Thread by @EduEngineer

I love Frank Herbert's Dune. Deeply. It is the most well-read science fiction novel of all time precisely because it is a deeply crafted universe whose purpose transcends genres into philosophy, religion, economics, technology, spirituality, and so on.

I have spent years discussing with friends and other weirdos what it would mean to make Dune into a great movie. David's Lynch's Dune was...kinda cool, but nothing like what could be achieved by a Game of Thrones budget and time scale. If any book deserves that, it's Dune.

The Dune and Children of Dune miniseries were pretty cool. They scratched and itch, for sure. I could be the curmudgeon and pick nits, but since nothing in the core betrayed the story, I'd feel obnoxious doing so.

I went and saw the new movie quickly. I had watched a few seconds of trailor, and read nothing about it. I wasn't sure what to expect beyond a great production budget. What follows contains some spoilers, so be warned. But really, this thread is not much about the plot.

Wow, this is a beautiful movie. On the way home from the theater, my wife and I played with the notion of Denis Villeneuve and this crew retelling Lawrence of Arabia (though that's one of the few movies that should remain off limits, unless devoted to another aspect of the tale).

Something happened and Jason Momoa can now act. He makes a pretty good Duncan Idaho.

The whole cast seemed well selected.

I don't want to pick nits, but there are a couple of character and scene changes that I wish had been left alone. Some I recognize as choice, and some is variable and possibly politically driven. I hate that I have to think about that, but none of the changes ruined anything.

I like women like Zendaya who are proof that women are more beautiful when not adorned with excessive makeup.

Unless it's glowing blue eyes. I could deal with all of humanity getting glowing eyes. Thatz hawt.

I had to look up Baron Harkonnen. Props to Stellan Sakrsgard who has played many great roles.

Let's talk about where the movie left off.

I was surpised. Perhaps not doing presearch, I thought the movie was a 155 minute attempt at telling the story.

The book is divided into three parts. This was part 1. I hope that foretells two more movies. I'll pay for those tix.

The part 1 could have given a little more in the way of showing people in the desert. Lawrance of Arabia had scenes of isolation and scenes filled with people. That balance helped tell the story. Dune could have used a little more of that at Arrakeen.

I love movies with good character development, but cities also need character development at times.

If there is one thing that the movie missed philosophically, it's the meaning of being human, as per the Bene Gesserit training and testing. The first thing that Paul had to accomplish was to learn how to learn.

Some scene needed to show Paul deciding how to train himself...

...at just one task.

This is me speaking as an educator, but about one of the ten books that most affected by outlook on education!

roundingtheearth.substack.com/p/meditation-a…

Paul is not simply the result of some nuns gathering sperm from around the galaxy to get a little bit of everything good from each family through royal concubines. He is a student of the art of self-creation. That is the only way to achieve the Kwisatz Haderach.

This is the greatest failure of all the movies and miniseries to date. It's such a missed opportunity. Hitting that note could elevate a very good movie series to the greatest epic of all time. And I mean that. If a director and actor can pull that off, it's history.

This achievement would go beyond the challenge of producing the Watchmen because of its fundamental importance. And it's doable. Hard, but doable.

So, what we have is a very good movie. And it's one I'll likely see once more in the theater. I look forward to Muad'Dib and The Prophet.