Hmm, I'm in a dilemma. Thinking over what we'll be doing for the Dune movie (taking the 2021 adaptation with parts from the 2000 miniseries) I find myself thinking about the character of Paul. I have to admit, the 2021 adaptation made him more faithful to the books, which is always a plus, while also humanizing both him and his family a great deal better than shown in said book. However, the character is a bit too much of a downer, and while that is usually fine, I don't know how the audience will react to it.
On the other hand, the 2000 Dune miniseries has Paul act more rebellious and cocky, which while a departure from his character in the books, makes him a delight to watch, not to mention that seeing the originally arrogant brat grow into the Messiah like figure of the Fremen, Muad'dib, is one of the main reasons why I loved it so much, and why I raged when I first saw the 1984 movie believing it to be the miniseries.
So, I guess I'm putting this forward, when the time comes for the film to be made (closer than we think if the tech advance is as good as expected) do you think we should go with the Paul from the 2021 adaptation, or the Paul from the 2000 miniseries? I'm going with the latter for the reasons stated above, but what are your opinions guys?
Yes, I figure than rather than just having it be a copy of 2021 Dune we could take what works from both. Paul's character is one, the overall tone is another. I mean, that perhaps rather than keeping it all be dark and somber all the time, perhaps we could add a bit of levity and color (not bright and garish, but tasteful) in some, while not taking away the gravitas of the situation or place.
Take the fight between Gurny and Paul for an example. A perfect encapsulation where there is clearly tension and a heavy mood, but add to that Paul's more arrogant character, and it improves it in my opinion.
Baron Harkonnen is another example; the 2000 Miniseries has him as the perfect mix between a scheeming mastermind, and a loquacious exasperated man. I love this rendition of him, but I love the 2021 rendition as well. He's just so sinister, so dark in every deed, action and word that it brings chills to my spine whenever I see him.
On that character we will have to select one or the other, because I don't see a way to reconcile them both.
So... anyways, might as well try and speak a bit more about Dune.
So, one of the things I also liked about the 2000 miniseries was how they handled the entire plot about the traitor and the fall of House Atreides.
From the beginning we know there is a traitor, but the way they put everything it's like a true mystery where you don't know who is going to be from the beginning. Both the book, the 1984 version, and the 2021 version had me thinking that it was Yueh before the act was done, mostly because most of them just outright told it so.
But the Miniseries instead teased you about it; They said there was a traitor, then they discussed everyone before dismissing them or starting to doubt all. Hell, at one point Paul starts recriminating his father that this is how a House Falls, with suspicions and distrust from within. You doubted Gurney and Yueh in the same way, since they gave very good reasons from the start, and even when Gurney showed he was loyal you never thought of Yueh, because aside from a small bit about missing his wife there is hardly anything suspicious about him. He's just in the background, so when the betrayal happens you can only think "Wha...! How?!".
The same could be said about the emperor. From the beginning in movies and books you know he has no love for House Atreides, but the Miniseries downplays this information without contradicting it. There are many mentions about how one should be careful of being too popular like Duke Leto, and how many Houses are displeased with his rise in power, all along with messages of how the emperor has great esteem for Duke Leto (which is true), and even a scene where the emperor himself mentions how they should send a token of love and affection to House Atreides.
But here's the thing, at the same time these are things that can also be interpreted as the emperor being in on it; They are also a House (House Corrino to be exact), they are also jealous of Leto's popularity, Duke Leto himself mentions in passing to Paul that even the emperor could be their enemy. Heck, the Emperor before mentioning sending said token of love and esteem says it's too bad they can't marry Princess Irulan to Paul. You at first dismiss it, thinking it's because they are in Arrakis, but after the betrayal you can only go "Ohhh, that's what he meant!".
And finally, the one part they did amazingly, was add the Princess herself making a visit to the planet just before the coup. It lulled you into a sense of security, thinking "No way are they going to attack now" or even "She's probably going to be kidnapped", but no, she comes, she meets Paul, they have an interesting meeting that hints at a romantic sub-plot between them, then leaves, with her Sardoukar.
Or does she? Are the Sardoukar she came with the same ones that aided Baron Harkonnen? That alone kept me more than invested when the fall of House Atreides (which was all too brief, that was a failure but an understandable one) happened.
The miniseries made this part a mystery, an enjoyable one, even if they did not address the parts in the book where Jessica and Thufid grew to distrust each other, but I think that alone allowed to conduct a much better one, that truly surprised you when the time came.
So... let's continue.
