not know that!

Incest was a theme in Children of Dune, but the issue you mentioned I'd never heard before.

Setzer · Post by **Setzer** » 2008-09-08 12:10am

IIRC, in Dune Messiah, the Bene Gesserit were hoping to get Paul to fuck Alia to preserve the Kwisatz Haderach bloodline. Like most of their Atreides related schemes, it amounted to nothing in the end.

JediToren · Post by **JediToren** » 2008-09-08 12:46am

I think they'll need to make it three hours or split it up into two films. No idea who they should cast, though. They need an unknown for Paul, I think. I wouldn't mind Patrick Stewart as Gurney again.

I think they need the mini-series' understanding of the book's characters and themes, but they need to go Lord of the Rings on it in terms of production values and budget. Hopefully no blue-screen wankery ala SW Prequels. Go out to the desert and shoot a movie. Shit, use the same locations as Lawrence of Arabia.

It will be interesting to see where they go with this. Third time's the charm, perhaps.

Kurgan · Post by **Kurgan** » 2008-09-08 11:48am

Setzer wrote:IIRC, in Dune Messiah, the Bene Gesserit were hoping to get Paul to fuck Alia to preserve the Kwisatz Haderach bloodline. Like most of their Atreides related schemes, it amounted to nothing in the end.

I thought there was something about Leto II and his sister in the third book as well. Maybe not? I admit it's been a few years since I read them.

Jade Falcon · Post by **Jade Falcon** » 2008-09-08 12:49pm

You know one thing I couldn't get that was a critisicm of the miniseries? Some people said the Lynch movie stillsuits 'looked cooler', panning the miniseries, and while there were some costume screw ups in the mini series (Sardauker pastry chefs anyone?), this wasn't one of them.

Lynch stillsuit. Black-In the desert absorbing heat isn't the best idea. No face or head covering. Dark colour isn't the best camoufalge.

Miniseries. A face and head covering, sand coloured with a cape that helps to hide from patrols. Overall a better design.

The miniseries in my opinion was superior storywise, but the Lynch film had the budget and some good casting. It's going to be a damned difficult film to put into practice. Lord of the Rings maybe has shown though that a book of this scale can be done, but the question is, is there enough Dune fandom to justify it?

Nieztchean Uber-Amoeba · Post by **Nieztchean Uber-Amoeba** » 2008-09-08 02:01pm

Basically I'd make the mini-series + lots of extra monies and really creative costume and set designers.

Jade Falcon · Post by **Jade Falcon** » 2008-09-08 02:33pm

Some of the costumes were silly in the miniseries, but this was meant to be a decadent universe after all, some like the Sardauker however just looked stupid.

Adrian Laguna · Post by **Adrian Laguna** » 2008-09-08 08:56pm

Jade Falcon wrote:Lynch stillsuit. Black-In the desert absorbing heat isn't the best idea. No face or head covering. Dark colour isn't the best camoufalge.

The problem was the lack of head covering and a sand coloured cloak, the stillsuit itself being black isn't that much of an issue. Real life desert peoples such as the Berbers often wear dark coloured clothes.

Stargate Nerd · Post by **Stargate Nerd** » 2008-09-09 03:32am

Jade Falcon wrote: Lord of the Rings maybe has shown though that a book of this scale can be done, but the question is, is there enough Dune fandom to justify it?

You know somehow I doubt that the millions of people who flocked to the movies to watch the LotR trilogy had read the books beforehand.

Jade Falcon · Post by **Jade Falcon** » 2008-09-09 10:57am

Mmm, I suppose you're right, but how could you sell Dune to the masses. I would certainly go and see a Dune movie despite not being an ardent fan of the books (I only read the first three), but you must admit the Dune universe is kinda out there, and some people might still remember Lynch making it even more so.

I remember reading that there was an attempt in the 60's or early 70's for a Dune movie and there was even a director picked but I can't remember the full details.

Actually, found a piece in Wiki of all places that mentions a proposed ten hour feature.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dune_(film)#Production

Stargate Nerd · Post by **Stargate Nerd** » 2008-09-09 05:44pm

Jade Falcon wrote:Mmm, I suppose you're right, but how could you sell Dune to the masses.

If we knew, we could become richer than you can imagine.

Adrian Laguna · Post by **Adrian Laguna** » 2008-09-09 09:08pm

Jade Falcon wrote:Mmm, I suppose you're right, but how could you sell Dune to the masses. I would certainly go and see a Dune movie despite not being an ardent fan of the books (I only read the first three), but you must admit the Dune universe is kinda out there, and some people might still remember Lynch making it even more so.

The Lynch Dune failed because the studio killed it after the head honchos decreed that it was unwatchable. In Europe, where executive meddling was not a factor, it was a massive success, at least by European standards. Of course, in Europe the audiences are slightly less stupid, and it became popular mostly through word of mouth.

As to why the studio killed it, it could have been a loss of nerve, where they decided that hiding the thing from the press for as long as possible would minimize the damage, when in fact it only soured the entire media corps to it. Alternatively it could have been the new head of the studio trying to make his predecessor look bad, and himself good by comparison. Hollywood is insane like that.