More controversy.... by jewelstaitefan

after watching them both many times - loving the fact they are both close to joss and nathan's original view of Mal.

...i'm gonna plumb for the BDM.

nothing is ever flawless - and certainly the deleted scenes should all have been included but...

on rpt viewings i find the pilot (after an hour or so of high watermark tv) flattens just a little once it gets to whitefall.

i love the democratic nature of the show as a whole but i can understand why a movie might focus on simply Mal and River. If there had been sequels (sigh) others would have had their turn.

i feel a little sorry for whedon in that even his core audience are liable to be very definite in what they want from him now.

I put the BDM up there in my lists as being a good episode - i mean, i prefer Objects in Space, Out of Gas etc but (Inara aside) it's better than Heart of Gold and some of the others. (IMHO)

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Wednesday, July 9, 2008 4:22 AM

SHINYGOODGUY

Pilot for me.

1. The Girl in the Box - when River first comes out and starts talking to Simon. I don't know about you folks but I just wanted to take her in my arms and protect her (much as Simon did).

2. "Curse your sudden, but inevitable betrayal" This scene introduces one of the most beloved characters in tv today. Joss set this up perfectly. Wash is us, the decent guy who happens to be the best pilot in the 'verse. Right away we know this guy in just that scene.

3. Kaylee's "You're gonna come with us" nuf said.

4. Pain is scary - in those 3 words we know who Jayne is.

5. The Look that Zoe gives Mal when she finds out that the Alliance "goods" are marked (in Badger's Den) but she never wavers standing by her Captain.

6. The little push that Mal gives Inara when he orders her to escape in the shuttle when being chased by the Reavers.

7. Simon's Speech about his genius sister, Wow.

8. Book's confession to Inara, great scene.

9. Crazy Ivan scene leading up to Kaylee's "That's my girl"

10. Zoe's "Take the helm, sir" right after. Great stuff. Here's this warrior woman, who could probably fight Jayne to a standstill, becoming a complete girl whenever her husband does his cool pilot thing. I simply love that. She lights up when Wash does his thing. Now tell me that ain't brilliant writing.

Should I go on. Not that the BDM doesn't have its moments. More on that later.

Naughty men like us slipping about....

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Wednesday, July 9, 2008 4:44 AM

ZEEK

BDM hands down. The pilot is great and all but it's only a piece of a bigger story. If I have to go with a stand alone 2 hours of the verse then the BDM wins easily.

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Wednesday, July 9, 2008 5:05 AM

AIKO

I have to say, the Pilot. It had everything that the series was about. But the BDM was Mal/River centric *echoes a bunch of people above her*, and it killed off a couple characters that a bunch of people loved, and it was just a dark movie.

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Wednesday, July 9, 2008 5:31 AM

Quote:
and it was just a dark movie.

am i the only one who thinks the BDM is gorram funny too?

rhetorical butler asks:
were F*X right to insist on 'warming' up the tv show??

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Wednesday, July 9, 2008 5:39 AM

SCATHAC

Quote:
Originally posted by Shinygoodguy:
Pilot for me.

1. The Girl in the Box - when River first comes out and starts talking to Simon. I don't know about you folks but I just wanted to take her in my arms and protect her (much as Simon did).

2. "Curse your sudden, but inevitable betrayal" This scene introduces one of the most beloved characters in tv today. Joss set this up perfectly. Wash is us, the decent guy who happens to be the best pilot in the 'verse. Right away we know this guy in just that scene.

3. Kaylee's "You're gonna come with us" nuf said.

4. Pain is scary - in those 3 words we know who Jayne is.

5. The Look that Zoe gives Mal when she finds out that the Alliance "goods" are marked (in Badger's Den) but she never wavers standing by her Captain.

