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They soared, all of them!
First and foremost I just loved it. I can't really discuss it objectively, because when I love something, I tend to look on everything favourably. It's the same with Buffy - there is very, very little that I actually dislike. I can even find good things in AYW! But since Darcy is more critical (very much so - he's something of a perfectionist when it comes to these things. But then he does want to make films himself, so that's the way he looks at stuff)I'll first put in a bit of critique via him (since I mostly agree with it):
He thought the second half better than the first, since the pace was faster. And he was disappointed that Book didn't get more screentime, since it was hard to care about his death just from what we saw. The soundtrack he found uninspired (but then he's a musician and has very high standards). (Actually I came out of the cinema with the tune for the Scotland advert in my head. And they didn't even show it! But that's strong associations for you!) What else... he was a bit disappointed that it wasn't as funny as Firefly. Overall though he really liked it. Oh - and when I mentioned
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sdwolfpup's theory that Book used to be an Operative, he looked at me like I was an idiot and said "Well - duh!! That's not a theory, it's fact!"But onto my thoughts:
I loved the plot! It all made wonderful sense and I'm so glad we found out where the Reavers came from. Not to mention the reason why the Alliance wanted River back. And Joss really, really likes strong little women, doesn't he? Although why does he love River's feet so much? Does anyone know?
The Operative was excellent! Very twisted, but with his own warped sense of honour. Will come back to him later.
Wash! *cries* He killed Wash! I'll never look at leaves the same way again. But it was done very well - it all happened so fast, that just like Zoe I didn't have time to grieve until later. And Zoe reminded me very much of Willow actually ("I owe you PAIN!"). She really set out to get herself killed, avenging Wash's death. (And yes, there was a moment when I thought that they were all going to die!)
The moment when Wash's death really hit was actually at the very end, when Mal and River were piloting and the camera moved back to show the little dinosaurs. I also found it a wonderful way to bookend the whole thing - tying it in with the start of Firefly. Yet another shout-out. *sniffle*
What I found most interesting about the whole thing, though, was the centrality of belief. The Operative is especially dangerous because he believes in his cause. And the reason Mal is so disconnected is that he lost what he believed in. Only by the end of the film he has found that purpose again. It's even mentioned it the conversation between Book and Mal - the importance of belief. And Book says that he doesn't just mean it in a religious way.
I loved that Mal didn't kill The Operative, but instead did something much more devastating - he took away his reason to fight. As he (The Operative) said at the end, there was nothing left. (Very Angelus of Mal actually). I just think this is all very interesting, coming from an atheist.
I think that's all for now. I hope I didn't muddle things up too much. (I'm writing with a baby in my arm, so I've tried to be as brief as possible.
Oh and does anyone have any really good reviews/analysises(?)/posts they could link me to?
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Supposedly it's it's to convey a sense of otherworldly grace, yada yada. I just think he has a thing for Summer's feet. ;)
Darcy didn't think it was funny? The theaters I saw it with (all three times) spent a good deal of the movie cracking up.
evemac and hecatehatesthat both wrote interesting reviews, which you can find here:
http://www.livejournal.com/users/evemac/238058.html
http://www.livejournal.com/users/hecatehatesthat/153248.html
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Hee! That's what I thought too!
Darcy didn't think it was funny?
Well, not as funny as Firefly. Which makes sense of course.
And thank you so much for the recs! :)
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(Some familiar screen names from lj amongst them.)
I loved it too. I'd been spoiled about Wash, but even so it was devastating. My younger daughter sniffled from that point to the end of the film.
So very Joss - all about responsibility, belief, power and what it means. Beautiful. Everyone should see it. It should get Oscars. But it won't. ::sniffs::
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And I'm SO glad I wasn't spoilt about Wash... I would have been sat there wondering when he was going to die. *sniff*
It should get Oscars. But it won't.
Remember that they gave Titanic 11! Not really known for the best taste. *sigh* (At least LotR beat that record! Yay!)
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The second link is more spontaneous - the rest are mostly newspapers and such.
Remember that they gave Titanic 11! Not really known for the best taste. *sigh* (At least LotR beat that record! Yay!)
Yup. I really would have cried if Jackson hadn't got Best Director. I wanted McKellen to win something, though - I idolise him as an actor.
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And McKellan was *perfect* as Gandalf. He really should have won something. Although if I remember rightly, not a lot (if any) of the actors were nominated. I guess that's the problem with a big cast.
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McKellen is *perfect* in everything. I saw him as Dr Faustus when I was still in my teens. Perfect. Coriolanus in the 80s. Perfect. Oh, and I talked to him about that one!
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Strange how one gets addicted to tiny little squares...
I talked to him about that one!
::turns green::
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Oh I'm so glad. :)
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My favorite review so far is this one by
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And thanks for the link. Will certainly check it out.
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So did I, but...
He thought the second half better than the first, since the pace was faster.
I've seen it twice now and I'm inclined to agree. Trouble was Joss needed to establish the characters for people that hadn't seen the TV series so I can see why the pace had to be a bit slower at the beginning.
The soundtrack he found uninspired (but then he's a musician and has very high standards).
I didn't ask J what he thought of the soundtrack (he's a musician too) but I was a little disappointed in it. I was hoping for something a little more rousing.
Wash! *cries* He killed Wash! I'll never look at leaves the same way again.
I was spoiled for it (except I'd already guessed that Joss would do it) and it still shocked me. Joss just can't leave a happy couple happy...
