Serenity doesn't live up to the series by conejita7

Yo, G, the truth is that the movie had NO chance to tell a small character-driven tale like they could in the series...and unlike other of Joss' series, it did not have time to change drastically, so we get virtually no major change in character for almost 13 hours, then a heck of a lot of change in just two!! It's a complete gear-switch from series to flick, and many couldn't keep up, or didn't want to.
Quality- wise, yeah, they explored a lot more on the show than the movie.
But the movie was a helluva two hour last ep!!!

Chrisisall

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Thursday, October 27, 2005 3:38 AM

It's all relative. The series was fantastic the movie was only good.

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Thursday, October 27, 2005 4:18 AM

JASURPIE

SCUM you will pay for your incsolince if yuo dislike the movie fine but dont call yourself a fan

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Thursday, October 27, 2005 4:24 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Mithel:
The series was fantastic the movie was only good.

Yeah, it wasn't like Serenity was as great as, say, Revenge of the Sith...
*snickers*

Chrisisall

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Thursday, October 27, 2005 4:25 AM

EMBERS

Wow, I can't understand calling 'Serenity' pale!

I was on the edge of my seat every second,
I could think of nothing else for days later,
and I was still finding it fascinating on the 7th viewing!
Nothing pale about it.

It is true that TV gives you plenty of time to have a nice cosy dinner,
telling jokes around the table,
enjoying the character's lives....
and a movie has to keep things moving, relentlessly...

but personally I don't think the change of medium is a bad thing,
I still hope to find a much bigger audience
(through DVD sales & rentals)

But then, I enjoy the comic books too.

**********************************************
watch the R. Tam Session vids: http://www.hittarivertam.nu/
and buy the 'Serenity' comics published by Dark Horse,
and have you joined the Browncoats yet?
http://browncoats.serenitymovie.com/serenity/?fuseaction=tools.invlink
&u=embers&linkID=36

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Thursday, October 27, 2005 4:38 AM

Well I've only seen Serenity five times and it was good each time. Compared to the Firefly series it is "weak". Virtually everyone that watches a few episodes becomes hooked. Many people that saw the movie (fan or newbie) came away disappointed. So I'd say if 99% of everyone loves Firefly but only 80% to 90% really like Serenity then it's a no brainer... the movie wasn't as good as the series.

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Thursday, October 27, 2005 4:41 AM

THELURKER

Quote:
I mean c'mon how cringe worthy was the line 'If I truly wanted somebody ain't nothing in the 'verse that would stop me from going to her'

Roughly...err...not cringeworthy at all?

You want cringeworthy dialogue? Go see Episode II or III and note any interaction between Padme and Anakin.

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Thursday, October 27, 2005 4:46 AM

Okay, but was Heart Of Gold as good as Ariel?
I see Serenity as part of a WHOLE, and as such, is part of the great FIREFLY SAGA.
Parts of Jedi were lame, but the original SW Trillogy was GREAT!

Sorry, the rabid fan in me feels the need to say it....

SERENITY RULES!!!!!

Chrisisall

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Thursday, October 27, 2005 5:40 AM

CAPTAINCDC

I loved the movie. I've seen it three times, I loved it after the first viewing and it got better each time. You need to get over the series. Stop comparing the series to the movie. It is called Serenity after all and not Firefly: The Movie. Be thankful that we have the series but get over it because it is not coming back. The best we can hope for is a sequel. And I for one would be waiting for one with baited breath if they greenlit a second film. The three Browncoats that I know loved the movie. And the one newbie that I took loved it too. In fact his first word upon leaving the theater was "awesome". So you can have your opinion but I think that you are in the minority of Browncoats if you didn't like the movie.

---------------------------------------

The only sovereign you can allow to rule you is reason!

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Thursday, October 27, 2005 5:57 AM

I don't think anyone is saying they didn't like Serenity.