6. The little push that Mal gives Inara when he orders her to escape in the shuttle when being chased by the Reavers.

7. Simon's Speech about his genius sister, Wow.

8. Book's confession to Inara, great scene.

9. Crazy Ivan scene leading up to Kaylee's "That's my girl"

10. Zoe's "Take the helm, sir" right after. Great stuff. Here's this warrior woman, who could probably fight Jayne to a standstill, becoming a complete girl whenever her husband does his cool pilot thing. I simply love that. She lights up when Wash does his thing. Now tell me that ain't brilliant writing.

Should I go on. Not that the BDM doesn't have its moments. More on that later.
B]

You said it all. The Pilot is, at this moment, my favorite episode. It's poignant, emotional, but there is also great action and sparkling wit. I'm a sucker for wit. I like the balance of sci fi and wild west motifs here also. And the intro to each character makes you just love them. Even Jayne, who you know you can't trust.

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Wednesday, July 9, 2008 9:21 AM

I like both and they accomplish two different things.

The pilot is the introduction of all the characters and touches on some of the relationships. There are some great character interactions. They are listed above.

The BDM, while being Mal and River centric, is a solid Sci Fi story and Mal is generously dark, but he does arc and rise above his personal loss in the valley.

I had a co-worker who went to the opening of the movie. He was disappointed, “too much like Buffy in Space,” he said. He recently saw a few episodes on UHD and was impressed. I loaned him the series. He is floored. “What a great show and it’s nothing like the movie” He says. He’s hooked and I need to go to Target now and get another set.

If we get a sequel, I hope Joss is able to balance the two together this time and although I love River, the ass kicking has been done and is getting old. Maybe just a short scene or two would suffice. And no more school scenes. Was that a future implementation of classroom curriculum documentary I was freaking watching Joss? I’m bored, already.

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Wednesday, July 9, 2008 10:49 AM

GILOVE2DANCE

Pilot seems to be the general response and I must agree. After all, the pilot leads to the series whereas the BDM leads to...no Wash. Sob.

I must say I do prefer the music in BDM then the pilot. Heh heh.

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Wednesday, July 9, 2008 1:08 PM

MISSTRESSAHARA

Pilot all the way, sorry to those who love the movie but it is inferior to the show, always will be in my opinion. To even compare it is wrong. The movie will be just an extention of the series, and not the best. I actually prefer HOG to the BDM. but again, my own opinion.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

DON'T FREAK OUT

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Wednesday, July 9, 2008 1:18 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Misstressahara:
Pilot all the way, sorry to those who love the movie but it is inferior to the show, always will be in my opinion. To even compare it is wrong. The movie will be just an extention of the series, and not the best. I actually prefer HOG to the BDM. but again, my own opinion.

no actually i think you're in the majority, certainly if Serenity Found, Imdb.com
and the unpopular opinions thread are to be believed.

i would never criticize someone for a subjective opinion (taste) either way. (well, not mostly!)
But i've always found it interesting -
heard a lot of good arguments and got a lot of genuine insights
from both camps (as it were):)

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Wednesday, July 9, 2008 6:21 PM

Well, not as unpopular a thought as I had conjured.
So far, 11-2 for Pilot Serenity.

After posting this yesterday, it occurred to me that at the CSTS screening there was pre-show stuff that was show via a personal computer, on the silver screen. It was even shown with the house lights on. I assume many venues had the same pre-show entertainment.
So, how cool would it be to have the Pilot on the bigscreen? I'd pay to see that with a bunch of browncoats. And it is named Serenity, so funds could go to CSTS, if Fox agrees.
Maybe a CSTS could have a double feature, Pilot Serenity followed by BDM Serenity.
Or has this been done and I just missed out?

