Serenity Reviews by Zarquon

GENERAL DISCUSSIONS

Serenity Reviews

POSTED BY: ZARQUON
UPDATED: Friday, December 17, 2004 15:33
SHORT URL:
VIEWED: 8215
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Tuesday, December 14, 2004 11:23 PM

There are a few reviews from folks who've seen the current ruff cut of the BDM over at Ain't it Cool News. Even big praises from someone who was never really a Joss fan, and never even seen Firefly. Needless to say he's seen the light now.

http://www.aintitcoolnews.com/display.cgi?id=18992

Also a bit on a possible write and direct for Wonder Woman by our main man.

http://www.aintitcoolnews.com/display.cgi?id=18989

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Wednesday, December 15, 2004 1:15 AM

ZOID

ATTENTION:

The reviews are spoilerish; but the best news I've heard since Firefly was cancelled. Just don't bother with the f*ckwit comments at the bottom of the page, unless you're fond of schiesse... One guy called "JOsh" an asshole and a "fag" (inexpertly modified with an adjective based on the word 'c*ck'). I ain't going back to get his exact quote, because the commentator clearly has some issues he's trying to work through. Besides which, just reading the comments lowered my IQ 10 points...

The executive summary of the reviews: People loved it ("cheering... outright screams") and we can start thinking more movies -- and Oscars -- now.

v/r,
-zed

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Wednesday, December 15, 2004 1:39 AM

HUITZIL

he he, people got here before me! I was just over at AICN reading the reviews and now my eyes are bleeding with glee!

can i last til september-or-whenever-it-comes-out-ever-here?! I may go a leetle craisie.

___________
the turtle and the wolf are natural enemies

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Wednesday, December 15, 2004 1:50 AM

TRASK43

So good to see all the positive reviews lets hope they continue, though avoiding spoilers for nine months is gonna prove to be quite a challenge.

www.summer-glau.com

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Wednesday, December 15, 2004 2:39 AM

PURPLEBELLY

Preview audiences sounds almost as scary as Convention attendees. Perhaps I should stay in Europe

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Wednesday, December 15, 2004 3:33 AM

ANOTHERFIREFLYFAN

Can someone copy and paste it, removing all the spoilery parts? I want to read what they have to say.. but don't want to ruin the plot at all. (I would kill myself if I was reading along and then suddenly "And when the reavers kill Mal...." or "When it turns out Book is actually Shan Yu..." or something like that comes up. :P)

So... someone... please?

~AFf

Keep flying

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Wednesday, December 15, 2004 3:46 AM

UNCHARTEDOUTLAW

Heehee! Heehee! Oh if my eyes could be huge like some superdeformed anime character, then that would express my excitement over what I just read! Little bummed by the toning down of the Westernness of the movie, but I'll live.

-Taylor

The Uncharted Outlaw!
"You can get a lot further with a kind word and a gun than you can with just a kind word."
See my Firefly Store: http://www.cafepress.com/NorCalRiviera

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Wednesday, December 15, 2004 3:55 AM

BROWNCOAT1

May have been the losing side. Still not convinced it was the wrong one.

Great reviews!

I don't pay much attention to what the crude and inarticulate had to say at the bottom of Herc's review, and I would suggest that the rest of you ignore them as well. Obviously there are some disillusioned Star Trek and Star Wars fans that troll that site.

We of course will have the last and longest laugh when this cinematic gem hits the big screen in September, surpasses 'Versal's wildest dreams of box office numbers, and receives several nominations at the various award shows. Then of course there will be the sequels.

Ours will be an evil (but well deserved) laugh.

Keep Flyin' Browncoats.

__________________________________________

"May have been the losing side. Still not convinced it was the wrong one."

Richmond, VA & surrounding area Firefly Meet Up:
http://firefly.meetup.com/9/boards/

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Wednesday, December 15, 2004 4:25 AM

STRAYBAT

Quote:
Originally posted by AnotherFireflyfan:
Can someone copy and paste it, removing all the spoilery parts? I want to read what they have to say.. but don't want to ruin the plot at all. (I would kill myself if I was reading along and then suddenly "And when the reavers kill Mal...." or "When it turns out Book is actually Shan Yu..." or something like that comes up. :P)

To be completely honest, it's not really worth doing that. The spoilers are minor (but are still spoilers) & the reviews fairly brief. If you're worried about spoilers of the type you mentioned - well - there's none of them - but it might spoil some surprises about River, depending on what you've already read about the film.

