ROTTEN TOMATOES: And the Possible Dune Remake's Director Might Be... Comments

And the Possible Dune Remake's Director Might Be...

by Jeff Giles | October 16, 2007

Summary

A few weeks ago, we discussed a CHUD report about Frank Herbert's Dune possibly heading back to the big screen. Now, according to Ain't It Cool News, some of the details surrounding the project might be starting to fill in. Back to Article

(1-40 of 40 posts) | Reply

0LDB0Y writes:
on Oct 16 2007 06:29 AM

Every time you hear of Hollywood doing a remake, an angel gets raped.

(Reply to this)

Defmonkey writes:
on Oct 16 2007 06:35 AM

...in the *** with no lube.

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dracus writes:
on Oct 16 2007 06:37 AM

They have a chance to finally do justice to Dune and make up for mess that's been made of it in the past, yet they want give it to Peter Berg. Good lord, as much as I hate Michael E-Bay, I'd rather see him direct it instead of Berg. Friday Night Lights was a decent movie, so maybe Berg will be man enough to realise that he's not the one to quarterback Dune and will pass the ball back to Paramount.

(Reply to this)

jacog writes:
on Oct 16 2007 06:43 AM

Noooooooooooooooo!

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Impavido writes:
on Oct 16 2007 06:48 AM

What?....

My beloved Dune is being handed to that lump of anti-talent...

*Sigh* *Gently caresses David Lynch's Dune DVD.* You knew I'd never cheat on you babe. You're the only one for me.

(Reply to this)

Impavido writes:
on Oct 16 2007 06:50 AM

In his defense he's never made a sci-fi flick before. Maybe he could surprise us.....

or not...

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Elixor writes:
on Oct 16 2007 07:04 AM

Damn it! I knew that they were going to try to work a spin-off into the new Indiana Jones movie. Get ready for them to try to force a new version of young Indiana Jones down our throat with Shia LaBeouf. Just garbage.

As far as a Dune remake goes. I haven't read the books, so I don't have the gripes about the 1984 version that other people do. I love the original look and feel of this movie and I doubt a remake will be as interesting. Maybe they can appease the fans of the books better with the remake, but that has to be terribly hard considering the size of the book, and from what I hear, it's pretty dense.

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overthehead writes:
on Oct 16 2007 07:11 AM

Condensing Dune into a movie-length story is a seemingly impossible task. The main problem with the original is there's too much exposition crammed into there, and too many characters to keep track of. I guess Peter Berg's as good as anyone can hope for; this doesn't seem do-able in the first place.

No, I've never read the novel. I couldn't watch the mini-series version (Absurd color scheme, horrible camera angles; some of the worst directing I've ever witnessed), but I don't think I'm the only person who feels this way.

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FILMCZY writes:
on Oct 16 2007 07:21 AM

Unless they got someone like Peter Jackson to film "Dune" as a "trilogy" so to speak, Hollywood should let this one rest. I thought the TV miniseries did a half decent job though...

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cmonsteve writes:
on Oct 16 2007 07:29 AM

the only way they should do this is if they commit to the whole series (my director would be ridley scott, thoughts?) i love the books, and i love david lynch's take, but it pissed me off that there was only one.

but i just can't imagine anybody but kyle m saying "i will bend like a reed in the wind"

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cmonsteve writes:
on Oct 16 2007 07:31 AM

In reply to this comment (#1194585)
you read my mind, too early in the morning for voodoo ESP from the internets

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renodc writes:
on Oct 16 2007 07:58 AM

The real question isn't should Berg direct, but does this really need to be re-made? The original Dune is still a good film, so why remake it? I can't imagine them making it any better.

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skasforfags writes:
on Oct 16 2007 08:32 AM

He's not that bad.

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lukey86 writes:
on Oct 16 2007 09:33 AM

Hey, I think we should give the guy a chance. Friday Night Lights was a good sports movie, that looked very sharp. I would not call this film a remake. It's based on a book so in reality it should be called a new vision. Anyway I'm excited becuase lets face it Lynchs film blew monkey balls. No offense to him, but the film was a horrible adaption. Among the worst book to film I have ever seen. Of course I've yet to see the tv miniseries which I've heard is worse. Also to dracus rather have Micheal Bay are you ****ing serious. Last time i checked the only good thing he made was "The Rock".

