Film Adaptation

There is a new Dune movie in the rumblings. Will the project fall apart? Kinda looks like it, but who knows? This will be the third time Dune has been made into an adaptation, and each time there were some problems.

I think an issue at heart is whether to make a good movie or a good adaptation? For example, someone could probably make a knockout Dune movie but cut out a number of characters:

Duncan Idaho

Thufir Huwit

Beast Rabban

Gurney Halleck

These are all important characters (well maybe not Rabban), but the point is there could be a good movie that cuts alot out. As a fan I feel a sort of natural rejection of this, but it is assuredly true. Both Stanley Kubrick films The Shining and A Clockwork Orange left the authors of the books they were based off of greatly dissatisfied, but both were great movies.

On the other hand, Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings series, that series third try as well, managed to be both a good movie AND a good adaptation. As the newest movie started off as a studio project, not a project of a specific auteur, I doubt we'll get either.

Dune as Anarchist text?

Trying to get a concrete political read from Dune is pretty difficult. The world presented is one of feudalism, but many of the protagonists lament the rigid class system. The hero of the first book becomes Emperor, which then leads to the deaths of billions of people. This violence is attributed to the oppression and social decay of the feudal system. So, what then should be in it's place?

That can be hard to figure too. Leto II takes control of the Empire as the God Emperor and cements all power within himself. He states that the actions he will take will make Paul's Jihad (which killed billions) look like a pleasant summer picnic. Is this good or bad? The gut response is that it's bad, very very bad. And yet, Leto II assures us that without his actions humanity would be completely extinct. Assuming Leto II as a hero, the work tells us that survival is more important than freedom. That to be alive and subservient is better than dead. A bold statement, perhaps?

Ultimatley, Leto II consolidates all power into himself so that when he dies the centralized power structure completely collapses, a sort of intentional Dark Ages. (aka the Scattering) Presumably this is meant to be followed by a Renaissance, a world where there is no Emperor or central authority. And indeed the universe of Heretics of Dune and Chapterhouse: Dune is one of no Emperors or Overlords, only various groups vying amongst each other.

Thus Leto II took all power for himself to destroy such power forever? The end seems to be an anarchist goal, but the method is something no anarchist could justify. Like I said, a bit inscrutable. Interesting nonetheless.