David Lynchs epic adaptation of Frank Herberts sprawling fantasy novels was a major undertaking in itself. A strange film for many reasons, the central theme being an ongoing struggle over Arrakis, a desert world on which is found the enigmatic 'spice' Melange which gives prescient powers after it is ingested. Herberts original trilogy has been expanded upon in recent years, to make a large selection of novels, but Lynchs film focussed on the original and attempted to cram a huge conceptual and stylistic world into a standard length film. As a result, it suffered greatly, both because of Lynchs strange view of filmaking and because of technical limitations and time. Some of the characterisations were brilliant, such as Jurgen Prochnow as Duke Leto and Francesca Annis as his consort and Max Von Sydow and other notable actors such as Patrick Stewart and the odd inclusion of Sting as Feyd. Some of the characters were wonderfully realised while others came across as flawed and farcical such as the grinning Sting and Brad Dourif as the slightly clownish Mentat, Lynchs direction added a slightly obscene and grimy undercurrent to the Harkonnen world, with a bloated Baron Harkonnen floating under a shower of oil as he enjoys the torture of a servant. The Guild Navigators were realised as both silly looking actors with excessive make up and prosthetics and as a huge gas breathing being in a portable tank with a fabulously modern-gothic style. The film excelled in terms of style and effects, the sets were lavish and the vehicle designs nothing short of unusual.
As usual a range of toys appeared to support the film, 6" inch action
figures, a pair of toy guns and some motorised craft. Possibly the
oddest toy was the rubber Sandworm, at 10 inches long and with 2 points
of articulation, it was probably the most useless toy ever made.
The large Spice Scout was designed to fit the action figures and has a large rear wheel not unlike the Sword Survey vehicle and an enclosed cabin to fit the crew. This design and the one for the small motorised crawler is lifted directly from the sandworm attack sequence, where the massive beast rises up from the sand to engulf the spice harvester. Both the crawler and the Spice Scout are seen driving frantically into the huge harvester as the wormsign is detected by Letos overflying ornithopter.
Is it just me or do these toys look like they are made from Kinder Egg chockie? Hhhmmmmm, Kinder Eggs ...
ReplyDeleteGot to admit (gets ready to duck) ... I just don't get the Dune thing in any of its forms. I feel I am "supposed" to ... that it's worthy and all that ... but I find the books an utter bore and unreadable (apart from the "Fear mantra"), and the film and tv series unpalatable. (Sigh). And somehow they ought to have been so good because the ideas ARE, like the Bene Gesserit and all.
Is it just me again, being the odd one out?
(wonders if she dare say out loud that she pronounces "Dune" like the Australian word for toilet? ... probably best not to ...)
ReplyDeleteDUNNY! To be honest, i find the books bloody hard work too. I found an old original copy in the library at work and decided to have another crack at it. The pseudo medieval culture thing coupled with the deep religious motivations are hard to swallow and the convenience of the 'messiah' turning up and fitting all the requirements to the letter, just doesnt wash. If you suspend disbelief, which is always necessary with sci-fi, its readble, but hard work. The film is daft in places, but the visuals for 70% of it are stunning.
ReplyDeleteand I also get the 'Fear Mantra' thing too - fear is the mind killer, absolutely.
I've tried to read Dune too but it got the better of me. I always thought that the film was too complex for a young audience. The brutality of the floating Duke was definayely not for kids. So I was surprised when the film generated a range of toys. I wonder if they sold well? Fabulous designs, a sort of Dark Ages steampunk. They remind of the old Planet of the Apes toys for some reason. Nice collection Wote! I always smile when Kids round here call sweets Spice! I expect them to pull out a Fremen pistol!
ReplyDeleteIt's easy to suspend disbelief. That's not the problem. The books are just duller than ditchwater. Vastly overrated as SF literature. (in my opinion).
ReplyDeleteThe closest I've ever come to liking Dune at all is via the half-inched version we see in Doctor Who: Robots of Death. That takes some of the elements but uses them without beating us over the head with them ... and it grips the audience throughout (well, gripped this audience, anyway.) But then, Chris Boucher really is a clever and talented writer (as he reminds us whenever given the opportunity, heh heh).
I don't want to have to work when it comes to reading fun stuff. It stops being fun. Yes, I will work hard at, say, epic poetry or 18th century literature ... but the rewards are worth any effort put into those. But not with stuff like Dune. There is plenty of superior and more accessible SF out there.
Yes, Fear is the Mind Killer ... but so is bad writing. (laughs)
(nods) And now you mention it, Woodsy, yes, I see what you mean about the Planet of the Apes aspect to the toys. Thanks for pointing that out.
(leaves the computer to continue reading Noddy in Toyland ...)
ReplyDelete