I apologize for this long and scattered post, I just read through about 600+ posts in this thread, so I might be a little bit everywhere.

I saw the movie yesterday, unspoiled except for when I read that Book and Wash DIED because I was trying to discover what the box office had been for last weekend. God, I’m dumb.

Anyway, I’m glad to see that the reaction isn’t uniformly positive, because I was worried that I was being hypercritical after I saw it.

Wash’s death angers me the way Anya’s death angered me – they were both killed near the end of the show or movie and there wasn’t enough time to see the other characters grieve so that the audience could grieve (although Anya's death makes me much angrier; she wound up in a sinkhole and then the Scoobies quipped about the mall, at least Wash got a grave). Wash brought such a unique vibe to the ship – funny, but strong in a unique, calm way. I can’t picture Serenity without him and I’m not sure I would want to watch a movie without him there.

I agree with everyone who said that Simon felt off – he shouldn’t have been rescuing River, and there’s no way he would have known how to do all that crap – but as the movie progressed he turned into the Simon I remembered. My biggest characterization issue was with Mal. “Safe,” “Ariel,” and “Objects in Space” clearly established that Simon and River were part of the Serenity family and that Mal respected and liked them in his way (although he had many concerns about River). It seemed unnecessary to have so much Simon and Mal antagonism – if Joss wanted to establish doubt about what Mal would do, they should have gone the “Objects in Space” route, except this time he does decide she's too dangerous to stay.

Also, and this probably is hypercritical, but I didn’t like the explanations we got. Has the Alliance really been after River because she knew about this Pax thing? That seems...unnecessary. I know it’s supposed to be a big deal that they drugged people to their deaths and created Reavers, but it seemed like a standard government cover-up to me (the American government has done extraordinarily shady things, and having them revealed didn’t destroy our country or even our government). So, why are they exerting so much energy to capture her? I mean, a) she’s on the run trying to remain invisible so she probably wouldn’t reveal anything, b) she’s crazy and probably can’t remember, and c) even if she went public with it, who would believe her? They only have the verifiable proof once they go through the Reavers to get it, which is an insane thing they wouldn’t have done (or even thought of) until the Alliance cut off every other option.

Personally, I liked the original explanation for the Reavers better – that space and emptiness made them crazy rather than they breathed in some bad air.

However, there was a lot I liked. I will always love Tim Minear and Joss Whedon for creating Kaylee. How many other fictional female tv/movie characters are sweet, kind, brilliant with engines, emotionally healthy, and also possess a very present sexuality? My favorite line has got to be, “The hell with this, I’m gonna live!” Plus, I’ve always been a big Kaylee/Simon shipper, so that was nice to see.

Also loved Zoe being so strong after Wash died. God, poor Zoe. The part of me that is totally cheesy and loves soap operas, wants her to be pregnant. Most of all, I liked seeing these nine people again and spending time with them. I also liked seeing Serenity turned into a Reaver boat and then restored back to what she should be (I don’t think I’ve ever liked Inara more than when she was painting “Serenity” on the hull.)

But I miss Wash. I feel like a traitor for thinking this, but in a way, I wish it could have ended with Objects in Space. That wasn’t a planned (continued...)

( continues...) ending, but it was a good place to leave them. Now Book and Wash are dead and it’s depressing. Maybe if I see it again, I’ll feel differently.

A Quebecois speciality.

And apparently "particularly unhealthy," according to Emeril. As it should be, I'm sure!

Maysa, I felt very much like you do after my first viewing. It took me a long time to accept Wash's death in particular, and what that would mean for my concept of the Firefly 'verse. In the end, I did come to accept both Book's and Wash's deaths, and I was able to watch it again this weekend without being totally emotionally undone like I was the first time. I think part of it is that I almost see the movie and the TV show as two separate universes, now. There's a clear divide between the two in my mind, that is helped along by the changes in Mal's and Simon's characterizations in the movie. So I appreciate them each on their own merits, but not as two parts of one continuous story, if that makes sense.

And apparently "particularly unhealthy,"

I'm not sure that phrase has any meaning with regard to quebecois delicacies. It seems to imply that there are some that lean more toward the healthy side.

ETA: Dammit, now I want poutine.

Also, and this probably is hypercritical, but I didn’t like the explanations we got. Has the Alliance really been after River because she knew about this Pax thing?

I think they were after her because they didn't know what she knew - they just knew she'd been in a room with many Alliance bigwigs with many secrets to keep.

Has the Alliance really been after River because she knew about this Pax thing?

No one but Mal (and what would he know?) said they were after River because of Miranda. The Operative said she was a risk because of what she might know. My impression is that he suggested the chase be ended because the damage was done -- I'm sure they have more important things to do right now. And also because his belief was shattered.

So I appreciate them each on their own merits, but not as two parts of one continuous story, if that makes sense.

This. I don't think a continuous story valuable to new people was possible outside of some genius I don't attribute to Joss. Or anyone.

So I appreciate them each on their own merits, but not as two parts of one continuous story, if that makes sense.

I think when I see it again, I might feel the same way. It does seem to be a separate story in a lot of ways, with a different vision and message.

Has the Alliance really been after River because she knew about this Pax thing? That seems...unnecessary. I know it’s supposed to be a big deal that they drugged people to their deaths and created Reavers, but it seemed like a standard government cover-up to me (the American government has done extraordinarily shady things, and having them revealed didn’t destroy our country or even our government). So, why are they exerting so much energy to capture her?

I also got the feeling of, "that's it?" I mean, we see earlier in the movie wholesale destruction of countless towns just to smoke out Serenity. Earlier than that we are introduced to medical experimentation/torture on innocent victims. So how shocked are we supposed to be by the reveal?

I'm not sure that phrase has any meaning with regard to quebecois delicacies.

Heh, it's funny cause it's true. Also - Franco-American rule of thumb: If it's a vegatable, boil the shit out of it to make sure it's really dead.

Although I will be eating Tourtiere until the day I die (and it will probably contribute).