Average Rating: 
Rating:  - not the books, but a worthwhile representation
This is a review of the telecast, not the DVD.The Dune Saga is, for me, one of the greatest accomplishments of literature in general and THE greatest accomplishment of science fiction literature. As I grow older and after several readings the experience just grows richer. Great liberties were taken with the plot line of the books - "Dune Messiah", "Children of Dune" and, to a limited extent, "God Emperor of Dune". But not to the detriment of the overall story. I would recommend the Sci-Fi Channel's "Dune" and "Children of Dune" as an introduction to the books as opposed to a substitute FOR the books. The books are much richer plot-wise. And the spirit of the saga is much more alive in the books. To speak specifically to the mini-series. The sets were limited, but convincing. The costumes like watching a Paris fashion show, but they added to the production. The acting was more than adequate (more more so, I think, than in "Dune"). Susan Sarandon added a touch of "legitimacy" to the production and her acting was convincingly cold and calulating as Wensicia Corrino. Ms. Sarandon seemed to be enjoying herself and that came through in her portrayal. And she was fun to watch. I thought Alice Krige was awesome as Jessica - once I got over thinking of her as the Borg Queen. As I got over the stereotype, I began to notice how well Ms. Krige brought out the pain of the hard choices that Jessica made and her absolute dedication to the Atreides family. Daniela Amavia as Alia did excellent service to the role. I always thought Alia a secondary, pitiable character in the books. The mini-series brought her more to the forefront and I'll re-read with a different outlook although she's still pitiable. James McAvoy and Jessica Brooks were well played (although a lot older than in the books) as Leto II and Ghanima. They convincingly played their very complex characters. James McAvoy in particular brought a sense of the charisma of what Leto would become to the role (I guess that's why they made him older for the mini-series). I had a very positive and enjoyable experience with this adaptation. And I look forward to the next installment - which is sure to follow.
Rating: - Better than the Dune miniseries, not better than the novels
I have been a longtime fan of Frank Herbert's opus, and have read the "Dune" novels many times. I consider myself somewhat of a purist, and did not warm up to the theatrical release of "Dune" (David Lynch) back in the 80's. I thought at one point that the saga of Dune simply was too big for both the big and the small screens.I was pleasantly surprised after I watched and very much enjoyed the Sci Fi channel's 2000 miniseries, "Frank Herbert's Dune." At the time, I reconciled myself with the idea that this was the closest that Hollywood would come to portraying Herbert's epic. Thus, I looked forward to the airing "Children of Dune" with some enthusiasm but with low expectations. I must admit that when I read details about the upcoming TV event, I had many misgivings: the changes in casting from the first miniseries, the fact that the script was a synthesis of the "Dune Messiah" and "Children of Dune" books, that the Atreides twins were to be teenagers instead of 9-year-olds, etc. Imagine my surprise when I found that the Sci Fi channel had done it again, and that I liked "Children of Dune" even better than their "Dune" miniseries. If you are a die-hard Frank Herbert fan, I am not going to try to convince you that this is a worthy interpretation of "Dune." I will ask that you watch it with an open mind. However, if you are familiar with the stories and are a fan of science fiction, here are a few reasons why you should be a little forgiving and let yourself enjoy "Children of Dune": - an excellent soundtrack, superior to that of both the Lynch movie and the original Sci Fi channel miniseries - a bigger budget and improvements in special effects and in sets - Alec Newman's reprised role as Muad'Dib (and as The Preacher) was powerful, both at Chani's death and at the climactic ending of the miniseries - an improvement in the casting of Duncan Idaho, Stilgar, and to an extent the Lady Jessica (though unfortunately the new actress has been typecast in my head as the Borg Queen) - a continued and interesting expansion of the Atreides adversaries' characters (House Corrino) in particular of Princesses Wensicia and Irulan (who in the books I never even cared about) though I wasn't too taken by Farad'n - a brilliant teenage Leto Atreides II, who borrows bits of dialogue from "God Emperor of Dune" and makes me hope they make the next Herbert novel into a miniseries as well - a script and a director who does not try to emulate Frank Herbert yet presents an interpretation of the saga which is respectful of it and which tries to stay true to the spirit of the novels To conclude, it is well to note that the Dune storyline is in its purest form a Greek tragedy (according to Herbert, the Atreides ancestors are Agamemnon and the House of Atreus.) Both images and music carry the feel of great and noble deeds accomplished at the price of great pain and sorrow. This for me is the final reason that "Children of Dune" is worth watching: that you come to have a better understanding and to care deeply about both the characters and the Desert Planet. The miniseries was hardly over when I had to go looking for the DVD release date. I can only look forward to any special features that come with the DVD.
Rating:  - Possibly the Best On-Screen Portrayal of Herbert's Vision
Director Greg Yaitanes miniseries creation "Children of Dune" is possibly the best on-screen rendition of any of Frank Herbert's sci-fi novels. Taking up the story where director Frank Harrison's 2000 miniseries "Dune" ends, "Children of Dune" is based upon two of Frank Herbert's books: "Dune Messiah (Dune Chronicles, Book 2)" and "Children of Dune (Dune Chronicles, Book 3)".The story begins on the planet Arrakis 12 years after the victory of Paul 'Muad'Dib' Atreides over House Harkonnen and Padishah-Emperor Shaddam Corrino IV. Muad'Dib not only became the Emperor, he also becomes the focus of a personality-cult religion. He married Princess Irulan Corrino, but his love remained with Chani. Several actors returned from the first "Dune" miniseries to play the same roles in "Children of Dune": Alec Newman as Muad'Dib (and does so far better than in the first "Dune" miniseries under Yaitanes' direction), Julie Cox as Princess Irulan Corrino (now the wife of Muad'Dib), Barbora Kodetová as Chani (Muad'Dib's concubine) and P.H. Moriarty as Gurney Halleck. Several different but well-known actors assume other characters: Lady Jessica played by Alice Krige (remembered as the Borg Queen in the 1996 film "Star Trek VIII: First Contact"), Wensicia (sister of the deposed Padishah-Emperor Shaddam Corrino IV) played by Susan Sarandan, and Stilgar was played by Steven Berkoff. Chani dies after giving birth to twins: a boy and a girl, who are named Leto II and Ghanima. However, Paul, now physically blind, does not stay to raise them. Instead, he abandones his position as Emperor and wanders into the Arrakeen desert. Alia (Daniela Amavia) becomes head of state until Leto II is old enough to rule. Time is shifted forward again, and the twins, who grow faster than normal humans, appear as young adults. Leto II (James McAvoy) and Ghanima (Jessica Brooks) are raised by both Alia and Irulan, but many are plotting against House Atreides, including Wensicia. Many are also concerned about the greening of Arrakis that is harming the worms, the makers of the spice; but Leto II has a plan that he calls the Golden Path. Also, everyone must tread carefully around Alia who slowly goes mad, seeing delusions of the dead Baron Vladimir Harkonnen (replayed by Ian McNeice). With a much larger budget than the first "Dune" miniseries, director Greg Yaitanes was able to create a far more extravagant and realistic portrayal of the story. Gone is the overuse of surrealistic lighting, but the less than realistic stillsuits remain in use. Actor James McAvoy does a stellar job creating the character Leto II, but the women in "Children of Dune" often take center stage and are each well acted. Though it is not perfect and uses some artistic license, I rate "Children of Dune" with 4.5 out of 5 stars, rounded up to 5 stars.
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