I, Robot

[Goldmund]

"That's what the world is like" is a ballsless man's wisdom, as Old Gypsies say.

And I never knew I love DG (maybe temporarily, but still).
This night is full of surprises.

[Andail]

Why is everybody cracking down on Dune?
"It wasn't a really bad movie....like Dune"
"I didn't hate this movie as much as...I hated Dune"
"For being based on a novel, it did a bad job...but not as bad as Dune!"

Dune rocks, so shut up.

[n3tgraph]

Yes Dune is wonderfull!

I agree with andail

[PaulSC]

I never said anything about the Dune movie (which admittedly did strike me as pretty wretched last time I gave it a go), I was talking about Dune spin-off novels, written by hack authors after Herbert's death.

Granted, I haven't read *any* Dune novels, so for all I know the spin-offs could be timeless masterpieces that leave the originals in the lurch, but still, the idea of faceless authors being hired to officially 'continue the legacy', or whatever, bothers me far more then any duff film adaption. Everyone knows that films are films and books are books, but such new 'official' books are making a far greater claim to authenticity then any film, and so are far more likely to piss on the artist's grave and/or to rape his corpse.

Also: my I, Robot summary didn't contradict anything - I stand by my opinion that as a stand alone movie it's generally solid, marred by a number of unfortunate, but largely superficial (as opposed to fundamental) flaws that emerged primarily due to commercial considerations. In fact, as idiotic metaphors go, I don't think mine was all that bad.

And christ, I do like the fact there are many smart, opinionated people on these boards, but dropping the general level of hostility a little really wouldn't hurt anyone.

[Andail]

I said, shut up!

Just kidding mate, you're making a good point.
As much as I loved Dune, I agree that it was lightyears away from the novel. While the movie was fascinating because of the original setting, the curiously pompous dialogue and the incomprehensible plot, I actually enjoy the novel as a fine piece of literature.

Which brings me to the case of many modern science fiction movies, which completely forget to add details and fascinating architecture to their milieu, and instead rely on a state-of-the-art light setting, as well as computer rendered special effects.

If you take Dune, which has all those adorable costumes, all the mind-blowing constructions, ornaments on the walls, statues along the streets, tiny details everywhere...the computers make funny sounds and seem to be driven by steam, they are big and almost antique-looking...everything is so loveably unique!

[PaulSC]

Fuck you!


...oh.

You know, funnily enough i've got a an old VHS of Dune sat on bookshelf a mere two meters away from me - I'm almost tempted to give it another shot. I seem to remember those sandworms being pretty cool, at least.

[Goldmund]

AndailiuS: be informed that there are more than one version of Dune on video, one of it being absolutely horrid mini-series.

I think that David Lynch's version suprisingly well travels through time: much of sf movies made back then look ridiculous now, whereas his consciously anachronistic setting doesn't grow old. Very interesting. Apart from some pompousness (this water dripping from time to time) there are many highlits there, such as the scene in which Paul's sister kills Baron Harkonnen. Then again, the book is much more pompous than the film, so...

[Andail]

Well, the book is epic, and can thus allow itself some pompousness.
The movie doesn't really give that epic an impression, it's more of a romantic action really.

Just like you can stand the high-flown dialogue in TLOTR, Dune (the book) is so grand in its pathos that anything except full-fledged pompousness would be just out of place.

[Blackthorne]

Why is everybody cracking down on Dune?
"It wasn't a really bad movie....like Dune"
"I didn't hate this movie as much as...I hated Dune"
"For being based on a novel, it did a bad job...but not as bad as Dune!"

Dune rocks, so shut up.

DUNE is awesome.  I just got the Three Hour Smithee cut from Ebay.  I'm psyched.

Bt

[Sylpher]

Your summary did contradict most of what you said because you either have not read any Asimov or were day dreaming while you did.

I don't mean to be so anal retentive about the subject but this is the.. 12th similiar debate I have had. Gets a little dry and rashed..

Still haven't read Dune but the movies were pretty mediocre.

[remixor]

"He is the Kwisatz Haderach!"   

[Pesty]

"He is the Kwisatz Haderach!"Ã,  Ã, 

"Ze voice of ze outer vorld!"

Yeah, when I was younger, Dune was one of my favorite movies. I don't know. The sets are pretty.

I have never read I, Robot. I have never seen I, Robot the movie. But I used to like Dune.

[Barcik@Work]

"He is the Kwisatz Haderach!"Ã,  Ã, 

It looks considerably more in-place in the Hebrew translation.

[DGMacphee]

Dune was the best movie to feature a famous singer in a villian role until Labyrinth.

[evenwolf]

Sorry DG, but go watch Escape From New York.


No wait, go watch anything with Meatloaf!

[PaulSC]

Your summary did contradict most of what you said because you either have not read any Asimov or were day dreaming while you did.

I haven't read any Asimov, and never claimed to have read him - and I've never pretended the film has anything to with the guy's works. I think in the interests of honesty they should have used a different name, given that they never had any intention of truly adapting the book. But having a stupid or inappropriate name is only a superficial flaw.

[DGMacphee]

Sorry DG, but go watch Escape From New York.

I stand very corrected.

But as for Hayes vs Bowie, I don't know what to pick.

[Kinoko]

Bowie! Bowie! Bowie!

[DGMacphee]

But... Hayes...

Can't.. decide...

Speaking... like... Shatner...

[Pesty]

Bowie! Bowie! Bowie!

I ditto this SO hard.