SUMMER GLAU'S Fight scene in Serenity by Windwalker

GENERAL DISCUSSIONS

SUMMER GLAU'S Fight scene in Serenity

POSTED BY: WINDWALKER
UPDATED: Monday, January 16, 2006 11:18
SHORT URL:
VIEWED: 11274
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Friday, January 13, 2006 9:40 AM

I just saw Serenity on DVD for the first time
Widescreen.
I watched the Fight scene River had against the Reavers.
I was awe struck and touched at the same time.
I even shed a tear as I was moved by her grace and well choreographed moves.
If there is an award for grace and poise while mutilating and destroying an enemy in an obviously overwhelming situation on screen
She deserves it.
I watched the dvd 3 times in succession and want more.
To quote
"No power in the 'verse can stop me"...River
Serenity proved her words

"You can't stop the signal"

Sequel...!Sequel...!Sequel...!Sequel...!Sequel...!

Windwalker

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Friday, January 13, 2006 9:45 AM

SIKKUKUT

And it's even more impressive because she did it all (or almost all of it?) herself.

According to Joss's commentary, when they figured out that Summer could kick a guy in the head backwards around a pole, they *made* a pole and threw that in to the bar scene because they thought it was so cool.

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Friday, January 13, 2006 10:57 AM

EMBERS

she really worked long hours training and then filming all of that,
she deserves a lot of credit;
I don't think very many actresses would be willing to do all that themselves.

**********************************************
watch the R. Tam Session vids: http://www.hittarivertam.nu/
and buy the 'Serenity' comics published by Dark Horse
have you checked out this thread?:
http://www.fireflyfans.net/thread.asp?b=2&t=15816

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Friday, January 13, 2006 11:08 AM

DEWRASTLER

The first time I watched the BDM I was disappointed that there was no music in the background of the bar fight scene, like there was in the trailer, mainly because I like to see fight scenes done to music. But every other time I've watched it since then it is just a more powerful and emotional scene with just the sounds of River smashing people's skulls together.

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Friday, January 13, 2006 11:19 AM

CHRISTHECYNIC

You should say when you're new to the board, how else does everyone know to welcome you?

Welcome here, we're weird.

This is a great place, warm, accepting, intelligent, fanatical, all of the things you want.

Quote:
Originally posted by Windwalker:
I watched the dvd 3 times in succession and want more.

...

Sequel...!Sequel...!Sequel...!Sequel...!Sequel...!

Here’s the deal, money is just about everything when it comes to whether or not we get more, unless you are amazing incredibly obscenely rich you can’t do it alone, while some people talk about how many copies of the DVD they have and such even more important than spending your own money is introducing more people to Firefly and Serenity.

If you get other people out there wanting more, and paying for what there is, and they get more people hooked, and so on, then we can get the more we want.

-

Now that I’ve said all of that, on the subject of the thread I have only this to say:

Summer makes me think action stars should recruited from ballerinas. I mean my god, the grace of mayhem and violence when she does it, incredible.

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Friday, January 13, 2006 11:26 AM

QUEENOFTHENORTH

Yup, that's easily my favorite part of the movie. I love it. I've been thinking about taking karate for a long time, but I think River just pushed me over the edge.

Excuse me while I go watch that scene again.

"I'm having one of those things - a headache with pictures."

"Sucker! Competitive violence, that's why you're here!"

Like books? Go to this thread: http://www.fireflyfans.net/thread.asp?b=2&t=14862
to find out how to buy mine!

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Friday, January 13, 2006 11:59 AM

CHESHIRE

One of my favorite quotes from the commentary for the movie is when Joss is talking about Summer and her stunt coordinator. The stunt guy was amazed by Summer's ballet-trained flexibility. "She can kick a guy in the back of the head around a pole. Can we build a pole?"

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Friday, January 13, 2006 12:25 PM

WINDWALKER

I loved it all.
Summer is a hottie too.
Yet she exudes this innocense that draws you in and wants you to take care of her.
Very deceptive.

“I was thinking of the immortal words of Socrates, who said, 'I drank what?'”