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Wednesday, July 9, 2008 7:02 PM

ONTHEDRIFT

I'm going to have to go with Pilot Serenity as well. It was my introduction to the 'verse and it was just love at first sight. So I imagine I'll always have a fairly intense response to it. As far as the BDM vs. the series in my opinion it's apples and oranges. Sure it was a continuation of some of the story- but it obviously could only focus on certain story threads due to length and pacing. One of the things I loved about the series was that nine different characters were all given their due, which is no easy feat. And the feel of the movie is much different from the warm, lived in, home-y vibe I get from the series. The color palette alone makes that abundantly clear. All of this is not to say I don't love the movie, I'll always be grateful for it, and it's definitely one of the better sci-fi movies I've seen. (But I will admit I always feel like there's a dull heavy ache in my chest whenever I think about the movie. It was in many ways the death of the series I loved so dearly. There's simply no coming back from the places that it took us and the characters we lost. I suppose I was being illogically optimistic up until I saw it - thinking that there could always be a day when Firefly could be resurrected. -I'm aware that that's all kind of stupid but I'm thinking some of you will understand.- Anyways, the movie was similar to a life changing event in your personal life- you know that after this has happened there's no going back. Things will never be like they once were no matter how much you wish for it. You'll never be able to return to that familiar and more innocent place that you were in before things changed for you. So the movie has always evoked a bittersweet response for me. Happiness to see the 'verse again tinged with loss over knowing that we can all never go back to the way things were.) So really wordy likely overdramatic post to say that I love the movie just not in the same way as the pilot.

And jewelstaitefan I too would love to see some Firefly on the big screen. I know before the copyright crackdown around the time of the WGA strike there were some theatres that showed episodes of Firefly and Buffy. Would have loved that. (Especially seeing OMWF on the big screen which I have yet to do since I live in the armpit of Uncoolsville.) I would imagine any showing of Firefly at a CSTS event would likely have to be handled by each venue by themselves since the global CSTS organizers probably have their hands full securing rights through Universal alone. And I fully agree on the awesome factor of seeing the pilot on the big screen with other flans.

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Wednesday, July 9, 2008 7:37 PM

CANTTAKEMYSKY

I don't believe the two can be compared.

Its completely different points on the scale. They both are gorram amazing, but the BDM was more epic than anything you could do on TV. One was for the building, one was for gaining. The pilot is one of the finest pieces of work I have have ever seen.

I can't choose on this one folks!.....DONT MAKE ME!!!

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________

CREATOR OF THE MOST RANDOM ACCIDENTAL THREAD IN THE 'VERSE!

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Wednesday, July 9, 2008 8:39 PM

NEWOLDBROWNCOAT

Serenity the Big Damn Pilot, by miles. It's my absolute fave, beating out OMR and Shindig, even, by a ways. The Pilot is what I watch as first choice whenever I wanta watch FF. The BDM, sadly, is a disappointment, on a level with Train Job and Bushwacked.

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Wednesday, July 9, 2008 8:46 PM

I had forgotten to point out that I understood that Joss had FILMed every episode.
How fitting for a big screening of a movie that Fox refused to broadcast until after cancellation.
Pilot won an Emmy.
Did BDM win any awards?

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Wednesday, July 9, 2008 10:44 PM

HUGHFF

Quote:
Originally posted by jewelstaitefan:
Did BDM win any awards?

Despite my dismissing the bdm earlier, I feel compelled to point out that it won a Hugo, for best sf movie. Morena accepted on Joss' behalf and read out a speech he wrote - you can probably find it on youtube. At her glamorous best, she certainly looked out of place amongst all those middle-aged writers/artisits receiving the other awards.

www.cpfc.org - my life

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Thursday, July 10, 2008 12:31 AM

i do understand some of the criticism of the BDM
(although a lot if it is Sgt Pepper vs The White Album)

Wash's death is a wrong move -

not just coz he's likeable
(some of the opinions i've heard are a re-run of
the Tara's not dead craziness from Buffy-land)

but because - (the best argument being in Serenity Found)
Zoe cannot 'arc' after this,
'what can she do? get MORE badass' (i'm paraphrasing).

Zoe should've been the one to go -
Wash would have developed whole new story/characer potential.

i have no idea how Wash's death seemed to a viewer unfamiliar with the tv show.

Also - the River, Mal focus forces a shift;
yes, Mal comes into his own once the whole crew are together
but it's not the same as in the show,
where Mal needs the crew to fill in his blanks.

