FanUnity B(uzz)log

"Children Of Dune" is neither a new film release nor a new DVD release. I typically reserve my reviews for such movies, but with "Children Of Dune" what I care to do is bring attention to film that might be considered a Sci-Fi classic if it had been seen by more people. The only sense in which it could currently be considered a Sci-Fi classic is that it is the best thing the Sci-Fi Channel has ever aired. For those who have read my high praise of "G vs. E", "Firefly" and the new "Battlestar Galactica", you know that is high praise indeed. And I may be overstating in the case of "Firefly" … both are great in a very different way.

Most folks who pay attention to sci-fi movies know that the Sci-Fi Channel put together a mini-series remake of Frank Herbert's "Dune." Actually the proper title is "William Hurt In Frank Herbert's Dune", because William Hurt is so arrogant that he felt his name needed to be in the title alongside Hebert's, even though he gives an unspectacular if solid performance as Duke Leto Atredies. But let me get back on point: Most probably didn't watch that "Dune" remake, which was far better than David Lynch's movie, and fewer people bothered to watch its sequel, "Children Of Dune." Which is a damn shame, because "Children Of Dune" was the best sci-fi movie of the year 2003 (to clarify: "Lord Of The Rings" isn't sci-fi, so it doesn't count). Much better than "The Matrix" sequels … both as sci-fi stories and messiah stories … no comparison.

"Children Of Dune" picks up more than a decade after "Dune" left off, with Paul "Muad'dib" Atreides ruling from his throne on Arrakis, Emperor of the Universe. But Muad'dib's rule has been filled with constant war and conquest, and long long since turned from a dream into a nightmare for his citizens. As the older daughter of the former Emperor Corrino plots to put her House back on top and dethrone the Atreides family in part one of the mini-series, Paul's consort Chani bears him twin children, who will ultimately take up the burden of his legacy in parts two and three of the mini-series.

I'm not saying "Children Of Dune" is a perfect movie/mini-series/whatever. It certainly isn't. The special effects are cheesy — especially those CGI desert panther things in part two — and Susan Saradon's acting in it is a little too scene-chewingly glib for my tastes. The actresses who play Alia and Ghanima do not give the strongest performances either, but they are so good to look at that it is forgiven.

Whatever shortcomings the film has are overshadowed by what's right with "Children Of Dune." It is a wonderful encapsulation of the fall of a leader and the rise of another and a beautiful depiction of the sins of a father passing down to a son who determines not to make the same mistakes. The heart of "Children Of Dune" isn't in any of the space mumbo jumbo or sci-fi trappings. It's in the human story about the intertwined destinies of three people: Paul, Alia and Leto II. While "Dune" gives us Paul as a messianic figure, "Children Of Dune" follows his story to show that this particular messiah didn't turn out to be the kind of emperor one would have hoped. After Paul vanishes into the desert, his sister Alia reigns as regent and clenches the iron fisted rule tighter. As Paul's son Leto II comes of age, he brings with him wisdom to see the damage done by his still-worshipped dad and his lunatic aunt. Leto II becomes the messiah Paul was supposed to be … or so this movie's ending leads us to believe. Further answers lie within Hebert's subsequent books, but I wasn't inspired enough to pick them up.

In addition to the strong story, there are three major things that allow "Children Of Dune" to work so well: Brian Tyler's soundtrack is nothing short of fantastic, and the best sci-fi movie soundtrack since … hell, I don't remember anything I liked more than this. It does an awesome job of capturing the magesty and epic scale of the events shown on screen. The set and costume design are also very good, giving the sense of a distinct world filled with many different cultures and social classes … many beautiful visuals come from shots of the cityscapes. The final piece is the performance of James McAvoy as Leto II. McAvoy is most famous for his critically acclaimed work as the title character in "Rory O'Shea Was Here", which you might have seen Roger Ebert showering with praise on Ebert & Roeper. McAvoy's demeanor and Scottish accent recall Ewan McGregor, and he's just about as talented an actor. He commands the camera, and exudes a confidence as Leto II that is wholly appropriate for the way the character embraces his destiny. McAvoy has the talent to be a very big star in movies just as McGregor has become. But then so did another Scot, Richard Coyle of the British version of "Coupling", and he's yet to hit it real big.

If you like science fiction epics, "Children Of Dune" will be extremely enjoyable for you. I recommend watching the Sci-Fi Channel's version of "Dune" rather the David Lynch version as a warm-up, to get familiar with the world and the story of Paul and his family. That's the story that gets the most attention, but the really good stuff, at least as far as these mini-series/movies are concerned, is in "Children Of Dune."

4.5/5 Stars.