Well, at least you can follow it . . . mostly.
The Sci-Fi Channel’s six-hour mini-series “Frank Herbert’s Dune” escapes the sand trap that enveloped director David Lynch’s woefully incomprehensible 1984 feature, which many say is as muddled as the author’s science-fiction classic is dense.
And even if Sunday’s first installment is a little confusing, things get easier in parts two and three, resulting in a rich, visual stunner that tells the timeless story of a young man’s coming of age, and the oppressed’s struggle for fairness.
To be fair, Lynch needed more than two hours to fully capture the tale of the dusty planet where giant sand worms roam, and the consciousness-altering, life-enhancing space travel fuel Spice is mined.
Writer/director John Harrison takes advantage of the extra time, wisely using a combination of lavish special effects and some decent acting.
Sunday’s premiere (the series runs through Tuesday at 8 p.m.) is the slowest of the three nights, but that’s so it can set up the players.
Chief among them are Duke Leto (William Hurt), who oversees production of Spice on the desert planet Arrakis. He is accompanied by his headstrong son Paul (Alec Newman) and Paul’s mystical mother Jessica (Saskia Reeves).
As is usually the case when a powerful substance is desired for controlling others, a class struggle puts Paul in the middle of a major conflict, where his life-altering adventure coincides with the planet’s fate.
Here’s some advice: Stick with part one, and pay close attention. Part two is simpler as Paul begins his transformation from brash pup to a leader. It all leads up to an action-packed conclusion that, as it turns out, is only the beginning: Sci-Fi has already commissioned Harrison for a follow-up.
Sunday
Christina Aguilera stars in a new ABC special at 7 p.m. on WLS-Ch. 7.
TLC presents the three-hour “Unwrapped: The Mysterious World of Mummies” at 7 p.m. with a history and technique of mummification, as well as the attraction and secrets of the wrapped-up.
HBO reruns “The Sopranos” with two episodes at 7 and 8 p.m. The third season of the hit gangster family drama doesn’t start until March.
The dangerous world of backyard wrestling, where teens stage shows to emulate the moves of their favorite heroes and villains, is explored on MTV’s “True Life” at 7 p.m.
Robbie, son of a certain glowing-beaked reindeer, seeks to reclaim his birthright in a new Fox Family Channel animated feature at 7 p.m. Meanwhile, check out Big Poppa on CBS this Tuesday: the classic “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” at 7 p.m. on WBBM-Ch. 2.
Looking like one of those gritty independent films, NBC’s “In His Life: the John Lennon Story,” at 8 p.m. on WMAQ-Ch. 5, features Irish actor/musician Phillip McQuillan in a not-too-bad performance as a slightly huskier John.
Oddly, the movie ends with the Beatles getting the nod to appear on “The Ed Sullivan Show” in 1963, rather than covering Lennon’s life leading up to his 1980 murder.
Scott Bakula is head of an Appalachian family struggling to keep it together in CBS’ “Papa’s Angels: A Christmas Story” at 8 p.m. on WBBM-Ch. 2.
Here’s a holiday cheerer-upper: “101 Things to Do Before You Die,” a Travel Channel special on fantasy destinations and wish fulfillments, like hitting a golf ball in the Grand Canyon and driving the world’s fastest car. It premieres at 8 p.m.
Monday
The Game Show Network’s “DJ Games” is a new weekday series at 9:30 p.m., where disc jockeys around the country reveal silly tricks, antics and stunts.
It’s an evening of music on WTTW-Ch. 11, with jazz singer-guitarist George Benson at 5:30 p.m. and later, the legendary Paul McCartney at 8:45 p.m.
The Disney Channel goes behind the new Disney animated feature “The Emperor’s New Groove,” which is set for release Dec. 15. The special is at 6 p.m.
The original animated classic “Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas” is on Cartoon Network at 6 p.m. Another beloved holiday cartoon, “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” appears on CBS at 7 p.m. on WBBM-Ch. 2.
NBC’s lusty soap opera “Titans” moves to Monday at 7 p.m. on WMAQ-Ch. 5.
Taking “Titans”‘ 7 p.m. Wednesday slot later this week is the wry comedy-drama “Ed.”
CBS captures Tina Turner in what she says is her last performance tour, at 9 p.m. on WBBM-Ch. 2.
Tuesday
Faith Hill, ‘NSync and Ricky Martin are set to perform, and Britney Spears, Vertical Horizon and Jessica Simpson are also scheduled to show up, on the 2000 Billboard Music Awards. Fox’s live presentation starts at 7 p.m. on WFLD-Ch. 32.
“Mr. Wroe’s Virgins,” an award-winning 1993 British mini-series starring Minnie Driver and Jonathan Pryce about the real-life head of a 19th Century religious cult, airs on four consecutive Tuesdays at 8 p.m. on the Sundance Channel.
Jim Belushi returns as the owner of fictional television network LGT on Showtime’s “Beggars and Choosers” at 9 p.m.
Court TV’s new reality series “Brooklyn North Homicide Squad” takes aim at the detectives of one of the busiest cop shops in the country. Its three-part premiere is at 9 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday. “NYPD Blues”‘ James McDaniel narrates.
The creepy series of “Fly” movies, from the 1958 original to its 1986 remake, is an American Movie Classics documentary at 9 p.m.
Wednesday
Robert Smigel, creator of “Saturday Night Live’s” “The Ambiguously Gay Duo” and “Late Night with Conan O’Brien’s” Triumph the Insult Comic Dog, is behind “TV Funhouse,” a kids show for adults with shorts, cartoons and puppets. It premieres on Comedy Central at 9:30 p.m.
Thursday
Among the selections scheduled for the block on Fox’s “The Ultimate Auction” (at 7 p.m. on WFLD-Ch. 32) is Princess Diana’s Swan Lake diamond-and-pearl jewelry set. Don’t be surprised to see bidding by one of the host, Duchess of York Sarah Ferguson.
ABC’s “Shooting War” deals with a different type of shooter: cameramen who took pictures during World War II. The two-hour documentary is at 8 p.m. on WLS-Ch. 7.
Friday
A modern-day version of Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Little Mermaid” — without the mermaid part — Showtime’s “The Princess and the Barrio Boy” stars Chicagoan Marisol Nichols of “Resurrection Blvd.” as a conflicted young swimmer dealing with life after the death of her mother. It premieres at 7 p.m.
ABC has a new series at 7:30 p.m. (on WLS-Ch. 7): “Dot Comedy,” based on a British show spoofing things Internet-related, including short films and Web sites.
Saturday
Dennis Miller hosts Fox’s “GQ’s Men of the Year Awards,” with profiles of winners Pierce Brosnan, Shaquille O’Neal and Matthew Perry, among others. It’s at 7 p.m. on WFLD-Ch. 32.
Wesley Snipes’ plain-thinking construction worker and Sanaa Lathan’s aspiring singer/songwriter make our hearts soar and sink in author Terry McMillian’s soulful, bittersweet love story “Disappearing Acts” on HBO at 8 p.m.
“Tora, Tora, Tora: The Real Story of Pearl Harbor,” deals with America’s motivation into World War II from both American and Japanese perspectives. Aided by archival footage and computer-generated graphics, it airs at 8 p.m. on the History Channel.
