It's a mixed blessing, but Frank Herbert's Dune goes a long way toward satisfying science fiction purists who scoffed at David Lynch's previous attempt to adapt Herbert's epic narrative. Ironically, director John Harrison's 288-minute TV miniseries (broadcast on the Sci-Fi Channel in December 2000) offers its own share of strengths and weaknesses, which, in retrospect, emphasize the quality of Lynch's film while treating Herbert's novel with more comprehensive authority. Debate will continue as to which film is better; Lynch's extensive use of internal monologue now seems like a challenge well met, and Harrison's more conventional approach is better equipped to convey the epic scope of Herbert's interplanetary political intrigue.

ahem

it's been a while since i've read the book, but i'm pretty sure yueh packed schematics for the weirding modules in the thopter that took paul and jessica into the desert.
i thought lynch did a good job at realizing the Guild timefish as a nasty looking melange-mutation evolved muppet floating in spicegas. ive been on pills from a carwreck and i was floating in and out of awareness as i watched this so i might have missed a timefish.
what do these people mean about the weirding modules not occurring in the book?! ima go read it again. great book.
and there should be a couple different actors for paul because of the 12 year war between dune and dune messiah--the latter paul being more desert-hardened. somebody needs to give me a studio and tons of money so i can do it right once and for all. who's with me?

Vastly Superior to David Lynch's Mess

STARTERS: First off, no one should have every tried to cram all of Dune's complexity into one movie. Second, putting the DeLaurentiis family in charge of production was the kiss of death. Third, several reviewers have wondered where the "weirding weapons" were. There's a good reason you don't see them. THEY WEREN'T A PART OF THE ORIGINAL STORY! They were a cheesy creation of Lynch. The real Dune put its emphasis on hand-to-hand combat and sword matches.

That said, I was very happy with this adaptation-- much more so than Lynch's mess. Although MacLachlan appears closer to the description of Paul in the book than Newman, Newman handles the role better. The casting is superior to the movie, and at the very least because NO Sting (a terrible, terrible actor).

This miniseries was the way Dune should have been handled all along-- breaking down one of the most complex sci-fi works ever into multiple episodes. "God Emperor" might be too slow moving for these producers to tackle (though I love that book). But I would love to see a production comprising "Heretics," "Chapterhouse," and the followup to the latter that Brian Herbert is writing.

Awsome

I am a sci-fi fan. Always have been. This movie and children of dune are #1 on my list of favorites. Its such a great story. Some sci-fi can be cheesy. But not this series. Must have for all sci-fi lovers.