But there is an overwhelming feeling on many, many Firefly message boards that Serenity was disappointing compared to Firefly. There are plenty of rabid fans that will refuse to acknowledge that Serenity was less that perfect or not what we wanted / desired, but those fans tend to be fairly insulting and non-tolerate of any criticism. I think it's important that we let Joss and Universal know where they could do better.

Serenity does get better the second and subsequent viewings. It is a damn good movie. Firefly was incredible though as a series and Joss and Universal need to hear that from us. We want the return of a Firefly series! (and it's not just the diehard fans that desire a return as a series)

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Thursday, October 27, 2005 6:09 AM

COZEN

Try this: compare Serenity to other movies you have seen. Not to the television series Firefly.

Serenity holds up rather well, doesn't it?

I happen to think it does. In fact, in terms of sheer story telling, I happen to think Serenity blows away most films put out in recent years.

Am I biased? For sure! Still, when the stories are as good as Firefly's, in comparison to the the drivel that passes for entertainment on tv these days, there's hardly a fair comparison to be found. It may help to consider the movie, Serenity, separately from the television series Firefly. From such perspective, what else rates as worthy of your entertainment dollar (euro, dinar, etc.)?

Given the 2 hour time constraint, Serenity delivered to me entertainment and story telling value.

Thank you Joss and the entire BDH crew, it's all great!

***
"You think somebody wouldn't go see somebody if they didn't want entertainment?"

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Thursday, October 27, 2005 6:13 AM

CAPTAINCDC

Quote:
Originally posted by cozen:
Try this: compare Serenity to other movies you have seen. Not to the television series Firefly.

Serenity holds up rather well, doesn't it?

I happen to think it does. In fact, in terms of sheer story telling, I happen to think Serenity blows away most films put out in recent years.

Am I biased? For sure! Still, when the stories are as good as Firefly's, in comparison to the the drivel that passes for entertainment on tv these days, there's hardly a fair comparison to be found. It may help to consider the movie, Serenity, separately from the television series Firefly. From such perspective, what else rates as worthy of your entertainment dollar (euro, dinar, etc.)?

Given the 2 hour time constraint, Serenity delivered to me entertainment and story telling value.

Thank you Joss and the entire BDH crew, it's all great!

***
"You think somebody wouldn't go see somebody if they didn't want entertainment?"

Well said! I couldn't agree more!

---------------------------------------

The only sovereign you can allow to rule you is reason!

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Thursday, October 27, 2005 6:14 AM

MEANGOLDFISH

Quote:
Originally posted by jasurpie:
SCUM you will pay for your incsolince if yuo dislike the movie fine but dont call yourself a fan

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Thursday, October 27, 2005 6:26 AM

BLACKOUTNIGHTS

I give Universal the big 'thumbs up' for taking a chance when no one else would, for seeing the potential, for letting us see our BDH's one more time in a story that changed EVERYTHING.

We all want another story in film. And, I believe we'll get it. When this thing hits the rental stores and people pick it up on a whim just think of how many more people are going to sign in to the Browncoat Blackbook.

From that, imagine how many people will buy the DVD's...both for Serenity and the TV Series. Then, if you will, will Mal & the Gang hit the theaters in another couple of years, think of the possibilities.

Ain't done by a long shot. The movie just showed us really how few Browncoats there are, and that we're a semi-rare breed at the moment. But it's growing. Oh yeah, you better believe it.

You all got on this boat for different reasons. And now we're being asked to hang with it. I, for one, am in!

You can't stop the signal, baby.

"You're either in or you're out, and I'm playing to the in."—Greg Dulli. Check out Greg's new solo album Amber Headlights. On sale now.

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Thursday, October 27, 2005 7:34 AM

Ok, if we ignore Firefly the series and just compare Serenity to other films my opinion would be that Serenity falls in the top grouping. (it's a good movie) But it doesn't "blow away" everything else like Firefly did.

Serenity is right up there with Batman Begins, all the Star Wars movies and dozens of other great movies.

But this also becomes a double measure... Serenity by itself (without the background of the Firefly series) is only "good / so so". Sure, good movie, lots of people enjoyed it. But as the sales show it didn't blow away the market. For those of us die hard fans that have watched the DVDs over and over several times and know and love the characters then Serenity becomes a great movie except for a few disasterous decisions.