All you need to know about the reviews:
Three reviews (including Herc's) two from fans, one from a non-fan, and a fairly Joss-indifferent character. All reviews are very positive, verging towards the ecstatic. Which, considering it's a rough cut with many unfinished effects, sounds good to me...

As for the talk-backs - this is standard AICN stuff.

Example: 10 ecstatic reviews of move 'X' will likely generate 'X WILL SUCK, [director of X] [some anatomically impossible insult], HARRY IS A [a (possibly) different anatomically impossible insult]'

Every time I read the talkback on AICN, I remember why I previously vowed never to read it again...

Stray

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Wednesday, December 15, 2004 5:05 AM

STATIC

Believe it or not. . .I'm actually GLAD to hear the 'pure western' element was toned down a bit for the movie...and before you start burning me in effigy, let me explain. . .

I want this movie to make millions upon millions of dollars. I want it to make Universal SO MUCH MONEY that the short-sighted money-grubbing f*cksticks at FOX will get the cartoony dollar-sign eyeballs and sell the TV rights to 'Versal, so's it can get on TV again.

I think Joss can keep it 'rustic' without being TOO 'western' and that will help avoid losing some of the more mainstream audience. You gotta remember. . .there's gonna be ALOT of folks who show up for this movie just because they can't BELIEVE "Johnny" from "2 Guys, A Girl and A Pizza Place" is in a real MOVIE.

So I'm stoked. These reviews are only fueling the fire for me. I wanna see Summer Glau as an ass-kicking bitch!

==================================================
"Wash. . .we got some local color happening. A grand entrance would not go amiss."

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Wednesday, December 15, 2004 5:23 AM

GOJIRO

Ignore the comments by the small-minded twits. They are all either jealous of Joss's success, or stupid little jerks wanting to act tough.

The reviews are great. The only thing I take exception to is Herc's saying that our BDH's are all "Han-Solo caliber." Han is a great character, but I think our gang is ten times better.

These reviews have gotten me more pumped about Serenity than ever. Wish I could have been there to see the screening myself!

-------
Are you a Southern Ohio Browncoat? If so, join our Yahoo group for news and events: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/firefly-ohio/

And if you're a Cincinnati Area Browncoat, join our meetup group at http://firefly.meetup.com/137/

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Wednesday, December 15, 2004 5:25 AM

CYBERSNARK

This is indeed very shiny news. Just awesome.

Quote:
Originally posted by huitzil:
my eyes are bleeding with glee!

*notices unattended brain-melter on the ground*

Huh. Wondered where I left that. Sorry.

-----
We applied the cortical electrodes but were unable to get a neural reaction from either patient.

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Wednesday, December 15, 2004 5:26 AM

BERNADETTE

WOW, WOW, WOW.

OK, I don't need to read another review.
It is glorious news!!!

Bernie

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Wednesday, December 15, 2004 5:36 AM

TOMANTA

I have NEVER understood why AINC is so popular. The 'news' is often amateurish and hardley ever well written (I'd expect much more from a website that's been around this long) and the fanbase has to be the bottom rung of the internet. Rather, they can't even REACH the bottom rung if they had a stepladder.

That being said, I do occassionally check out links there (and did this one). Sometimes I'm not dissappointed. This time, though, I wasn't overly excited by what they had to say. It's good, yes, that they enjoyed the film. But they don't really tell me more than I already know... I'd like to know from someone who has never even heard of Joss Whedon what they think. I'd like to know from someone who doesn't normally LIKE Sci-fi what THEY think.

Oh, and there IS something that could be considered a major spoiler [if you don't want to know how the movie begins]. I would have rather avoided it, but not overly upset about reading it.

"FOX! Where the shit hits the fans." - Tim Minear

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Wednesday, December 15, 2004 6:37 AM

CORNCOBB

I just read the review and... well... 'I'll be in my bunk'. WOW!

"Gorramit Mal... I've forgotten my line."

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Wednesday, December 15, 2004 7:00 AM

YANKSNO1

This is fantastic news. I'm going to tell my friends and family to go see this movie. I really liked the TV show and love Joss, so this is great news. Hopefully it's enough to get him in the X3 director's chair!