In the BDM he just needs back-up.

I like the Serenity comics because this balance has been restored.
(as it would have been perhaps in any sequel -
and yet another reason to bemoan the lack of a dvd mini-series)

Gotta say - juggling 9 characters is really really hard! Ask a BSR fan-fic writer!

But i do think the BDM is beautiflly shot and filmed, well realised within itself,
funnier than people credit - think of the opening and Mal in the Companion temple.

The River in the bank scene is priceless - so are those goggles!
Mr Universe is a great addition.
The Operative is fantastic.
The music is wonderful.
and that's enough of that.

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Thursday, July 10, 2008 4:24 AM

AMDOBELL

I honestly don't want to choose between the Pilot and the BDM because I loved them both, they are each a chance to become absorbed in the fantastic 'verse Joss has created for us to play in. I go with most everybody about all the wonderful character moments in the pilot, that wonderful merging of cowboys in space and the Chinese culture and the whole rich fabric that had that worn comfortable feeling about it of something much loved and *lived in*. It makes it feel *real*. There are many contrasts between the pilot and the movie which is probably what clashes in some minds as to merit.

The pilot gave us Joss's 'verse, gifted us with his wonderful characters and drew us lovingly in. The BDM thrilled me because the series we loved and lost was brought back on the Big Damn Screen and how could any Browncoat not feel all misted up at that? So proud that it happened, so excited to get to watch it then own a piece of it with the DVD. I thought the story was excellent, pacing great, music terrific. Downsides for me were the unnecessary death of Book. What in the nine hells was that about? Why? Killing off Wash was almost a "we have to kill someone off for the movie to be taken seriously" but I don't buy that. For shock value it worked. In fact at one point in the movie I was convinced Joss was going to kill off ALL our Big Damn Heroes. It was almost as if every single character had been given life threatening injuries and could have the plug pulled on them at a moment's notice. It certainly kept my heart in my mouth right up until the end. And before anyone says the BDM lacked emotional content just rewatch that scene when Simon gets shot and River says "My turn now". I had tears running down my face.

Given that Zoe was put back together with crazy glue and Mal had so many injuries most of which should have killed him outright but just gave him a limp, it seemed so wrong that Wash had to die by Reaver spike and Book by the Alliance bully boys carrying out the Operative's scorched earth policy. The pilot will also hold my heart because it came FIRST. It gave us FIREFLY. But I will also love the BDM because I simply couldn't let go after the series ended. And just for the record, I secretly don't believe Book is actually dead. I know, I know, before anyone says it, "Denial (ie the Nile) is not just a river in Africa".

Ali D :~)
You can't take the sky from me...

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Thursday, July 10, 2008 4:33 AM

congratulations! you win our letter of the week competition! collect your prize now!:)

(seriously, if this don't make to a pod-cast, there's no justice)

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Thursday, July 10, 2008 4:40 AM

AMDOBELL

Quote:
Originally posted by wytchcroft:
congratulations! you win our letter of the week competition! collect your prize now!:)

(seriously, if this don't make to a pod-cast, there's no justice)

Really? I won a prize? Can I ask for it to be a second season of "Firefly"? Big, pretty please with sugar on top!

Ali D :~)
You can't take the sky from me...

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Thursday, July 10, 2008 10:19 AM

I think fans are uncomfortable with the BDM because Joss used the opportunity to change the verse and people generally don't like change because they view it as something negative. And the changes are abrupt because the story was originally to take place over 2 years, not a week. They become insecure on how they view and understand the verse.

But if you look carefully at the sequence of events in the movie and the discovery of Miranda and its impact on the crew and their relationships it makes sense in order to move the story forward, otherwise the verse stays stagnant where nothing happens and people don't change. That's just not the way life is.

