Permutation City Blog

Set in a dark universe this visually rich film follows Paul Atreides as he is buffeted by the battles between of two ancient and great houses. This film was my introduction to the universe of Frank Herbert. The blend of high science and a complex entrenched social structure seems incongruous but works.

As a follower of Hayao Miyazaki this film was something of a disappointment. It has a style familiar from his other films and the details you would expect from him are there. However the the plot is confused and detracts from what is otherwise a likeable film. You can still enjoy the film but the book is better. After watching it a few times I noticed the plot makes more sense if you pay very close attention. I can enjoy this film but I still wish it had been better.

After my disappointment with the film it was wonderful to read the book. All the same characters were there but this time the story made sense.

My interest in Hayao films started with Laputa: Castle in the Sky many years ago. More recently, in order to get Laputa it was neccessary to buy the full set and it was well worth it. Although many of his films deal with the fantastic they can also give a surprising look onto real life. He is not afraid to deal with complex issues and feels animation is a perfectly suitable medium. His films are definitely not just for kids.

Coming from the film this book seemed overly complex and was a chore to read. Perhaps I am disparaging a great novel but it never generated the enthusiasm to read any of the subsequent books.