On Princess Irulan and Chani; Well, I can't say much about them when it comes to the 2021 adaptation, as the former made no appearance in Part 1, and Chani made some brief appearances just near the end. Yet I think we can find something very interesting when we see how they were treated in comparison to the books, the 1984 movie, and the 2000 Mini Series.
Starting with Princess Irulan, the original book of Dune seems to use her mostly as narrator, as many of the quotes used in chapters have her as the author of the books, she herself quotes. She hardly makes an appearance in the original Dune as well, with most of her character development and relevance happening in Dune: Messiah. The 1984 movie follows this trend, but places her as narrator only for the beginning of the movie, where she has to give a 2-minute exposition about the entirety of the Dune universe rather than letting it happen organically. So basically, we are brought about, having to understand terms like "Spacing Guild" or "Bene Gesserit" or the entire political landscape in a 2-minute spiel, and then launched to the movie itself. Now, to be fair, this was something that David Lynch himself was against, but was mandated by Studio Executives, so I won't hold it against him.
It's the 2000 Miniseries that does something unique with her; she's actually a character, with her own wants, desires, and motivations. Though at first treated as a pawn by her father, the emperor, she does not meekly accept it, but rather resolves herself to become something more. She investigates the fall of House Atreides, she uncovers the Harkonnen plot against House Corrino (putting herself in great danger by seducing Feyd Rautha Harkonnen and discovering the actions taken against House Atreides) and becomes an actual player and someone that the emperor listens to near the end. That her first appearance also shows her more gentle and fragile side when she goes to Arrakis and speaks to Paul makes her a more complex, and likeable, character, as we can also see her grow, like Paul did, under the pressures of life, if under different circumstances.
Frankly, Princess Irulan in the 2000 miniseries is a more assertive, independent, and growing character that, much like Paul, manages to go through hardship and learns how to take control of her life. We could use this for the movie.
Chani is an interesting example n how different she's put in the different adaptations. In the Dune books she is mentioned on many occasions, and her appearances and interactions with Paul, though mentioned, are not expanded, nor given that much attention. It is clear that they love each other, but Paul's journey takes precedence over everything there. The 1984 adaptation goes a bit deeper into how much they care for each other, but then again it is also a faithful adaptation of the books. Chani, besides being Paul's companion, and a Fremen fighter, does not seem to add anything else. Nevertheless, both the book and the 1984 movie adaptation managed to make Chani a fun and likeable character. This will be important later on.
Chani's 2000 Miniseries adaptation, and the 2021 adaptation, seem almost complete opposites in a way yet both managed to expand on the character through minimal actions that made us think and made us imply more about her through them.
Starting with the 2000 miniseries, Chani's first appearance is when she surprises Paul and manages to hold him prisoner, if only temporarily as Stilgar allows him and his mother to join them. From this encounter, we know she's a skilled warrior, as Paul had defeated other Fremen before her. Through the rest of the series we don't see her fight more, even though she clearly accompanies Paul and the rest on some more missions, as the series makes a point in focusing on her more as a woman, an advisor, and Paul's companion than a fighter. That does not mean she does not fight though, as we are shown the end result of someone trying to face Paul, and she quickly dispatched him. Overall, this Chani is likeable, she shows herself as strong, resourceful, a caring mother, a counsellor, and not afraid of letting herself speak. It does play a bit too hard on the maiden in love angle, but not to the detriment of the character or the story.
The 2021 adaptation...well, we only got a few minutes of Chani, and her actions and words. Yet through them we can see that Chani is a more jaded and cynical individual than her previous adaptations. Clearly a strong fighter, and from what the trailers indicate she will continue in this trend through the second part of the movie. One of the elements shown is that she clearly shows no sign, nor desire, to see Paul join with the Fremen. Perhaps it's my imagination, but the scene where she gives Paul her knife to fight, then tells him it's so that he doesn't die unarmed (which is already quite morbid) is made all the worse as she has this tone not of disinterest, but more like vindictive glee, like he's going to die and she will enjoy it. That's the kind of thing that sticks with you, and makes me wonder how the hell are they planning to pair the two of them in the next section.
Frankly, I much prefer the Chani of the 200 miniseries, but I can see some flaws in said adaptation as well. Chani would have been better served as showing more of her skills as a fighter as well as a mother, she could also have been the one to train Paul, thereby allowing them more time together to connect and bond. Overall, if we could make it so that the 2021 Chani's skills are added to the 2000 Chani personality with the changes I already suggested, then the character would work much better.
