Why does it always say Cult? by DeckRoid

GENERAL DISCUSSIONS

Why does it always say Cult?

POSTED BY: DECKROID
UPDATED: Monday, May 30, 2005 00:15
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VIEWED: 3558
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Sunday, May 29, 2005 5:00 AM

*** W A R N I N G ***

This might go off on a tangent rant.

*********************

Everytime I read something in the main stream press (EW, Yahoo, Newsweek, CNN, numerous others) about this flick, it always includes the words Cult, Sci-Fi, TV show, Failed or Cancelled. Can anyone think of any other words to keep the Everyday Joe from this flick?

Don't get me wrong. I am not saying this is going to flop. How can it? Joss and company look to have made a great flick. Also, you and I are not going to allow it to flop. If that means I have to buy 8 tickets per time I go see it, so be it. Frankly, its worth that much to me and I got the spare cash.

However, the Action Flick movie goers do read. And with a few exceptions (ie Star Wars et al) they avoid anything labeled "SCI-FI". Oh, the ones I know went and saw "I, Robot" and "Minority Report" and are planning on seeing "War Of The Worlds", but only because the term "Futuristic" is replacing the term SCI-FI. I never said they were bright, just that they do read.

I have tried to convince 3 of such AF movie buffs I know by showing them the trailer. What were their responses?

Jason: "Looks cool... but I just read that it was a failed tv show. Man, tv shows turned movies always blow!"

Robert: "I like the fighting chick... she's hot. Eh, maybe when it hits the dollar theater."

Mike: "Huh. (Yes, he actually said "Huh") Looks good." Then, after reading something, somewhere, "Dude, if it was so good, why'd FOX cancel it?"

I swear upon all that I hold holy, these were their responses. These three go see every action flick, unless they come across SCI-FI or CULT in the movie description. ("Its gunna be like that Dr. Who show isn't it? God, I hated that.", said about Hitchhiker's Guide.)

It's not that I am worried about being associated with such terms. Hell, my office has 2 walls dedicated to comic book posters, Serenity posters, both offical and from here (long live the DesignJet down the hall!), but I am worried that these 3 average joes are turned off because of the terms afore mentioned. I want this movie to score big. I want everyone I know to go see it. I want it to blow SW: ROTS outta the water when it comes to longevity. (I agree with most that ROTS is going to drop after this weekend)

Maybe I am upset about my failure to bring these 3 into the fold. Maybe I am upset because the ones writing the damn descriptions cant find another word for "Jubilant Fan" other than CULT in their Thesaurus. Maybe I am upset because my coffee is cold...

*** End of Line ***

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Sunday, May 29, 2005 5:05 AM

EMBERS

personally I'm always kind of curious about the 'cult' films...
I figure there has to be something compelling about it for a fandom to arise,
and of course it usually is attributed to a 'genre' film
sci-fi
fantasy
horror
and those are frequently interesting.

I'm not sure the term 'cult' really scares away viewers
hasn't everyone on the planet seen 'Rocky Horror Picture Show'?

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Sunday, May 29, 2005 5:08 AM

DECKROID

Ahhh, but you are here. Posting here. Planning on seeing the movie... maybe many, many times.

I expect that most here do go see those films. I like those same kind. However, the Average Joe types might not.

*** End of Line ***

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Sunday, May 29, 2005 5:08 AM

EMMA

I am with you!

I have the same problesm with the trailer 'millions of fans worldwide'. Ridiculous, 'creator of Buffy and Angel'. God help us!

My mates will come if I beg and grovel enough but only because I have a few months still to hassle and blackmail them

extremely dimensionally transcendental

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Sunday, May 29, 2005 5:15 AM

STAGGERLY

I'm with Embers, 'cult' always piques my curiosity and I'm usually not disappointed. In fact it's a big part of what brought me to Firefly in the first place. And people like us, who will follow the 'cult' label to new movies/series/whatever, are usually the die-hards who'll also try to get the word out and buy merchandise and basically become obsessed (which, I guess, is why they call it 'cult' to begin with!).

However I saw one writer somewhere refer to Serenity as being an "occult" movie, which might bring in an entirely different crowd.

-----------------------
"Whatever you do will be insignificant, but it is very important that you do it." - Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi

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Sunday, May 29, 2005 8:54 AM

BIKISDAD

Quote:
Originally posted by Staggerly:

However I saw one writer somewhere refer to Serenity as being an "occult" movie, which might bring in an entirely different crowd.

