Customer Reviews

Children Of Dune

5 star:		(126)
4 star:		(52)
3 star:		(17)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

The toughest thing about 'Frank Herbert's Dune', presented on the SciFi Channel in 2000, was that all Dune fans knew, just KNEW, there'd be comparisons made between it and David Lynch's theatrical release. Although the strong casting, new-found special effects and costumes made Lynch's version a film to be reckoned with, it still felt unbalanced and lost amidst the deeply textured background world that Frank Herbert created.

The 2000 miniseries gave us more of the actually pages of Dune translated to the screen, but it's acting, costumes and special effects were lacking.

So, to my surprise, what should appear but a new miniseries with reprising roles and some new cast members for Frank Herbert's Children of Dune on the SciFi Channel. Goodbye comparisons. We entered new screenplay territory since no theatrical version of any other Herbert novels has ever made it out to the public.

A wonderful presentation, Frank Herbert's Children of Dune combines the Dune Messiah and Children of Dune novels into this new miniseries and does so with one graceful motion. Well, almost graceful.

I don't know WHY the SciFi Channel feels the need to keep a "big name" in these films. William Hurt didn't aid the first miniseries with his 'Hurtful' acting. Likewise, I felt Mrs. Sarandon did nothing to aid in the release of this film/mini. Her character was cardboardish and dull. No action involving her at all. Nothing that seemed to help move the storyline along.

Uncharacteristically (and thankfully) Alec Newman reprises his role as Paul (and the new Preacher) and does so with powerfully strong acting (the exact opposite of what I saw from him in the original miniseries). Julie Cox was wonderful as Irulan, Jessica Krige excellently portrayed an aging Lady Jessica, and James McAvoy WAS Leto II. Jessica Brooks balanced the role of Ghanima perfectly by playing Leto's twin sister. And Daniela Amavia was P-E-R-F-E-C-T as the possessed and tortured Alia (preborn sister of Paul). She's also quite an atractive lady.

The costumes (thankfully) were also 'toned-down' a bit, so the large head-dresses and triangular suit attachments are gone. The budget for the special effects were increased (to great advantage). Loved the worms, the thopters, Alia's temple. Wonderful cinematography utilizing blue screens.

And the BIG shocker: the musical score! Brian Tyler! You the man! A true triumph as far as scores go, the music presented in this miniseries is sure to make the soul soar, or plummet into the Great Erg as appropriately presented by Mr. Tyler's score.

This miniseries is the new 5 star TV production for the SciFi Channel, and rightfully so. A presentation worth owning...on DVD.

If I were to choose the best film adaptation of Dune, this miniseries would win, hands down. Not because it's true to the book, not because of special effects, but it would win because entire series is endearing and the performances of the cast are memorable. This production took characters that were hard to relate to because of their super-human abilities and turned them into people we could care about. What sets this treatment of Dune apart from all others is the dynamic performances of the cast.

Alec Newman, Julie Cox, Barbara Kodetova, P.H. Moriarty, Zuzana Geislerova, and Ian MacNeice reprise their roles as Paul, Irulan, Chani, Gurney, Rev. Mother Mohiam, and the Baron. Even the Newcomers to the cast are: James McAvoy as Leto II, Jessica Brooks as Ghanima, Daniela Amavia as Alia,

Alec Newman *owns* the role of Paul in CoD. While his performance seemed shakey at times in Dune, he embodies the majesty of Muad'Dib and convincingly portrays the part of a tormented monarch in this sequel.

Julie Cox steals the show away everytime she appears. Some complained that the script took (major) liberties concerning Irulan--mainly by giving her more appearances and lines than the book ever afforded her, and making her more likable--but I say anything that gives Julie Cox a chance to appear on screen to flex her acting muscles is a good decision. She plays a very convincing imperial princess with her body language (she has probably the best posture I've ever seen, but she absolutely shines portraying a fiery personality trapped by her station in life.

As with Alec Newman, Barbara Kodetova reprises her role with much more maturity than in the first series. In CoD, Alec and Barbara both come back with stronger performances and better chemistry.

Speaking of chemistry, however, there was so much of it between the actors playing the twins it was unbelievable to me that they weren't dating in real life. James McAvoy, in particular, brings so much spirit and warmth to his role that he brought much-needed levity to the role of Leto by adding humor and warmth to his performance. Jessica Brooks brings thoughtful, pensive Ghanima to life respectably well. It should be noted that the twins are portrayed as teenagers in the miniseries, which I consider a wise decision to make them more relatable and easier to watch for first-time viewers.

