OT: The Avalounge (mod warning - No Politics)

[expatriatedtexan]

Dune was a bloody good movie. It had a ton of Chronicles of Riddick feel to it but with an actual story with well-done and in-depth undertones of religion and political strife mixed in. Too many Sci-Fi's are all about constant brainless action and I liked that there was something that decided to go against the grain and put some good character development that isn't just Bruce Willis playing a Cop in the year 2159. I really want to read the book now, but I did a quick search at my local book store and there were like ten different books that I didn't know where to start. E: People probably won't like it because it will be "too slow" in this ADHD world.

I'm assuming you are talking about Dennis Villeneuve 2021 film. If so, I absolutely agree. Although, I was a kid and saw Lynch's version in the theater and remember liking it at the time. My view on it diminished over time.

The first book is simply called "Dune". The 2021 movie makes up about the first halfish of the book. I'm really looking forward to the second part in October. If you're interested in digging into the books, Frank Herbert released them in this order:
1. Dune
2. Dune Messiah
3. Children of Dune
4. God Emperor of Dune
5. Heretics of Dune
6. Chapterhouse: Dune
7. The Road to Dune (short story)

His son and Kevin J Anderson have continued the Dune legend with a boatload of other books and graphic novles and stuff. I've only read Frank's works but to be honest, only the first novel sticks with me. But I know folks that will argue tooth and nail about the most obscure trivia in the series though, so it has its mega-fans as well.

 

[S E P H]

I'm assuming you are talking about Dennis Villeneuve 2021 film. If so, I absolutely agree. Although, I was a kid and saw Lynch's version in the theater and remember liking it at the time. My view on it diminished over time.

The first book is simply called "Dune". The 2021 movie makes up about the first halfish of the book. I'm really looking forward to the second part in October. If you're interested in digging into the books, Frank Herbert released them in this order:
1. Dune
2. Dune Messiah
3. Children of Dune
4. God Emperor of Dune
5. Heretics of Dune
6. Chapterhouse: Dune
7. The Road to Dune (short story)

His son and Kevin J Anderson have continued the Dune legend with a boatload of other books and graphic novles and stuff. I've only read Frank's works but to be honest, only the first novel sticks with me. But I know folks that will argue tooth and nail about the most obscure trivia in the series though, so it has its mega-fans as well.

Yes, the 2021 film! Is it worth just reading Dune or does the entire series need to be read for the story?

 

[expatriatedtexan]

Yes, the 2021 film! Is it worth just reading Dune or does the entire series need to be read for the story?

I think the first Dune novel works completely as a standalone story. I would plan on just reading Dune to leave yourself an out. However, if you find that you love the universe as you come to the end, then by all means, continue on.

 

[The Moops]

Dune is by far the best book of the bunch. Messiah was pretty decent, I didn't enjoy the later ones as much. I made my way through the prequels last year, and while the backstory is cool (why they hate machines & have mentats was the most interesting part to me), but I don't know that I'd ever read them again.

 

[Pokecheque]

I gotta be honest...I just wasn't that thrilled with the new Dune. I realize the David Lynch version is a hot mess, but that one still had way more fun with some over-the-top performances and costumes. This one just kinda...sits there. Baron Harkonnen and Piter de Vries are just dull AF, and they got really good actors to portray both. The versions in the Lynch film are way, way more fun, especially Brad Dourif as de Vries. They also needlessly altered the motivations for Dr. Yueh from the Lynch film and the book itself in a really dumb way, and also made THAT character dull as hell.

Only improvements to me were Jason Momoa as Duncan Idaho got a ton more to do, the SFX, especially with the "Ornithopter" were way better, but other than that I wasn't that impressed. I hope Part 2 is a lot better.

I like Villneuve as a visual storyteller and to be clear, I like some of his films. But the ones everyone gushes over, Dune and Blade Runner 2049 I just wasn't all that into. And I desperately wanted to be.

 

[The Moops]

I gotta be honest...I just wasn't that thrilled with the new Dune. I realize the David Lynch version is a hot mess, but that one still had way more fun with some over-the-top performances and costumes. This one just kinda...sits there. Baron Harkonnen and Piter de Vries are just dull AF, and they got really good actors to portray both. The versions in the Lynch film are way, way more fun, especially Brad Dourif as de Vries. They also needlessly altered the motivations for Dr. Yueh from the Lynch film and the book itself in a really dumb way, and also made THAT character dull as hell.

Only improvements to me were Jason Momoa as Duncan Idaho got a ton more to do, the SFX, especially with the "Ornithopter" were way better, but other than that I wasn't that impressed. I hope Part 2 is a lot better.