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Thursday, October 27, 2005 7:54 AM

XEROGRAVITY

Serenity was a compromise. The conclusion to a story that should've been told over many years, and the wrapping up of loose ends. So little of the story got told, and bringing back the show seemed so hopelessly impossible, Whedon had to give us what he could.

Was still pretty damned good, all things considered. I'd have preferred 4-6 years of TV eps versus 2 hours of movie but hey, gotta settle for what you can get.

I'm still determined to get more TV eps (since Whedon made sure to make room for possible resuscitation of the storyline, via the movie).

XG

No such thing as gravity. The "Earth-that-was" just sucks.

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Thursday, October 27, 2005 8:22 AM

STEVE580

Quote:
Originally posted by Mithel:

Serenity is right up there with Batman Begins, all the Star Wars movies and dozens of other great movies.

No offense, but damn, Batman Begins on par with Sernity? I don't think that movie is even as good as, say, Clue...

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Thursday, October 27, 2005 8:42 AM

{smile} It's expected that everyone will have different tastes, some will love a movie, others will hate the same movie. Yes, my entire family thought "Batman Begins" was fantastic. But hey, a lot of the world thought "Titanic" was great... urgh... Of course our family also loved Star Wars Episodes One, Two and Three (the original Star Wars - Episode Four - was fantastic but 5 & 6 were weak) yet a lot of people trash the newer Star Wars movies.

In my opinion your mood, frame of mind and expectations when you go see a movie can make a huge difference. I was absolutely psyched to see Serenity. Walking out of it the first time the entire theater (overbooked, completely sold out) was silent and my wife and I were muttering at each other "that was horrible" all the way to our car and just sat there for five minutes before driving home. The second time I saw it I was able to come to terms with the poor choices Joss made. So for me the second through fifth viewings of Serenity were very good. Excellent movie, just with a few very poor decisions.

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Friday, October 28, 2005 8:07 AM

CONEJITA7

I am a fan (but not fanaticly feel entitled to dissent)and i love the Firefly universe and am grateful to Joss Whedon for creating it. I admire the series it just moved me really despite my perfect verbal SAT score I just don't have the vocab to convey just how much. I did enjoy the movie (it was loyalty and my desire to promote the Firefly franchise that drove me to see it four more times. I will be honest though I expected much more.
I stand by my belief that the line "if I wanted somebody.... being cringe worthy but nothing compares to the Padme Anakin line I actually blushed when i heard it I was so embarassed for the poor actors involved. Saying it must have been dreadful and reacting to it must have required some vomit swallowing. Really George Lucas ought to do penance for writing such drivel!

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Friday, October 28, 2005 4:50 PM

Love love love Firefly just incredible got the shivers when i first watched it on tele, i do believe i actually salivated craving more! i really did like the movie (hello saw it 9 times and hello in Boston at 10 bucks a pop-not to mention snacks-that hurts but as John Mellencamp might say hurts so good). That said it didn't live up to my expectations. I mean as films go other than a Chilean film Machuco I saw the other night tremendous movie (and i too liked Batman begins) but it just didn't satisfy me I really thought it would be better-although the opening scene with Simon and River whoa nelly and on the topic of Simon totally scrumptious back yee haw for gratuitous flesh showing.

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Friday, October 28, 2005 4:58 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Steve580:

No offense, but damn, Batman Begins on par with Sernity? I don't think that movie is even as good as, say, Clue...

I'd put BB on par with Chronicles Of Riddick, which is to say, I enjoyed the hell out of them both, but NO comparison to Serenity.
No comparison at all.

Now Blade Runner...that's a different story.