Though I had loved Saskia Reeves' Jessica, Alice Krige takes a turn in Lady Jessica's shoes very well. She fleshes out the part of the Atreides matriarch and delivers a very reserved performance, which is befitting the cautious Jessica in the book. Edward Atterton (who played Arthur in TNT's 'The Mists of Avalon' and has appeared on shows like 'Firefly' and 'Alias') plays a wonderfully convincingly warrior-mentat. Daniela Amavia's gut-wrenching, explosive performance as Alia was highly entertaining to watch, and her last scene brought so much more emotion to the events than the book afforded it. Daniela, Alice, and James came together so well in Alia's last scene that many people who saw it were teary-eyed after watching it--it had me in tears. The book, however, didn't come anywhere near that level of emotional impact.

I thought Susan Sarandon's performance was tolerable--nothing great--but I think it is unfair to blame her. She was horribly miscast. In a show where almost everybody had an accent of some sort, Susan's thoroughly American accent was completely out of place. Add that on top of the fact that her performance wasn't as strong as some of the others, and no wonder she's being singled out as the weak link. She's just not at home playing a science-fiction villain.

As far as costumes, special effects, and props go, I enjoyed each of them immensely. The costumes are still a bit quirky, but they are much more subdued and realistic than what they were in CoD's predecessor. Where as the costumes in Dune were downright 'kooky,' the clothes in CoD could be considered 'fasion.' The special effects were very well done for a television feature. 'The Voice' was much cooler in CoD, with soft growls and whispers overlapping over each other on top of the warped speaking to provide a richer, more majestic 'Voice' better capturing what it was in the book. The glow-in-the-dark blue eyes are traded in for more subdued blue eyes that are brilliant without looking radioactive. Everything comes together and molds comfortably with the set design, which boasts soft, warm colors and lighting that make the places look like they exist in a perpetual sunset. Indeed, the overall look is a very pretty one.

The real star of the show, however, was the score. Brian Tyler offers compositions so energetic, elegant, and lovely to hear that he gives Arrakis the heart it sometimes lacked in the book. As with Tolkien and his Lord of the Rings, the plot and the characters sometimes were a little dry when it came to good ol' fashioned emotion. This production would not have been what it was without its music. Brian Tyler does for CoD what James Horner did for Titanic and what Howard Shore did for the Lord of the Rings. Towards the end of the first installment of CoD, a montage of events play out to a song Tyler created called 'Inama Nushif,' and my husband heard the television and wandered from his room to come watch what I was watching because he said the music was, in his words, "so cool."

What this adaptation does with its casts' tour de force performances and Brian Tyler's soaring score is make Children of Dune and its characters relatable, memorable, and human, and that is why it was such a resounding success.

I have been a longtime fan of Frank Herbert's opus, and have read the "Dune" novels many times. I consider myself somewhat of a purist, and did not warm up to the theatrical release of "Dune" (David Lynch) back in the 80's. I thought at one point that the saga of Dune simply was too big for both the big and the small screens.

I was pleasantly surprised after I watched and very much enjoyed the Sci Fi channel's 2000 miniseries, "Frank Herbert's Dune." At the time, I reconciled myself with the idea that this was the closest that Hollywood would come to portraying Herbert's epic. Thus, I looked forward to the airing "Children of Dune" with some enthusiasm but with low expectations.

I must admit that when I read details about the upcoming TV event, I had many misgivings: the changes in casting from the first miniseries, the fact that the script was a synthesis of the "Dune Messiah" and "Children of Dune" books, that the Atreides twins were to be teenagers instead of 9-year-olds, etc. Imagine my surprise when I found that the Sci Fi channel had done it again, and that I liked "Children of Dune" even better than their "Dune" miniseries.

