River's Flashbacks in the BDM by DesktopHippie

GENERAL DISCUSSIONS

River's Flashbacks in the BDM

POSTED BY: DESKTOPHIPPIE
UPDATED: Friday, November 10, 2006 10:54
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Thursday, November 9, 2006 4:29 AM

I've been meaning to post a topic on this for ages, and since someone has asked about a shot I used in a fan graphic I guess I'll do it now.

What are our thoughts on the images we see in the Maidenhead, when River is triggered by the Fruity Oaty Bar ad? For anyone who hasn't noticed, there are several very quick, almost subliminal shots during the scene. These occur when River is staring at the screen, just before everything goes all blue and quiet.

I slowed them down once to have a closer look, and this is what we see:

-River's eyes, staring full into the screen, looking decidedly menacing

-A dead body on Miranda

-The Operative

-River in the lab seen at the start of the movie, with that needle thing stuck on her head. Most of her is off screen. You can only see the top of her head.

-A Reaver, snarling at the screen (taken from the earlier Reaver attack scene)

-A partial face shot of a very creepy looking old lady, staring at something off screen

-Another shot of River in the lab, this one showing more detail than the first

These aren't the only such scenes in the movie. We get another glimpse when the movie switches from Mr. Universe saying "Do y'all know what it is you're carrying?" to River sitting in her makeshift cell with Simon, and again later in the scene while Simon is talking to River.

So... questions? Comments? Apart from the coolness of Joss adding these little details, what are we thinking? And who the heck is that creepy looking old lady? A key member of parliment perhaps?

You can see high res stills of the flashbacks at leave me the white

http://www.leavemethewhite.com/caps/thumbnails.php?album=73&page=16

http://www.leavemethewhite.com/caps/thumbnails.php?album=73&page=17

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Thursday, November 9, 2006 4:39 AM

TPAGE

I've noticed in most movies with these type of flashbacks they often give clues to what happens later (I always like rewatching the movie and paying closer attention to the clues once I already know what's going to happen).

But as for the old lady, I have no idea! Well, unless it's a Reaver Mommy!

And if someday on some little piss-ant moon/My hand is a little too slow, or my aim a little bit off/At least I’ll go down fighting, not lying abed surrounded by quacks - "Sir Warrick" by Geezer

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Thursday, November 9, 2006 4:45 AM

DESKTOPHIPPIE

Hee hee! Reaver Mommy!

"Stop playing with your human and eat it! There are little children starving on Persephone!"

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Thursday, November 9, 2006 5:24 AM

CANTER

I always thought the creepy old lady was the "key member of parliament" from whom River had gleaned the memory.

Burn the land and boil the sea...

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Thursday, November 9, 2006 5:34 AM

TPAGE

My only thought for why she is not a key member of Parliament is simply she looks too 'witchy,' too ... crazy. Like the typical old hag (no offence to any old hags here who do not look like that).

Rarely do we see such people in government, they have to look good for the press now don't they? (Assuming Parliament let's the press in).

And what would be the purpose of making her so scary, almost Reaverish, looking if all she was was a member of Parliment?

And if someday on some little piss-ant moon/My hand is a little too slow, or my aim a little bit off/At least I’ll go down fighting, not lying abed surrounded by quacks - "Sir Warrick" by Geezer

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Thursday, November 9, 2006 5:45 AM

DESKTOPHIPPIE

Well, they do say politics is showbiz for ugly people.

I don't think she's particularly scary or savage looking though. Just... creepy. Maybe it's because it's such a close up shot.

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Thursday, November 9, 2006 6:07 AM

CANTER

Quote:
Originally posted by TPage:
My only thought for why she is not a key member of Parliament is simply she looks too 'witchy,' too ... crazy. Like the typical old hag (no offence to any old hags here who do not look like that).

Rarely do we see such people in government, they have to look good for the press now don't they? (Assuming Parliament let's the press in).

And what would be the purpose of making her so scary, almost Reaverish, looking if all she was was a member of Parliment?

I think we're maybe looking at different pictures. Are you referring to the *very* close up shot of the white haired woman? Because that's the one I'm looking at and she doesn't look Reaverish (good word!) to me.

Burn the land and boil the sea...

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Thursday, November 9, 2006 6:21 AM

TPAGE

My apologies, I realise Reaverish is not quite the right word. It stuck in my head and I could not think of any other.

Revision: Reaverish is a good word, however a more appropriate one should be found to describe said woman.

And if someday on some little piss-ant moon/My hand is a little too slow, or my aim a little bit off/At least I’ll go down fighting, not lying abed surrounded by quacks - "Sir Warrick" by Geezer

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Thursday, November 9, 2006 6:33 AM

CANTER

Quote:
Originally posted by TPage:
My apologies, I realise Reaverish is not quite the right word. It stuck in my head and I could not think of any other.

No no no.. It's a good word! Appropriate.

Burn the land and boil the sea...

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Thursday, November 9, 2006 8:07 AM

CHOO1701

Quote:
Originally posted by DesktopHippie:
Well, they do say politics is showbiz for ugly people.

I don't think she's particularly scary or savage looking though. Just... creepy. Maybe it's because it's such a close up shot.

Maybe its a lab assistant? Someone we've never seen before (that, and in the Visual Companion, there is a scence featuring key parliament members infront of River. Not sure what page, but could be that...)

That, and if the FoB brings up images like that, i'd stay away

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

BAD WOLF!!!

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Friday, November 10, 2006 5:15 AM

DESKTOPHIPPIE

Quote:
Originally posted by Choo1701:
Quote:
Originally posted by DesktopHippie:
Well, they do say politics is showbiz for ugly people.

I don't think she's particularly scary or savage looking though. Just... creepy. Maybe it's because it's such a close up shot.

Maybe its a lab assistant? Someone we've never seen before (that, and in the Visual Companion, there is a scence featuring key parliament members infront of River. Not sure what page, but could be that...)

That, and if the FoB brings up images like that, i'd stay away

Tell me about it. Those bars are very bad for your mental stability. I bet they're crammed with sugar too.

Good thinking on the lab assistant. Although, without being ageist, she does look kinda old. I'd think an assistant would be someone younger. Maybe she was running the experiments? Or observing them for further study?

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Friday, November 10, 2006 6:31 AM

MRT

hey - thanks for pointing this out DTH - I had never noticed these before! (I feel like a dunce as I promise I have watched the movie a load of times!) Hmmm about the 'old woman' - not sure, I don't feel that she couldn't be the 'senior member of parliment' as you can't really see if she is too old (and ugly!) to be one...

more questions for Jos - that is if we never get anything else he has at least promised to give us some answers! We can put on the list next to 'who is this Book guy anyway?'

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Friday, November 10, 2006 10:54 AM

KELKHIL

The one thing about the old lady to concider. It could be how River pictures her. She now sees her a a Monster or and evil person because of how Evil and corrupt the old lady's mind is. It is more of a mental image of the woman. Like seeing her Soul maybe.

Kelkhil

The Shirtless Forsaken

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