Chrisisall

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Friday, October 28, 2005 5:02 PM

JAYTEE

Firefly as a series was so rich and substantial but there's more time to tell a story in a series than in a movie. I'm pretty sure I read an interview where Joss said pretty much the same thing. I've seen Serenity 3 times and was going to see it a 4th but I've been fighting a bad ear and sinus infection so I didn't go the other night. Now it's moved on from all the local theaters so I'll just have to wait for the DVD. I was very impressed with the movie overall especially considering the low budget for the film. I'd rather they bring the series back or in the form of a few mini-series spread out a couple years than bother with a sequel but I'll take whatever Joss can get us.

Jaytee

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Friday, October 28, 2005 5:04 PM

oh i too was digging chronicles of Riddick but it the horrid universe posited didn't seem plausible and look like it was created just so alot of ass kicking could be done but it was very entertaining. i think the scariest thing about the Chronicles of Riddick was how freakishly thin the Necromonger Queen chick was hell girlfiend i know you half dead but shoot eat something.
Kaylee looked pretty hot both waifish looking and normal size

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Friday, October 28, 2005 5:13 PM

JUMPY

[JASURPIE Wrote:

"SCUM you will pay for your incsolince if yuo dislike the movie fine but dont call yourself a fan"]

Yeh that's not a dumb statement or anything *rolls eyes*... I don't think a fan should be a mindless peon who likes every little thing a guy makes either.

Anyway:

As a fan:
The firefly series was phenomenal and changed my life in a lot of ways.

The movie was fun but by no means did it really add anything significant to my love of firefly, which is what I was expecting it to do. In fact certain bits kind of soured it for me. Since i've only seen it once I wasn't able to appreciate the rest of the movie from a certain point. Perhaps a second viewing will change my mind.

As a film-viewer:
The movie was a fun, enjoyable film. The jokes were great, the action was good, the effects were good and the dialogue was as good as the series was. All in all, it was a pretty damn good movie.

I think people keep forgetting the fact that Serenity is a movie with a different format than the series and obviously changes had to be made. We should always bare that in mind (as others have already said in this thread).

In conclusion:
The movie was cool. It was different from the series. I think if I see it a second time it will be a better experience.

__________________________
There's no show I'd rather see, than the one with Serenity.
You can't take the sky from me...

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Friday, October 28, 2005 5:15 PM

Right on m'brotha!

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Friday, October 28, 2005 5:17 PM

JUMPY

Lol woops I was sposed to quote someone up the top there sorry Ritak >.<

__________________________
There's no show I'd rather see, than the one with Serenity.
You can't take the sky from me...

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Friday, October 28, 2005 8:15 PM

ALAND

I've owned the Firefly boxset for many months, and have seen each episode at least four times. In contrast, I've seen the move seven times in just three weeks. Given a choice this weekend between watching any two hours of the series for free for a 5th time or paying cashy money to see the movie an 8th time, I pick the movie.

IMHO, the series is great, but the movie is awesome.

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Sunday, October 30, 2005 2:44 PM

BARD

Quote:
Originally posted by captaincdc:
You need to get over the series. Stop comparing the series to the movie. It is called Serenity after all and not Firefly: The Movie. Be thankful that we have the series but get over it because it is not coming back.
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Stating the movie didn't live up to the series it not intended as disrespect to Whedon or Universal. Major kudos to both for soldiering on; it's a "mighty fine" film.

I just believe the only way to do full service to this wonderful 'verse and to Joss's imagination is in the long form - that is, the long form that comes in the shape of 13-24 short episodes per season. I want to see more Firefly/Serenity, and want to see it realized as best as possible.

And, naive, or not, I am mule-stubborn about *not* believing that TV possibilities are dead. Who, in the five years after Trek (TOS) was aborted, would have predicted four more series and ten films. "Madness! They laughed at him at the Academy," (to quote Whedon, himself).

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Sunday, October 30, 2005 2:59 PM

CAPTAINCDC

Hey I would love to see Firefly come back to TV with new eps. I just don't think it is going to happen with FOX Network owning the television rights. And if FOX doesn't bring it back, then it will be too late to bring it back using the same actors when the rights expire.

---------------------------------------

The only sovereign you can allow to rule you is reason!

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Sunday, October 30, 2005 4:09 PM