And, after reading the new comics, Wash's death is even more poignant because he had dreams of a life with Zoe that she was unable to create with him. Zoe has too much baggage from the aftermath of the war that she hasn't dealt with or even told Wash about. Also, she insists on staying with Mal, even when her husband wants her to leave so they can start a life together. It eventually becomes a poor choice on her part, and maybe that’s what Joss wants us to see in Wash’s death and not to just to make Zoe a badass again. Though, I have a feeling that’s where the next movie will start with her.

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Thursday, July 10, 2008 10:27 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Platonist:

I think fans are uncomfortable with the BDM because Joss used the opportunity to change the verse and people generally don't like change because they view it as something negative. And the changes are abrupt because the story was originally to take place over 2 years, not a week. They become insecure on how they view and understand the verse.

But if you look carefully at the sequence of events in the movie and the discovery of Miranda and its impact on the crew and their relationships it makes sense in order to move the story forward

i think you're right - i've never fully grasped the supposed continuity shift/breakdown
between the show and the BDM.
It all feels done with a purpose
and everything DOES move forward.

Quote:
otherwise the verse stays stagnant where nothing happens and people don't change. That's just not the way life is.

that's always gonna be a hard pill
for fans of any of joss's shows, comics, musicals etc!

Quote:
And, after reading the new comics, Wash's death is even more poignant because he had dreams of a life with Zoe that she was unable to create with him. Zoe has too much baggage from the aftermath of the war that she hasn't dealt with or even told Wash about.

yeh... but much as i love the developments in
Better Days, (and i really do) they're retro fitted
after having written/filmed the movie.

(sidebar - my formatting is frakked today -
everything's coming out haiku!)

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Thursday, July 10, 2008 10:46 AM

Yeh... the comics are a retro fit, but I've always thought that about Zoe... and Wash. It could have worked if she chose her husband and marriage over her misplaced loyalty to Mal and she should have faced the ghosts of her past before she committed to a marriage.

In the comics Joss is developing her flaws like the rest of the crew have. Fans make her and Mal far more heroic then intended.

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Thursday, July 10, 2008 12:08 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Platonist:

In the comics Joss is developing her flaws like the rest of the crew have. Fans make her and Mal far more heroic then intended.

absolutely - not only do i agree but it's one of the reasons
i love the comics and wish more fans would come onboard.

the character development is great:)
(especially, but not exclusively, in Better Days)
and again -
everything done with a steely sense of purpose.

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Thursday, July 10, 2008 12:55 PM

Yeh...it’s all good, the Pilot, the Series, the BDM, and now the comics, which are a must read if you are writing and waxing in this verse (even if they are a retro fit), and Mal and Inara have tea without fighting and he now knows she's ...ahh...I can't write it... I may start crying. It’s so sad.

There goes my favorite character… damn you, Joss!

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Thursday, July 10, 2008 2:12 PM

HUGHFF

Quote:
Originally posted by Platonist:

I think fans are uncomfortable with the BDM because Joss used the opportunity to change the verse and people generally don't like change because they view it as something negative. And the changes are abrupt because the story was originally to take place over 2 years, not a week. They become insecure on how they view and understand the verse.

Except that I saw the bdm before I saw the series and almost didn't buy the series as a consequence.

In the end, I bought Firefly because I thought Serenity was good enough for another go when I found the series on sale at 50% off. If I hadn't been able to pick it up cheaply, I may not have bothered.

I get considerably more out of the bdm knowing the series but it isn't as good. It lacks the richness of all the relationships, stripping events down to an action story and those relationships which can be fitted into that plot, thus: Book, and his whole thematic relationship with Mal - gone; the big sister/little sister relationship Inara and Kaylee shared - gone; the strong contrasting personalities of Mal and Inara trying to work out how to love each other without sidelining themselves - sidelined. There's more besides but I think you get my point.

To paraphrase Joss, Firefly was about 9 people living in the uncaring vastness of space; Serentiy was about a bunch of heroes (admittedly somewhat unlikely but we all love the underdog) standing up for what is right and winning in the final reel.

www.cpfc.org - my life

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Sunday, July 13, 2008 7:55 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by jewelstaitefan:
I had forgotten to point out that I understood that Joss had FILMed every episode.
How fitting for a big screening of a movie that Fox refused to broadcast until after cancellation.
Pilot won an Emmy.
Did BDM win any awards?