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Wednesday, December 15, 2004 7:06 AM

BLINKER

Quote:
Originally posted by AnotherFireflyfan:
Can someone copy and paste it, removing all the spoilery parts?

I'll give it a shot...

Nonspoilery Version

The version of “Serenity” that screened in Chatsworth Tuesday evening isn’t quite the movie we’ll be seeing next fall. The music was temporary and the special effects were only about half-baked, with Adam Baldwin hanging off wires and many spaceships lurching about without texture and detail.

Still, in many ways the film is already a great antidote for those of us so terrifically bored by the “Star Wars” prequels. The lion’s share of my own disappointment with “The Phantom Menace” and “Attack of the Clones” can be traced to an absence of players as compelling and likeable as Han and Leia.

“Serenity,” by contrast, returns to “Firefly” fans better than half a dozen Solo-caliber characters to sink our teeth into: thuggish Jayne, heartsick Kaylee, conflicted Mal, aristocratic Inara, heroic Simon and damaged River. In addition, [spoilers deleted]

The new film is smart, romantic, moving, fast-paced, action-packed and, most crucially, one of the funniest films you’ll see next year. It’s certain to be a must-see for every “Firefly” fan, as it answers every question devotees may have harbored with regard to [spoilers deleted]

But Herc loving a new Joss Whedon project hardly warrents a headline, yes? The better news is that "Serenity" is garnering raves from others who caught the screening, like “The Scientist”:

Hey Herc! The Scientist here with a quick review of Serenity, although I suspect that you'll be sending a review as well since I saw you at the screening. I tried to stay impartial throughout the viewing of the movie since I'm an unabashed lover of the show and think that Objects in Space is one of the finest hours to ever air on the small screen. That being said, I'll try to break down my review for two audiences: the newbies and the oldbies.

Non-Firefly viewers: First, if you've never seen the show before, the movie does a fantastic job of establishing all of the characters over again so you don't have to worry about coming in unprepared. Also, the more overt western aspects of the show have been tremendously tamed down, so it plays more straight-forward in a scifi universe, but all without losing the grittiness and rawness that made the worlds on the show so special. It's extremely funny, almost always surprising, and kick-ass. I especially think that those of you who like operatic martial arts films will enjoy the choreographed fights that appear now and then. Just wait until you see the first trailer, cause I'm guessing you'll all flip.

Firefly droolers: [spoilers deleted] More shocks than you can shake a stick at! You can't take the sky from me! But seriously, when this thing gets through with all the post-prod. stuff, you're going to be peeing in your brown leather coats because it'll be like the clocks were rewound and you were in 2002 again. It's not perfect yet, mind you. I think that [spoilers deleted] and a couple of the new additions to the 'Verse are weak, but that's nitpicking the absolute blast I had seeing everybody again. Plus, there's some wicked gorram action that would have been way out of budget for the TV show.

The temp tracks and rough cg sometimes detracted from the film and the editing is still rough in spots, but this thing doesn't come out for over 8 months! The only other extremely early preview I've been this excited about was when I was much more wee and saw a super rough cut of Toy Story (Hey! That's another one Joss had his hand in.) Start getting excited everybody, this one's a winner!

The aptly-named “Happily Surprised” adds:

Tonight, in Chatsworth, CA, I think I stumbled across the geek Holy Grail. Upon the announcement of said Holy Grail, cheers erupted from the crowd… For what we were “the first audience ever” to view was… Serenity.

Since this has been the subject of much banter on this site and I’m sure there will be a million of other reviews, I’ll skip any other touching stories about the screening. But I will tell you that I am not a hardcore Joss Whedon fan. I’ve seen a handful of Buffy and Angel episodes (and enjoyed them) and I admire his dedication to his online fanbase, but I’ve never seen Firefly and I’ve never totally bowed down to him. No hard feelings, just haven’t been so totally familiar with him as to realize his genius.

My bad.

This movie rocked. While it seemed a tad too long, that just means more gold for the DVD. Anyway, I don’t even know what they could cut out because just about every scene kept the movie moving along. Before I contradict myself again, I’ll just get to the meat.

