I did explain that Serenity was a Firefly class ship. My mother was like, @@.

There is a big chunk of the Hollywood production mentality that says that if you don't open #1, you've failed (and certainly, a $10mil opening on a $45 mil film leaves a little something to be desired), however, there's also the subject of legs -- if a small movie has them, that can make up for a lot.

However, when making the decision, studios are far more likely these days to factor in ancillary revenues, which, in this case, is pretty much just the DVDs and HBO (or Showtime, or whoever gets it). Oh, and books and such, too. And the anicllary on Serenity is predicted to be HUGE - at least, in relation to the box office. Look at it this way: Everyone who bought the DVDs of the show, minus, say, 10% for the BETRAYED folks, is going to buy the movie. how many is that? And that's just the built in people, not those who say, "Well, I kind of wanted to see it, I'll blow the $15 on the DVD."

I did explain that Serenity was a Firefly class ship. My mother was like, @@.

There's also the resemblance with the glowy yellow back end. (At least the series wasn't Lobster, like the Reaver ship.)

Browncoats are starting to scare me. The handwringing over the box office is making me nuts. A. Movie. Got. Made. And. Released. From this canceled television show. But that's not enough. There must be sequels and legos and collectible cups at burger king, or we've all failed Joss.

So. Agree. With this assessment.

I really, really liked the movie, but dude: relax. We (and by "we" I mean those of you who read the official message board more than once before running away in terror, perhaps. Or those of you who do more than suggest to a sci-fi fan friend "hey, this movie is funny, good, and has spaceships. Check it out.") aren't the front line anymore. We haven't actually been the front line for a WHILE.

At this point, the movie will make it or not. Critics mostly like it. It has a higher Metacritic rating than Batman Begins, War of the Worlds, Star Wars Episode III, The Island, Fantastic Four, or The Island, the other Big Action Sci-Fi Extravaganzas! of the season 'til now. Critical reviews don't make movies successful, but they often serve as a barometer of the people, to some extent, and this means the people will like it. So maybe word of mouth will carry the film. Hopefully, because I'd like sequels.

But those of us that have been hyping it for months? It's time to lay off. Suggest it casually if conversation comes up ("What good movies have you seen lately?") but more than that is off-putting, and it's time to let the movie stand on it's own, no matter what bullshit Joss is spouting these days. Dude writes some good shit, but he's not a marketing expert.

Just saw the movie, and I have one thing to say:

Goddamn that Joss Whedon, who does he think he is, Tim Minnear?

ETA: Ok, two things: Dan, when can we go see it again?

Suggest it casually if conversation comes up ("What good movies have you seen lately?")

I actually do slightly more than that. I have my Firefly background on my desk top (a couple of weeks ago, it was an Ex Machina desktop, and last week it was this really cool shot of a gigantic bridge in, I think, France), and I actually was talking to one of the big bosses about it just today, who came by and mentioned that he was thinking about going to see it, and we chatted, and now I have a special project to do, damn it! So it's not all to the good.

Um.

Anyway, yeah. Go see it. Is I think the point.

Goddamn that Joss Whedon, who does he think he is, Tim Minnear?

I know. I'm expecting Joss to post any minute now saying, "I killed Wash, and I'd do it again."

The only thing that has made me not want to see a film is pervasive, can't escape, haunts my dreams marketing.

If this means that damn ad where Brittany Murphy singsongs "I'll never teh-hellll" I'm right there with you.

Goddamn that Joss Whedon, who does he think he is, Tim Minnear?

I know. I'm expecting Joss to post any minute now saying, "I killed Wash, and I'd do it again."

The movie may have broken me (good grief, I was sobbing and shaking in the theater), but I do not feel betrayed. I might have an intense need to thwap Joss repeatedly about the head and shoulders should I ever be within arm's reach (but really, is that ever going to happen? no). But I do not feel like he has betrayed the fans by killing off beloved characters. I love the guys, and wish I could get 'em back.

I don't s'pose there's any chance we'll find that these were mystical deaths? Please?

Still, not betrayed.

When my friend (in a different state) saw the movie, he heard a kid say to his parent: "Wow, that was a lot better than 'War of the Worlds!'"