A Guy Can Hope

I thought that I had written about Frank Herbert’s “Dune” books before in this blog, but unless the search function on the computer is messing with me, I haven’t ever mentioned “Dune”. That is hard to believe.

 

I am a pretty big fan of “Dune”, “Dune Messiah” and “Children of Dune” Written by Frank Herbert from the mid sixties to the mid seventies and has become a science fiction classic. I don’t think that “Dune’s” rise in popularity had anything to do with the surge in the use of recreational drugs at that time. It probably didn’t hurt though. The “Dune” books were pretty heavy going for science fiction of the time, but the complexity of the story just added to the universe that Herbert created.

His son and a writing partner have written thirteen prequels which fill in the complex history of “Dunes” universe. I think I actually like these books more than the originals. Well, let’s just say I like them differently. They answer some questions that I had from the original series that I though would never be answered when Frank died.

There was a movie made of Dune in 1984 by David Lynch, which I have never been able to sit through in its entirety. I don’t know if it is because of the cheesy graphics, the changes to the script, the poor acting or any number of other reasons you may care to name. It was nominated for an academy award and has since become a cult classic. I don’t get it!

 

It was on TV the other day so I figured I would record it and watch it when I was in the right frame of mind. Today was the day. I figure that as the years have passed and I have matured, I would be able to see what others find appealing in the film. I tried, God how I tried. It is one of those movies that I have no trouble getting up and wandering into the kitchen during the slow scenes. My trouble is finding a reason to wander back in to finish watching the movie. I still don’t get what the deal is with this movie. It is as bad today as it was the first time I got up and walked out of the room those many years ago.

It has been thirty years and I have probably tried to watch it ten times and have yet managed to see the whole thing. I don’t think I am going to waste any more of my life on this movie. I bet I have said that at least ten times. Maybe this time I really mean it.

I keep hoping that someone else will take on the task of making Dune into the film classic it should be. Perhaps now that Peter Jackson has finished mining J.R.R. Tolkien’s books he will move on to Frank Herbert and do a proper job. I doubt I will live long enough to see a movie of “Dune” that actually brings it to life. 

A guy can hope though.