Okay then, these are my notes on Dune and what i hope for some of the characters. However, I should also add some thoughts about other things I want for our adaptation of Dune:
First, while I think Villeneuve did a good job when it came to the atmosphere, he still did a lousy job when he decided to streamline the entire story so that it would happen in ess than a year, instead of the 4 it took in the book. I can understand he thougthhe might need more time, but many of the changes were only detrimental to the overall tale: Alia's birth, the birth and death of Leto II, Paul teaching the Freemen the "Wierding Way" that allowed them to finally have a chance agains the Harkonnen (Seriously Chani! I don't care how many times you say it, you had as much a chance of liberating Arrakis with only the Fremen as Emperor Corrino had facing Muad'dib in single combat!), the entire intrigue of the Fremen paying the Space Guilds in exchange for the use of their satellites, and so on and so on...
Seriously, it's actually sad that the so called best adaptation cut off so many importatn aspects of the film because he needed more time.
Okay, so, I think we can make an adaptation that manages to include what Dune needs, cut off the fat but not the essentials. not to mention that Francis is an amazing Director who understands when it's better to let the ambience and tone speak for itself, as well as knowing how this is more of a tragedy following the Hero's journey set up rather than a conventional adventure.
I do like the introduction of Feyd Rautha though, and I think with an extended movie that can give us the four years rather than the one the movie showed us, we can show the bizantine intrigue in the Harkonnen's, with the many plots going on against each other, as well as give Thufir Hawat something to do, like in the books when he was conspiring on the inside to turn the Harkonnens against each other to avenge his lord Atreides, but also giving up his life for Paul.
Seriously, why just abandon the character in the second part? Oh right, because Villeneuve wants a strealined movie. Dude, we gave you two movies, you have as much time as you may want, heck you could have made them 3 to 3 and a half hours each if that's what you wanted!
Frankly, the intrigue of the book is one of the more interesting aspects that I would hope to see included.
I have to admit, the introduction of Feyd Rautha in order to fight Paul rather than wait until Raban crushes all opposition does work much better, esècially since this would make it more personal, as well as the confrontation between both sides would make it more epic.
Personally, I wanted to see a bit more interaction between Paul and Irulan, like in the 2000's miniseries. Have her make an appearance during one of the banquets as an unknowing pawn of the Emperor and to lower the Atreides' guard, both Irulan and Paul show clear signs of a beginning of affection like in many an adventure and Hero's journey's, but then we rip the carpets from under them; Paul's family is destroyed and he has to live with the Fremen, conspire against the Harkonnen and the Emperor, suffer loss an find love again. Irulan vows to not be controled by the Emperor again, begins her own plts against the Harkonnen and the Emperor, gaining the Bene Gesserit support and making the Emperor into a puppet, only for Muad'dib's rebellion granting the Emperor the chance to once more retake power and move the court to Arrakis, where he now plans to remove much of the Harkonnens power, as well as to tie the remnants to the imperial family through his daughter, eliminating all at once.
And this can be done without changing much of the book as well, it's just a superficial addition over the mountains of lore and intrigue that would still be a part of the movie.
I have already given my thoughts on Chani and how she should be portrayed, but I will add something here: Do. Not. Make. Her. A. Political. Atheist!!! It. Does. Not.
WORK!!!! A better fighter, fine. A commander in battle, I have no problem with it. But dear God, she should not be in complete opposition to Paul to the point she abandons him in the end!
I think there's much that can be added to both the first and the second parts to make sure it's a better adaptation than the current Dune films. And even then both were quite good, I won't deny it. I just think they can be done better, and I hope my notes and suggestions can be of some aid, and added at some points in the movie. That some of the ambience should also be a bit more colorful is another thing, not so garish, but somewhat tasteful, like in the 2000's miniseries.
I invite everyone to also discuss and give suggestion for the film, as I think this is going to be nearly as big as Star Wars. Furthermore we still need to discuss on the characterization of Duke Leto and Lady Jessica, as I feel that she was much to harsh and political in this version, forgetting the motherly role of the booke, wher her actions were motivated to keep Paul safe as well as her new family together.
Oh, and Gurney Halleck! We can't forget him and his personal vendetta against the Harkonnens, which lead to him nearly killing Lady Jessica as he believed her to be the reason for the fall of the Atreides! Man, I loved that scene in the 2000's miniseries, where he tries to fulfill his vengeance and believes that Paul was being tricked, you could feel the tension all the way from the TV!
