Movie Review: Dune (2000)

Over the past two weeks we've looked at the recent Dune adaptation as well as the original 1984 film. So, this week we'll take a look at the three-part mini-series that aired on the SYFY channel back in 2000.

When it was announced and finally released, I was excited. We'd finally get to see the full book get its due on the screen - albeit on the smaller television screen at home as opposed to the big screen at the theater - but this version would have much better graphics and would be able to cover the areas that the 1984 film just didn't have time to deal with. But, did the advantage of longer running time and superior special effects make this the best Dune adaptation? Let's see shall we.

The story

The mini-series does what the 2021 film doesn't. It introduces us to the Emperor Shaddam IV and his daughter, Princess Irulan. They are key players in Frank Herbert's original book and they get to show us why in this adaptation. Also, unlike the 2021 film, the word "jihad" is used. The mini-series stays true to the story. The Atredies are being uprooted from Caladan to Arrakis as part of the Emperor's plan to use the Harkonnens to remove a threat to his throne. Paul, the son of Duke Leto, finds himself caught up not only in the ages-old battle between the Houses, as well  as the machinations of the Emperor, but also in the even-older plotting of the Bene Gessirit as he struggles to survive on Arrakis after the fall of House Atredies.

The characters

Paul is the main character of the book and the film and finds himself in the middle of much intrigue. He is dealing with the impending move of his entire House from Caladan, a water world, to Arrakis, which is about as bone dry as a world can get and still have life on its surface.

His mother and a Bene Gessirit, the Lady Jessica, has been training him in the ways of her order. His father is Duke Leto, knows he is stepping into a trap by taking control of Arrakis, but has plans of his own to thwart the schemes of both the Emperor and Leto’s enemy, the Baron Harkonnen. The Duke, and Paul, lean heavily upon their Lieutenants, Gurney Halleck, Duncan Idaho and Thufir Hawat, as they take up residency on Arrakis.

The people who lived on Arrakis long before the Spice was discovered, are the Fremen. A band of desert people and fierce fighters that Leto hopes to recruit to his side in his battle against his foes. The leader is Stilgar, who allows Idaho to join his band. (My one complaint is they seem to have forgotten about Liet Kynes in the mini-series.) Chani, the girl Paul has seen in his dreams, is there when Paul and Jessica flee into the desert. Feyd Rautha and Rabban, the Baron's nephews, aid their Uncle's plans, while Feyd seems to have his own ideas on what will happen on a post-Atredies Arrakis.

The world

As with the other two adaptations, the majority of the action takes place on Arrakis, with some scenes on Caladan at the beginning, and brief scenes on Giedi Prime (the Harkonnen’s homeworld),  the Imperial Palace on Kaitain, and a few scenes in space sprinkled in because this is supposed to be a space opera after all. But the sands of Arrakis, the capital city of Arrakeen and the rocky caves where the Fremen live is where the action is and it is on full display. Sand waves working across the surface, giant sandworms slithering below. A climate so arid that special suits must be worn to remain alive out in the open. But the most important aspect of the world is the life-extending Spice Melange, the only thing that makes the planet worth fighting, and dying for.

The politics

Again, the mini-series stays in allignment with the other two adaptations. There are politics to spare in this film. The Emperor, fears the rise of House Atreides that could topple him from his throne. House Harkonnen has had a centuries-long feud with the Atreides and is more than willing to play along with the Emperor’s schemes, even if it means releasing their grip on the wealthiest planet in the known universe if but temporarily, in order to do in their old enemy. As for the Atreides, they have their own code of honor, but know how to play the political game in order to advance their position and power within the Lansraad – the collection of Houses within the Empire (think of it as an unelected Senate) – and CHOAM – The Combine Honnete Ober Advancer Mercantiles – that controls economic affairs across the known universe. Toss in the long-term schemes of the Bene Gessirit – trying to create a superbeing called the Kwisatz Haderach that they can control – and the machinations of the Spacing Guild – who controls all space travel – and you wind up with everyone having their knives out for everyone else.

Content warning

There’s violence, you have large-scale and small scale battles so yeah, there’s violence. But aside from that, its your basic made for TV sci-fi mini-series.

Who is it for?

Fans of sci-fi/fantasy will enjoy this adaptation. Fans of Herbert’s original six books will also enjoy the series, especially as it has fewer changes from Herbert's original material than the 2021 adaptation did, and explores more of the characters than the 2021 film does.

Why watch it?

The depth of the story, thanks to the fact they stretched it out to four-and-a-half hours, makes this a must watch if only to get a fuller immersion into the Dune universe. And the CGI is much better than the 1984 film.

I give it an 8 out of 10.

Who did it better?

There's much to like and dislike with all three adaptations. I still wish we could have had the 1984 cast with 2021's director, special effects and budget (minus the blasted gender swapped Kynes).

My biggest complaint with the 2000 mini-series was, despite having some talented actors, the characters on the screen came across as 2D to me. Almost as if they were pale shades of the people they were supposed to be. Given the talent in the cast, I almost have to lay the blame for that on the director, John Harrison.

I still have to go with the 1984 film as the overall better adaptation (so far) and the 2023 sequel is going to have to really knock my socks off to change my opinion here.

Next Week: We take a look at Frank Herbert's original novel that began the whole adventure: Dune.