Skip to the last paragraph to get the opinion and avoid spoilage. :)

Hjermsted | September 27, 23:50 CET

New viewers will probably not care too deeply who exactly Inara or Book are. They'll probably think 'just some folk the cool gang come across in their travels'.

(Added tags, changed the link to the permanent location of the review and added a full stop after the headline.)

Caroline | September 27, 23:56 CET

Yet another example of a fan being her own worst enemy. People who have seen the flick who were not fans understand all of the things that people keep wondering if they will get. All of these things that peopel flail about 'Will they understand who Inara is?' 'Will they care about Kaylee?' 'Will they understand that Mal is not a complete ass?'. The answer is a resounding yes for the most part -- the 'virgins' get it, so I think we would be best served by ceasing with the hand wringing.

That aside its a good review and honest and I dug it. Nicely written and fair and the love of things Joss and Firefly shine through in spite of her reservations. Should the link maybe be directly to the article?

zeitgeist | September 27, 23:58 CET

oops. How long have I been posting here? A year? And I can't post a story correctly? I'm going back to the remedial internets for a refresher course.

Allyson | September 28, 00:04 CET

You guys are just unlucky to be stuck with a site owner who is a sub editor IRL.

Caroline | September 28, 00:20 CET

*grin* It's cool, Allyson, C is around to whip us when we misbehave... er, figuratively, that is.

zeitgeist | September 28, 00:30 CET

That's very well put. I'm still amazed at some of the complaints of fans who weren't all that pleased. And frankly, no offense intended but this sounds like kind of a high maintenance gal.

And really, I've seen it twice now. No one acts out of character! Mal was ALWAYS a bitter grouch with a strong alpha male chip on his shoulder. But he's also a good man with a good heat underneath and he has a nice sarcastic sense of humor on top. Since Inara left he got more crabby. Simon was always a stiff who's protective over his sister. Zoey was always the professional soldier girl. Honestly, what's the problem?

Everybody else, everything she lists...this is what their personalities were like! It's just that character arcs now go through a 2 hour period instead of 22 episodes. That's all.

And yes fans will feel more for what happens to all the characters because they know them better, but how many zillions of movies are there were we don't have those backstories either and still go with the flow?? Yes there's less back info if you haven't seen the show, but there's NO less back info than movies generally give. So why is it an issue just for this movie for so many people?

EdDantes | September 28, 00:37 CET

I appreciate her honesty. But I also feel that some people that see the movie will want more and will watch the DVDs/SciFi eps. Then, when the DVD comes out, they'll buy that and watch it again in the context of the series (if they don't manage to do that during first run). I admit I'm pretty optimistic, but the BDM is a great movie on its own. I took 2 non-'coats with me on June 23 and they both loved it. My roommate is planning to see it again this weekend. I'm going to keep that positive energy flowing!

brownishcoat | September 28, 00:42 CET

"[Mal]'s also a good man with a good heat underneath…"

I know that's a typo, but I love the way it came out!

brownishcoat | September 28, 00:43 CET

I love that she says something about the movie having no surprises. Is she kidding?? Both times I've seen it (so far), there were huge gasps from the audience.

Stephanie | September 28, 00:45 CET

Yeah, not with her on the no surprises and no humor at all... I've taken several 'virgins' to screenings and they will all be seeing it again this friday night.

[ edited by zeitgeist on 2005-09-27 22:48 ]

zeitgeist | September 28, 00:47 CET

Yeah, I was completely unspoiled and there were several surprises which really shocked me.

I'd just like to start by saying how much I loved the film. However I do think there is a small amount of truth in the writer's words.

I did think that neither Inara or Book was explained very much, and that they did remain quite enigmatic throughout. For me, as a Firefly fan, that wasn't a problem, but I can understand that a new viewer might have a little trouble understanding exactly who, or what, Inara is. But I do think there was an intentional element of mystery, and that Joss didn't want to go into the whole Companion thing at this stage. But he did make all the important connections, her relationships to all the other crewmembers and there was the feeling that she was very much a part of the team.

As I said, I don't think it's necessarily important, but I do think it could have been a little confusing for new viewers. But really I'm mentioning something that wasn't really a problem, just a note, because the film was much much better than the majority of films we're subjected to.

Razor | September 28, 00:54 CET

Agree with what's beed said here, but no surprises or snappy dialogue? The film is practically nothing but surpises and snappy dialogue.

bonzob | September 28, 00:55 CET

This review amuses me, as yet again I think it's a fan over thinking it. Will an audience member CARE who Inara is? Probably not, is the honest truth.

Does that matter? Er. No. Not at all. In the slightest. If somebody WANTS to see more, they'll pick up Firefly. And they'll learn.

No surprises? 'xcuse me? No snappy dialogue? 'xcuse me?

gossi | September 28, 01:00 CET

Plus as Ed pointed out above, you go into most movies knowing less than is given you in Serenity.

zeitgeist | September 28, 01:00 CET

Firefly/Serenity is first and foremost about characterization. The relationships between the characters are clearly established in the film. For example, it's established that Mal and Inara have conflicted feelings toward each other and you can accept that without question. You're not taken out of the story asking why she left. Does it pack more punch for people who know the history? Of course, but there would be no way to catch people up that far in the film. As for fans who were expecting or hoping for certain things to happen in the movie although maybe they could have happened in season 2 of a television show they can't happen in an origin movie. Still, many things significantly change in the universe at the end of this story. I think the show translated really well. Every character gets their moment to shine. The western elements were significantly toned down which was a huge knock against the series. Not every character speaks old timey.

I wouldn't get too excited over this particular article because it's not really a review so much as it is someone's reaction.

IMMORTAL | September 28, 01:43 CET

I enjoyed the piece. willa spoke her mind, identified specifically what she thought worked or didn't, and then told us to go see it and make up our own minds.

I happened to share a number of her misgivings after my first viewing, and many of them receded after seeing the movie again the other night. One or two things still don't work for me, but the Joss-fanboy part of me was much calmer the second time around (whereas the first time there was a small voice whining "oh god, oh god, is he going to blow it?" in the back of my head), and once I could sit back and just *watch* it, I thought Serenity simply soared.

SoddingNancyTribe | September 28, 03:25 CET

HeaRt! I meant heart, dagsnabbit! Stupid fingers! Ahh, I hate it when that happens......


That's what I was thinking. That's pretty much the complaint in her article that I had most trouble with. Too much more humor and it would've been a complete comedy!

EdDantes | September 28, 05:02 CET

because it's not really a review so much as it is someone's reaction.

That's true, and I do think she was overthinking it a little bit for how non-fans will take it. And the first time I saw it, I was a bundle of nerves and anticipation which ruined the experience for me. I kept wanting it and hoping for it to be spectacular instead of letting it come to me in its own terms. The 2nd viewing is the money one for me.

dottikin | September 28, 05:50 CET