I Don't Watch Movies...

Tuesday, October 4

I am a leaf on the wind
Watch how I soar

Spoiler Safe Version

I watched Serenity this weekend. This is a space opera/western that is a continuation of a short lived TV series called Firefly (I wrote about Firefly previously.) This was an odd movie. I really liked it, but it just felt a little off. I have a few theories for why this is.

1. This is essentially the second season of the TV show compressed into movie format. They do the same kinds of exposition you'd do for a second season TV show to allow people who didn't watch the first season to pickup on what's going on, but only people who saw the first season are really connected to the whole thing.

2. Joss Whedon is still writing like he does for TV. The movie was more dense then a TV show in plot - but not in character development. Things just have to happen faster in a movie then they do in TV - and his style for this movie really shows the TV roots.

Eventually I found a good point of reference. This is very much like the Star Trek movies. It does work on it's own, but hard to recommend to people who have no previous connection with the show or characters - since it works so much better if that's there. I saw it with some friends who had never seen the series, and they had a great time, but they're also the people who are going to like a space opera/western movie - so not the best sample set.

If you like these space adventure kind of movies go watch it. Then go find the Firefly DVD's and watch those. The whole world is consistent across the two, but there are big reveals in the movie that will make the TV episodes less mysterious. Overall I think the whole thing works better in TV form - and hope that when we see the season 3 plot arcs it's on the small screen instead of the big screen (or perhaps a Sci-Fi miniseries instead of a full TV season?)

I'll geek out with a spoiler ladden version soon enough.

- Chris : 2:23 PM | permalink |

Comments:

I saw Serenity this passing Friday and I have to say it was too slow in the begining, then in the middle, then the ending picked it up. I like the ending.
As far as making me more interested in the show...Nah.
None of the characters interest me. They had no depth.
Whoever wrote the story didn't make me care about what happened to the main characters. When that guy got stabbed after his heroic landing I flitched while say, "OOO, that got to hurt!" And the preacher guy I just said "Awww, that's to bad."
I just wasn't all that impressed. One of those I'll be putting on my Chrismas wish list.

Off to the movies!

# posted by Daddy O! : 10/4/05 5:29 PM

Since I fell in love with the DVD set (missed it when it was actually on the air), I felt more connected to the characters than the previous commentor.

But I'm also biased in that I already loved Firefly before I saw the movie, so I'm probably more forgiving than your average movie critic.

Your comparison to Star Trek rings true to me -- by itself the movie is fine, but it takes on a lot more meaning if you have followed the characters through season one.

# posted by Silly Old Bear : 10/5/05 7:54 PM

hi, ummm.... I saw a couple episodes of Firefly, but only because my brother made me watch them :)

I don't have anything substantive to contribute about movies, but I was really admiring your site design. And was wondering if maybe I could steal/borrow the source code?! I would adapt it of course, I wouldn't totally rip it off. Thanks for considering!

- your fellow Seattleite.

# posted by kyra : 10/5/05 10:59 PM