I noticed Summer Glau won her first Saturn for Serenity.
Plus it won Best SciFi movie of all time by SFX magazine.

Apparently current votes are 13 for Pilot Serenity, 2 for BDM Serenity. Those programmers at Fox are geniuses, for sure.

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Thursday, September 4, 2008 11:30 AM

WENDYPOPS

Ahhh, it's hard to compare the two because films work differently from TV.

I would say that BDF (i hate the word 'movie') is just about as perfect a film as you can get.

The pilot... it was never a film, so it's set up differently. It's introducing people slowly and ending on much more of a "..." than a "." If you catch my drift?

Argh... i'm going to go with the film. Because in the space of 2 hours, it plays with me and my emotions much more than the pilot does in that time.

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

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Thursday, September 4, 2008 11:36 AM

CHRISISALL

Quote:
Originally posted by wytchcroft:

am i the only one who thinks the BDM is gorram funny too?

It's hi-larious in spots. It's my pick as well.

Mirandaisall

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Wednesday, September 10, 2008 12:18 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by WendyPops:
Ahhh, it's hard to compare the two because films work differently from TV.

True. Completely different medium.

(though it's always nice to catch episodes on a big screen!:))

same with the comics.

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Wednesday, September 10, 2008 12:26 PM

EVILDINOSAUR

when it comes down to any episode up against the movie, the episode always wins. The series was so much better than the movie, I'm glad we got the movie, but it didn't stand up at all to the series.

"Haha, mine is an evil laugh."

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Thursday, September 11, 2008 10:56 PM

Current votes seem to be 14 for Pilot Serenity and 3 for BDM Serenity.

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Friday, September 12, 2008 4:31 AM

SAFEAT2ND

Sorry, but I vote for the pilot as well.

Different mediums aside, I just liked it better.

I've said it before, if the BDM is truer (is that even a word?) to Joss's original vision, then my hatred for Fox aside, I liked their watered down version better.

Bear in mind I was not a pre-exsisting Joss fan before Firefly and as such had no pre-conceived notions on how he did things.

While I LOVE Firefly and by extention the BDM, I am still not a Joss fanatic. To put it in perspective, I liked the Buffy movie not the series, but that's a whole 'nother arguement...

That said, I didn't hate the BDM, just didn't like it as much.

_______________________________________________________________
"Got a headful of lightning
And a heart full of rain
And I know that I said
I'd never do it again
Oh and I love you sweet baby but I always take the long way home."

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Friday, September 12, 2008 5:58 AM

WINDIE

Has to be the pilot for me, defining TV at its very best.

Couldn't tell you how many times I have watched it but I tend to notice new things every now and again.

Why have they taken the sky from ME

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Friday, September 12, 2008 6:02 AM

PIRATECAT

The pilot. The BDM. NO the pilot. No the BDM. Ok let me get back on that.

"Battle of Serenity, Mal. Besides Zoe here, how many-" "I'm talkin at you! How many men in your platoon came out of their alive".

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Friday, September 12, 2008 6:40 AM

FIREFLY151

This is a great thread!

I expected people to choose the BDM, only because I thought that was better. But I can see now why people love the pilot even more. Still, majority aside, I'm going with the BDM.

I saw the movie before the series (well actually I saw the very end of Ariel first), and I loved it. It was because of the movie that I wanted to see the TV show. But that doesn't make the movie better.

What makes the movie better is the fact that it's a story in one. On its own, the pilot is just a beginning. It doesn't have a real ending, while the movie has its own complete story. True, the pilot focuses on many characters, but that's part of being a pilot. The movie has to focus on the story, which means less characters get a focus, but instead it develops a more steady, interesting storyline. The movie focused on what I was most interested in in the series - the Alliance and River. I feel a little guilty for prefering the futuristic episodes of Firefly, but that's just me. Thanbkfully, the BDM had lots of that, the special effects, tech and future ideas were great. And even better, it had a balance. There was still a bar fight, 'country town' planets and some punches thrown. Just on a bigger scale.