Whedon has created such incredible characters and dialogue in this movie. What has always struck me about most science fiction movies is that no one speaks normally, it’s almost as if space has stifled their sense of normalcy and rammed a giant stick up the characters’ asses. Well, as most of you will already know, Whedon can put his characters in the most unimaginable and incredible circumstances and still give them personalities, wit, and true emotion. It doesn’t sound like much, but between the dialogue, the characters, and the visuals (effects were unfinished, but you could tell what will be in store for the final product), I believe that he has really not just elevated the genre, but has transcended it.

The characters are as fleshed-out as most Whedon fans would probably expect, but I was not prepared for this. Nathan Fillion (a guy I ashamedly say I only really recognized from Two Guys A Girl and A Pizza Place) is a great addition to the heroes of the big screen. He’s the best Han Solo since… well… Han Solo. The rest of the cast, filled with people I kind of recognized, seemed so comfortable and so natural. Their rapport with each other was perfect. It really shows that they all spent time together on a TV show… albeit a short-lived one.

[spoilers deleted]

The audience was filled with old Whedon fans. And they seemed quite ecstatic about the whole thing. The cheers didn’t just erupt at the beginning, they were all throughout. There were actual screams at points. These would break out with little bits of dialogue from familiar characters, after the fight scenes, during space battles, at looks characters would give each other, and, of course, at the end. I’ll be happy to drag my uninitiated friends to this when it comes out and I just may feel like I’m a little more on the inside this time around. But no matter… it’s a great movie, none of this horseshit Steven Sommers-type popcorn movie, this is a great movie.

_________
Sliders: Gate Haven - http://slidersweb.net/blinker

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Wednesday, December 15, 2004 7:30 AM

JAKE7

This is great news!!

Even with it being in an unfinished state, people are going nuts about it!

I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE THIS MOVIE!!!

(ok, I'm officially whipped in to a frenzy now - and I have to wait!!! AUGH!)

--------------
MAL: Everybody's makin' a fuss.

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Wednesday, December 15, 2004 7:40 AM

CARDIE

There are a few more spoilers and some more details about the screening on whedonesque.com.

Cardie

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Wednesday, December 15, 2004 7:48 AM

FORRESTWOLF

Well, I'm definitely all teary-eyed over it. Wow. We just might have made it, folks. I'm thinking nice big trilogy coming up.

All right, wiping the eyes. Getting back to work. Wow...

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Wednesday, December 15, 2004 8:01 AM

SAZTRONIC

Quote:
Originally posted by gojiro: The only thing I take exception to is Herc's saying that our BDH's are all "Han-Solo caliber." Han is a great character, but I think our gang is ten times better.]]

Um, dude... I give you all the love, and I think Firefly is the best sci-fi TV series ever, and one of the better TV series period. But ten times better than Han Solo? Please.

I was six-years-old when I saw SW in the theater, first movie I ever saw. It changed movies and TV forever. Sure, the prequels have been dreck, but that don't change what SW was and is.

Remove your shoes, my son... you walk on holy ground.

Pain Don't Hurt

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Wednesday, December 15, 2004 8:31 AM

ZEEK

Um...so...great...now how do I get into one of these? Do I need to start an incredibly popular website with reviews of random stuff or something? Cause if that's what it takes I'll get to work now.

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Wednesday, December 15, 2004 9:26 AM

JILTEDTOO

When I saw the screener last night, I was amazed to see the characters I loved on the big screen. That being said I thought the film was amazing. Though I was sad when it ended because it really did feel like the end of Firefly. A final 'episode' to all the fans of this great shor lived show.

I missed the characters, and was happy to have the chance to visit with them again.

JT

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Wednesday, December 15, 2004 10:02 AM

LEXIBLOCK

Quote:
I was six-years-old when I saw SW in the theater, first movie I ever saw.

I was a bit older.

Quote:

It changed movies and TV forever.

Only because Lucas used the money to start a special effects company.

Quote:
Sure, the prequels have been dreck, but that don't change what SW was and is.

Yeah, a film for children that could excite children, Serenity is a film for adults, that excites adults, and that alone makes them 10 times, if not 20 times better.

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Wednesday, December 15, 2004 10:09 AM

PURPLEBELLY

Quote:
Originally posted by Jiltedtoo:
Though I was sad when it ended because it really did feel like the end of Firefly.