I like Villneuve as a visual storyteller and to be clear, I like some of his films. But the ones everyone gushes over, Dune and Blade Runner 2049 I just wasn't all that into. And I desperately wanted to be.

Yeah the movie didn't do a ton for me. I think it's a hard book to translate into something enjoyable on film.

 

[expatriatedtexan]

I liked the 2021 movie, but it definitely is only part of a story. I always thought the second half of Dune was faster paced than the first half, so I imagine the same will be true for the movie. They spent a lot of time just world building in the first movie, and Dune sort of deserves that, but as others have noted, it can make the film feel a bit dull or drawn out.

I think my favorite Villeneuve movie so far is Arrival.

 

[Pokecheque]

Yeah the movie didn't do a ton for me. I think it's a hard book to translate into something enjoyable on film.

I'd argue the Lynch film, majorly flawed as it was, captured the crazy-ass essence of the book better than the Villneuve offering. There was an inherent campiness to the former that the latter should have embraced a little more readily.

I've never bothered with the Sci-Fi Channel miniseries. That looked way too low-budget to really do the story justice.

 

[The Moops]

I think my favorite Villeneuve movie so far is Arrival.

Arrival is one of my top 5 movies. I never get tired of it

I've never bothered with the Sci-Fi Channel miniseries. That looked way too low-budget to really do the story justice.

It's so bad it loops around to being good again. Children of Dune had better production I think.

I tried to get my wife to watch the miniseries and I think we made it 5 minutes before she made me turn it off.

 

[CobraAcesS]

Arrival is one of my top 5 movies. I never get tired of it


It's so bad it loops around to being good again. Children of Dune had better production I think.

I tried to get my wife to watch the miniseries and I think we made it 5 minutes before she made me turn it off.

Is that the made for TV thing? Production wise it's obvious it had a lower budget, but really enjoyed the story, and extra time spent.

I'm with Poke that the new one felt bland a bit, somehow rushed almost. That whole story needs multiple movies, and some parts are just way more interesting than others.

Dune conversation

 

[UncleRisto]

This is me earlier: "You know what, I have to tone down my caffeine intake again. I'm not getting any energy drinks for the morning."

I just drank like 27 oz of black coffee.

 

[Ceremony]

I'm still watching Mad Men. Why is the wee guy with no chin who's married to Alison Brie cheating on her with Elizabeth Moss? In what f***ing universe does this happen?

People keep finding Elizabeth Moss irresistible. I don't get it.

 

[The Moops]

People keep finding Elizabeth Moss irresistible. I don't get it.

Same

 

[UncleRisto]

People keep finding Elizabeth Moss irresistible. I don't get it.

Maybe the people in the show also really enjoy and respect her acting work, and that's IT.

 

[Pokecheque]

People keep finding Elizabeth Moss irresistible. I don't get it.

She's an elite-level actress. The scenes between her character and Don Draper, and the ones between her and Roger Sterling are pitch-perfect. And she's been even better in The Handmaid's Tale, portraying a woman who's suffered unimaginable trauma and how that's actually turned her into an extremely cold and vindictive person capable of murder. She's not conventionally beautiful but frankly speaking I certainly don't find her unattractive. Shining Girls is not exactly a great miniseries but I thought it was worth watching. It also features her castmate Madeleine Brewer from The Handmaid's Tale (this time she gets to keep her eye) and she's good in it too.

 

[Pokecheque]

I'm still watching Mad Men. Why is the wee guy with no chin who's married to Alison Brie cheating on her with Elizabeth Moss? In what f***ing universe does this happen?

Did you see who Hugh Grant used to be with? Did you see who he cheated on her with? Case closed.

It's like what someone once said about Tiger Woods' infidelity--show me a beautiful woman, and I'll show you a man who's tired of f***ing her.

As for Mad Men, you really should watch it again if you're not picking up on the obvious chemistry between those two. Pete is a misbegotten little creep who hasn't an ounce of natural charm, but somehow Peggy understands him, and he picks up on that. Trudy (yes, I know, I'd give just about anything for a shot at Alison Brie, any man would, gay or straight) is the perfect trophy wife and all, but they're just not on the same page...until the end that is.

 

[Ceremony]

She's an elite-level actress. The scenes between her character and Don Draper, and the ones between her and Roger Sterling are pitch-perfect. And she's been even better in The Handmaid's Tale, portraying a woman who's suffered unimaginable trauma and how that's actually turned her into an extremely cold and vindictive person capable of murder. She's not conventionally beautiful but frankly speaking I certainly don't find her unattractive. Shining Girls is not exactly a great miniseries but I thought it was worth watching. It also features her castmate Madeleine Brewer from The Handmaid's Tale (this time she gets to keep her eye) and she's good in it too.

