2021-09-17, 10:09 AM
(This post was last modified: 2021-09-17, 10:32 AM by HippieDalek.
Edit Reason: Added more detail
)
I'm a great fan of the mini series; it came out not long after I read the novels and it closely matched the images from my head. It could certainly be better but I much prefer it to the lacklustre Lynch film. Very much looking forward to the new film but I've got to wait another month before it comes out here.
I've owned the UK DVD, US Director's Cut DVD and recently I picked up the German Blu Rays of both series. My understanding is that the German Blu Ray currently has the best picture quality. My understanding is that the Australian and French Blu Rays are 50i (25p - PAL speedup) while the German Blu Ray is 24p (native speed). I have heard that the recent UK Blu Ray release is awful but haven't seen it myself, though apparently it's just been re-issued so perhaps they improved it? Apparently the UK Blu Ray of Children of Dune is ok.
Note that while the German Blu Ray has the best picture quality, the two instances of subtitled dialogue in episode 1 are burned in and in German. Doesn't bother me too much as the point of those two scenes is that Jessica can speak the native language, what she is actually saying is less imported (plus I can muddle through on my old high school German), but your mileage may vary. Children of Dune has burned in English subtitles for the "hand talking" scenes and they are covered up by player generated subtitles. These subtitles can be turned off on any player so the German Blu Ray for Children of Dune is perfectly English language friendly (assuming you can navigate the German menus).
When it comes to the Dune mini series I think there are four versions:
US TV Version - Heavily edited and censored. This version was released on US DVD back in the day, I borrowed it from a friend.
International TV Version - Uncensored and longer, but a couple of dialogue scenes were trimmed. This version is on most DVDs and I believe all Blu Rays.
UK TV Version - The same as the International version but episode 1 has a neck break censored. Released on UK DVD, not sure about the current Blu Ray.
US Director's Cut - For the most part this is the International version but with the trimmed scenes restored to their full length. I think one scene in episode 2 uses an alternate take with more dialogue than any other versions. Opening credits have been removed from parts 2 and 3, and the closing credits have been removed from parts 1 and 2, making it more like a continuous film with "Part" titles displayed on screen instead. Released only on US DVD.
The US Director's Cut is the longest and most complete version, but you don't lose much by "settling" for the International version. Most of the differences between the two come down to first half of episode 1.
I had hoped with the new film coming out that the Director's Cut would get a Blu Ray release but doesn't look like it's happening any time soon.
As has already been said the series was shot on film, but all special effects were completed at SD. Children of Dune was similar except that the effects were finished at 720p instead. The CGI looks a bit rough, but to be honest it looks just like it did when it was first shown in 2000. I think the series as shown on German Blu Ray is the best it can look.
I've owned the UK DVD, US Director's Cut DVD and recently I picked up the German Blu Rays of both series. My understanding is that the German Blu Ray currently has the best picture quality. My understanding is that the Australian and French Blu Rays are 50i (25p - PAL speedup) while the German Blu Ray is 24p (native speed). I have heard that the recent UK Blu Ray release is awful but haven't seen it myself, though apparently it's just been re-issued so perhaps they improved it? Apparently the UK Blu Ray of Children of Dune is ok.
Note that while the German Blu Ray has the best picture quality, the two instances of subtitled dialogue in episode 1 are burned in and in German. Doesn't bother me too much as the point of those two scenes is that Jessica can speak the native language, what she is actually saying is less imported (plus I can muddle through on my old high school German), but your mileage may vary. Children of Dune has burned in English subtitles for the "hand talking" scenes and they are covered up by player generated subtitles. These subtitles can be turned off on any player so the German Blu Ray for Children of Dune is perfectly English language friendly (assuming you can navigate the German menus).
When it comes to the Dune mini series I think there are four versions:
US TV Version - Heavily edited and censored. This version was released on US DVD back in the day, I borrowed it from a friend.
International TV Version - Uncensored and longer, but a couple of dialogue scenes were trimmed. This version is on most DVDs and I believe all Blu Rays.
UK TV Version - The same as the International version but episode 1 has a neck break censored. Released on UK DVD, not sure about the current Blu Ray.
US Director's Cut - For the most part this is the International version but with the trimmed scenes restored to their full length. I think one scene in episode 2 uses an alternate take with more dialogue than any other versions. Opening credits have been removed from parts 2 and 3, and the closing credits have been removed from parts 1 and 2, making it more like a continuous film with "Part" titles displayed on screen instead. Released only on US DVD.
The US Director's Cut is the longest and most complete version, but you don't lose much by "settling" for the International version. Most of the differences between the two come down to first half of episode 1.
I had hoped with the new film coming out that the Director's Cut would get a Blu Ray release but doesn't look like it's happening any time soon.
As has already been said the series was shot on film, but all special effects were completed at SD. Children of Dune was similar except that the effects were finished at 720p instead. The CGI looks a bit rough, but to be honest it looks just like it did when it was first shown in 2000. I think the series as shown on German Blu Ray is the best it can look.
Program material is recorded on the other side of this disc...
