You Can't Take The Sky From Me
But you can take the wind out of our sails apparently.
If you recognize the title of this entry, then you know I am going to talk about Serenity/Firefly.
Being a huge fan of the all to short lived T.V. series "Firefly", I eagerly anticipated the release of its big screen debut, "Serenity". I was successful in avoiding all mention of it on the web and aside from the trailers I went into the movie with my spoiler virginity intact. Oh, by the way, for you true fans, you can buy a print of the art print seen here direct from Jason Palmer's Site. It is truly a wonderful piece.
Needless to say, it is a great movie. Perhaps not the second coming that many fans preach, but a really REALLY good movie. I can see how some folks might feel like they are arriving at a concert after the main act has left the stage, but after an hour or so of playing "catchup", the movie just sails along. You don't need to have seen the T.V. episodes before seeing this movie ... but it certainly does help. Unfortunately though, the movie is slipping down the box office charts and it looks like it will need to rely on DVD sales if there is any hope of resuscitating the series.
Orson Scott Card had a great writeup on his site. He really seems to nail the reasons behind why Serenity is not only a good movie, but also good Sci-Fi in general. I would only be repeating his sentiments here, so I suggest you read his perspective for yourself.
One thing I will add to all the write-ups on the web that compare Serenity to the Star Wars flicks, and Star Trek, and every other sci-fi film out there. This is my personal view and it translates to all movies. Your heroes are only as good as the villain they face. And in Serenity, they are up against a doozy. I'll say no more about the film but continue my thought process.
In the three recent Star Wars films (as they seem to be the popular comparison touchstone today) you have the set up for GREAT villains in each film. True bad asses. But ultimately they are left out of the films save for an eight-minute fight scene where they are quickly (and sometimes lamely) dispatched. No epic feel. No constant cat and mouse. Just show up and die.
Serenity is more like the first three films, with their sense of adventure, fun, whimsy, and overshadowing source of evil. The original Star Wars trilogy treated us to cocky, yet unsure heroes, witty banter (only to be replaced later with asinine Jar Jar "hijinks"), and a constant struggle with an omnipresent, dangerous, and dogged opponent. I feel it truly captures all the fun elements and immediately likeable characters that made Star Wars movie magic.
So by all means, go see the movie. Not to save the franchise. Not to cement the series in the annals of sci-fi. Not for any lofty ideals. Just go see it because it is a great film full of fun and likeable characters.
If you recognize the title of this entry, then you know I am going to talk about Serenity/Firefly.
Being a huge fan of the all to short lived T.V. series "Firefly", I eagerly anticipated the release of its big screen debut, "Serenity". I was successful in avoiding all mention of it on the web and aside from the trailers I went into the movie with my spoiler virginity intact. Oh, by the way, for you true fans, you can buy a print of the art print seen here direct from Jason Palmer's Site. It is truly a wonderful piece.Needless to say, it is a great movie. Perhaps not the second coming that many fans preach, but a really REALLY good movie. I can see how some folks might feel like they are arriving at a concert after the main act has left the stage, but after an hour or so of playing "catchup", the movie just sails along. You don't need to have seen the T.V. episodes before seeing this movie ... but it certainly does help. Unfortunately though, the movie is slipping down the box office charts and it looks like it will need to rely on DVD sales if there is any hope of resuscitating the series.
Orson Scott Card had a great writeup on his site. He really seems to nail the reasons behind why Serenity is not only a good movie, but also good Sci-Fi in general. I would only be repeating his sentiments here, so I suggest you read his perspective for yourself.
One thing I will add to all the write-ups on the web that compare Serenity to the Star Wars flicks, and Star Trek, and every other sci-fi film out there. This is my personal view and it translates to all movies. Your heroes are only as good as the villain they face. And in Serenity, they are up against a doozy. I'll say no more about the film but continue my thought process.
In the three recent Star Wars films (as they seem to be the popular comparison touchstone today) you have the set up for GREAT villains in each film. True bad asses. But ultimately they are left out of the films save for an eight-minute fight scene where they are quickly (and sometimes lamely) dispatched. No epic feel. No constant cat and mouse. Just show up and die.
Serenity is more like the first three films, with their sense of adventure, fun, whimsy, and overshadowing source of evil. The original Star Wars trilogy treated us to cocky, yet unsure heroes, witty banter (only to be replaced later with asinine Jar Jar "hijinks"), and a constant struggle with an omnipresent, dangerous, and dogged opponent. I feel it truly captures all the fun elements and immediately likeable characters that made Star Wars movie magic.
