The spectacular epic that began in the Emmy Award-winning Frank Herbert’s Dune mini-series continues in this dazzling new journey into sweeping interstellar intrigue and visionary sci-fi adventure! On the desert planet of Dune, the ancient prophecy has been fulfilled: the rule of the legendary Muad’dib has triggered a miraculous transformation of the arid wastelands. But as always, the Great Houses of the Empire are alive with rumors of conspiracy, plotting and betrayal. And when Muad’dib no longer wields absolute power as the Emperor, his young son Leto Atreides and daughter Ghanima face the prospect of a disastrous civil war on Arrakis – and chaos on a galactic scale. Now, with the future of the vital Spice trade in the balance, the destiny of humanity itself will depend on the courage, strength and otherworldly wisdom of The Children of Dune! Conspiracies abound in Children of Dune, Sci-Fi Channel’s praiseworthy miniseries sequel to Frank Herbert’s Dune, loyally adapted from the Herbert novels Dune Messiah and Children of Dune by John Harrison, who passed directorial duties (due to a scheduling conflict) to Greg Yaitanes, a 31-year-old TV director and Dune neophyte tackling his biggest assignment to date. Uninitiated viewers face a disadvantage; it’s best to read Herbert’s books and/or see the first miniseries before plunging into this remarkably coherent tangle of political intrigue, unfolding 12 years after the events of Dune.
To his horror, Maud’Dib–Arrakis emperor Paul Atreides (Alec Newman, reprising his Dune role)–has become the unintended figurehead of a violent dictatorship, and his enemies are multiplying. Vanishing into the desert, he waits as destiny shapes his twin heirs Leto II (James McAvoy) and Ghanima (Jessica Brooks), who must contend with their scheming aunt Alia (Daniela Amavia) while Princess Wensicia (Susan Sarandon), of the enemy House Corrino, plots her own attack on Maud’Dib’s familial empire. Exiled Atreides matriarch Lady Jessica (Alice Krige, giving the film’s finest performance) returns to Arrakis, where the enormous, desert-dwelling sandworms face an uncertain future. As always, the spice must flow, and the universe’s most coveted commodity remains at the center of this richly detailed and physically impressive production. Special effects range from awesome (fly-over shots of the capital city, Arakeen) to awful (the saber-tooth tigers look like Jumanji rejects), and Dune devotees will endlessly debate the miniseries’ strengths and weaknesses. Some may desire more action to punctuate the film’s inherent verbosity, but consensus will surely conclude that this is Dune done right, with monumental effort and obvious devotion from everyone involved. –Jeff Shannon
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March 11, 2010
#1
The first Dune was an OK movie however and this is an absolute bordumfest. I can’t believe I sat through this garbage waiting for it to get interesting. It is boring plain and simple there is nothing entairtaning. It does deserve 1 star for the worms they are awsome. Other then that this is boring.
March 11, 2010
#2
I loved the first DUNE movie released in 1984. I must have watched it a dozen times over the years.
This new stuff (Children of Dune) to me is not even science fiction. I would call it a boring soap opera.
I’ve try to watch it several times, but lose interest.
One of the reviews by Noctem said the 1984 Dune was a disaster. Noctem must feel that a movie has to be like the book or it’s no good.
I haven’t read any of the books but I know the different between a good movie and one that’s not worth watching.
The old 1984 DUNE movie puts “Children of Dune” in the dirt.
March 11, 2010
#3
The original Dune TV Miniseries was well done (even with it’s creative liberties), but this second series is a waste of time.
The characters are uninteresting, the story poorly told and the series tries to cover way too much material (both Dune Messiah and Children of Dune).
Although I do not expect a movie/tv show/series to match up with the book, this one was executed so poorly that anyone who has read the books will not want to waste their time on this show.
March 11, 2010
#4
I remember heard about this sequel a few weeks after watch the fist miniseries and a few days after write web about how bad John Harrison make his work.
Sometimes a few pages needs more than a few hours, and create a sequel using the second and third book shows how is the little knowledge about the Frank herbert’s masterpiece saga.
From the beginning we can watch the mistakes when the producers change only the few good actors from the first part for some others a little better, but let in the rest of characters in the flesh of very bad actors specially Paul Atreides.
No one can discuss how great actress is Susan Sarandon, maybe the best of the miniseries with Alice Krige, but Alec Newman still can’t take the soul a Paul and his troubled heart.
Again in his try to mix two different stories John Harrison use some things who oppose them and let behind many and more important others. In the end the great tragedy of Paul Atreides result in a very soft story about conspirations and empires crumblings far away from the exploration of the life of one messiah and his legacy.
To me the books of Frank Herbert left me great lessons about life and who to face somethings of the soul, Harrison erase all of that from the Dune Messiah and Children of Dune, just to make a 6 or more hours miniseries, when he could use much more just to do a faithfully adaptation.
There is no romance, no epic, no real drama, just a mechanical story who shows me how so much Harrison and his friends talk about his knowledge of Dune and how little is really this.
From the fisrt part is also missing the work of Graeme Revell, maybe some of the few good things from that moment, now replaced by someone who try to make some king of Deep Forest and Enigma mix of music giving the chance to the director to make some kind a videoclip in the end of the first part.
(…) Dune deserves something better so much better.
March 11, 2010
#5
Let me begin this review by saying I have read all 6 of the Dune books prior to watching any form of Dune on televion/movies.
Ok, in David Lynch’s Dune, the Paul Atreides character was a horrible resprentation of the Muad’dib we imagined. Well, guess what, neither did the new Paul as depicted in the Sci-Fi Dune. I’ll make this short but sweet: Prepare to be disappointed… AGAIN. No one can fully translate the Dune books into a movie/screenplay. That being said, this production was good at representing the actual events in the novels. It did a pretty good job of encompassing the first three Dune books, and I did enjoy watching it, but of course it still had me shaking my head sadly at points, namely due to the bad acting and the fact that no one can accurately portray the complexity of Frank Herbert’s characters on a screen. The part where the Preacher talks about the entire planet being covered in sand again was just cheesy..
Ok, aside from all the complaints, it was a decent production. Worthy of watching once or twice if you’re a big Dune fan, but don’t expect to be knocked off your feet. The very best part IMHO was Alia.. I love the actress that played Alia. She was hot! I found myself watching the scene where she is struggling internally with the Baron’s voices in her head over and over. Very erotic. That’s probably the best part of the movie and one of the only reasons I didn’t give it two stars– Alia is a hot actress.