Does rewatching Serenity mean you enjoy it less? by Aramina

GENERAL DISCUSSIONS

Does rewatching Serenity mean you enjoy it less?

POSTED BY: ARAMINA
UPDATED: Wednesday, November 8, 2006 13:15
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Sunday, October 22, 2006 3:23 AM

As part of the research for my dissertation about fans' reactions to Wash's death, I've just read the following:

"[E]ach reviewing also threatens to exhaust the narrative's emotional hold on the viewer, to wear out the material so that is may be enjoyed a little less the next time." (Henry Jenkins, 1992)

Anyone have any comments on this (especially in relation to Wash's death)?

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Sunday, October 22, 2006 3:38 AM

FOLLOWMAL

For me this does not happen, Aramina.

Each time I see the BDM and that particularly horrible moment, I have the same exact gut wrenching reaction I did the first time I saw it and I cry. There's not been one time I haven't cried. Each time I saw it in the theater I saw folks I'd seen in there with me before cry too.

It may be that some folks have the above reaction... but for me.. each time I watch Serenity I see something I didn't see the time before ( this goes for the show too!) and I am struck again with the feeling of knowing these folks and wanting more.

"You hold. Hold 'til I get back." Mal
Go to www.bigdamnthankyou.com and check it out!

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Sunday, October 22, 2006 3:45 AM

SISTER

Hear..hear. I totally agree. Even though I saw the movie first, then bought the Firefly/DVD set; that scene kills me everytime. As does the scene where Zoe says to Mal, "she's tore up plenty, but she'll fly true."

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Sunday, October 22, 2006 3:54 AM

PENGUIN

Quote:
Originally posted by FollowMal:

For me this does not happen, Aramina.

Each time I see the BDM and that particularly horrible moment, I have the same exact gut wrenching reaction I did the first time I saw it and I cry. There's not been one time I haven't cried. Each time I saw it in the theater I saw folks I'd seen in there with me before cry too.

It may be that some folks have the above reaction... but for me.. each time I watch Serenity I see something I didn't see the time before ( this goes for the show too!) and I am struck again with the feeling of knowing these folks and wanting more.

My feelings exactly! (OK...maybe not the crying part...but there is a huge lump in my throat...)

I watched "Out of Gas" the other night and it struck me how well written and how well acted it was and how much it just drew me in, even though I've watched it many, many times...

King of the Mythical Land that is Iowa

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Sunday, October 22, 2006 4:15 AM

ARAMINA

I still cry when I see Wash die, but mostly it's the funeral scene that really sets me off. Can't say I experience the same shock at his death as I did when I saw it at the cinema for the first time, but it's still just as sad - maybe even more so.

So how often do you all watch the film and the show? I've probably seen Serenity about 10 or 11 times, the show maybe five or six (but a few episodes more than that). No doubt there are people who have seen both many more times than me.

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Sunday, October 22, 2006 4:23 AM

NCBROWNCOAT

Every time I see the BDM I grimace and turn my head, usually at the line"I'm a leaf on the wind."

The other day I was in Best Buy and was looking at the portable DVD players. They had highlight from the BDM playing on one. I had to turn away right before Wash got speared. Fortunately, the highlights ended at that point so that there were no leaks of the death for those that hadn't seen the
BDM.

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Sunday, October 22, 2006 4:24 AM

ARAMINA

Edited: Oops, double post. Stupid computer

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Sunday, October 22, 2006 4:32 AM

REGINAROADIE

No, and neither does the series.

It's weird. Even though I love FIREFLY/SERENITY, I'm not someone whose watches both of them on a daily basis. First of all, I'm way too busy. And second, there's so many good movies and tv shows out there for me to discover and I'm not going to just stop and only watch one half season of a show over and over again. If I were, who knows. Maybe I would get sick of it.

But mayube it's a good thing that I don't watch both of them continuously. That when I do pull it off the shelf, it still has it's magic.

