Photo: LEGO
The Dune universe created by Frank Herbert is by far the most complex ever put on paper in the history of mankind. Yes, it's even more complex than the A Song of Ice and Fire series that led to the birth of Game of Thrones.
If you've read the books you know that to be true. In fact, you only have to look at how many of them there are to realize the story couldn't have been anything other than epic: 28 books in all, including spin-offs, prequels, and other writings.
Because of the plot's complexity, no one has ever managed to put the story on film with the same depth of character, twist of storyline, and building of worlds. The last man to try it was Denis Villeneuve, with his 2021 Dune flick.
For me, a guy who's read all 28 Dune books, it was nothing more than nice. It was visually decent (but with scenery not as rich as the imagination can paint Arrakis), the visual effects were so-so (these guys still can't get those personal shields right), and an average storyline, in the sense that it fell way short of properly depicting the ins and outs of the intrigue, backstabbing, and perennial hatred between Houses.
Villeneuve will go at it again in March of next year with the second installment of what is shaping up to be a trilogy, but I don't have high hopes for that one either. What does get my heart pumping is LEGO's release of its first-ever brick toy from the Dune universe.
The vehicle chosen to enter the history books this way is the royal ornithopter of House Atreides, a machine the good guys of the story use to go about their business over the dunes of their recently gained spice planet.
The ornithopter (a flying beast that looks and behaves like a dragonfly) in its toy form comes together after no less than 1,369 pieces have been properly assembled. When ready, it stands 9 inches tall (23 cm), 22 inches long (56 cm), and an impressive 31 inches wide – that's no less than 79 cm.
The thing can sit on a very large desk on its own landing gear, which folds if you plan to take it up for an imaginary flight. The insect-like blades fitted on top can retract and rotate to 180 degrees, but most importantly they flap, just like in the movie.
The ornithopter comes complete with eight minifigures that have never been offered by LEGO: Paul Atreides, Lady Jessica, Gurney Halleck, Chani, Leto Atreides, Liet Kynes, Duncan Idaho, and Baron Harkonnen.
The Atreides Royal Ornithopter is part of the LEGO Icons series and has become available for order on October 24, 2023. It won't go on sale though until February 1st of next year. LEGO is asking a ton of money for it: $164,99 (the same in euros).
Because of the plot's complexity, no one has ever managed to put the story on film with the same depth of character, twist of storyline, and building of worlds. The last man to try it was Denis Villeneuve, with his 2021 Dune flick.
For me, a guy who's read all 28 Dune books, it was nothing more than nice. It was visually decent (but with scenery not as rich as the imagination can paint Arrakis), the visual effects were so-so (these guys still can't get those personal shields right), and an average storyline, in the sense that it fell way short of properly depicting the ins and outs of the intrigue, backstabbing, and perennial hatred between Houses.
Villeneuve will go at it again in March of next year with the second installment of what is shaping up to be a trilogy, but I don't have high hopes for that one either. What does get my heart pumping is LEGO's release of its first-ever brick toy from the Dune universe.
The vehicle chosen to enter the history books this way is the royal ornithopter of House Atreides, a machine the good guys of the story use to go about their business over the dunes of their recently gained spice planet.
The ornithopter (a flying beast that looks and behaves like a dragonfly) in its toy form comes together after no less than 1,369 pieces have been properly assembled. When ready, it stands 9 inches tall (23 cm), 22 inches long (56 cm), and an impressive 31 inches wide – that's no less than 79 cm.
The thing can sit on a very large desk on its own landing gear, which folds if you plan to take it up for an imaginary flight. The insect-like blades fitted on top can retract and rotate to 180 degrees, but most importantly they flap, just like in the movie.
The ornithopter comes complete with eight minifigures that have never been offered by LEGO: Paul Atreides, Lady Jessica, Gurney Halleck, Chani, Leto Atreides, Liet Kynes, Duncan Idaho, and Baron Harkonnen.
The Atreides Royal Ornithopter is part of the LEGO Icons series and has become available for order on October 24, 2023. It won't go on sale though until February 1st of next year. LEGO is asking a ton of money for it: $164,99 (the same in euros).
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