elisi: Edwin holding a tiny snowman (Serenity by eyesthatslay)
elisi ([personal profile] elisi) wrote2005-10-26 11:04 am
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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 [livejournal.com profile] 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?
gillo: (Not to be trifled with)

[personal profile] gillo 2005-10-26 07:46 pm (UTC)(link)
Yes, that one's cool too. Oh, teh wonderful world of icon accumulation!

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!
gillo: (Ian McKellen rocks)

[personal profile] gillo 2005-10-27 11:32 am (UTC)(link)
I went on a two-day course on Coriolanus put on by the National Theatre. The second day was at Goldsmith's College, and involved an assistant director and some backstage folks. And then Sir Ian (not yet a knight then) turned up and was so charming and lovely, and talked to us for over two hours, though he was only supposed to stay for one. Mostly about Coriolanus, which he was then playing, but also about acting as a profession, and what it takes to play Hamlet and loads of other things. He was so sweet.