**************************************************
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"Four"
You would destroy the Cybermen with four Daleks?"
"We would destroy the Cybermen with ONE Dalek. You are superior in only one respect."
"What is that?"
"You are better at dying."

Trash talk between a Cyberman and a Dalek. It doesn't get any better than that.

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Sunday, October 22, 2006 5:34 AM

DIETCOKE

I saw the movie 19 1/2 times. All in the theater except once. Yes, it does loose it's impact if you seen it too many times. All my favorite movies loose impact when I see them too often. So, I saw it again at our Serenity Now fund raiser and I won't watch it again for a long time so I can enjoy it again the next time I see it.

When Wash got killed I was in total, utter, complete shock. I didn't have time to cry, I was wondering how Joss was going to kill everyone else off.

NY/NJ/CT Browncoats: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/firefly_nyc

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Sunday, October 22, 2006 12:52 PM

RMMC

I agree with FollowMal. The impact of Wash's and Books' deaths do no diminish for me: I flatten my poor little stuffed moose every time. And like FM, I just keep finding new stuff every time I rewatch it.

I just can't see this ever getting old.

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RMMC

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Sunday, October 22, 2006 1:31 PM

KELAI

No, like others said I find new things. And I begin to get unnerved before Serenity even hits the ground, so when it's spinning around I just skip to the next chapter.

Funny how I saw Serenity first and cried in some parts. Because I'm not the fuzzy-wuzzy crying type, but it is with Serenity and a few others. I really connected with the characters, because they're all very ..human (except Book, didn't really connect to him 'til the series)

I love meh Washie-poo <33

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Sunday, October 22, 2006 1:36 PM

FUTUREMRSFILLION

I agree completely with FollowMal and RMMC.

Always new things to see and always the same emotion.

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Sunday, October 22, 2006 2:13 PM

PEULSAR5

We sniff the air, we don't kiss the dirt.

I too agree with Followmal and RMMC except on one point. When I watch the movie I still have the same reaction to Wash's (and Book's) death. However, when I watch it with the commentary, this doesn't happen. I don't know why, maybe I watch with a more clinical eye that way.

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Sunday, October 22, 2006 2:23 PM

DARKJESTER

Have to say, it has lost a bit of it's edge with 20-odd viewings over the last year, but still HURTS to watch the Wash-stabbity scene. And I still get chills down my spine at the end, watching Serenity doing a barrel-roll out of the storm, and into the black.

Doesn't mean I enjoy it less, just differently.

MAL "You only gotta scare him."
JAYNE "Pain is scary..."

http://www.fireflytalk.com - Big Damn Podcast

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Sunday, October 22, 2006 2:45 PM

ATIGDNG

It will take a while for it to get old on me, and it hasn't happened yet...

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Sunday, October 22, 2006 2:49 PM

WHIMSICALNBRAINPAN

I am not a person who cries at movies. I bawled like a gorramn baby when Wash died in the BDM. When I re-watch it I may not burst into tears like I did the first time but either my boyfriend or a pillow gets clutched tightly during that scene and I tear up.

I don't think my re-watching the movie no matter how many times, will ever change this or the impact the movie has on me, or my love for it. It is the same as when I re-watch Firefly, I admire the performances more, I might catch something previously missed, and I wonder at such a fine work of art. I have little doubt that I'll feel this way if I live to be 80 and I’m still watching it.

"Well, my days of not taking you seriously are certainly coming to a middle." http://whimsicalnbrainpan.blogspot.com/

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Sunday, October 22, 2006 3:56 PM

TAKEMEFLYING

Most definitely does not wear with watching! I likewise find that although the *surprise* isn't there, the emotional reactions are still very much there. And I still just gasp in total pain every time dear Wash buys it.. *sob*
I totally agree that there's so much in the way of detail - of plot, of character, of visual 'Wow!' - that there is indeed always something new to take away from it.
(and that goes for the series as well - I'm steadily wearing those disks thin... *grin*)

Whoa. Good myth.