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Friday, January 13, 2006 12:43 PM

WINDWALKER

They could've put in the Star Trek TOS "Amok Time" fight music

just kidding

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Friday, January 13, 2006 1:24 PM

ETHAN

I agree the reaver fight scene if extroardinarily choreagraphed. I love all the spinning moves and concentric circular movemnets. I've said many times, it's like a kind of veritgo, like letting go. She is finally taking all the madness and pain conditioned into her by the academey and using it to protect Simon and her friends. It's beautiful and ugly all at the same time.

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

Sssssssummer Glau!

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Friday, January 13, 2006 2:18 PM

MIMA

And joss tosses off a comment like "there's minutes more footage" of the fight.

WHERE IS IT?

HELLLLOOOOOOO~ concept of extras!?
Makes me crazy. simply torture.

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Friday, January 13, 2006 2:26 PM

DONCOAT

As far as I can determine, the Reaver fight scene is 100% Summer. Maybe I missed a something, though.

The Maidenhead fight scene is about 95% Summer. The exceptions are a couple quick bits of wire work - when she does a flip from the stairs back to the floor, for instance.

But she gave and took real hits in those scenes, because Joss wanted them to be continuous shots, not a series of cuts between "over the shoulder" camera angles. When you shoot the scene the way Joss did, the actors (and/or stunt performers) have to actually hit each other, not just wave their fists in the air and pretend they were hit.

Summer has talked about going home bruised and sore on those days -- but she stuck with it and gave us these incredible scenes.

I remember reading a quote from one of her martial arts trainers, who said that Summer picked up the moves very fast due to her ballet skills. When they went from no-contact to actual hits, she clocked a couple guys pretty hard -- but only once. The trainer said that she immediately "got" the moves, and controlled the contact perfectly from then on. He also said that once they went from training to actual filming, both the speed and intensity of the fights went way up.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I don't disagree on any particular point.

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Friday, January 13, 2006 2:26 PM

SAMEERTIA

We'll get the extras, I'm sure. We must be patient patient mice!
And YES, Summer is poetry in motion.

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Friday, January 13, 2006 3:06 PM

CARTOON

I know I've said this here elsewhere, but I honestly think Summer Glau deserves a Best Actress nomination (and win) for "Serenity".

I don't say this as a Browncoat, but as an objective viewer of films, and I legitimately believe I would say as much even if I didn't care for the "Firefly/Serenity" verse.

I think her performance in this film as a whole, was extraordinary. Her character required a touch of insane innocence (or innocent insanity

), heartfelt sorrow and anguish, as well as heroic steadfastness. I don't know many (if any) actresses who could pull off so many emotions in a single film, while simultaneously portraying part "Rainman", part kick-butt action hero.

That she also performed the majority of her own stunts is nothing short of amazing, given the latitude of her dramatic performance.

Oh, and I forgot the comedic bits. She also delivered some incredibly humorous lines.

I'm awed by her performance in this film -- which exceeds the great job she did in "Firefly".

BTW, I also think Nathan is worthy of a nomination for the simple fact that he played a rogue (who did some quite despicable things), yet leaves you liking his character, nonetheless. Not easy to do.

"I'm no good with words. Don't use 'em much, myself."

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Saturday, January 14, 2006 6:27 AM

CHRISTHECYNIC

I have always been amazed with Summer, Firefly was her second job in acting, and her first was apparently playing a Ballerina (which she is anyway) on a single episode of Angel. (If you can't tell I have not actually seen the episode.)

So, the way I look at things, that means her first significant job was Firefly. Just look at her there. Right from the start I can not imagine better acting. Part of me wants to say, "If this is her now imagine when she's had ten years to the trade," but I really can't even imagine an up for her to go to.

I accept that I could simply be lacking in imagination, but I really think she started out at the top, and all she needs to do to say there is make sure she never gets worse. Like River she seems to be a prodigy.

I also hope she stays humble, it is extremely annoying when there are characters you love completely but the person who brought them to life is an arrogant ass. I hope none of our crew ever comes close to being like that.

