Dune Parts 1 and 2

This is going to sound weird.

I believe I enjoyed the original David Lynch effort more than the more recent films by Denis Villeneuve. Not that I thought the newer offerings were bad, I quite liked them very much. And really, the feeling I got after watching all of part 1, was that they were going to blow the original away.

To me though, the 80s version just felt more ‘alien’.

Things I thought were done very well.

Casting: The new movies were superably cast, aside form Sir. Patrick Steward, and Dean Stockwell, I thought just about every actor was more suited to the role in the new movies.

Harkonnens: I always thought Lynch’s direction with the Baron and his nephews was a bit much. It was hard to take them seriously at all. Every scene involving a Harkonnens in the newer film was much improved.

This is where I think it missed the mark a bit.

Mentats: there wasn’t nearly enough attention paid to Thufir Hawat or Pieter De Vries, both of which are much to interesting character wise, to be so completely ingnored.

Spacing Guild: While the scene in the 84 version where the spacing guild representative shows up to threaten the emperor is short, it stands out, scenes like that, which were so utterly alien really helped set the mood, for me at least.

Worms: don’t shoot the messenger, and I watched the original just to make sure I wasn’t looking at this through a lens of nostalgia, I think the worms, and every seen with them, were done better in the 84 version. I just do.

Alia: Paul’s sister was all sorts of cool, showing up in the end of the 84 version, and the new one compressed the time he was with the Fremen from years to months, omitting the character completely (aside from a psychic conversation, and weird cameo)

These gripes aside, I did really enjoy the new movies, and am glad they were made, I hope it continues with Children of Dune, and God Emperor.

I am long overdue for a re-read of the source material. Something I will amend shortly.

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