SERENITY!!1>:O!
Oct. 4th, 2005 11:40 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
reenka*mad cackling* There's a new chapter of `Eclipse' out(!!), but more importantly(!!!) I just saw Serenity, eeeeeeeeeeeee >:D :D :D :D It was so good! Yeay! Yeay! I've never watched Firefly, y'know, 'cause, um, I just don't -watch- TV anymore (ever since Buffy ended, which was ages ago, I know), but zomg!!...!..!! >:O!
I've been seeing all these cut-tags with either 'yeay' or 'NAY!' on them about this movie, and now I'm puzzled! It must be that, uh, the majority of people have watched Firefly or something, so there must be tons of things I'm missing, but.
...Um. I actually... don't know where to start or what to say or anything. It was great! Yes! Everyone who um, likes Joss Whedon's dialogue and uh, snarky men and spaceships and like, hot babes should see it! Um... there are cool gun-fights and well-done sci-fi cliches and pretty people and memorable characters-- and it didn't really seem to have those typical 'omg LAME' acting moments of most recent sci-fi blockbusters, where you just groan and think 'is that a human being or is it a bad imitation of an android?' Also, the android chick was cool, well, as far as that goes.
My favorite part was probably a cross between the acting (you could tell these people are comfortable with each other & have a chemistry... well, except for the lame ditzy girl, but then that was her point), and the dialogue, which had the trademark Joss one-liners we all know and love. The main character was -extremely- likable (...to me), and its secondary character was female & not a romantic interest-- more bonus points. I mean, I think it definitely works as a stand-alone movie, though I can tell that there's lots of room for backstory & a series around it. It's just that this sense of history makes for a richer story, perhaps, or at least a sense of realism in terms of characterization. Like, we know lots of things & don't know lots of things, and I like it that way.
I should babble more about Captain dude (I don't remember -any- of their names, sorry)-- 'cause he was um, hot & I liked him lots, 'cause he was all ambiguous and anti-heroish while remaining human and not just an archetype of cool rebellion and stuff. There was the usual sort of trademark Joss-style self-awareness where the characters are actually perceptive (like when Villain Dude said something to the effect of 'oh, you can't fool me, if I tried to buy you off you'd take offense, and if I appealed to your sense of what's right you'd say I didn't pay you enough' or whatever-- I was like, ahahaha, a villain who -thinks-, omg). And it was an interesting balance in the Captain, I thought, of self-awareness and sheer ruthless drive-- like, he wasn't always great at being a leader or reassuring his crew or even inspiring them, and he couldn't always count on their loyalty 100%, because it's like, they were human beings with doubts and ambitions and they listened to each other, but sometimes he just plowed all over them. It's a very interesting balance.
Also, I swear to god, Captain-dude kept reminding me of Brian (from QaF), both physically & uh, somewhat psychologically. Man. I just really like him (did I mention that?? because yes), and think his love-interest is Really Lame (though omg-so-pretty-ack-ack and vaguely interesting-- just-- not with him). I love his struggle to believe & to be human and to figure out what that means and what he really believes, etc-- I mean, his arc is the most dramatic, even though you could say the movie's also about Psychic-girl's arc (but I don't care). She's more of a stock character, I guess-- like, more predictable (though blah-blah, cool-- I mean, with that dripping axe, who wouldn't think so?) I'd be interested to see what sort of guy she'd fit with-- that'd be one weird/angsty/emo romance right there, ahahahahah. Sorry, evil laugh.
(Her brother really annoys me... is this how people feel about Gryffindors? Well, to me it's just that he's lame and not conflicted enough. But he fits in well with the others.)
Villain-dude was probably my second-favorite character in the end (tied with Hothead-guy and Lieutenant-woman) because of that capacity for thought that he seemed to possess-- like, he was aware he was Evil(!!) even though he thought he was doing Good(!!) and wow. I love that. I mean, in a way, that made him more of a bad guy, but in a way that set him up for 'redemption' (except not). Man, I loved those last scenes with him, and that look in his eyes, nearly crying but not quite-- Ahhhh Jossssss <3<3<3 And I really loved that Captain-dude was fighting for the Cause because he didn't believe in expecting/demanding the best of people and basically we're all screwed up & should stay that way (I mean, the irony, it is pretty). <3<3<3<3
Though I also find it amusing that every other sci-fi book/movie has a plot about people trying to perfect humanity somehow. I was thinking things like 'so, um, why didn't they do clinical trial testing of this drug/gas/thing'...?? I mean, makes no sense they'd just release it without really knowing for sure what it'd do. But alas, let us not think too much of these things-- I thought it was an interesting concept, especially with the 10% or whatever becoming berserkers and how that all tied together-- that was really cool. And the whole strategy aspect with pretending to be bersekers & then setting the two fleets against each other-- classic and beautifully executed. I really wonder if that strategy is #4 in some military textbook somewhere~:))
All the minor characters (for once-- can you believe it??-- yes, it's still me) were so memorable (possibly again because this is from a series). Like the twin businessmen and Mr. Universe and the Shepherd (why do I remember these things when I can't remember names?? *sigh*) Mr. Universe is just Warren all over and I love him to death even though he's a stereotype-- I don't care, he can have my babies. Though I'm sure he'd prefer his android, 'cause that's how guys like that -are-. And that's why I'll never date them :P (NO I'M NOT BITTER SHUT UP.)