Geez, just because Mal once says (about River in "Safe") "Yeah, but she's our witch." some idiot goes and calls it an "occult" movie.

Let's face it, we can't do anything about the fact that there are a LOT of clueless morons in the world who just won't "get it". If someone you're trying to convert/get to the movie is too closed minded to go with the flow, just tell them it's their loss and move on to others.

Apathy on the Rise. No One Cares.

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Sunday, May 29, 2005 9:15 AM

CHRISTHECYNIC

Calm yourself.

Let’s face it, it is a cult hit.

If people are turned off by a single word what makes you think they’ll survive a single minute? As I understand it in the US a movie doesn’t pass or fail based in viewers, it’s based on repeat viewers. Bringing that kind of person to the movie isn’t going to get them coming back another two or three times.

Christianity was, and by the actual definition of the word still is, a cult. Look at how well it’s done.

You don’t increase a cult by spreading the word to closed-minded people, you increase a cult by spreading the word to them that might accept it.

-

The movie coming out means it’s mainstream now, Christianity had to wait 300 years for that. I’ll things considered I think we’re making good time, especially since the one-systemists haven’t started killing the FTLers yet, or vice versa.

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Sunday, May 29, 2005 9:24 AM

CHRISTHECYNIC

To Emma:

The trailer sucks, there will be another. The other might be better.

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Sunday, May 29, 2005 9:24 AM

THEGERG

The comment "Why'd Fox cancel it" seems to me a rather spurious reason for avoiding a movie. Fox are well known for lowest common-denominator stuff! Their coverage of the Iraq conflict being a case in point.

If they cancelled it, isn't it just possible that it was just too intelligent for that kind of viewer? Surely that is a good reason to see it?

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Sunday, May 29, 2005 9:25 AM

CHRISTHECYNIC

Something went wrong, this should not be here.

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Sunday, May 29, 2005 9:55 AM

EMMA

Quote:
The trailer sucks, there will be another. The other might be better.

I'm not alone - praise the lord

extremely dimensionally transcendental

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Sunday, May 29, 2005 10:55 AM

SUBGUY

Cult doesn't always have to be regarded as something bad, and many times can lead to mainstream success. Star Trek fandom was once regarded with cult status, a 'failed TV show with a cult following,' and until recent years when Paramount decided to squeeze as much blood from the stone as inhumanly possible, it had risen to be a successful and popular franchise. There is probably not a single person in the world who doesn't know 'Star Trek,' though not everyone is a fan. Perhaps someday, not too far in the future, Firefly/Serenity will receive that same mainstream acceptance? I can already see the Browncoats overshadowing Trek not too far down the line. And having seen the movie Serenity last week, I know it is a GREAT (emphasis mine) movie. But like Joss said in the intro before the film started, this is a movie based on a TV show that lasted 10 episodes with NO big names in the cast. Success will depend on word of mouth from us, the fans. But I believe it can only get better from here.

Captain Pete

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Sunday, May 29, 2005 10:58 AM

SUBGUY

Actually, citing Buffy and Angel in the trailer was a good move, since there is such a mainstream segment of society who watched either or both of those shows regularly. It may actually draw more of the 'mundanes' to the theaters to see a movie associated somehow with Buffy.
Right now Joss is known as 'The Creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer.' Lets work to change his title to 'The Creator of Firefly/Serenity' in the eyes of the general public!

Captain Pete

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Sunday, May 29, 2005 11:02 AM

SUBGUY

Quote:
Originally posted by christhecynic:
To Emma:

The trailer sucks, there will be another. The other might be better.

Sorry, but there I must disagree with you. I thought the trailer was great. But that's just me. (And the couple of dozen people I sent the link to

)

Captain Pete

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Sunday, May 29, 2005 11:03 AM

THEGERG

Quote:
Originally posted by TheGerg:
The comment "Why'd Fox cancel it" seems to me a rather spurious reason for avoiding a movie. Fox are well known for lowest common-denominator stuff! Their coverage of the Iraq conflict being a case in point.

If they cancelled it, isn't it just possible that it was just too intelligent for that kind of viewer? Surely that is a good reason to see it?

You are correct! This should not be here! I must have pressed the wrong hyperlink, I apologise!

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Sunday, May 29, 2005 11:03 AM

SUBGUY

Quote:
Originally posted by TheGerg:
The comment "Why'd Fox cancel it" seems to me a rather spurious reason for avoiding a movie. Fox are well known for lowest common-denominator stuff! Their coverage of the Iraq conflict being a case in point.