Yes, Book's death was terrible. It was completely unnecessary, not everyone on Haven had to die. Maybe they did, to give the story those emotional effects, but Book? It was unfair. Wash, on the other hand... Very often I read about Firefly fans complaining of Wash's death. I, however, don't mind it (but yes, of course, I'm sad about it). His death, when I first watched the movie, really made me wonder who was going to survive. A major character had just been killed! Would it happen again? What chance was there for the others? Wash's death really gave the final scenes a sense of loss and disaster. Anything could have happened. And as for Wash's and Zoe's future? Well, Whedon wasn't going to make more Firefly anyway, was he? And if he did, I'm sure Zoe would've have been revealed as pregnant, as many people have suggested.

So, for many reasons (and probably most not mentioned) I choose ... hmm... Serenity or Serenity? The BDM!

Keep Writing, Keep Flying

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Friday, September 12, 2008 2:54 PM

MISSTRESSAHARA

Quote:
Originally posted by safeat2nd:
Sorry, but I vote for the pilot as well.

Different mediums aside, I just liked it better.

I've said it before, if the BDM is truer (is that even a word?) to Joss's original vision, then my hatred for Fox aside, I liked their watered down version better.

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^THIS!

I've watched the show since it first aired in 2002, and I was among many who was on the edge of their seats waiting for the movie to be released and going to the theater with light in my eyes and a smile on my face....... and when I came out there was a heaviness, not just disappointment about Wash and Book, but everything, EVERYTHING was off. Nothing made sense, and I didn't recognize any of the characters anymore. It was like a totally different series of characters. As unpopular as this may sound I think I would have preferred no movie at all, then my memories would be of the series and I wouldn't get this bitterness at the back of my throat. I don't know what I went to see, but it wasn't my BDH, and it wasn't Firefly.

And to head people off, I get the change thing, Joss's verse, wanted to make it darker, no it wasn't Firefly it was Serenity, blah, blah, blah....

To me, the movie will always be inferior. Hell, it's not even in my top 10. MOHO.

*~A footer is the closing of an article, not a kinky sex move~*

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Thursday, December 18, 2008 7:37 PM

MOONDOG

I really loved both of them and I think it's unfair to make me decide. One thing I would like to bring up is that the BDM is what Joss had envisioned (more or less) of the series had it been allowed to run several seasons. In making the BDM he was forced to condense several years down into 2 hours and things suffer as a consiquence. As to the BDM being Mal/River centered, If the existing episodes are examined in order, that is what the whole story was about. The soul journey of two people facing their personal demons with the support of those qround them. All of the others (People are gonna hate me for suggesting this) are there to define them with their interactions.

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Thursday, December 18, 2008 8:15 PM

COLE23

I loved the film,but i'll pick the tv pilot everytime.I'm a film guy to,so that's unusual.The reason is simple,the pilot was all about character advancement.The movie was about advancing the story.I'm a guy that loves dialogue and character development.I'll take it over action everytime.Well,maybe not in this shows case,when i think about it.That is one reason Firefly/Serenity is so good.There is hardly any brainless action.When you see a character enter into a fight sequence it's hardly ever just so you can see him or her kick some ass,the action is usually an extension of the characters personality.In other words when Hal shoots the fed in the pilot,it's an extension of his take charge,do what has to be done,no BS,personality.
Another example is the entire crew in the War Stories episode.All the action added to the character development.Like Book shooting a guard in the knees.Sure he's a Shepherd,but he's not going to stand around and preach while his friend is being tortured.That scene told us more about his character than pages of dialouge would have.
Did all that make any sense?haha

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Wednesday, January 21, 2009 8:55 PM