Firefly and Serenity [message #6165] |
Fri, 07 October 2005 02:21 |
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Wayne Parham
Messages: 18793 Registered: January 2001
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Illuminati (33rd Degree) |
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The movie that's out right now called Serenity is based on a television series called Firefly. Somehow, I completely missed the television series. I don't know if it gets limited exposure or it's just the fact that I'm too busy to watch any prime-time television. But anyway, I missed it.
Derk went to Serenity and said it was great. So I'm anxious to see it too. He bought the DVD for the Firefly television series and loaned it to me. So for the last couple of nights, I've watched an episode or two right before going to sleep.
I really have enjoyed this series. The very first episode is confusing for a couple of minutes, because they jump right into action, showing a brief bit of history. Some of the characters are in a battle scene, and you realize after a little bit that they are rebels on a side that eventually fails, sort of like the Jedis in Star Wars. It's like a cross between the Millineum Falcon and Star Trek, with characters that live like they're in the wild west. It has really grown on me. If you liked the original Star Trek series, I think you'll probably like this one too. It has that kind of feel to me, a science fiction story that's different, unique enough to keep you interested but familiar enough to make you comfortable with the characters.
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Re: Firefly and Serenity [message #6167 is a reply to message #6165] |
Fri, 07 October 2005 21:29 |
lon
Messages: 760 Registered: May 2009
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Illuminati (2nd Degree) |
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Wayne, I've become a Browncoat as well. I have not watched tv for 10 years or so, the series was recommended to me and I managed to see it in the dvd collection. There's also a book about it which I read called "Finding Serenity" which fills in some of the things that the series is made of... like real Chinese curses and phrases. The book has a pronunciation key so you can speak the Chinese correctly. Other articles and essays come from some of the writers, actors and even one on the music are contained in "Finding Serenity." I'll prob'ly wait til the dvd comes out or it hits the budgets. I have one trusted source for film reviews. That source is Susan Granger. She began writing for Usenet when the internet was new and is a professional New york Critic. Her internet pieces are brief, unlike some of the other films buffs writing about movies. Susan said that Serenity was high on fan service but was not the caliber of the big franchises. This is too bad. I expected more from Joss Whedon. The book Finding Serenity gives the definition of Joss which is Chinese for "luck". Whedon changed his name when he became a Hollywood joe I guess. Even the IMDb has to be taken with a grain of salt seeing that Serenity garnered 9 out of 10 stars (meaning "near perfect.") At first I didn't know what to make of Firefly. My first impression was that it was just another cutesy "concept science fiction" production with the sort of clever dialog all those Harvard grads that get hired by Hollywood are fond of. That still pretty much holds true.
What I expected from the film may not have been portrayed such as what The Rievers are all about. And I took some offense at the prereleases going on for months in enclaves of fandom like the LA and New York tryouts for the movie to build word of mouth on it.
Trekkies and Browncoats share the desire for a better future and better science fiction and I would add "more of it."
I'm on my second time through watching Stargate SG1 dvds. Somehow I accept the campiness in SG1 and willingly suspend disbelief. In Firefly there aren't enough big ideas to suspend anything. Well maybe one. But that's a reply for another day.
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Re: Firefly and Serenity [message #6171 is a reply to message #6170] |
Sat, 08 October 2005 12:07 |
lon
Messages: 760 Registered: May 2009
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Illuminati (2nd Degree) |
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Here's a paraphrased quote from Firefly about the Rievers: If they catch you, they torture you, rape you, kill you skin and eat you... in that order, if you're lucky. Think of it as The Space Family Manson.
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Re: Firefly and Serenity [message #6176 is a reply to message #6175] |
Sat, 08 October 2005 22:08 |
lon
Messages: 760 Registered: May 2009
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Illuminati (2nd Degree) |
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... 'made _me_ wonder' why it was on _Fox._ It had that "_Friends_ In Outer Space" quality I can't really diagnose. But I watched it through a second time after reading the book.
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