If you are a die-hard Frank Herbert fan, I am not going to try to convince you that this is a worthy interpretation of "Dune." I will ask that you watch it with an open mind. However, if you are familiar with the stories and are a fan of science fiction, here are a few reasons why you should be a little forgiving and let yourself enjoy "Children of Dune":

- an excellent soundtrack, superior to that of both the Lynch movie and the original Sci Fi channel miniseries

- a bigger budget and improvements in special effects and in sets

- Alec Newman's reprised role as Muad'Dib (and as The Preacher) was powerful, both at Chani's death and at the climactic ending of the miniseries

- an improvement in the casting of Duncan Idaho, Stilgar, and to an extent the Lady Jessica (though unfortunately the new actress has been typecast in my head as the Borg Queen)

- a continued and interesting expansion of the Atreides adversaries' characters (House Corrino) in particular of Princesses Wensicia and Irulan (who in the books I never even cared about) though I wasn't too taken by Farad'n

- a brilliant teenage Leto Atreides II, who borrows bits of dialogue from "God Emperor of Dune" and makes me hope they make the next Herbert novel into a miniseries as well

- a script and a director who does not try to emulate Frank Herbert yet presents an interpretation of the saga which is respectful of it and which tries to stay true to the spirit of the novels

To conclude, it is well to note that the Dune storyline is in its purest form a Greek tragedy (according to Herbert, the Atreides ancestors are Agamemnon and the House of Atreus.) Both images and music carry the feel of great and noble deeds accomplished at the price of great pain and sorrow. This for me is the final reason that "Children of Dune" is worth watching: that you come to have a better understanding and to care deeply about both the characters and the Desert Planet. The miniseries was hardly over when I had to go looking for the DVD release date. I can only look forward to any special features that come with the DVD.

As far as I've heard, director Greg Yaitanes (not the same director as the first Dune miniseries; that was John Harrison) had *not* read the books when he decided to direct the series. he went pretty much only from the script, his intention being to make the series make sense to someone who had not read the books. So I'm gonna have to disagree with this idea of it being necessary to read the books to understand the series. Sure it'll *help*, but it's not at all *necessary*.

As far as miniseries go, this is probably the best one I've ever seen. The acting is superb considering the fairly young age of the relatively unknown cast; those unknowns actually act circles around Susan Sarandon (Princess Wensicia), who actually struck me as the most boring person to watch in the entire series. At 23, James McAvoy (Leto) did an amazing job, making Leto into much more of an endearing human character than I ever imagined possible. He did an excellent job of carrying the series, but he wasn't alone. Alec Newman (Paul/Mua'dib) impressed me and then some with his transformation from whiny spoiled brat in the first Dune series, to reluctant but persevering messiah in part 1 of Children of Dune, and finally into The Preacher; a Mua'dib who has lost his wife, his eyes and his prescience. Alice Krige (Jessica) also did a great job of making the role her own (another actress played this character's part in the first series).

The directing, editing and cinematography are beautiful, and the special effects are impressive considering what was most likely a fairly small budget. I only noticed one excessively cheesy moment, a particularly amusing Leto-running sequence where his arm movements recalled memories of Steve Martin's "suction cup aliens" scene in Roxanne. This only occurred in this particular shot though, and it's a small price to pay for such an otherwise astounding production.

While watching this series I literally forgot that I was in my living room 75% of the time; I felt like I was dreaming sometimes, due probably to the cinematography and intoxicating atmosphere of the series. It almost feels like there's Spice in the air while you're watching it. I didn't watch this series, I *experienced* it. I went on a journey with the characters and came out a better person on the other side. Get the point? ;)

Bringing this to DVD will make the perfect cinematography and immersing score even more enjoyable, and just imagine: no commercial breaks this time!

The Atreides family returns in this excellent sequel to Frank Herbert's Dune. Based on the novels Dune Messiah and Children of Dune, this miniseries succeeds where its predecessor failed -- it has an interesting, tightly woven plot that, for the most part, stays true to the novels that inspired it.

Children of Dune also has a wonderful cast of actors -- Alec Newman certainly seems to have matured as an actor since the first time he played Paul Muad'Dib Atreides, and Daniela Amavia made Paul's pre-born sister, Alia, a complex and fascinating character. I loved seeing James McAvoy as Leto II and Jessica Brooks as Leto's twin sister Ghanima, and it was also good to see Julie Cox return in the role of Irulan.

The biggest surprises in the cast by far were Susan Sarandon as Princess Wencisia and Alice Krige as Lady Jessica. A project like Children of Dune seems to be so far outside of Sarandon's normal milieu, yet she played the role of the treacherous Corrino princess very well. Alice Krige was an awesome replacement for Saskia Reeves in the role of Jessica (Ms. Reeves had to bow out of Children of Dune because she was pregnant when they began filming), and she is no stranger to science fiction, having previously played the Borg Queen in Star Trek: First Contact.

