The Most Amazing Sci-Fi Film Never Made

Dune is one of the most beloved and celebrated science-fiction novels of all time. David Lynch directed the first big-screen adaptation of Frank Herbert's epic story in 1984. There have also been a pair of TV mini-series versions of Dune and Children of Dune, which were produced for the SyFY channel in the early 2000s, and of course, the recent big-budget adaptation by Denis Villenueve, featuring an all-star cast and impressive visuals. That film covered the first part of the novel, and a sequel is currently in production. But did you know that there was another adaptation of Dune that was set to be released in the 1970s, which never made it past the planning stages? The story of that unrealized film project is a fascinating and intriguing tale, and it's covered in the engrossing documentary, 2013's Jodorowsky’s Dune.

Jodorowsky’s Dune is the story of an ambitious attempt to produce a sweeping film version of author Frank Herbert’s classic science-fiction epic during the mid 1970s. Alejandro Jodorowsky, who directed the cult films El Topo (1970) and The Holy Mountain (1973), wanted to make a fantastic, mind-expanding adaptation of the novel that would push the boundaries of film, and take the viewer’s cinematic experience to the next level. This absorbing documentary tells the story of Jodorowsky’s quest to put together the perfect team to make his dream project. That journey led him to enlist such talented artists as H.R. Giger, Moebius and Chris Foss, who worked on the design and look of the film. Dan O’Bannon (who later wrote the screenplay for Alien) was slated do the special effects.

Jodorowsky envisioned an eclectic all star cast that would include David Carradine, Orson Welles Mick Jagger and Salvador Dali. He wanted to feature music by Pink Floyd and other rock bands in the film, with different artists writing music for the different characters and planets featured in the story. The film features interviews with Jodorowsky, as well as some of the other crew members who worked on the project. You also get to view concept drawings, production art and costume designs for the movie. It’s clear that Jodorowsky was deeply passionate about the project, and what he hoped to achieve with it. He inspired that same dedication in the people who worked on the pre-production process with him. This movie would have been an out of this world, truly visionary piece of work, unlike any other science-fiction film produced up to that time.

Jodorowsky also came up with a massive book that featured the storyboards and designs for the film, along with its screenplay. He and his partners went to all the major studios to pitch the film. Sadly, no one wanted to co-produce or co-finance the film at the time. Most people who listened to his proposal lauded his unique vision, but thought the film would be impossible to make the way Jodorowsky envisioned it. Maybe the world just wasn’t ready for such a unique movie back then. As you know, Dune was eventually adapted for the big-screen in 1984, in a version directed by David Lynch. That movie was lambasted by critics and ended up a box office failure. Jodorowsky briefly touches upon his reaction to seeing Lynch's movie during his interview in the film.

 

While Jodorowsky’s version of Herbert's novel was never produced, you can tell that the experience of working on it left a lasting impression on his colleagues. The final portion of the movie details some of the amazing work that artists like Giger, Foss, O’Bannon and others worked so hard to create. There are also clips from some of the classic films that were later made by some of these talented people, or influenced by them and their unique visions of the future. Those memorable movies include Alien, Blade Runner and the original Star Wars. This is an engrossing story about the creative process, and the enthusiasm that true artists have for their work.  Jodorowsky’s Dune is now available on Blu-ray, DVD and various download/streaming sites. Here’s a link to the film’s trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jg4OCeSTL08.

"Strange New Worlds" Evokes Classic Trek

It may be hard for a younger generation of Star Trek fans to understand, but there was a time in the pre-cable and pre-internet streaming days when the only episodes of Trek that you could see were syndicated reruns of the original 1966-69 series. I grew up watching those rebroadcasts of the show on New York's WPIX, and quickly became a fan of the show. The original series built a devoted following around the world via those reruns, and a legion of fans clamored for more Star Trek. An animated version of the show aired on NBC from 1973-75, and in 1979, Star Trek: The Motion Picture, a big screen adventure reuniting the original cast, was released, leading to a string of follow-ups. Then in 1987, Trek returned to television with Star Trek: The Next Generation, a sequel set 100 years after the original show. The Next Generation was followed by a number of other new series, including the most recent addition to the Star Trek universe, Strange New Worlds, which currently airs on Paramount+.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds is a prequel to the original Star Trek, featuring the adventures of Captain Christopher Pike and his crew. In Trek lore, Pike commanded the USS Enterprise just prior to Captain James T. Kirk. The character was first featured in "The Cage," the pilot for the original series, where he was played by Jeffery Hunter. When NBC passed on "The Cage," a second pilot. "Where No Man Has Gone Before," was produced, this time starring William Shatner as Captain Kirk, and, of course, the rest is history. Footage from "The Cage" was later incorporated into the two-part Star Trek episode entitled "The Menagerie." The character of Captain Pike, along with a younger version of Mr. Spock, recently appeared in the second season of Star Trek: Discovery, a show that was initially set in the time just before the original Star Trek. The response to the new versions of these characters was extremely positive, so they were spun off into their own series.