If they cancelled it, isn't it just possible that it was just too intelligent for that kind of viewer? Surely that is a good reason to see it?

Fox didn't cancel Firefly. They KILLED it!

Their handling of the series was almost CRIMINAL!

Captain Pete

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Sunday, May 29, 2005 3:23 PM

SERGEANTX

"Cult" refers to a smallish group of people intensely enthusiastic about something considered bizarre by mainstream standards. In popular usage, it refers to any group of people enjoying an activity or entertainment that the general mob of morons doesn't understand.

SergeantX

"Dream a little dream or you can live a little dream. I'd rather live it, cause dreamers always chase but never get it." Aesop Rock

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Sunday, May 29, 2005 5:05 PM

CLJOHNSTON108

Quote:
Originally posted by christhecynic:
The trailer sucks

Apparently it doesn't.
I wouldn't be here otherwise.

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Sunday, May 29, 2005 5:17 PM

RANGRBOB

I'm not too woried about the movie being a success. I think it has every chance to do at least as well as Hichhikers guide and that is on the verge of taking in 50mil domesticaly. If Serenity can make that plus overseas and the big draw for it DVD's I think that it will be considered a huge hit. Especially since it is based on a cancelled cult show. The thing is and someone on the OB mentioned this, it's not like anyone is expecting opening weekend totals of 100mil or more people are being realistic about its chances and draw.

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Sunday, May 29, 2005 5:50 PM

3HEADEDMONKEY

that's why you gotta let them see a few episodes so they know there's more to the show than meets the eye!

this is an aim convo with one of my friends after i lent him my dvd set

lightsab12: so what are your thoughts on teh show now that you've seen it all
Ikeda85: dude i really like it
Ikeda85: its soo good
Ikeda85: y did they stop it
Ikeda85: ?!?

lightsab12: any favorite episodes?
lightsab12: mine were Serenity, Ariel, and Out of Gas
lightsab12: well my favorite three
Ikeda85: yeah i liked serenity, out of gas was cool
Ikeda85: i liked all of them
lightsab12: yup

Ikeda85: man i kinda want my own set now
Ikeda85: haha

you just gotta let them see for themselves. if you just tell them it's good, it might not be enough to convince people.

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Sunday, May 29, 2005 8:48 PM

JASONZZZ

I hope that the trailer part with the action fight scene for Summer Glau is an early cut. It looked really slow and badly rehearsed. Fight scenes shouldn't look slow and like a staged set of dance steps unless if you are Jean Claude Van Damn (Yeah, a set of dance steps is exactly what it is when you are filming it, but it should be done so that it *looks* like a fight scene)... Since it would be an essential part of the sotry, I hope it would be done correctly...

I actually hate it even worse when they do it badly and then speed it up hoping it would look better. No, it just looks even crappier.

Quote:
Originally posted by Emma:
Quote:
The trailer sucks, there will be another. The other might be better.

I'm not alone - praise the lord

extremely dimensionally transcendental

Like Fireflyfans.net?
Haken needs a new development system. Donate.
http://www.fireflyfans.net/thread.asp?b=5&t=3283

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Sunday, May 29, 2005 10:23 PM

RANGRBOB

As a person who's seen it, I don't think you'll be diaspointed.

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Monday, May 30, 2005 12:08 AM

CHRISTHECYNIC

Quote:
Originally posted by SubGuy:
Quote:
Originally posted by christhecynic:
To Emma:
The trailer sucks, there will be another. The other might be better.

Sorry, but there I must disagree with you. I thought the trailer was great. But that's just me. (And the couple of dozen people I sent the link to )

We are on the same side, the need to argue about a single missionary attempt does not exist, so long as no one gets hurt.

(How long can I draw out the religion parallel?)

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Monday, May 30, 2005 12:11 AM

CHRISTHECYNIC

Quote:
Originally posted by cljohnston108:
Quote:
Originally posted by christhecynic:
The trailer sucks
Apparently it doesn't.
I wouldn't be here otherwise.

So it would appear.

I have to remind myself that the point of a trailer is to hook someone any way possible. It's the show and later movie itself that is supposed to do all else which matters.

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Monday, May 30, 2005 12:15 AM

CHRISTHECYNIC

Quote:
Originally posted by rangrbob:
As a person who's seen it, I don't think you'll be diaspointed.

Three years we've waited, faith is something we do not lack.

Thanks for being reassuring though.

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