Although the Children of Dune DVD is noticeably lacking when it comes to special features (save for a featurette about the visual effects), it is one that I would definitely recommend to anyone who has a special affection for the world that Frank Herbert created.

This is a review of the telecast, not the DVD.

The Dune Saga is, for me, one of the greatest accomplishments of literature in general and THE greatest accomplishment of science fiction literature. As I grow older and after several readings the experience just grows richer.

Great liberties were taken with the plot line of the books - "Dune Messiah", "Children of Dune" and, to a limited extent, "God Emperor of Dune". But not to the detriment of the overall story.

I would recommend the Sci-Fi Channel's "Dune" and "Children of Dune" as an introduction to the books as opposed to a substitute FOR the books. The books are much richer plot-wise. And the spirit of the saga is much more alive in the books.

To speak specifically to the mini-series. The sets were limited, but convincing. The costumes like watching a Paris fashion show, but they added to the production. The acting was more than adequate (more more so, I think, than in "Dune").

Susan Sarandon added a touch of "legitimacy" to the production and her acting was convincingly cold and calulating as Wensicia Corrino. Ms. Sarandon seemed to be enjoying herself and that came through in her portrayal. And she was fun to watch.

I thought Alice Krige was awesome as Jessica - once I got over thinking of her as the Borg Queen. As I got over the stereotype, I began to notice how well Ms. Krige brought out the pain of the hard choices that Jessica made and her absolute dedication to the Atreides family.

Daniela Amavia as Alia did excellent service to the role. I always thought Alia a secondary, pitiable character in the books. The mini-series brought her more to the forefront and I'll re-read with a different outlook although she's still pitiable.

James McAvoy and Jessica Brooks were well played (although a lot older than in the books) as Leto II and Ghanima. They convincingly played their very complex characters. James McAvoy in particular brought a sense of the charisma of what Leto would become to the role (I guess that's why they made him older for the mini-series).

I had a very positive and enjoyable experience with this adaptation. And I look forward to the next installment - which is sure to follow.

Though this is not a word for word adaptation, I believe that it captures the essence of the novels. In some ways more than the glitzy first series of movies. The fanatics of the novels might be disappointed by the lack of adhearance to the books, but should be happy with the way they preset the information.

part I

The House of Artredis is now in control over the known universe. The House of Corino exists, but more of a figurehead than a house with any real power. Irulan is married to Paul, but it is a political arrangement, and he won't even grant her a child. The government has turned into a dictatorship, and the Artredis are quickly becoming more and more hated as people die in their wars or by their rules. It is getting to the point where assasins and terroists attack the royal family themselves. There is a league forming against them, made up of former allies, angry houses, the navogators, and the Bene Gesserit Paul is increasingly detached and weary looking. The position he never really wanted is weighing down on him, and it looks as though he can feel every burden and every hateful thought against him. His sister has become reckless, his mother left for Calidan with Gurney, and former allies now questioning their alliance. To make matters worse, he is given a gift, a ghola from the tilaxians. One of his former friend and mentor Duncan Idaho, who has no memory of his past and is now a mentat.

Part II

Artredis is dead, and his sister Alia rules until his heirs are old enough as a regent. The problem is that she is growing increasingly mad and losing control, hearing voices of her ancestors, including the vile Baron Harkonen. The head of House Corino, Princess Wensicia Corrino, is still plotting the demise of house Artredis, and has an heir to put forth as the next Emperor. But needs the children of Artredis dead. Alia also sees them a threat to her control, as it will end when the children are old enough to lead. Creating multiple plots and unrest that are tearing the House of Artredis to pieces.

This series seems to fit the story better than the last series. The costumes are toned down, but still regal and showy. The dialogue is more wordy and thick. Which makes many fans happy since that was a big part of the books. The actor playing Paul Artredis fills in the role of the unhappy dictator better and really seems to feel the role. Though some of the original actors from the first movie are missed, Duncan Idaho, Stilgar, etc.....

They writing was good, though they are hard books to adapt. Especially since a lot of fans like to stop at Dune, which was last conceptually in the series. Though it was released first, it was the latter books that Herbert really put the focus into. He was more interested in the politics, but neeeded a place to start it out. The messages it displays are intersting, but often depressing.