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Sunday, October 22, 2006 5:50 PM

SHINYTRINKET

Wash's death (and Book's) actually took on a lot more meaning for me the second and subsequent times. The first time I saw the BDM, I'd never seen Firefly, basically got dragged to the movie, and was on Darvocet from foot surgery the day before. So, while it was a shocking scene, I was not invested in the characters the way I am now. Now, it breaks my heart.

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Sunday, October 22, 2006 7:21 PM

NOSADSEVEN

I'd say the viewing experience changes as you watch it more, but not necessarily in a steady decline as the quote you cited suggests.

Personally, I think I enjoyed the episodes and movie the most on the second and third viewings. In general with Firefly, I spend the first viewing focused on what happens. On the second viewing, I already know what happens, and I can focus on how it happens (and why) - which, honestly, is really where the magic is in this franchise.

The first viewing has the novelty and the surprize. But the second and third viewings are where I really get to soak it up. After that, there are small things here and there that I'll notice, or just simply revel in. It's a lot like listening to good music... I like music better when I've already reached a certain familiarity - when I can anticipate and appreciate the chord changes, the big notes, the subtle counter-melodies... or sometimes just sing along.

I will say that my mood has a strong influence on my level of enjoyment when re-viewing, while on earlier viewings the narrative has the power to shape my mood. Of course, if I'm watching with someone who has never seen it before, I can almost see it with fresh eyes.

With regards to Wash's death, in particular, the event struck me so profoundly, that I honestly did not enjoy my first viewing as much as subsequent viewings. I was too busy suffering the sudden loss of a 'friend'. Though I did not take the same emotional journey on later viewings, I was able to enjoy it more, both for the 'hows' and for the fact that I wasn't preoccupied with tangible fear for the lives of the fictional characters. While I would not trade that experience of my first viewing, I'm also not exactly looking to relive it, either.

Another thing, I had been anticipating this movie for two years, so on first viewing, I had to reconcile what I had imagined and expected the movie to be, and what it actually was. Again, it was easier to enjoy the movie on its own terms on subsequent viewings.

And, if you're doing research on this, I assume you've (re-)read through gossi's archive of the UB's "I've Seen Serenity" forum. But just in case, here's the link:
http://www.serenitymovie.org/archive/browncoats.serenitymovie.com/inde
x79b8.html?fuseaction=forum.viewforum&f=28

~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ain't. We. Just.

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Sunday, October 22, 2006 8:23 PM

JPSTARGAZER

Serenity will never lose it's appeal. It gets better with repeated viewings if you watch it with someone who's seeing it for the first time. I'm a movie person and I love showing movies to people, but Serenity is by far the movie I enjoy sitting with a first-timer the most. It's like watching a child being born...ok, maybe not like that, but you get the point.

I mean what makes this SO great is getting someone to reluctantly watch it, and after only knowing the characters for an hour, you have to pause it because the person is so upset about Wash. Or they actually cheer when Kaylee and Simon finally kiss. Now that's powerful, and it's so great to share anything like that with someone.

"All I got is a red guitar, three chords, and the truth...the rest is up to you"
--Bono

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Monday, October 23, 2006 5:54 AM

MSG

For me it's like a few brief hours with beloved friends. Even knowing two are doomed,I still watch witht he same joy, breathless awe, and enthusiasm I had from the first moment...I love that movie and will love it forever.

I choose to rise instead of fall- U2

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Monday, October 23, 2006 5:59 AM

REDLAVA

It loses a little bit for me, but that is only because I know what is going to happen and know almost every line. You can't get that feeling of watching a movie for the very first time back, unless you are an amnesia victim. But I wouldn't watch it over and over if I didn't enjoy it. Which by the way doesn't happen very often. I am usually one of those people who watches a movie once and will probably never watch it again. My DVD collection has like 10 movies in it. Unless it is a very special movie in some way like the BDM is.

Everybody always has the advantage over us, but that's what makes us special...and Browncoats.

