A budget of $18 million?

killinj | October 06, 19:03 CET

It's about love, but also belief. It's no accident that the Operative asks Mal not "Are you prepared to die for that" but rather "Are you prepared to die for that belief?"

The choice of the word "belief" is extremely telling, at least to me.

But, yes, love, indeed. As when the Operative says that it's much worse than madness, it's love. And, of course, Mal's closing monologue.

And, yes, where'd $18 million come from?

Chris inVirginia | October 06, 19:17 CET

I know people who absolutely won't go to films unless the church find it "proper" - so this could be some good press. Especially down here in the bible belt where so many films are chastized for simply entertaining.

I was honestly shocked seeing this. I mean, I know we get what the movies pretext is about. But I'm suprised that the Christian groups didn't focus more on the violence. Wonderful to see that they looked past that into the deeper meaning here. Could open a few more eyes to Serenity.

CinJudes | October 06, 19:25 CET

Some did - on the violence and the sex references.

Nebula1400 | October 06, 19:29 CET

Well, given that they also seemed to really like "A History of Violence" (round-up of reviews right below Serenity), I guess it's not THAT surprising. "History..." is one of the most violent (thought none of it is gratuitous) films I've seen in years!
I don't know Christianity Today, but it does seem like perhaps they were looking a bit at the message of films and beyond surface stuff like sex/violence. If so - kudos to them.

[ edited by acp on 2005-10-06 17:39 ]

acp | October 06, 19:38 CET

Heh, as a Christian Firefly/Serenity/Buffy/Angel fan, that was nice to read. It's good to see a Christian website that doesn't just reinforce the stereotype that we hate everything that's not 7th Heaven (I hate 7th Heaven! My friends hate 7th Heaven! My entire family hates 7th Heaven!)

[ edited by VampiresSuckLOLOLGetIt on 2005-10-06 17:50 ]

VampiresSuckLOLOLGetIt | October 06, 19:50 CET

Reminds me of the question at the Sydney Serenity Q&A where that guy said he was a Christian and asked what Joss had against him. Joss' answer was quite good to that, from memory. Is my grammar really poor today, or just my imaginingnessthing?

Mort | October 06, 19:53 CET

Christianity Today (CT) is one of the more respected magazines in Christendom. They are also very fair when it comes to evaluating things. They have favorably reviewed Buffy, Harry Potter, The Simpsons and several other things that many very vocal (and mostly in the minority) conservative Christians oppose.

A few years back they even had a picture of Flanders (from the Simpsons) done up to look like an old stained glass window from a cathedral on their cover.

Of course my Dad has written articles for them before, and my friend's wife is on their staff, so I may be a bit biased...

RootBoy42 | October 06, 19:55 CET

The coverage there can only be a good thing. When I was about 12 or 13, my mom took me to see Stand By Me -- despite the R rating -- based on what she read about it in a Catholic publication. The writer felt the R rating was inappropriate and it was a movie younger viewers actually should see.

WhoIsOmega? | October 06, 20:17 CET

VampiresSuckLOLOLGetIt: Amen to that!

SaltyGoodness | October 06, 20:50 CET

I'm pretty much what fundamentialists call a classic "secular humanist" (I'm also Jewish) but, whenever I read an article from Christianity Today, I usually wind up reading something pretty cool, occasionally thought provoking. It's definitely a good antidote to the idea that everyone who calls themselves "Christian" is, well, insert your TV-preacher based stereotype here.

Still, what about my people, and I don't mean the secular humanists. Where are all the Jewish pubs on "Serenity"? And what about Islam mags? Buddhist writings? Hindu scrolls? Zorastorian periodicals?

[ edited by bobster on 2005-10-06 18:58 ]

bobster | October 06, 20:56 CET

Thanks for this link. I immediately emailed it to a (very openly) Christian co-worker, and he later thanked me for it.
Yay, more potential movie goers, maybe?

And bobster, someone (here? I really can't remember-) said recently that a certain scene in Serenity proves that there are 'Jews in space.' ;)

m'cookies actual | October 06, 21:10 CET

Yes, bobster. During one tiny tiny scene in Serenity, a small group of people in front of me laughed hysterically. :) I'm quite sure one or more was Jewish because I didn't hear the same reaction again. In fact, that tiny tiny scene made me realize that 500 years from now Jewish people are alive and well in the Firefly 'verse.

WhoIsOmega? | October 06, 21:13 CET

I did see that certain scene discussed in the Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles.

Simon | October 06, 21:13 CET

I was surprised to read such praise from a conservative Christian magazine. My parents read Christianity Today. This article just may help convince my father to see the movie.

electricspacegirl | October 06, 21:17 CET

But I'm suprised that the Christian groups didn't focus more on the violence.

Um, well "Passion of the Christ" wasn't exactly a non-violent film.

killinj | October 06, 21:50 CET

M-cookies -- for some reason, I didn't catch (or at least remember) that very quick gag the first two times I saw "Serenity" -- and thanks to Simon for the link to the Jewish Journal (a pretty big pub. here in So. Cal. which I never read)...I'm pretty sure that most rabbis would refuse to perform a marriage with an inanimate object, esp. one with some serious shiksa-appeal...though maybe if she converted.

bobster | October 06, 21:58 CET

this is the second time today I have had to go hide in the loo because I was laughing too loud for work

redfern | October 06, 22:06 CET

Have you guys read the Bible? It's full of sex and violence! Especially the Old Testament. I think most Christians are very much aware of the reality of sex and violence and it's role in humanity. I also, as a Christian, didn't feel that any of the s & v in Serenity was gratuitous. I'm glad there are Christian Publications that can recognize this too.

[ edited by Jinxieman on 2005-10-06 20:15 ]

Jinxieman | October 06, 22:14 CET

Here is another Christian review of Serenity, which was emailed to me by the author. It does contain spoilers.

electricspacegirl | October 06, 22:47 CET

Oh sorry, just read electricspacegirl's comment too late. He emailed it to me also, and I just posted it on the front page. Apologies mods, this was not intentional. (These Christians, always proselizing, tsk :) )

May I plead though to leave it on the front page, as it may get lost in here otherwise and I know as a fellow browncoat he is trying to help convince more people to go and see the movie by providing a review which is coming from a Christian perspective.

miranda | October 06, 23:26 CET

Most Christians I know DESPISE seventh heaven. The Plugged in review is from James Dobsons website. hmmm.

Nancy Boy hair Gel | October 07, 03:29 CET

Well I'm not a christian, but I always love hearing that Joss' work can be appreciated by so many different people with different views. It shows he strikes at the core of philosophical themes that many of us actually agree on. That at the core, maybe we agree on more than we realize. Which is optimistic. And given the state of the world, I am rarely optimistic on that topic, so it's good to see.


You're a christian? Well then you must be a little confused about this. You obviously must love 7th Heaven. If you just sit and think for a second you'll realize that 7th Heaven is your favorite program ever. Everybody knows that's the only show christians watch...come on now....you have the t-shirts too...confess...

(Hee hee, ain't I just annoying??;-)

EdDantes | October 07, 10:48 CET

This made laugh out laugh.

But it's good to see that Serenity is so well-liked, especially since Joss is known not to be particularly Christian.

para | October 08, 04:21 CET