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Saturday, January 14, 2006 7:02 AM

NINAH148

Too bad they voted against the Oscar for stunt coordinator...that might have been Serenity's best shot...I bet they would give extra points for doing it with the actual actress. I wonder if Serenity might rock the MTV movie awards if people remember long enough...they have awards for stunt sequence or fight sequence or something. I found the comment about recruiting action stars from athletes to be interesting. I think Jason Statham is one of the best action stars, and he was an Olympic diver. I expect grace and balance are particularly key in that sport as well. Otherwise, I can only think of action stars from football (Bozworth, Howie Long), wresting (the Rock, Hulk Hogan), and of course martial arts.

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Saturday, January 14, 2006 8:18 AM

FREELANCEPILOT

Dancers make better fight scenes in movies than actual martial artists sometimes. As a guy who has done martial arts for some time, i know that choreographed fighting, kata (forms), and fighting are very different things.
Dancers make good fight scenes because a movie fight scene has more akin to a choreographed dance than a street fight. Street fights aren't pretty.
a good half-way point, if any of you are aspiring fight-actors, is wushu. Now here is the thing, Kung Fu is merely chinese for "hard work" (or something close to that) and wushu merely means "martial arts" so be careful, but wushu, for the most part, is a very flowing beautiful martial art. It has many flips, jump kicks, and more grace than power. It will also get you beaten into the ground if you try it against someone who knows how to fight.

Anyway, Summer is awesome.

Wash: Yeah, but psychic? That sounds like science fiction.
Zoë: You live on a spaceship, dear.
Wash: So?

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Saturday, January 14, 2006 8:48 AM

THEONETRUEBIX

Quote:
Originally posted by Dewrastler:
The first time I watched the BDM I was disappointed that there was no music in the background of the bar fight scene, like there was in the trailer, mainly because I like to see fight scenes done to music. But every other time I've watched it since then it is just a more powerful and emotional scene with just the sounds of River smashing people's skulls together.

Uh, there's music during this scene. It's just not the music form the trailer, which would not have fit, because the scene isn't supposed to make you go "yay! kick-ass fight scene!" as it's happening. It's supposed to make you unsettled because River is suddenly assaulting people for no reason.

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Saturday, January 14, 2006 9:27 AM

CHRISTHECYNIC

Quote:
Originally posted by FreelancePilot:
Dancers make good fight scenes because a movie fight scene has more akin to a choreographed dance than a street fight. Street fights aren't pretty.

Action movies don't really have a place for a realistic fight, which is because of what they are. That is not to say that movies in general have no place for realistic fights, it's just that it's hard to take pleasure in an action movie when you're seeing the brutal truth of what it is really like.

Certain other movies need the not-prettyness to deliver on whatever they are meant to deliver.

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Saturday, January 14, 2006 2:08 PM

CARTOON

So, are the OSCAR nominations out already? I don't know. If so, I'm assuming "Serenity" didn't get anything?

If so, that's unfortunate. I truly believe Summer's performance was worthy of their acknowledgement. They seem somewhat biased against sci-fi when it comes to noms for major categories, don't they?

"I can't!! Too much hair!!"

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Saturday, January 14, 2006 2:37 PM

WINDWALKER

We should have our own Academy of Brown Coat Awards ceremonies for our favorite actors.
I nominate Summer Glau for best actress in a SciFi series.
Any others?

I've seen things you people wouldn't believe. Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I watched C-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhauser gate. All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in rain. Time to die.

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Saturday, January 14, 2006 2:46 PM

GRIMLOCK

I used to be a figure skater and I did some crosstraining in gymnastics. It turns out that Ballet dancers also crosstrain in gymanstics. Unless you've worked with a Ballet dancer, you have no concept of the flexiblity and control they have. For the record, I'm a guy, and I was one of most flexible skaters in my age bracket, girls included.
These ballarinas made me look like a fricking ginger bread man!!!!

Seeing Summer Glau on screen is impressive but is really can't convey the what these men and women are capable of. Seeing a live performance is better but that still doesn't tell the whole story. Spend an hour stretching with a ballet trained danncer and you will see things you never thought the human body could do.