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lukey86 writes:
on Oct 16 2007 09:34 AM

In reply to this comment (#1194692)
Yes it desperatly needs a new version. The old film was terrible in every aspect. God I hate that movie.

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lukey86 writes:
on Oct 16 2007 09:35 AM

In reply to this comment (#1194581)
Yes it desperatly needs a new version. The old film was terrible in every aspect. God I hate that movie.

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lukey86 writes:
on Oct 16 2007 09:36 AM

In reply to this comment (#1194581)
Yes it desperatly needs a new version. The old film was terrible in every aspect. God I hate that movie.

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lukey86 writes:
on Oct 16 2007 09:40 AM

In reply to this comment (#1194581)
You should read the book it is fantastic, and yes your right the task to make this a single movie would be near impossible unless it was well over three hours in length. I would think that doning two movies about two hours maybe a little more would be sufficent. Theres is a good midway stopping point in the book.

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kdbarrett writes:
on Oct 16 2007 09:48 AM

For those of you who haven't read the book, do yourself a favor and get it today! It is one THE best sf novels ever. A classic that should not be missed.

Peter Berg, huh? I actually liked "The Rundown". Probably because I have low expectations for any movie starring The Rock. But I thought it was a fun action movie and Christopher Walken's always great to see. But Dune? I don't know... Neither of the previous attempts have been awful, IMHO, but neither have they done justice to the book. I'm not sure Berg's the guy to accomplish that but, like Impavido said, maybe he'll surprise us...

(Reply to this)

musiclc writes:
on Oct 16 2007 10:01 AM

Friday Night Lights and the Kingdom were both really good. I'd like to see him do Dune.

(Reply to this)

Bob* writes:
on Oct 16 2007 10:10 AM

In reply to this comment (#1194566)
haven't seen any of his movies so far anyway *shrug* As long as it has a good screenplay..

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MarvelZombie88 writes:
on Oct 16 2007 11:53 AM

In reply to this comment (#1194568)
Remarks are like...

An angle gets raped
In the *** with no lube
And a sandpaper condom...

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High School With Money writes:
on Oct 16 2007 12:18 PM

[b]lets face it Lynchs film blew monkey balls. No offense to him, but the film was a horrible adaption. Among the worst book to film I have ever seen.[/b]

So people have to "face it" because YOU didn't like it? How 'bout "NO"?

Long live the fightahs, *****!

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dracus writes:
on Oct 16 2007 02:20 PM

In reply to this comment (#1194879)
Also to dracus rather have Micheal Bay are you ****ing serious. Last time i checked the only good thing he made was "The Rock.

Yeah lukey86, I cringe when I see that I actually said that Michael E-Bay would be a better choce to direct a Dune remake than Berg. But give me a chance to re-deem my self by re-reading what I said: "Good lord, as much as I hate Michael E-Bay, I'd rather see him direct it instead of Berg." Just goes to show you how bad of an idea I think it is to have Berg direct it because I really, really, hate Micahel E-Bay!
-sigh- I won't sleep tonight because of this ...

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Nodin1 writes:
on Oct 16 2007 03:07 PM

Somehow I can't see a film about a group of heroic desert dwellers fighting a Jihad against a large occupying Empire, hellbent on securing the planets one resource (on which the galaxy depends), making it to the big screen any time soon.....

Though if it did, it would be best as a trilogy, as pointed out earlier....

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lpbreeze writes:
on Oct 16 2007 03:31 PM

you know who should do it and I'm totally serious

The Guy who directed Ghost Dog...

or the director of Strange Days which has a nice epic look to it.
Or even best would be the director of Titus-- yap that's it. Check out Titus- thats the director. Peter Berg is ok but not the best choice.

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Cmedic79 writes:
on Oct 16 2007 04:10 PM

Trilogy. Only way to do it justice

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largely writes:
on Oct 16 2007 05:37 PM

I don't think any of you people read this guys resume thouroughly enough, let me go over it again, THE RUNDOWN (It had the Rock in it, he sucks incase somebody hasn't figured that out yet ), FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS (A Fricken football movie), and THE KINGDOM (ANOTHER MID-EAST QUAZI COVERT I wanna be Wolfgang Peterson's b.....tch movie). This guy WILL butcher this masterpeice of science fiction. Neither versions of Dune were up to snuff but this. This will be a crap sandwhich, count on it!

