Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site cadre.UUCP
Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!mcnc!idis!cadre!geb
From: geb@cadre.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.jokes,net.sf-lovers
Subject: Re: Dune
Message-ID: <124@cadre.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 31-Dec-84 10:11:59 EST
Article-I.D.: cadre.124
Posted: Mon Dec 31 10:11:59 1984
Date-Received: Tue, 1-Jan-85 06:27:57 EST
References: <171@uw70.UUCP>, <334@utai.UUCP>
Organization: Decision Systems Lab., Univ. of Pgh.
Lines: 22

Indeed, the movie of Dune was a joke.  Dino de Laurentis
strikes out again.  I wasn't as disappointed, since I
hadn't expected much, given the pre-release hype and
all the books, etc. release before the film, to try to
make some money before everyone found out how badly
it stank.  Frank Herbert wasn't turning in his grave,
since he's still alive and most of the books he turns
out now are of the same ilk as the movie.  I guess he's
the type of author who only really has one good book in
him.  It is extremely difficult to make a great movie
out of a great book.  Look at Ralph Bakshi's abortion
with Lord of the Rings.  But really, how could you 
make a movie out of LotR or Dune unless the movie ran
20 hours in the case of Dune and maybe 100 hours in the
case of LotR.  Who would finance it?  What theaters would
book it?  The charm is tied up with all the rich detail,
that can't be shown in a movie.  The detail is not just
in the sets.  Something like Star Wars succeeds because it
was conceived as a movie (or series) and tailored accordingly,
but lacks the depth of meaning of LotR, or even Dune (which
though good, shouldn't really be considered in the same
galaxy with Tolkein, or even Gene Wolfe).