Title: Frank Herbert's Dune:
Director’s Cut: Special Edition: 3 – Disc Set
Region: One
Genre: Science Fiction Miniseries
Stars: William Hurt, Alec Newman,
Giancarlo Giannini, Ian McNeice, Uwe Ochsenkncht, Barbora Kodetova, Karel Dobry,
P.H. Moriarty, Julie Cox, Lazlo Imre Kish, Matt Keeslar, and Saskia Reeves
Writer: John Harrison
Based On The Novel By: Frank Herbert
Director: John Harrison
Feature length: 295 minutes
Extras: Feature Length Audio Commentary
with the Production Team: John Harrison, Ernest Farino, Harry Miller, Greg
Nicotero, and Tim McHugh, Willis McNelly On Dune Featurette, The Lure Of The
Spice Featurette, The Color Wheel Featurette, Walking And Talking With John
Harrison Featurette, Defining The Messiah Featurette, Science Future/Science
Fiction Roundtable Featurette, The Cinematographic Ideation Of Frank Herbert’s
Dune – Essay By Vittorio Storaro, Photo Gallery And Sketch Gallery. Production
Notes, Cast And Crew Information, Trailers, And A Sneak Peak At The
Pre-Production Sketch Gallery For “Children Of Dune”
Languages: English DTS Digital 5.1
Theatrical Surround Sound, Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound, and Dolby Surround
2.0
Subtitles: English Closed Captions
Packaging: Foil Stamped Package
Chapter Stops: Disc One 28/Disc Two
28/Disc Three 28
Sound: DTS Digital 5.1 Theatrical
Surround Sound, Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound, and Dolby Stereo Surround
Sound
Year of Television Broadcast: 2000/DVD
Release: 2002
Home Video Distributor: Artisan Home
Entertainment
Reviewer: Mark A. Rivera
I have read “Dune” and seen both
the theatrical and Alan Smithee versions of the 1984 David Lynch film. It is
difficult not to compare this version of “Dune” with the book and previous
film adaptation, but on the merits of this film I think that the sets and
costumes are quite well done and the translight technique employed by the film's
Cinematographer Vittorio Storaro to give the interior and exterior studio
sets added dimension work for the most part although there are some instances
where I found the backgrounds to look completely fake and the CGI shots tend to
look a bit too CGI for their own good at times. The navigator sequence is well
done, but it owes more than a passing similarity to the Lynch interpretation of
a scene that is NOT in the book at all. Even the look of the Guild Heighliner is
not unlike the look of the Guild ship in Lynch's film.
In terms of acting, some of the
characters come off well, like Dr. Kynes, Princess Irulan, Shadout Mapes, and
Gurney while most of the lead characters seem stiff. Particularly, William Hurt
comes off too distant and hardly charismatic. Jurgen Prochnow was a better Duke
Leto. For all of the complaints
about the interior dialogues in the Lynch version, I think they fitted the book
more than the Shakespearean inspired style speeches that at times do not work at
all. Case and point, Baron Harkonnen's speech after Leto's death - Who is he
talking to if not breaking the fourth wall to the viewers? However this version
does reveal the Baron's scheming and flamboyant character instead of the puss
filled mad man as seen in the Lynch film.
Artisan’s new DVD edition is a vast
improvement over the original DVD release from last year. The film is spread
across three discs now like one long feature film. The discs that separate the
three parts are organized to represent the three parts of the miniseries, but
there are no opening and closing credits for each part aside from the opening
credits on disc one and the closing credits on disc three, which I prefer
because it retains the three act set up of the miniseries while making the
entire production as a whole seem more like a feature film. The picture quality
on this new release is vastly superior to the previous release. I would go so
far as to compare the combined visual and audio presentation of this upcoming
set when compared with the original to be like comparing day to night. Each of
the three parts that make up the whole is presented in a brand new anamorphic
widescreen (1.77:1) aspect ratio. Believe me when I tell you all that the
improvement in picture quality is noticeable immediately upon comparison. Even
some of the translight features somehow come off better on these new discs than
the original DVD release. The transfers also benefit from the fact that all of
the discs are RSDL so there are two layers for each 98-minute part instead of
cramming the entire miniseries into one night.
It is also extremely important to note
that this is the “Director’s Cut” that restores over 30-minutes of footage
not shown on the original “Sci-Fi Channel” broadcast and not available on
the previous DVD release. These extra scenes clear up a few instances that I
felt the miniseries left unclear in the previous version and also restore some
extra character development scenes that add dimension to the rich storytelling
tapestry that is inherent in “Dune.” With the exception of a miscast William
Hurt and that terrible desert mouse scene, I can now truly say that John
Harrison’s adaptation of “Frank Herbert’s Dune” is a worthy though
imperfect homage to the classic novel. Regardless of approach, “Dune” is a
tough book to bring to the small screen as well as the big screen so all things
considered, I am now inclined to agree that the miniseries rightfully earned the
Emmy Awards® it earned though I still think that given everything David Lynch
had going against him in directing the feature film version, Lynch’s
“Dune” is an underrated achievement. Both adaptations have their obvious
problems, but both are worth seeing, especially if they will inspire the viewers
to go out and buy or borrow a copy of the book and read it for themselves.