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Monday, October 23, 2006 6:12 AM

CHRISISALL

Quote:
Originally posted by Aramina:

So how often do you all watch the film and the show?

Seen Serenity near 30 times, each ep of the show over 10 now (Ariel, Out of Gas and Objects in Space closer to 15).

Serenity is like Blade Runner, it never gets old, and always has it's impact; it's more than an adventure tale, it's SF at it's best, asking the hard questions with characters that are your family.
Tissues always a must...

Blow-hard Chrisisall

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Monday, October 23, 2006 6:14 AM

RIMGIRL

I agree that the first time you watch for what happens. I didn't get to enjoy the interaction of the characters until subsequent viewings.
E.g. The first 5 times I was so shocked by Wash's death that I didn't process the next couple of scenes. It was only recently that Kaylee's reaction to "He's not coming." tore my heart out.

Also, in the BDS:OiS, Jayne says something about the Tams shouldn't even be on the boat and Mal angrily says, "Is that the direction you want this conversation to go?" I only recently figured out that he was referring to how Jayne tried to get them off the boat in Ariel.

And of course, is it bad that, after many repeated viewings, what River says starts to make perfect sense?

The genius of Joss is that sometimes the characters are referring to stuff you won't find out about until later.

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Tuesday, October 24, 2006 9:25 AM

ARAMINA

Thank you everyone for your responses so far. It's been really helpful and given me an idea of the different ways people think about Wash's death. And thanks to those who mentioned Book as well. While I'm not planning on going into too much detail about that part of the film, it is useful to compare the thoughts about both deaths.

I need to think about the way people talked about Wash before and after Serenity was released, do any of you have links to old threads you think might be useful? Or can you explain your thoughts about Wash before and after the film?

Have any of you produced anything for the Blue Sun Room that relates to Wash's death? Or if you haven't have you thought about it?

NOSADSEVEN
Thanks for the link! I haven't read any of that at all. Most of my research is focused on this forum (including a huge trawl back through the Blue Sun Room items to this time a year ago) because I'm trying to keep the information I gather centred on one particular community to narrow things down. But I will definitely have a proper look at that when I get a chance to.

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Tuesday, October 24, 2006 12:19 PM

PLATONIST

I was always lukewarm on the movie especially when I compared it to the series for many of the same reasons stated above (Wash's death, lack of crew interactions, quality scenes deleted because of time/pacing.)

Then after several viewings of my dusty DVD and a HD viewing on HBO, I started to come away with a broader interperation of the movie in terms of what was accomplished within the context of storytelling.

The movie does an excellent job carrying the major themes of the series, such as, love's strength and the ties it creates (Mal/Inara), the importance of family loyalty (crew), the sacrafice these take (Book, Zoe and Wash), belief in justice(getting the word out), redemption(Mal/River) and so forth... When viewed in a larger context Wash's death becomes meaningful and should be viewed as heroic.

That doesn't mean we can't cry during his death or that we won't miss him in the sequel.

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Tuesday, October 24, 2006 4:13 PM

TERRI

See, like I've said many times, I got into the Serenifly 'verse with the movie. And when I watched the movie, I had no knowledge (or at least hadn't seen) the show, or any of the characters. But I still cried when Wash died. Not going to lie to you. And then, to make it kinda worse, when I watched it a week later, I cried again. Then a week after that, again. But lately, I still get hella depressed, but I'm able to keep my emotions in check.

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Tuesday, October 24, 2006 7:51 PM

NOSADSEVEN

Quote:
Originally posted by Aramina:

NOSADSEVEN
Thanks for the link! I haven't read any of that at all. Most of my research is focused on this forum (including a huge trawl back through the Blue Sun Room items to this time a year ago) because I'm trying to keep the information I gather centred on one particular community to narrow things down. But I will definitely have a proper look at that when I get a chance to.

You're welcome, but it's pretty damn big, so I'm not sure how much of a 'proper' look you'll be able to give it! And I'll warn you - it was pretty rough-and-tumble over there at times. But it was really one of the only places to discuss the movie during that pre-screening period. There was comparatively little movie discussion here (on fff.n) before the release.

