RIP David Lynch, good Dune guy, will never Dune again

hal2kilo

Lifer
Feb 24, 2009
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Yea, just finished watching both new Dune 1 and 2. Sorry, but Lynch's version really the brings out the evil creepy vibe of the Harkonens. Nothing really about the Spacing Guild either. Just loved Twin Peaks as I had moved into the PNW, and specifically there were scenes film just outside of Poulsbo. Loved the strangeness.

RIP
 

fskimospy

Elite Member
Mar 10, 2006
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Yea, just finished watching both new Dune 1 and 2. Sorry, but Lynch's version really makes the Harkonens the brings out the evil creepy vibe. Nothing really about the Spacing Guild either. Just loved Twin Peaks as I had moved into the PNW, and specifically there were scenes film just outside of Poulsbo. Loved the strangeness.

RIP
I always appreciated David Lynch but his version of Dune is not just bad, but outright destroys the source literature. It gets the entire theme of the book entirely backwards. Dune is a cautionary tale against heroes and the movie is basically like 'look how awesome our hero is'. Artistic direction was great though. (Dune is my favorite book of all time so that movie gives me nerd rage)

Regardless, he was a unique filmmaker and he changed TV and film forever for the better. RIP.
 

sdifox

No Lifer
Sep 30, 2005
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I always appreciated David Lynch but his version of Dune is not just bad, but outright destroys the source literature. It gets the entire theme of the book entirely backwards. Dune is a cautionary tale against heroes and the movie is basically like 'look how awesome our hero is'. Artistic direction was great though. (Dune is my favorite book of all time so that movie gives me nerd rage)

Regardless, he was a unique filmmaker and he changed TV and film forever for the better. RIP.

Caution against hero stuff comes after the first novel no?
 
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fskimospy

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Caution against hero stuff comes after the first novel no?
Paul sees the future and the Fremen Jihad that kills billions of people, which is fundamentally based on his status as the messiah to the Fremen. Trying to avoid or mitigate this is a big theme of the first book too.
 

sdifox

No Lifer
Sep 30, 2005
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Paul sees the future and the Fremen Jihad that kills billions of people, which is fundamentally based on his status as the messiah to the Fremen. Trying to avoid or mitigate this is a big theme of the first book too.
I don't remember him being all that concerned.
 
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fskimospy

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I don't remember him being all that concerned.
Early in the book he discusses the two paths he sees, one where he dies and the other where he leads the Jihad, setting fire to the universe, and is horrified by the latter option. He later comes to accept it.

Regardless my point was in the Lynch movie Paul’s victory is just him righteously kicking ass. In the books it is very clear this comes with a horrifying price and one Paul is very aware of.
 

hal2kilo

Lifer
Feb 24, 2009
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Actually, I have a copy of Dune sitting right next to me that my son has lent me because of those issues as I seem to not remember all this doubt. Got to get to reading it again.
 

fskimospy

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Actually, I have a copy of Dune sitting right next to me that my son has lent me because of those issues as I seem to not remember all this doubt. Got to get to reading it again.
Did a quick google and here’s the water of life passage that references his earlier prescient visions that he discussed with his mother.

“Paul swallowed. He felt that he played a part already played over countless times in his mind…yet…there were differences. He could see himself perched on a dizzying summit, having experienced much and possessed of a profound store of knowledge, but all around him was abyss. And again he remembered the vision of fanatic legions following the green and black banner of the Atreides, pillaging and burning across the universe in the name of their prophet Muad’Dib. That must not happen, he told himself.”

Even at the end of the book he is working to stop it.

“In a rush of loneliness, Paul glanced around the room, noting how proper and on-review his guards had become in his presence. He sensed the subtle, prideful competition among them—each hoping for notice from Muad’Dib. Muad’Dib from whom all blessings flow, he thought, and it was the bitterest thought of his life. They sense that I must take the throne, he thought. But they cannot know I do it to prevent the jihad.”
 

hal2kilo

Lifer
Feb 24, 2009
26,019
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Did a quick google and here’s the water of life passage that references his earlier prescient visions that he discussed with his mother.

“Paul swallowed. He felt that he played a part already played over countless times in his mind…yet…there were differences. He could see himself perched on a dizzying summit, having experienced much and possessed of a profound store of knowledge, but all around him was abyss. And again he remembered the vision of fanatic legions following the green and black banner of the Atreides, pillaging and burning across the universe in the name of their prophet Muad’Dib. That must not happen, he told himself.”

Even at the end of the book he is working to stop it.

“In a rush of loneliness, Paul glanced around the room, noting how proper and on-review his guards had become in his presence. He sensed the subtle, prideful competition among them—each hoping for notice from Muad’Dib. Muad’Dib from whom all blessings flow, he thought, and it was the bitterest thought of his life. They sense that I must take the throne, he thought. But they cannot know I do it to prevent the jihad.”
Well, I should also read the second book to see what comes to pass.
 

fskimospy

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Well, I should also read the second book to see what comes to pass.
You should! It’s not as good as the first but it’s still excellent.

You might want to consider stopping after that. It really is a perfectly serviceable end to the story. After that things go a bit off the rails.
 
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Well, I should also read the second book to see what comes to pass.
From what I've heard and remember, the first 3 books (Dune and the immediate sequels) are a good set. They go downhill from the first, but still good. After that, don't bother with the others. (I've only read the first 3, but it's been a while).
 

IronWing

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Jul 20, 2001
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The later Frank Herbert books are mostly okay with a few, "WTF, did he actually write that?" moments. I haven't read the Dune books by other authors.

Contains spoilers about the later books:
Snape kills Dumbledore
Just kidding. After the God Emperor succeeds in breaking the Guide and allowing humanity to disperse outside the Empire, the relevance of all the main parties of the proceeding books drops to zero. This seems to occur to Frank in mid-story that his Bene Gesserit vs Honored Matres storyline is pointless and he should have called it good with the God Emperor's diaspora.

Edit: The build up to killing the God Emperor was some of Herbert's worst writing. Indiana Jones movie level stupid.
 
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uallas5

Golden Member
Jun 3, 2005
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RIP....Eraserhead, Blue Velvet, The Elephant Man, and Mulholland Drive were all movies I really enjoy.

The Dune 2000 mini-series and the 2003 Children of Dune is faithful to the books. The first series is a tad low budget, but that's what got me to read the books and I enjoy both (series and 3 books).

My older brother had a 3 book set of Dune on paperback, read them in jr high, loved them. I also heard that about 2000 mini-series. Just grabbed a copy of the Director's Cut off Ebay for $8.

1737133004537.png
 

hal2kilo

Lifer
Feb 24, 2009
26,019
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RIP....Eraserhead, Blue Velvet, The Elephant Man, and Mulholland Drive were all movies I really enjoy.



My older brother had a 3 book set of Dune on paperback, read them in jr high, loved them. I also heard that about 2000 mini-series. Just grabbed a copy of the Director's Cut off Ebay for $8.

View attachment 115128
I can't believe I didn't mention Blue Velvet. That movie broke so many levels of looking at the dark side of human behavior. From the surface of this quiet small Oregon lumber town, no one would suspect the goings on in the dark layers of society. Movie blew my mind. Denise Hopper was such a crazed sadist.
 
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feralkid

Lifer
Jan 28, 2002
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I can't believe I didn't mention Blue Velvet. That movie broke so many levels of looking at the dark side of human behavior. From the surface of this quiet small Oregon lumber town, no one would suspect the goings on in the dark layers of society. Movie blew my mind. Denise Hopper was such a crazed sadist.
Agreed, but wasn't it North Carolina?