None of this changes that by simply existing and showing no interest in him at all she's proving irresistible to a guy married to Alison Brie.

Did you see who Hugh Grant used to be with? Did you see who he cheated on her with? Case closed.

It's like what someone once said about Tiger Woods' infidelity--show me a beautiful woman, and I'll show you a man who's tired of f***ing her.

As for Mad Men, you really should watch it again if you're not picking up on the obvious chemistry between those two. Pete is a misbegotten little creep who hasn't an ounce of natural charm, but somehow Peggy understands him, and he picks up on that. Trudy (yes, I know, I'd give just about anything for a shot at Alison Brie, any man would, gay or straight) is the perfect trophy wife and all, but they're just not on the same page...until the end that is.

Answered this already. I'm so good at posting I answer posts from the future.

I think - around halfway through S3 right now - that I just don't like Mad Men that much. It's a bit boring. And character study in a TV show set in a time where all anyone does is sit around smoking and looking smug and not communicating properly isn't really for me.

 

[Ceremony]

I also didn't care for The Handmaid's Tale. I watched S1 and lost interest when it started deviating wildly from the book and ended up being a bad parody of the book and contemporary society in different ways at the same time. I see they're up to S5 or something so god knows what's happened since.

 

[Pokecheque]

None of this changes that by simply existing and showing no interest in him at all she's proving irresistible to a guy married to Alison Brie.


Answered this already. I'm so good at posting I answer posts from the future.

I think - around halfway through S3 right now - that I just don't like Mad Men that much. It's a bit boring. And character study in a TV show set in a time where all anyone does is sit around smoking and looking smug and not communicating properly isn't really for me.

If you're not enjoying the show, that's fine, I totally respect that. It's not for everyone and I certainly don't think it struck every note perfectly. But I did think the actors involved were fantastic (yes, even January Jones) and they told a good, albeit extremely bleak, tale. The repartee is great between them, and I loved the commitment to the role by some of the actors. Reportedly Vincent Kartheiser gained weight and actually shaved his hairline to show Pete Campbell's aging and physical decay over the years during the show.

But yes, there does indeed exist a world where a man who has a beautiful wife will cheat on said beautiful wife with someone who might be a little less beautiful. Men fantasize about the things they can't have, it's a tale as old as time.

I also didn't care for The Handmaid's Tale. I watched S1 and lost interest when it started deviating wildly from the book and ended up being a bad parody of the book and contemporary society in different ways at the same time. I see they're up to S5 or something so god knows what's happened since.

I'm not done with the latest season, I'll admit they need to wrap this shit up soon because season 1 was the book, everything since then has been them winging it and I'll admit I haven't loved everything.

 

[Ceremony]

If you're not enjoying the show, that's fine, I totally respect that. It's not for everyone and I certainly don't think it struck every note perfectly. But I did think the actors involved were fantastic (yes, even January Jones) and they told a good, albeit extremely bleak, tale. The repartee is great between them, and I loved the commitment to the role by some of the actors. Reportedly Vincent Kartheiser gained weight and actually shaved his hairline to show Pete Campbell's aging and physical decay over the years during the show.

I don't think it's bad, it's just a bit dull. Certainly nothing yet that makes me think it's as good as I've seen people say it is.

 

[GeoRox89]

I'm not done with the latest season, I'll admit they need to wrap this shit up soon because season 1 was the book, everything since then has been them winging it and I'll admit I haven't loved everything.

Does season 5 ever get better? I gave up 2-3 episodes in and figured I’d wait til the end to find out if it was even worth watching

 

[Pokecheque]

Does season 5 ever get better? I gave up 2-3 episodes in and figured I’d wait til the end to find out if it was even worth watching

I mean, yeah, the action ratchets up once Serena gets herself into a real pickle and then makes one rather rash decision to get out of it, that's where I left it though, I'm about 2 or so episodes from the end and just haven't gotten around to it. I'm told there's a rather substantial twist at the end.

I do hope next season is the last though. Enough already.

 

[S E P H]

I also didn't care for The Handmaid's Tale. I watched S1 and lost interest when it started deviating wildly from the book and ended up being a bad parody of the book and contemporary society in different ways at the same time. I see they're up to S5 or something so god knows what's happened since.

Watch anime.

 

[UncleRisto]

Watch anime.

The worst advice.

 

[S E P H]

The worst advice.

Best or Greatest advice ever.