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Saturday, January 14, 2006 7:25 PM

SAMEERTIA

The music choice during the bar fight was deliberate. The single backtone in the beginning clues us that River is in another space, where she's unaware what's happening to her; that she's outside of the fight and inside of her mind.

Then the sound comes back in to define the point that it isn't in Rivers head. That's when Mal & Jayne realize theres a fight and THEN music comes in to define the heroic moment of them attemting to stop her.

I think it's beautiful. As far as I can tell, I think only the gymnastic flips aren't Summer. Am I right there?

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Saturday, January 14, 2006 9:56 PM

PROPMASTER2000

Hi Windwalker,

I just wanted to give my input about the fight scene with River (Summer) and the Reavers. I was lucky enough to be invited to the Universal Lot on the same night they where filming the Reaver fight scene on stage 17 and was totally impressed by the fact that Summer was doing the entire fight scene straight though, from when you see the close up of the Reaver (which she punches) until she gets thrown against the wall. I was able to watch the whole scene being filmed though many takes (along with Joss and Jack Green) sitting in front of video monitors.

After each of the takes, several of the Reavers would come off the set and watch themselves on the monitors during the playback for Joss.

They did that scene many times while I was there, and they really looked like they ALL had taken quite a beating, including Summer. That rotating back roll she does was awesome to see in "real time". No wires, green screen or CGI.
If you ever get the chance to meet Summer, tell her what a wonderful job she did.

Totally impressed....
Thanks Summer for a great experience.

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Sunday, January 15, 2006 2:19 AM

NUCLEARDAY

Quote:
Originally posted by cartoon:
I know I've said this here elsewhere, but I honestly think Summer Glau deserves a Best Actress nomination (and win) for "Serenity".

I definately agree. I thought some of her best acting was even when she was working without dialogue. I thought the complex emotions she was able to portray in the silent reaction shots was always especially moving.

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Sunday, January 15, 2006 3:30 AM

LOCRAY

Am I the only one who did not think her bar scene was THAT good? I don't think it was bad, hell! it was even amazing, but there is one thing that annoyed me. Her speed. She really isn't fast enough, no doubt the moves required lots of training and so on, but she was simply too slow to make it look believable.

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Sunday, January 15, 2006 3:30 AM

LOCRAY

Edit: Sorry for double post

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Sunday, January 15, 2006 4:12 AM

DONCOAT

I disagree about the speed.

The first moment or two of the fight was in slow motion (up until you hear the first scream). After that, it's real time. Everything from that point forward seemed to be just right.

One thing to remember is that River's a psychic, and that plays into her fighting style. She knows what her opponents are doing, so she never needs to rush a move. She can time her actions to apply the exact force in the exact place at the exact time. She moves just fast enough to make that happen.

That's why Summer's ballet-trained movements work so perfectly in this scene. As Kaylee put it in OiS, River just does the math. Summer's smooth motions portray this unhurried deadliness beautifully.

If there's one thing in the Maidenhead sequence that does seem a bit off-key, it's the very end of the fight, when Mal and River stand each other off with guns and Simon rushes in to give the safeword. I'm thinking, either Mal or River should have been capped right then and there -- maybe both. Neither of those characters is likely to have hesitated as long as they do (think of Mal and the Operative at Inara's school).

Chalk that up to storytelling, though. If it had happened any faster the viewer wouldn't have had any idea what just happened.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I don't disagree on any particular point.

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Sunday, January 15, 2006 4:28 AM

CHRISISALL

Quote:
Originally posted by queenofthenorth:
I've been thinking about taking karate for a long time, but I think River just pushed me over the edge.

Ahh, my area of expertise...
If you liked what Summer was doing and would like similar movements I would suggest Praying Mantis Kung-Fu, it is flowing and beautiful, as well as having practical applications.
Combat Tai Chi (if you can find a teacher) would also work.
A good ballet class on top of that, and you'll be a weapon.

