Yay, its here! Postponed and postponed and prolonged and re-scheduled, famously unfilmable and notoriously complicated SF saga is finally here. It is actually quite amazing that for such a legendary and influential novel, "Dune" does not have already million versions - apparently Hollywood could not simplify original novel enough for a successful movie. I have read the first three parts of the original novel by Frank Herbert and it was brilliant - not unlike "The Lord of The Rings", Herbert had created a universe by himself, with unforgettable and now immortal characters who all mingled, schemed, manipulated and fought amongst themselves like in some ancient Byzantine court. Almost like "Game of Thrones" but translated into SF world where action happens between different planets. In all honesty, "Dune" could have been a fantasy novel if placed in various kingdoms instead of between universe and open space. I have read with the greatest pleasure the first three parts and than stopped for the very same reason why I stopped with "Tales of the City" series - to this day, I find it unforgivable that author has such a low regard for his audience, that he can simply decide to skip the narrative and jump into the future, without preparing us for that. If I remember correctly, the "Dune" saga follows one particular story in the first three novels, than jumps 3,500 years in the future in the book nr.4. Well, this is where I stopped. You can't do this to me, I just won't accept it. (However, I might go back and re-read first three again)
There was some attempts to film the novel and the most famous was 1984. version by David Lynch (of all the people) which was unfortunately heavily edited - because of the gigantic costs, producers were afraid it might be too long & complicated so they edited and shortened the finished product to such extent that even Lynch himself had his name removed from the project. I mean, if you cut half of the movie out, there must be some differences. I actually have it on DVD and its magical - it helped that I read the books so I had no problems with following the story and loved how the characters basically work in SF world but they could be any medieval fantasy/ adventure story as well. It had Kyle MacLachlan, Francesca Annis, Linda Hunt (as a slave), fabulously grotesque Kenneth McMillan as Baron Harkonen and Sting as his sadistic nephew. AND legendary Swedish actor Max von Sydow, and the best of all, Siân Phillips as a Bene Gesserit mother superior with magic powers. Fabulous. However, there are people who think its too complicated and too confusing, critics hated it and in general SF movies usually age very badly because our technical effects eclipse everything that came before, so the time was ripe for the new version. Here I also must add that "Star Wars" borrowed a LOT from "Dune" so it all kind of feels familiar but not really.
This new 2021. version by talented Denis Villeneuve was all special effects and no heart. Visually it was stunning, vast, hollow, empty, ominous and probably right in describing some far away space in the distant future where humans talk and behave completely different from us - but what was sacrificed was the heart, emotions and any sort of feelings for the characters. Because the attention is so heavily focused on special effects, flying machines, lasers, everything gigantic and planetary, suddenly I realised that I actually don't care for one single character here - they are all just running, screaming, fighting with some unusual weapons and saying empty phrases (desert power?) but do we actually care if any of them live or die? No. They are cartoons. Most of all, I couldn't stop comparing the old Lynch movie to this one and how fabulously the older movie made it somehow look magical - yes it was SF but placed in a medieval court so it made sense. I couldn't shake a feeling this might be the future of the cinema, all special effects and no heart. (This is just first part of planned two). Right now this very minute I am going back to watch the old 1984. version.
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