If not for my son I would not have bothered with the minis---- I tried to read the book years ago because my brother loved stuff like that (Tolkien too). It was just too dense for me at the time. The earlier filmed version makes me squirm, though Sting still cracks me up in his over-the-top-and-back-again role.
I found myself VERY able to follow the convoluted plots in both series. The relationship between Paul Atreides and his little sister Alia put me in mind of Barnabas's with Sarah--- [spoiler]and it ends up just as tragically, though in this case due to what happens because Alia lives to grow up.
I was kind of ticked that Paul couldn't let himself get emotionally involved with his bride, though she turned out to be quite noble in the end.
And yeah, granted the closeness of the twins is uncomfortable, but one assumes that's because they were never allowed to mingle with outsiders, and their mystical heritage.[/spoiler] It's a mystical sci-fi fantasy, after all. Like DS, one doesn't expect too much everyday natural behavior from the characters.
Upon the whole, I should say it's worthwhile---- certainly as much or more than, say, TAKEN