As he (The Operative) said at the end, there was nothing left. (Very Angelus of Mal actually).
Good point!
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Oh yes, but Darcy of course was working out ways this could have been done more efficiently!
I was hoping for something a little more rousing.
Yeah, me too. Something more hummable.
Joss just can't leave a happy couple happy...
Hmm, at least Kaylee and Simon finally hooked up.
Good point!
Thanks. The destruction of a human being... although Mal of course didn't do it for fun!
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So did I! The first time I saw it, I leaned over and whispered to Jim, "There's not going to be anyone left to make a sequel with!"
Wash. ::sniffs::
It's interesting how much religion sneaks its way into Joss's works considering that he's an atheist. Also, he seems to have found a new recurrent theme: Conviction. Redemption is a theme that he's dealt with often enough, but conviction seems to be emerging as a close second. The Operative was all about conviction. So was alot of AtS S5. You can even extend it to include Caleb from BtVS S7 (which makes for nice symmetry given who played him).
So many levels to the Jossness.
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I kept telling myself: "He has to leave someone alive! Right?"
Wash. ::sniffs::
I think I might look around for a Wash banner...
Conviction
Ah yes! And I hadn't thought of Caleb! My favourite thought on this is actually what someone pointed out in
So many levels to the Jossness.
Which is why we love him so!
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But yea, I'm at the same point. I can't really view the movie objectively. And really? I don't know if I want to. I'm too happily in love to break it now.
Right on with your Operative thoughts. Joss did a fanastic job at scripting that character. The conflicting grayness abounds. Just a great portrayal for a movie's supposed villain.
And yup, I think it's official. Almost everyone said they thought they were all going to die after Wash. So anyone who says Wash's death was gratitutious is nuts! Joss got exactly the effect he wanted...
I just think this is all very interesting, coming from an atheist.
Yea, I know. I had the same thought watching it. Very interesting indeed...
And the dinos! WASH!! I loved seeing the dinos in the beginning, but the end there, making sure they were in that last scene, alittle piece of Wash was still there in on that bridge. And yup, that warranted bunches of tears.
I've got some great reviews and analysis stuff I've found but I gotta run. I'll link them for you later....
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Nilly's Serenity Review I'm sure is fantastic. I haven't gotten a chance to read yet, but she did excellent reviews for all the FF eps and I'm sure this one is no different.
Media Reviews:
Orson Scott Card wrote a review that just makes me grin like an idiot everytime I read it.
A Film Review by Peter Suderman
Since I Found Serenity
LJ Reviews/Analyses:
Serenity and Religion
A Big Damn Essay
Whedon and the Garden of Good and Evil
Small Thoughts
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Me too! I was thinking (sometime before seeing the movie) that I'd lve an animated icon of the 'slinky dress' scene (from 'Shindig'), but now all I can think of is that Zoe wore a slinky dress for the funeral. *cries*
So glad I avoided any and all spoilers!
Me too! :)
I'm too happily in love to break it now.
Hee! Me too! Me too!
Just a great portrayal for a movie's supposed villain.
Much more intersting than what's-his-name who tortured/killed Mal and Wash.
Joss got exactly the effect he wanted...
Yup - on one's ever safe in his 'verse! *sigh*
Very interesting indeed...
I'd *love* to talk to him about that. Not going to happen, I know, but how I wish...
a little piece of Wash was still there in on that bridge
Wah! I can't look at this icon anymore without getting sad again...
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It would be intersting to see how The Operative copes... would he become bitter like Mal? Find Faith like Book? We'll never know. *sigh*
about what he was probably like in wartime
I loved how determined he suddenly became once he had an actual purpose. Like Spike in some ways I guess.
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Yes, like you too I cried about Wash. However, I was perhaps a little less forgiving. I just got sick of the fact that Joss asks us to invest all this thought and consideration and caring into characters and then kills them off.
However, on the other side of that, going to see it with K and another friend, K really thought that they weren’t going to make it – he was really questioning if the message was going to get through, so perhaps, for those of us not weary with the amount of dying in the Jossverse, it worked. I agree too that Book’s death, in the context of the film, was somewhat lessened.
I agree with Darcy ;)
I think Joss has a certain fixation with turning River into a Slayer – yes it was certainly a neat way of tying things up, but I’m not sure if it brought something new to his oeuvre. Hmmmmm.
I did really enjoy it though – and I also *wanted* to enjoy it, which made me hypersensitive. The Reavers plot was amazing, and so scary and believable, because it could really happen (and probably is).
I’m not sure about reviews...If you have time, perhaps a quick squizz through
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Really? It was mostly just vague thoughts. ;)
However, I was perhaps a little less forgiving.
Well, it's Joss. It's what he does. I was desperately hoping that after Book there wouldn't be any more major character deaths, but I wasn't in the least surprised when he *did* kill Wash. (I was surprised of course, but I was prepared for any or all to die. It's just how it works.) I also really liked this essay.
I agree with Darcy ;)
He's a very sensible man, so that's fine!
I'm not sure if it brought something new to his oeuvre
I think what we saw was a condensed version of River (and Mal's) arch for S1 and S2.
I also *wanted* to enjoy it, which made me hypersensitive
It made me just sit back and enjoy, ready to love it all! Funny how these things work.
The Reavers plot was amazing
::nods:: I was *so glad* that it was all explained and that it made sense as well as being a very strong argument against trying to 'fix' people (/meddling governments etc).
I have plenty to read, so no worries! :)