This multi-part miniseries version of the Dune classic is lightyears better then the 1984 theatrical release and the closest I've seen to the content and spirit of the book. Done in the only legnth that can accomodate such a lengthy novel, it takes it's time in telling the story and leaves out only a few small details.

The visuals all you would expect for a true depiction of Dune, and the atmosphere pretty good as well. The music's a bit moody, so here is the one aspect that I will say that the older movie was better in (though I swear I caught a couple strains in there taken from the 1984 soundtrack). The plot kept to the book, and the characterizations were more faithful as well. Our favorite flying fatboy was more of a sinister threat then just a screaming lunatic. All in all very well done.

Of the things to complain about there were three. First, the stillsuit design was better in the oler version. Then, in that first knife fight Paul has with that freman, in the book he inherits the dead-guy's wife and two kids, a fact entirely ignored by the SciFi version; I guess they didn't want to go the politically-incorrect poligammy route. Then third, is the death of Paul's infant son; not only did he not die in the book, he had a twin sister and went on through several of the sequels.

Something a friend said, is that if you took the actors from the first movie and put them into this script, then we'd have the perfect Dune movie. Just picturing it, I'd have to agree.

Taken as a whole, this was an excellent television presentation, something you will never find in standard network television, and no doubt the sort of reason why a lot of people are tuning them out for Cable.