This is a quality film, called sci fi shakespere by some.

In this sequel to Frank Herbert's Dune I could see some of the actors recast in new roles, new actors for old roles, and a bit of rushing here and there to collapse DUNE MESSIAH into a third of the space on the DVD. Special effects varied from superb to lousy, as noted by other reviewers. Deviations from Herbert's plotting were not always helpful. At the end, the connection between Leto's acceptance of sandworm skin and the resurrection of Dune was not clear, and Alia's death would have had more impact were it done as in the novel.

With all that said, the writers and creators of this film understood that works of art are not to be imitated so much as interpreted, and in that they excelled. Each scene played out as a mini-drama all its own. The individual agendas and traumas of each player came through clearly, with the loyal and staid Stilgar, the scheming Korba, torn Irulan, noble Chani, and moody Paul doing themselves full justice--a justice seasoned with the eloquent evil of the returned Baron Harkonnen. Bravo!

To cite one example: the scene in which Chani gives birth did not exactly match the book, but it was staged with such moving intensity, against the background of an evocative and haunting score, that it was both rending and wonderful to watch. We are taken right into the consciousness of stone-burner-blinded Paul, who can see it all unfold: his wife's fight for life, Stilgar's execution of Mohiam, Korba's descent into a Fremen deathstill, the storm hovering over Sietch Tabr, and through it all the sightless but all-powerful man known as Muad'Dib swaying back and forth with the movements of Chani's agony and, at the climax, weeping. An awesome collage.

There is only one word I can use to describe the Scifi Channel's Minseries "Children of Dune"----AMAZING! Let me start off by saying that I have never read the books and am not a fan of the series. I am a fan of science-fiction and greatly enjoyed the first mini-series when it aired in 2000. Prior to that, I had only seen the film version which was very confusing to say the least.

The acting in Children of Dune and overall presentation were superb. The heart and soul of this epic lies in Lady Jessica and Leto II (played stunningly by Alice Krige and James McAvoy. In my opinion, the underlying theme of choices, chances, and consequences was fully symbolized in how these two characters were portrayed. Alice Krige's interpretation of Lady Jessica was moving and one seemed to understand her thought process more so than in the original mini-series. The maturity with which James McAvoy brought Leto II to life can be called "Shakespearean". There were aspects of both Hamlet and Macbeth in Children of Dune.

What impressed me most was that the creators emphasized family more than special effects. The scene were Leto II and Paul were re-united in the desert was poignant as was Alia's death and final restitution with her mother. The relationship between the members of House Corrino could have been developed a litlle bit better. One just didn't understand the tension between Susan Surandon's character and her younger sister Irulan.

The only drawback of this televison event was in the special effects execution (the tigers look liked they were borrowed from a video game). I should say, however, that the creators did a good job in using the special effetcs to enhance the story, not visa versa (i.e. Star Wars Episode II)....

This adaptation of Herbert's novels "Dune Messiah" and "Children of Dune" is without a doubt the best motion-picture adaptation of Herbert's work, topping the 80's film and the first mini-series, "Dune", which aired in 2000.

It combines excellent acting, strong action (when it comes into play), great special-effects (not including the god-awful Saber-tooth tigers) and moving music provided by composer Brian Tyler. Although not as action-heavy as the first mini-series, it still seems better paced than "Dune" and more entertaining overall.

Alec Newman provides a less-wooden Paul Atreides, managing to deftly show how the immense responsibilities of leadership have begun to wear the Mahdi down. The roles of Alia and Jessica are also well done, and the twins Leto and Ghanima as well. Unfortunately Susan Sarandon does a terrible job as the villianous Corrino.

I was glad to see that the costumes were a bit toned down this time. Many of the costumes in "Dune" were far too bright and flashy (Emperor Shaddam looked like he was wearing clothes made out of the same material as MC Hammer's parachute pants) lending a cheap, B-movie feel to the production. This time around the costumes are attractive; the women look elegant their royal attire (Ghanima's wedding dress comes to mind) and the men's clothing is practical and look fit for the desert.

I also liked how Leto's transformation from human to worm hybrid is shown. As time passes the hard, worm-like skin slowly creeps up his arm until by the end it has moved across his cheek.

All in all this is a must see for any one, not just sci-fi fans. A wonderful piece of cinematic work.