Martial Chrisisall:)

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Sunday, January 15, 2006 6:30 AM

SHEPARD

What I got from the end of the fight scene was a pinprick of sanity penetrating the chaos of River's mind. Mal wasn't a stranger, or even someone she didn't particularly care for (Jayne). Mal was known, concerned entity, & I always thought I saw an internal battle for control within River as she tried to do what was right instead of what was trained. Mal, for his part, is too much a good-guy to shoot her without hesitation. It may have taken being shot by River to make him shoot back. He didn't shoot YoSaphBrig & she gave him a much better reason.

I like that the music is so understated in the fight scene. It emphasises the "creepy" factor and otherworldlyness of the scene.

Kicking a man in the back of the head around a pole deserves an award for itself.

Hell. It's Special.

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Sunday, January 15, 2006 8:14 AM

MIMA

Quote:
Originally posted by Locray:
but there is one thing that annoyed me. Her speed. She really isn't fast enough,

I think you have been trained by hollywood editing: Cutting scenes so that action speeds from hit to hit. That fight was real time. If you want an example of "too slow" check out zoe's leisurely dive-roll-stand-draw-shoot in warstories. that always makes me smile.

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Sunday, January 15, 2006 8:32 AM

KHANVALHERU

Yeah, props to Summer Glau for a good performance and Joss Whedon on creating edge of the seat fight scenes. I've been longing for this quite a whiles now. Ever since the introduction of Hong Kong style martial arts/action to Hollywood, all I've seen are super fast edits and no proper form of style usage at all. And I think that's what a lot of other hollywood action movies are missing. Everything's a long take. John Woo's gun battles, Jackie Chan's fight scenes, they all tell a story, just like Summer's fight scenes. It's not just one punch, the guy's daze, and the hero punches again, while he's dazed....

Having taken martial arts myself and growing up on hong kong action movies, this ranks as one of the tops in my books.

No blood, no wound.

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Sunday, January 15, 2006 8:39 AM

JAYTEE

Yeah, and in the Visual Companion and the outtakes they talk about hwo whenever anything goes wrong they'd say "Summer!" even though they all admit that she would nail her lines and performance each time. Joss even said he couldn't think of a scene where she screwed up. This young lady is a consumate actress. Incredible grace I suspect comes from her ballet training, something that requires extreme discipline and dedication and that can carry over into the acting part of the job with memorizing lines, expressions and character nuances. I look forward to seeing her in many more movies (hopefully sequels) in whatever type of film she's cast in. Heck, I'd even go to a chick flick if she's in it.

Jaytee

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Sunday, January 15, 2006 5:41 PM

CARTOON

Quote:
Originally posted by JayTee:
Heck, I'd even go to a chick flick if she's in it.

Whoah!! Just step away from the keyboard and take a few breaths...

Sure. We all like Summer's performance, but let's be reasonable...

A chick flick?!?!?!?

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Monday, January 16, 2006 9:38 AM

WINDWALKER

If she fights in it it Hek Yeah

I've seen things you people wouldn't believe. Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I watched C-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhauser gate. All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in rain. Time to die.

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Monday, January 16, 2006 9:44 AM

WINDWALKER

Get your t shirt here

http://www.shinyshirts.net/shirts/brain.htm

I've seen things you people wouldn't believe. Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I watched C-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhauser gate. All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in rain. Time to die.

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Monday, January 16, 2006 10:49 AM

CHRISISALL

Quote:
Originally posted by Windwalker:
I've seen things you people wouldn't believe. Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I watched C-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhauser gate. All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in rain. Time to die.

Windwalker, go here:
http://www.fireflyfans.net/thread.asp?b=8&t=9370
For some reason I think you might enjoy that thread...

Gaff Chrisisall

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Monday, January 16, 2006 11:18 AM

WINDWALKER

I had my suspicions about Deckard

If they make a sequel Harrison Ford will be too old.

Blade Runner was one of the most frustrating films he'd ever done, because the actual shoot was very grueling and because of the post-production changes which were meant to (but didn't) help the film do better at the box office.
If you want to see what movies are coming up and are in production.
Go here and sign up it's free and you get real play money to buy movie stock and watch it rise or fall.
I made $14,000,000 on "The Passion"
It's all fun.

http://www.hsx.com/

I've seen things you people wouldn't believe. Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I watched C-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhauser gate. All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in rain. Time to die.

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