[Quick Summary: At the behest of the Emperor, Paul's family moves to the planet Arrakis and is attacked, in a great political and financial conspiracy.]
I am impressed by this excellent adaptation of an enormous book (576 pgs.) It felt accessible to me, who knew nothing, yet it had enough for rabid fans.
I noticed that CLARITY did two things:
- Helped increase pacing.
- Made the unfamiliar familiar, ex. simplifying complicated characters or back-stabbing politics to understandable concepts (mother-son, enemy-ally, etc.)
In the scene below:
- Jessica, Paul's mother, has left him (16) in the library with her old teacher, Rev. Mother Mohiam.
- Jessica hasn't told Paul everything about her side of the family nor about this test.
- Rev. Mother orders Paul to put his hand in a special box.
- Though the details may be sci-fi and unfamiliar, this situation is very familiar (student taking test w/ teacher; worried parent in the next room).
- Also, notice that the rawness of tone and tension makes it read faster.
Paul stares at the Reverend Mother apprehensively. And suddenly he feels it: a tingling sensation in his fingers that makes his breath catch. He hisses in pain.
PAUL: Why are you doing this?
REV. MOTHER MOHIAM: An animal caught in a trap will gnaw off its own leg to escape. What will you do?
OUTSIDE THE DOOR
Jessica's voice shakes as she whispers the Litany.
JESSICA: I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me.
IN THE LIBRARY
Sweat beads on Paul's forehead as the pain grows into agony. He moans through clenched teeth. His left hand balled into a white knuckled fist, his arm trembling. Pain!
OUTSIDE THE DOOR
Jessica closes her eyes.
JESSICA (CONT'D): And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path.
IN THE LIBRARY
Paul trembles. The gom jabbar glints against his neck. The Reverend Mother's eyes burn into him. He is panting.
INSERT: Paul's hand inside the box. Like a hand in a bonfire. The skin blackening. Splitting.
Paul CRIES OUT involuntarily. The Reverend Mother hisses:
REV. MOTHER MOHIAM: Silence!
OUTSIDE THE DOOR
Jessica's voice rises --
JESSICA: Where the fear has gone there will be nothing!
IN THE LIBRARY
Paul shudders in excruciating pain. Locking eyes with the old Reverend Mother. At the very edge of his endurance.
INSERT: Paul's hand. Crisp flesh falling from charred bones.
Paul shuts his eyes. His mouth opens in a silent scream.
REV. MOTHER MOHIAM Enough!
The pain cuts off at once. Paul's eyes snap open with a gasp.
OUTSIDE THE DOOR
Jessica opens her eyes.
JESSICA: Only I will remain.
WHAT I'VE LEARNED: I was surprised how fast I read this and how engaged I stayed, even though I didn't totally get all the sci-fi stuff.
Dune (2021) (6/19/20 final draft w/revisions)
by Jon Spaights and Denis Villeneuve and Eric Roth
Based on the novel 'Dune' by Frank Herbert
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