New Film Version of Dune: "its theme of finite ecological resources is particularly timely"
by Michael Graham Richard, Gatineau, Canada on 03.26.08
Another film version of the classic sci-fi novel Dune by Frank Hebert is planned, this time with Peter Berg as director. There's an interesting quote in the announcement: "The filmmakers consider [Dune's] theme of finite ecological resources particularly timely." Indeed. Hard not to see the link between Arrakis' spice Melange and the Earth's oil, or even to consider the implications of a world where water is so scarce that drastic measures have to be taken.
Of course, it is just fiction, but like the (attrocious) The Day After Tomorrow, it might indirectly raise ecological awareness with the general public. ::Berg to direct 'Dune' for Paramount, via ::Sentient Developments

















zOMG zOMG zOMG!
I own all six books plus the Butlerian Jihad trilogy.
I even have the PlayStation dune game.
And of course, the Lynch and Sci-Fi DVDs
zOMG!
I just hope they stick to the books... and release 5 sequels.
I hope they pare down the book a little. I mean, if the entire book is faithfully put to screen, no one would be able to watch more than the first hour - because that would be how long it would take before Leto dies and things become interesting.
Oooohhh I'm blogging about this one on my eco blog: http://www.planetpinkngreen.com!!! I'm a huge sci-fi fan anyway. I recently re-watched Dune and thought how timely it was...Thanks for posting this!
I agree with Umlud.
I am psyched, though. This deserves an updated screen rendition
Water - yes. Melange, on the other hand, is a renewable resource ;-)
I see the melange as a metaphor for soil fertility; worms adding fertility to soil is a big part of how our own system works here (when we aren't screwing it up with chemical fertilizers and such). A gross oversimplification, but usually the best teaching parables are...
This book remains my favorite of all time because it chooses not to talk down or pare down ideas. It is political, ecological and social at the same time, just as life is. I hope it gets the Lord of the Rings treatment; a nearly exact translation from page to screen. It certainly deserves it...
Liked the first one, looking forward to this rendition.
And say what you want about "The Day After Tomorrow", it's inspired the installation of a sensor network in the Atlantic as depicted in the film... so it wasn't a total waste of celluloid.
I really hope this movie does not happen.
I'm a fan of Herbert's works, and Dune is much too complex to make a movie that makes any sense--unless you split things up. Two (or even three) hours is probably too short to fit things in. Just read the books and be happy.
Unless someone like Spielberg or maybe Cameron or Scott is directing I don't see good things happening. A David Lean version might have been interesting as well.
YES! We need another movie version of the story!
I enjoyed the Sci-Fi miniseries for Dune, and Children of Dune, myself.
All things being equal, I'd have to disagree with you, David. While Mssrs. Spielberg, Cameron, and either Ridley or Tony Scott are iconic filmmakers, their names haven't been attached to something like a vast epic like "Dune."
David Lynch's movie was so mind-numbingly awful that even he didn't want his name attached to it when it came out. The director listed was "Alan Smithee," a traditional name used by anyone in the film industry who wants their name removed from the project.
I know that there are some who will disagree with me, but I have to say that Peter jackson's "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy was superlative. It was made almost entirely on faith, because he didn't have the kind of credentials prior to "Fellowship" that one would associate with a grand fantasy epic (unless you count "Dead Alive.").
I'm willing to give this the benefit of the doubt, but in the meantime, I'll watch the TV miniseries DVDs for now.
I did get to watch that original Dune movie and for sure, this remake is something ideal to watch. And I do agree, it couldn't have come at a good time with the crisis we are all facing today. A recommended movie even if it hasnt hit the movie screens for sure.
The only way I could have any hope of this being done well is if they gave it to Peter Jackson. *Maybe* Ridley Scott.
Peter Berg? Who the hell is he? I looked him up. He's nobody. Turning Dune into a good film is something only the world's best writers and directors can do.
Peter Berg may not have the genre name recognition that die hard fans would recognize, but honestly - did Peter Jackson before "The Lord of the Rings?" Oh yeah, "Bad Taste," Dead Alive," and "The Frighteners" were all great indicators of what he would come up with in "The Lord of the Rings." Now don't get me wrong, murray. I LOVE "Dead Alive." That is a classic, but even Peter Jackson was stunned that people would return his calls after that nugget.
And who the Hell could tell that while they were record store clerks, Bryan Singer and Christopher McQuarrie would be capable of "The Usual Suspects?" I reserve judgement on Peter Berg, because precious little could be as godawful than either the "extended cut" or the theatrical cut of David Lynch's (err - Alan Smithee's) "Dune." I would put that steaming cowflop WORSE than "Kindgom of the Spiders" with William Shatner.