I really loved all the scenes with Captain-dude and Lieutenant-woman-- they really have a fascinating chemistry, all understated, and they're such obvious checks-and-balances to each other in a non-obtrusive way. I don't want them to sleep together or anything, not that she ever would (ahahah, she knows -sooo- much better). They're just... interesting, 'cause she's like the only person he can't walk all over or ignore if he wanted to. Which is like, great, and damn you, Hollywood, damn you to hell.
That bit with the octopus-of-doom was great. And freaky. And also great. And I have to admit, all the ass-kicking Psychic-girl did was also great (and dead-sexy, yeah, what). Ahahah, this reminds me, I'm so amused at how Captain-dude wasn't really -that- good at fighting (like, he was -okay-, but really not amazing-level), hahah. That was such a shot of 'haha, oops' into it-- he so totally got beat up. And yeah, he -was- the plucky hero, except he wasn't, and I love Villain-dude for saying it. And my favorite moment with Love-interest Girl was when she was like 'and that isn't incense'. You go girl!
Oh yeah, and that bit at the end about love holding you up when nothing else will = <33333 Ahh, I think that was the moment I liked Psychic-girl the most. It was just so great, because he was all... like... wah. It was just so heartbreaking & punchy and yes, I mean, after all that time, he seemed more at peace with himself. Though I do feel bad for Lieutenant-woman, and imagine I'd feel worse if I'd, you know, ever seen Firefly (but I haven't, so). Her boyfriend's death-- I was like-- omg, that's it? He-- did he just--? It was so... I dunno, just... really well-done, I guess-- all there and pervasive and swept under the carpet to do the job at the same time, with that delicate balance of action & character moments (and then, ahahah, Ditzy-girl saying 'for sex?' and deciding to live)-- oh Joss <3<3<3
Um, yeah. So I kinda want to see it again (especially since I missed 3/4ths of the initial Psychic-girl rescue scene), but... maybe when my mom comes to visit. It's, uh... great. Yeah, that's it~:))
I've been seeing all these cut-tags with either 'yeay' or 'NAY!' on them about this movie, and now I'm puzzled! It must be that, uh, the majority of people have watched Firefly or something, so there must be tons of things I'm missing, but.
...Um. I actually... don't know where to start or what to say or anything. It was great! Yes! Everyone who um, likes Joss Whedon's dialogue and uh, snarky men and spaceships and like, hot babes should see it! Um... there are cool gun-fights and well-done sci-fi cliches and pretty people and memorable characters-- and it didn't really seem to have those typical 'omg LAME' acting moments of most recent sci-fi blockbusters, where you just groan and think 'is that a human being or is it a bad imitation of an android?' Also, the android chick was cool, well, as far as that goes.
My favorite part was probably a cross between the acting (you could tell these people are comfortable with each other & have a chemistry... well, except for the lame ditzy girl, but then that was her point), and the dialogue, which had the trademark Joss one-liners we all know and love. The main character was -extremely- likable (...to me), and its secondary character was female & not a romantic interest-- more bonus points. I mean, I think it definitely works as a stand-alone movie, though I can tell that there's lots of room for backstory & a series around it. It's just that this sense of history makes for a richer story, perhaps, or at least a sense of realism in terms of characterization. Like, we know lots of things & don't know lots of things, and I like it that way.
I should babble more about Captain dude (I don't remember -any- of their names, sorry)-- 'cause he was um, hot & I liked him lots, 'cause he was all ambiguous and anti-heroish while remaining human and not just an archetype of cool rebellion and stuff. There was the usual sort of trademark Joss-style self-awareness where the characters are actually perceptive (like when Villain Dude said something to the effect of 'oh, you can't fool me, if I tried to buy you off you'd take offense, and if I appealed to your sense of what's right you'd say I didn't pay you enough' or whatever-- I was like, ahahaha, a villain who -thinks-, omg). And it was an interesting balance in the Captain, I thought, of self-awareness and sheer ruthless drive-- like, he wasn't always great at being a leader or reassuring his crew or even inspiring them, and he couldn't always count on their loyalty 100%, because it's like, they were human beings with doubts and ambitions and they listened to each other, but sometimes he just plowed all over them. It's a very interesting balance.