Another aspect that elevates this new
release of “Frank Herbert’s Dune” above the previous DVD release is the
new English DTS Digital 5.1 Theatrical Surround Soundtrack. Like my comparison
of the picture quality, the improvement in sound quality is also like comparing
day and night. The same holds true for the English Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround
Soundtrack. Both present a discrete three-dimensional sound mix that draws the
viewer into the world of “Dune” more than any Stereo Soundtrack ever could.
The DTS Soundtrack has a higher fidelity and edgier feel when compared to the
Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Soundtrack too. The original English Dolby Surround
2.0 Soundtrack is also included. Writer and Director John Harrison and
production team members Ernest Farino, Harry Miller, Greg Nicotero, and Tim
McHugh participate on a feature length audio commentary track that runs across
all three parts of the miniseries in it’s entirety and is very thoughtful as
well as screen specific. Hearing Harrison discuss the film greatly enhanced my
appreciation for the work that he put into bringing “Dune” back to life on
the small screen and overall made me feel more favorable toward the miniseries
than I had in the past.
The extra features in this DVD set are
also spread out across the three discs. Disc one includes the same “Lure Of
The Spice” featurette that was included on the previous DVD release. The
featurette is a truncated 25-minute version from "The Secrets Of Frank
Herbert's Dune" DVD, which included an 80-minute look behind the scenes at
the making of the film if you were to buy the book and DVD set. With the
exception of this featurette, all of the featurettes included on the three discs
are presented in an anamorphic widescreen (1.77:1) aspect ratio. The first new
featurette included on disc one is a 5-minute interview with Composer Graeme
Revell, which is followed by an interactive soundtrack promo that gives viewers
a 7 ½ minute sample of the soundtrack score and information on how to order the
soundtrack CD on and off line. There is an extensive gallery of photos, effects
shots, storyboards, and character and costume designs. Some of the costume
designs and character interpretations look better than what ended up on screen.
Disc two features an interview with
Willis McNelly, Author of the “Dune Encyclopedia.” McNelly discusses the
parallels between the world of “Dune” and our world while also sharing some
insight into the background of the late Author of “Dune.” The “Science
Future/Science Fiction” featurette is a videotaped roundtable discussion
recorded in January of 2002 with Science Fiction Writers Harlan Ellison, Octavia
Butler, Michael Cassult, Director John Harrison, and Award Winning Inventor Ray
Kurzweil discussing the emerging technological paradigm shift and the moral
issues surrounding it. This is a very intriguing discussion with a highlight
where the outspoken Harlan Ellison and mild mannered if not subdued Kurzweil
have a difference of opinion on a subject matter. Cast and crew biographies and
production notes are also included on disc two.
Disc three features ar great interview
with Cinematographer Vittorio Storaro, who explains among other things how the
use of colors such as black, red, green, blue, and white symbolize the character
journey Paul Atreides in the film. The interview is supported by Storaro’s
essay “The Cinematographic Ideation Of Frank Herbert’s Dune.” Another
great featurette is “Defining The Messiah” with various thoughts from
Religious Scholars, who include Rabbi Mordachai Finely, Elaine Pagels, Munir
Shaikh, and Jungian Psychologist Gabrielle Bodo. There is also a videotaped
interview with John Harrison as well as a pre-production art gallery sneak peak
at the upcoming miniseries sequel, “Children Of Dune,” which is expected to
debut possibly in late 2003 on Sci-Fi.
Trailers for Artisan’s “Rambo
Trilogy” DVD set and “National Lampoon’s Van Wilder” wrap up the extra
features included on the third disc. Like the previous release, none of the
trailers and TV spots was included in this DVD set. If you want to see two of
the trailers, you’ll have to buy "The Secrets Of Frank Herbert's
Dune" DVD and book set, which may be out of print. The menus feature a
nicely animated main menu screen and all of the interactive menus are well
rendered. The set includes an insert with liner notes by John Harrison and is
contained within a book like sculpted, embossed, and foil stamped package.
Overall, this is a vast improvement
over the previous DVD set that is more than worth the upgrade. “Frank
Herbert’s Dune: Director’s Cut: Special Edition: 3 – Disc Set” will
debut on DVD-Video from Artisan Home Entertainment on Tuesday, June 11, 2002 for
the suggested retail price of $26.98.
©
Copyright 2002 By Mark A. Rivera
All Rights Reserved.
The Top Ten TV On DVD-Videos Of 2002 As Reviewed At GENRE ONLINE. NET