So by all means, go see the movie. Not to save the franchise. Not to cement the series in the annals of sci-fi. Not for any lofty ideals. Just go see it because it is a great film full of fun and likeable characters.
posted by InkTank at
10:00 PM
13 Comments:
I have to say that I whole heartedly agree with you (and OSC as well). What the two of you have put into words is the reason that this movie will be in my DVD collection while Star Wars Episodes I-III will not.
Well, I can't say that I won't own Star Wars I - III like Klik, but as an impassioned Sci-Fi fan, I tend to forgive more than some.
That being said, Serenity is definately one of the best Sci-Fi films I've seen in a long time and is a great clarion call for the ill-fated series. I would love to see the series revived or perhaps a film series come of it, but the movie stands solidly on its own regardless. I'm surprised by its box office record.
I believe that Josh Whedon wrote a trilogy for the films ... with the next film being contingent on Serenity making enough box office/DVD $$ to make the other 2 movies ... and I believe that is supposed to be the full story arc. I can only hope that the film does well enough that we see that happen.
Oh ... and on a completely unrelated note ... I'd appreciate it if you'd put articles up more often Barry, I enjoy reading your comments. ;)
Gawd Serenity SUCKED! All I wanted was a hackneyed plot, paper thin characters and a weak story. What do I get? Witty and eloquent dialogue, well-paced story and characters whom I not only believe, but actually feel like I KNOW. Serenity made up for all the bad summer films I had to sit through to get my sci-fi action jollies. All I wanted was another ID4, another Armageddon, another Stealth. What do I get? Top notch sci-fi entertainment. Who do I have to kill to get a crappy film around here???
Seriously, Serenity was the real STAR WARS this season. I hope Lucas was taking notes.
Hey Barry, where can I view your comic archives...or something...anything Inktank! :)
Thank you for the review! I had heard some good things about Serenity from the mainstream media but I don't trust them :) After reading your article my wife caught a matinee yesterday and were amazed at the show. It was a little slow during the catchup part but, not having seen the TV show, it was quite necessary. While the plot was somewhat predictable, the excitement and mood were not diminished by it. I prefer movies that give you clues as to the outcome rather than twist the plot without providing the viewer some clues. I can't wait for the DVD and I hope they put the TV show out on disc too.
Ahh, but the TV show IS out on disc. Look on Amazon under "Firefly" (the shows title). It is a 4 disc set of all the episodes that aired (and a few that didn't).
VERY much work a look see.
heh. fox sold out of the box sets, or at least for australia. there havent been any avaiable in our city for the last 3 weeks. hope they get onto it soon. i finally have a job and money to buy it and there are none. also keep an eye out for serenity the novelisation and the visual guide to the movie.
I am now a huge fan of this series and thought the movie was great. These will be added to my DVD collection.
God, I'm gonna come out as a cad on this one, being my first post and all, but...well, Serenity was just okay. It wasn't amazing, fantastic, mind blowing, and all the other adjectives people have been tagging it with. I saw it opening night, me with my popcorn and soda, all giddy 'cause I've loved pretty much everything Joss Whedon has done. Buffy? Fantastic. Angel? Excellent. Toy Story? Whee! Titan AE? Wonderful! Firefly? Thoroughly enjoyable, died way too early. And that was my trouble with Serenity. I felt like Joss was trying to finish up Season two in two hours. This was a story that needed to be told over time, not squashed down. I really started to hate Mal, because instead of being allowed to develop naturally from a likeable jerk to a total bad ass kill or be killed soldier over 24 weeks, he did it in two hours. And it sucked. Yes, there were some great lines "Can we talk about how Jayne got knocked out by a 90 pound girl again? 'Cause that's never gonna get old!" but overall, it felt hurried, too much story in too short of a time. Sorry guys, but as sci fi goes, I still prefer Blade Runner.
I really loved Serenity. I've been trying so hard to not praise it too much only because when lots of people put a lot of praise on a movie, it developes a standard that it cannot live up to.
I will say this, though, Serenity was a great movie. Considering that there was a lot of story that Whedon needed (and still needs to) cover I thought he did an excellent job with the movie. This movie is worth watching and it was better than most films that I've gone to see.
On a completely different note, when is Angst Technology gonna be put up again? I know that there's a lot going on, but I'd just like to know if I should expect Inktank to be up again sometime in the near future or if I should wait for, like, a year.
I'm looking forward to some more comics as well :) I check back often just for some entertainment from there.
"Titan AE? Wonderful!"
...After that I didn't take your opinion on the movie with any credibility at all. Plus, your favorite quote in the movie? Lame compared to many of the others.
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