Also, I swear to god, Captain-dude kept reminding me of Brian (from QaF), both physically & uh, somewhat psychologically. Man. I just really like him (did I mention that?? because yes), and think his love-interest is Really Lame (though omg-so-pretty-ack-ack and vaguely interesting-- just-- not with him). I love his struggle to believe & to be human and to figure out what that means and what he really believes, etc-- I mean, his arc is the most dramatic, even though you could say the movie's also about Psychic-girl's arc (but I don't care). She's more of a stock character, I guess-- like, more predictable (though blah-blah, cool-- I mean, with that dripping axe, who wouldn't think so?) I'd be interested to see what sort of guy she'd fit with-- that'd be one weird/angsty/emo romance right there, ahahahahah. Sorry, evil laugh.
(Her brother really annoys me... is this how people feel about Gryffindors? Well, to me it's just that he's lame and not conflicted enough. But he fits in well with the others.)
Villain-dude was probably my second-favorite character in the end (tied with Hothead-guy and Lieutenant-woman) because of that capacity for thought that he seemed to possess-- like, he was aware he was Evil(!!) even though he thought he was doing Good(!!) and wow. I love that. I mean, in a way, that made him more of a bad guy, but in a way that set him up for 'redemption' (except not). Man, I loved those last scenes with him, and that look in his eyes, nearly crying but not quite-- Ahhhh Jossssss <3<3<3 And I really loved that Captain-dude was fighting for the Cause because he didn't believe in expecting/demanding the best of people and basically we're all screwed up & should stay that way (I mean, the irony, it is pretty). <3<3<3<3
Though I also find it amusing that every other sci-fi book/movie has a plot about people trying to perfect humanity somehow. I was thinking things like 'so, um, why didn't they do clinical trial testing of this drug/gas/thing'...?? I mean, makes no sense they'd just release it without really knowing for sure what it'd do. But alas, let us not think too much of these things-- I thought it was an interesting concept, especially with the 10% or whatever becoming berserkers and how that all tied together-- that was really cool. And the whole strategy aspect with pretending to be bersekers & then setting the two fleets against each other-- classic and beautifully executed. I really wonder if that strategy is #4 in some military textbook somewhere~:))
All the minor characters (for once-- can you believe it??-- yes, it's still me) were so memorable (possibly again because this is from a series). Like the twin businessmen and Mr. Universe and the Shepherd (why do I remember these things when I can't remember names?? *sigh*) Mr. Universe is just Warren all over and I love him to death even though he's a stereotype-- I don't care, he can have my babies. Though I'm sure he'd prefer his android, 'cause that's how guys like that -are-. And that's why I'll never date them :P (NO I'M NOT BITTER SHUT UP.)
I really loved all the scenes with Captain-dude and Lieutenant-woman-- they really have a fascinating chemistry, all understated, and they're such obvious checks-and-balances to each other in a non-obtrusive way. I don't want them to sleep together or anything, not that she ever would (ahahah, she knows -sooo- much better). They're just... interesting, 'cause she's like the only person he can't walk all over or ignore if he wanted to. Which is like, great, and damn you, Hollywood, damn you to hell.
That bit with the octopus-of-doom was great. And freaky. And also great. And I have to admit, all the ass-kicking Psychic-girl did was also great (and dead-sexy, yeah, what). Ahahah, this reminds me, I'm so amused at how Captain-dude wasn't really -that- good at fighting (like, he was -okay-, but really not amazing-level), hahah. That was such a shot of 'haha, oops' into it-- he so totally got beat up. And yeah, he -was- the plucky hero, except he wasn't, and I love Villain-dude for saying it. And my favorite moment with Love-interest Girl was when she was like 'and that isn't incense'. You go girl!
