h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

absoultely sucked. Okay, I will admit, the David Lynch film left much of the book out, but the Sci-Fi thing was just awful. The dialogue was way too informal, the stillsuits were incapable of being used, it was just bad. There were great moments, and there were subtlties that were not present in the Lynch version, but on the whole, I just didn't buy it. The Fremen were parading about in these open air markets, without stillsuits, etc. And one scene has people swimming in the water caches. The bizarre accents didn't do much for me either. Although the woman playing Irulan was much more believable...less pure of motive, I guess. But frankly, I watched the whole thing, hoping that it would be good, hoping that it would be truer to the book. While it was better at giving some background, it was NOT more true to the book. Even with all of the parts left out, Lynch's version was, by and large, much more Herbert-like.

I have to agree that Lynch's version was more Herbert like. I suppose it also helped that he was on the set of the film for a time.

My main problem with the sf channels version was mostly visual. Their choice to use translights as background images baffles me. Yes they looked good, but did they look correct? No. Where was the light coming from. I don't recall Arakis having four suns. Evidently I was wrong. In one particular shot of paul and jessica hiking along the dunes I could clearly see creases in the fabrisc of the translight. Why use backdrops when a cgi landscape can be created so inexpensively?

The stilsuits were horrible. They were describes in detail in the novel. They were perfect in Lynch's version.

The fremen were altogether too primitive. They were not so in the novel.

There were good actors in the miniseries. Baron Harkonnen was excellent. When I imagine Duke Leto, William Hurt comes damn close (except for the blonde hair).

I prefer the miniseries sandworms...I think.

The sci-fi channel is already preparing two sequels covering the next two books. I understand that they had jack s**t for a budget when making it. Considering that the series made them a whole lotta money maybe they will fix the problems the next time out.

I don't know about the sandworms...the scales were too thick, made me think it wasn't going to be so easy to get them pried open. And I feel vindicated on the stilsuit issue. I have to admit that the Baron was good, and the actor who played the Beast Raban was excellent. But as far as casting goes, I really do prefer the original Lynch version except for the aforementioned Beast. I keep seeing Sting, and that cold stare, and it just worked. This Feyd was, well, lackluster. And I had a hard time with the Jessica/ Paul relationship...it seemed too boyfriend/ girlfriend like, or something. I would like to see what they can do with God Emperor Dune...that could be interesting. I don't know that they can pull it off, however. And, on a side note, why, exactly, does Paul go from savior of Arrakis to this egomanical worm that keeps killing the Duncan Idaho Ix clones? I never did get that...

It's not Paul that becomes the worm, but his second son Leto. By the time Leto becomes the worm, Paul has become blind. According to Fremen law, that means that he must be led into the desert to die, which puts him out of things. At least, that's the way it is in the books. They'll probably screw that up in the mini-series, which I haven't seen and, on the basis of these postings, don't want to see.

I'd like to see the new mini-series, mainly to make up my own mind, and because it is Dune afterall. A lot of people I know hated the film because it missed out so much of the book, yet when I saw it I was pleasantly surprised, and now it counts as one of my 5 favourites.
But alas the UK Sci-Fi Channel has, so far, not decided whether it will show the series or not.

<BB<

yes, you're right...it has been awhile since I have read the books, and I'm about halfway thru rereading Dune Messiah. Still, I am quite skeptical about them doing a good job of either DM or God Emperor...I just remembered the thing i really hated...the Bene Gesserit hats. I thought they looked like Scarlett O'Hara out for a walk!

i found the sci-fi adaptation quite a pleasure to watch. they showed the spice agony endured by lady jessica, and actually gave us an inkling of the shared memory of the bene gesserit which, davidlynch seemed to shy away from altogether - i look forward to seeing children of dune and the beginning of the god emperor's road

agreed. the miniseries was abysmal, despite the obvious effort to fund it well, and attempt something that looked nice. It was like an existential, neo-modern, diluted, almost-Dune. I recall the book, and also the film being much more gritty, less full of long silenced, oh, and with fewer painted backdrops. It wasn't a series, it was a play, and not a great one at that. When I think of Dune, I think of open spaces, large cities, graben, sink, furtive fremen moving throught the desert night, vast worms that have an almost universal fear and respect, primal, dark, strong. The mini-series was just dark.

Next time I think they should be left in the desert for a few hours to contemplate. Perhaps when they come back they can start a new religion, or, if they wish to be seriously challenged: attempt a decent version of Dune.

so, the visual style of lynch combined with the truer-to-the-story work of the sci-fi channel?

Yes, unfortunately with the 2nd series, Children of Dune some of the actors changed. And I wasn't impressed with some of the actors in the mini-series of Dune to begin with, especially William Hurt who was just there because he is famous and has a dull, monotonous voice.

<BB<