infinite sadness

I have recently begun reading the Dune Chronicles (I'm just beginning Children of Dune). I rented the sci-fi channel mini-series of the first book and was incredibly disappointed, to say the least. I deliberately chose the mini-series over the '84 film version because I assumed, that being made in the mid '80's the proper visual effects were not available (maybe this is just my spoiled new millenium special effects thinking, but hey, if it looks fake it's no fun). Now, while I still hold that the '84 film probably has relatively lame special effects, the mini-series appears to have been filmed entirely on a set. All backgrounds of the desert seem computer generated, and not convincing CG, either. It looks fake. And for me, that ruins it. Especially combined with the fact that the acting wasn't very good and the costumes were horrendous. Those costumes demonstrate why so many people think of 'sci-fi' as synonymous with 'lame'. I can't even blame them because if I'd seen Dune before reading it, I probably wouldn't have read it. And I would've really missed out then.
Dune should be made into a movie with the same money and devotion put into it as Lord of the Rings and it could easily be just as big. If you ask me, the book is better. They could do it as one three-hour film and if they wanted to amke a trilogy or a series, that's be fine too. I really think the first book should be made into a movie though. And it should be filmed in Egypt or Saudi Arabia-- somewhere with actual desert and dunes, etc. Not on a computer screen. The only good effect in the mini-seires, imo, is when they showed the Guild Navigator. The Reverend Mother's outfits were horrible, as was Feyd-Rautha's. Also, Fremen eyes are supposed to be blue-in-blue, but not necessarily glowing, unless I missed something. The culture needs to be delved into as deeply as the Elvin or Hobbit culture in LotR, the way Fremen move, their rituals, everything. It's such a rich text.
And just because it's sci-fi, doesn't mean there needs to be hideously vibrant shiny outfits and machines.
Ah, well that's enough for now I guess. Anyone share my thought? Or oppose them?

Cryostar

Unfortunatley Sadness, if you've read the books and fell in love with the books, you will more than likely not like either of the Dune movies, as the 84, even the director's cut, strays far from the book.

While the mini-series is closer to the book, it's acting is for TV, not for feature movie, and it shows.

You may also wish to look up the below thread, which is where we currently talk about dune.

http://www.fanforum.com/showthread.p...23#post5735323

For now, though, I have to close this thread as a duplicate....Please join us on the other thread, we look forward to talk to you.