Oh yeah, and that bit at the end about love holding you up when nothing else will = <33333 Ahh, I think that was the moment I liked Psychic-girl the most. It was just so great, because he was all... like... wah. It was just so heartbreaking & punchy and yes, I mean, after all that time, he seemed more at peace with himself. Though I do feel bad for Lieutenant-woman, and imagine I'd feel worse if I'd, you know, ever seen Firefly (but I haven't, so). Her boyfriend's death-- I was like-- omg, that's it? He-- did he just--? It was so... I dunno, just... really well-done, I guess-- all there and pervasive and swept under the carpet to do the job at the same time, with that delicate balance of action & character moments (and then, ahahah, Ditzy-girl saying 'for sex?' and deciding to live)-- oh Joss <3<3<3
Um, yeah. So I kinda want to see it again (especially since I missed 3/4ths of the initial Psychic-girl rescue scene), but... maybe when my mom comes to visit. It's, uh... great. Yeah, that's it~:))
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no subject
Date: 2005-10-05 05:23 am (UTC)HOW CAN YOU NOT LIKE SIMON. >>:(((( HE GAVE UP EVERYTHING FOR HIS SISTER AND HE CAN'T HANDLE HIMSELF WELL AT ALL BUT HE TRIES ANYWAY AND OMG THE EPISODE WHERE THEY GET KIDNAPPED AND AG
and ok he was a little annoying and somehow having of a spine and out of his prettier clothes in the movie, but *still*
T_T
no subject
Date: 2005-10-05 05:36 am (UTC)Ahahah, Simon's self-sacrificingness was too... um, in-your-face for me to be all 'aww' about it; like, he was too aware of it, it was too... well, on purpose? I dunno if that makes sense, but yeah-- I tend to like sacrifice when it's understated and not OMG I AM SACRIFICING, WATCH ME! DAMN YOU ALL DON'T YOU SEE THE IMPORTANCE OF MY RESPONSIBILITY HERE?? Meaning, he's a bit of a stick-in-the-mud about it. Basically, his type can grow on me after a while, but first gut reaction is just sort of to groan (this is how I react to 'mature', responsible & protective brotherly types unless they're also very much dorky losers, ahahah *coughs*).
no subject
Date: 2005-10-05 08:07 am (UTC)btw, if you might have any interest in the series, i have a copy of the first episode available for download here (http://www.livejournal.com/users/glitterdemon/506247.html). you know, just as enticement. ;P
no subject
Date: 2005-10-05 08:20 am (UTC)I might check out that link though, thanks >:D
no subject
Date: 2005-10-06 02:06 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-10-06 02:12 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-10-05 09:59 am (UTC)Captain Malcolm "Tight Pants" Reynolds.
Also, I swear to god, Captain-dude kept reminding me of Brian (from QaF), both physically & uh, somewhat psychologically.
OH GOD YES I NOW FORGIVE YOU OF ALL YOUR HP FANDOM BITCHING NOW BECAUSE I THOUGHT I WAS THE ONLY ONE WHO SAW THIS CONNECTION! ♥ ♥ ♥
That bit with the octopus-of-doom was great.
"Wash: The Oobi bar was talking to her?"
"Psychic Girl"'s name is River Tam. Her hot, adoring brother's name is Simon. Leiutentant-Woman's name is Zoe. Her husband-pilot's name is Wash (yus, they are married). The Villian is simply known as The Operative, though the actor that plays him is Chiwetel Ejiofer. Shepherd's name is Book.
(Her brother really annoys me... is this how people feel about Gryffindors? Well, to me it's just that he's lame and not conflicted enough. But he fits in well with the others.)
Simon is a darling. And he is totally and completely adoring of River. Not in a sexual way, but just a pure, unrivalled, unconditional familial love kind of way. He would do anything, anything to protect her. No, it's not how people feel about Gryffindors, because Gryffindors suck and Simon doesn't. No, he's not conflicted, because he's one of the outsiders of the show (if you watch the series, you get this). He's a fugitive who's putting all their lives at risk for the sake of his sister, and he would do that, at least, before the end of the movie, if that's what it took to protect River.
But then River grew up, learned to protect herself, and fight for what she loves, which is what the movie's all about for her. *fangirl floor-rolling of glee*
Go see it again. Take a friend. If they get enough sales they'll make a sequel, and I want my gorram BIG DAMN TRILOGY!
no subject
Date: 2005-10-05 10:32 am (UTC)I'm starting to get a hang of the names, though :>
I did notice he was the outsider, though-- I just think this is a case of me warming to some characters slower than others ^^;; Like, I'm usually not so much with the appreciation of loyalty, for example-- what I meant with the Gryffindor comment was that his ideals don't necessarily match mine so there's no automatic, instant respect-- but I don't mean to diss him or anything, it was just one small aside in a movie where I focused mainly on Mal & Zoe and River a bit. Oh, and Villain-guy (I like calling him that).
...I can really tell the difference between movie-reactions and series-reactions, 'cause my focus is definitely more on the plot/story and main characters than all the subtleties of the many leads and their relationships... in a way I sort of like being in the dark, maybe-- it's something distinctly movie-like. :>