Strange New Worlds features self-contained adventures in each episode, rather than the season long stories that have been the norm for recent spinoffs such as Star Trek: Discovery and Star Trek: Picard. There are arcs for the main characters, however, and it will be interesting to see them developed as the series goes on, especially Pike's knowledge of his ultimate fate, which he learned in a Discovery episode. Based on the two episodes of Strange New Worlds aired so far, the writers, directors and cast are making a concerted effort to capture the essence of Classic Trek. In the pilot episode, Captain Pike gets to make a speech that wouldn't have sounded out of place in an original series tale. The writers are deftly using science-fiction as a platform to explore themes that reflect current issues, just as Gene Roddenberry and his writers did on the original series, while also having a blast playing in the sandbox of the Classic Trek era. In a way, the writers (including series co-creator Akiva Goldsman) have to perform a difficult balancing act, paying homage to the show's history, while telling exciting and interesting stories that aren't fully shackled by many years of Star Trek continuity. The weight of such a vast canon can be a daunting prospect, but thus far the writers have done an excellent job capturing the vibe of classic Trek, while also telling compelling new stories.

This is an enjoyably retro series with a terrific cast, including Anson Mount as Captain Pike, Ethan Peck as Spock and Rebecca Romjin as Number One. Mount is fantastic as Pike, capturing the essence of classic era captains like Kirk, while giving the character added nuance, and a welcome sense of humor. Peck and Romjin are also excellent in their roles, and Peck in particular has a tough job, given the iconic nature of Mr. Spock. There are also new versions of other familiar characters, including a younger iteration of Uhura, portrayed by Celia Rose Gooding, in the role played by Nichelle Nichols on the original series. The show is filled with Easter eggs, call-backs and visual references for long-time fans. In the two episodes that have been aired so far, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds has managed to capture the sense of fun, adventure and thoughtful drama that are the hallmarks of the best Trek stories. This could turn out to be the best Trek series since Deep Space Nine, one of my favorites. If you're a fan, it's absolutely worth checking out. Check out the trailer for Star Trek: Strange New Worlds by following this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XL4iCAB6MFo.

Nick Piunti's Got a Lot of "Heart"

When I reviewed Nick Piunti & The Complicated Men’s 2020 release, Downtime, for the music blog CultureSonar, I indicated he just might be power pop’s best kept secret. I hope a whole new group of fans discovered Nick’s music after checking out that terrific album, because he and the band are back with a superb new record, Heart Inside Your Head. This fabulous disc is a must listen for fans of well-crafted, melodic rock and roll. Heart Inside Your Head is an outstanding collection of songs that will have strong appeal for fans of 1980s style pop, rock and roll and old school power pop. 

Do you dig The Outfield, Dwight Twilley, Tom Petty, or Bryan Adams? You’ll hear echoes of these artists in Piunti’s splendid songs, which are hook-filled confections that will absolutely get stuck in your head. From the propulsive opening track “My Mind (Plays Tricks On Me)" to the guitar-propelled “Trying Too Hard,” and “One of The Boyz,” the tunes on Heart Inside Your Head are perfect examples of first-class pop/rock songwriting. In addition to the more rocking selections, the album also features some introspective ballads, including the superlative “Nothing New” and “Gloves Come Off” as well as one of my favorites, the lovely “Keys To Your Heart."

Piunti’s terrific lead vocals and guitar and synth work are backed up by the supremely-talented Complicated Men: Jeff Hupp on bass, Kevin Darnall on keyboards, Jeff Daksiewicz on guitar and Ron Vensko on drums and percussion. Piunti and the band are all longtime veterans of the Detroit rock and roll scene, and their top notch musical chops shine through on every track. Heart Inside Your Head was produced by Geoff Michael, along with Nick Piunti and the band, and their fine work behind the boards provides the album with that classic 1980s pop/rock sound, while also imbuing with a modern sensibility.

Heart Inside Your Head, which will be officially released by JEM Records on May 20th, is an exceptional record that deserves the attention of rock and roll and power pop fans everywhere. It’s obvious from the unbridled enthusiasm displayed by the band on this disc that Nick Piunti & The Complicated Men enjoy playing together, and that joy is truly infectious. This album has a lot of emotion embedded in its grooves, and its fully evident on these heartfelt songs.  Do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of this marvelous record. To find out more about Nick Piunti & The Complicated Men, please check out: www.jemrecordings.com or www.nickpiunti.com.