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blinkybrown writes:
on Oct 16 2007 06:25 PM

Haven't seen Friday Night Lights. Kingdom was ok, but off balance toward the end (A drama turned into an overthetop action film...) and the Rundown wasn't a GOOD movie, but it was an enjoyable movie for someone with low expectations. I just think they don't need another Dune attempt. They already have so many you can choose from...

(Reply to this)

blinkybrown writes:
on Oct 16 2007 06:28 PM

I think Ridley Scott (thinking of Blade Runner) would be an excellent choice personally. But he's busy making good original films to mess with a pointless remake of a film based on the book which they will never get right on screen.

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Cmedic79 writes:
on Oct 16 2007 08:28 PM

largely. Not that I want you to jump down my neck and I know it's a bit of an unfair comparison but, Speilberg has done several great scifi movies and he made a movie about a shark before hand. Give the guy a chance.

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reavus4983 writes:
on Oct 16 2007 08:50 PM

Kingdom of the Crystal Skull spin-off potential? Please in the name of Spielberg let this be untrue.

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harrismonkey writes:
on Oct 16 2007 09:20 PM

Three thoughts-

1) I'm underwhelmed by Peter Burg, but you could do MUCH, MUCH, MUCH worse. The man is a competent director- and half the guys out there they give these type of things to aren't. But the man doesn't have enough imagination. It will be very straightforward and workman like. Cliff notes basically.

2) The Ridley Scott comment. That would actually be very interesting. Were you aware that he was going to do Dune the first time around, but ended up making Blade Runner instead? I would have to say short of Peter Jackson, Ridley Scott is just about the best director you could pare this with (since we're fantasizing).

3) The Lynch version. As I've gotten older I've come to realize what a mess this film is (smithy version is better IMHO). As a child I loved it.

But there is still something about the way Lynch visulaized this film from a character design, production design, and stylistic direction that really is still very special and very striking. How can you not love the guild members with rubber tubes coming out of open sores and running into their noses, or the insane laughing harkonens with their metal tulips, heart plugs, and bizzare homosexual undertones (the harkonenes are argueably the single best thing about the movie)? No movie where someone has to milk a cat to stay alive can be all bad can it? :P

Yes it's a train wreck, but there is some really special stuff in this movie. I doubt any other version- no matter how good- will ever capitivate me the way Lynch's did.

(Reply to this)

Alexcar writes:
on Oct 16 2007 11:43 PM

It was official about 2 years ago... There are no original ideas left in Hollywood...

(Reply to this)

lpbreeze writes:
on Oct 17 2007 12:31 AM

Rambo is original. cause he has guns and um...but really I think a women director would be good- Titus or Strange Days

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largely writes:
on Oct 17 2007 04:30 AM

Reavus I won't jump down your throat but as big as Speilberg is and as many films he has made, he still called most of his own shots, and for the most part hasn't just been pimped out by the shareholders like this Ratner in training Berg has.That's what infuriates me the most about Hollywood is all they care about is the bottom line. No ounce of interest in creative integrity. They need a good dose of what Radiohead has done to the music industry.

(Reply to this)

Elixor writes:
on Oct 17 2007 05:44 AM

In reply to this comment (#1197127)
Putting Peter Jackson on par with Ridley Scott is rediculous. Sir Ridley could out-direct Jackson on any movie hands down (and would have made a better LoTR trilogy also).

(Reply to this)

High School With Money writes:
on Oct 17 2007 09:10 AM

[b]They need a good dose of what Radiohead has done to the music industry. [/b]

That would be incredibly interesting to witness, but I'm not sure comparisons can be made between a cult rock band and a filmmaker who easily invests millions per outing.

(Reply to this)

harrismonkey writes:
on Oct 17 2007 01:07 PM

Jackson can't touch Scott's best work, that's fair.

Scott is still a very good director (usually).

The problem is Scott can't touch Scott's best work anymore either. I'd argue that LOTR and King Kong are more impressive and imaginative than anything Scott's done in a long time.

Jackson has proven himself to be the best (or one of the very best) guys making big spectical movies currently. That's why I mentioned him.

(Reply to this)

largely writes:
on Oct 17 2007 02:09 PM

The best way to watch Lynch's Dune is with the sound off. It's visually stunning once people stop talking.

(Reply to this)

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