So, they do all die

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Wednesday, December 15, 2004 4:27 PM

ZOID

'Belly wrote:

Quote:
So, they do all die

PurpleBelly! (hushed) ...You'll scare the women!

v/r,
-zed

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Wednesday, December 15, 2004 11:13 PM

GRIMMA

I don't understand why the western part can be such a problem. Is it because in the US people think it's old-fashioned?

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Thursday, December 16, 2004 3:32 AM

STATIC

Quote:
Originally posted by Grimma:
I don't understand why the western part can be such a problem. Is it because in the US people think it's old-fashioned?

Precisely! With a few noted exceptions, Americans seem to be not remotely interested in preserving our history.

To quote Eddie Izzard, "You tear your history down, man! See this building? It's 100 years old! Let's smash it to the ground and put a car park there!"

==================================================
"Wash. . .we got some local color happening. A grand entrance would not go amiss."

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Thursday, December 16, 2004 4:43 AM

BROWNCOAT1

May have been the losing side. Still not convinced it was the wrong one.

Quote:
Originally posted by Static:
Precisely! With a few noted exceptions, Americans seem to be not remotely interested in preserving our history.

To quote Eddie Izzard, "You tear your history down, man! See this building? It's 100 years old! Let's smash it to the ground and put a car park there!"

That is sadly the truth of things Static. Won't we don't tear down or forget about, we rewrite to suit our "politically correct" society.

Back to the BDM though, I hope that Joss does not take all of the western theme out of the movie. Honestly the western gritty feel to the show is what made it so unique and enjoyable. If that is completely removed from the BDM, it would not be the same Firefly we know & love.

__________________________________________

"May have been the losing side. Still not convinced it was the wrong one."

Richmond, VA & surrounding area Firefly Meet Up:
http://firefly.meetup.com/9/boards/

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Thursday, December 16, 2004 5:03 AM

HUITZIL

so I just bought the new starburst (i think) mag over here int he uk with some litte bits about serenity in it and i'm looking at the picture shortly before alarming everyone in WHSmiths by sueaking quite loudly when I realise their all wearing new togs, and yes I am looking at a line-up-and-face-the-camera shot for the BDM!

Also, amusingly, I frightened a man reading metalhammer which has always been an aim of mine.

___________
the turtle and the wolf are natural enemies

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Thursday, December 16, 2004 5:40 AM

CYBERSNARK

Quote:
Originally posted by Grimma:
I don't understand why the western part can be such a problem. Is it because in the US people think it's old-fashioned?

It's also because (speaking from Canada, which might as well be the US in this case) westerns have been done. And done. And done again. And redone.

We have western musicals, western adventure movies, western comedies, western tragedies, western dramas, western romances, western cartoons, western blockbusters. . .

Plus, the idea of a sci-fi western movie probably makes people think of Wild Wild West. Funny as that movie was. . .

Quote:
THIS IS NOT HOW YOU SHIP NITRO!!!

-----
We applied the cortical electrodes but were unable to get a neural reaction from either patient.

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Thursday, December 16, 2004 5:46 AM

PURPLEBELLY

Perhaps many people who are currently in the US do not consider the US of the nineteenth-century westward expansion to be part of their culture? For those of us outside the US, it translates readily to myth, of course; you really don't want to hear my opinion of the recent King Arthur.

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Friday, December 17, 2004 9:16 AM

PEDME84

okay, so these reviews are wonderful. they're indicating wonderful possibilities for the future of this film. and people feeling compelled to compare it to star wars, predicting it to be a phenomenon: gosh, that makes me happy.

i'm so happy for joss!

- emily

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Friday, December 17, 2004 10:52 AM

LIZWHIZ

Hey y'all, the Ain't It Cool Folks posted another review, and it's glowing!

http://www.aint-it-cool-news.com/display.cgi?id=18999

Non-spoilerish :)

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Friday, December 17, 2004 3:33 PM

PIZMOBEACH

... fully loaded, safety off...

The last part of that review says, " I absolutely LOVED the villain," and after just watching Dirty Pretty Things I can understand why. Chiwetel Ejiofor is a very powerful screen presence, compelling, compassionate, real - should be a great compliment and balance to the BDHs. Hey - with all of this buzz from the Chatswoth screening isn't this like the best Christmas gift to all Browncoats? Merry Christmas everyone!

That guy, working electric, he never drank with us!

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