I'm also going to assume that you haven't heard about the controversial "SaveWash" campaign started up after one of the earliest pre-screenings:
http://jacquelinepassey.blogs.com/savewash/

~~~~~~~~~~~~
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Tuesday, October 24, 2006 8:56 PM

PSYKOTEK

I saw Serenity opening weekend,
when the book died I figured hoaky, that means mal has to go kill'em all

but when Walsh died I screamed FUCK NO, inna crowded theatre in PHX,

when Kaylee, got hit in the kneck with thosew green darts, I turned to my girlfriend and said " fuck he's gonns kill them all"
I was worried for the lives of my crew, thouhgt Joss was gonna end it under his control

glad he didn't
still miss walsh
and "Out of Gas" was the best episode

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Wednesday, October 25, 2006 1:08 AM

HATHOS

To the original question......I totally disagree. That guys must be a heartless robot to say that repeat exposure to stimuli will always cause desensitation. Yea, people get "used" to seeing things over and over agian. But when something has an emotional effect, it remains. Maybe not as potent as the first time, but remains none the less. Movies are in fact "art", and if that is the case then Firefly and Serenity in my eyes are Masterpeices.

When I first saw Serenity, I had never even heard of "Firefly" or anything concerning it. My buddy handed me a burned DVD and said "hey if your bored watch this". Not knowing what I was about to see I said "eh....okay." The moment Serenity was over.....for the second time, heh.
I ran out and purchased my legal and store bought copy (I figured something that good deserves to be owned legally). At this point I still had no idea there was a series. It took a few more viewings before I dove into the extras.
Once I realized there was "more". I was back to the store...again, buying the "Firefly" series. Honestly, the best money I've spent in a good long while. Kudos to Joss. Well done man!! Although I'm a late comer to whole "firefly" and "Serenity" thing, I am extremely upset at it being cancelled. There could be Sooooooo much more. Seriously...I'm truely saddened by this.

"Guy killed me with a sword Mel.... How weird is that?"

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Wednesday, October 25, 2006 8:50 AM

ARAMINA

You weren't wrong when you said it was big! I thought you meant it was just one thread. There's interesting stuff there... until a thread gets a page or two in and a troll turns up *sigh*.

To be honest, I've been sort of out of the community of late, only delving back in now I need it for my thesis. It's ironic, the thing that stopped me coming here so often was my college work, and now this is where I need to come back to!

To everyone
Thank you so much for all your replies, I'm sorry I can't respond to all of you. I may do when I start to write my next chapter, but believe me you're all being super helpful! Keep it coming!

When I think of an interesting signature you'll be the first to know.

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Wednesday, November 8, 2006 11:11 AM

ARAMINA

Anyone else got anything to add?

When I think of an interesting signature you'll be the first to know.

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Wednesday, November 8, 2006 1:15 PM

HELL'S KITTEN

Quote:
Originally posted by Aramina:
Anyone else got anything to add?

Yeah! Sorry for showing up to the thread late, but that's me....

I saw the movie at every special preview shown in town, I went to the sneak preview just before it opened, I went opening weekend two or three times, I went another weekend with a friend from out-of-town, and I went to the LA Premiere and saw it with our beloved cast and crew. So, I guess I've seen it a few times.

The initial, full force emotional impact will never be equalled to the first time. Knowing what happens, it's simply not possible to revert to a time when it was unknown and the emotions were pure.

That being said, I still always got teary-eyed for Wash, and the slow-motion impact of Simon being shot always set me on edge. (I always secretly hoped that Simon would die, too, so it was the idea that everyone else might die that made me edgy....)

However... after seeing it so many times, I still haven't had the need to unwrap my DVD (which was purchased the day it was released). I still love it to pieces, but for some reason... I dunno... just no urge to watch it again. Not now. Maybe later. When I get a really big TV. Ha.

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