I think it's "If you can't do something smart, do something right."

The Visual Companion script says:

JAYNE - Shepherd Book used to tell me: if you can't do something smart, do something right.

Guh. Just... guh. So visually rich and emotionally satisfying and wrenching, and so very different from the preview. Which I liked, but which I mainly remember as full of snappy patter and some big gasping shocks. It all felt so very much more filled in this time: tighter, cleaner, every moment counting, and I could swear there were more reaction shots, more moments just resting on the actors' faces. Kaylee felt more present in this version, Book less blink-and-you-miss-him, Wash and Zoe more visibly a couple and a team.

Now I almost wish I could see the preview again to see what of my reaction to the finished version is editing and recutting and adding, and what is just me being successfully manipulated by cleaner visuals and a soundtrack.

Suela, unless the Metreon changes its schedule for the weekend (which is certainly possible, so definitely check), it's being shown on the IMAX and one other screen, with the IMAX show times exactly an hour before the regular theater. Today's evening schedule was: 4:40 - 6:40 (IMAX) - 7:40 - 9:40 (IMAX) - 10:40.

Damn, damn, damn. Can't wait to see it again. Hec pointed out on the ride home that it's very typically Jossian in the way it rewards multiple viewings.

Someone mentioned this before, but the moment when Jayne makes that comment about Book, drinks, and passes the bottle to Simon was just a lovely moment.

The commercials I've seen in the last couple of days have been really good, I hope they pay off.

It rewards repeated viewing. There's a lot in it. This time around I'm just noticing Mal's arc, and how it's about regaining faith.

I have to say I teared up bigtime in the final scene with River and Mal when she says, "I still like to hear you say it," and he answers, "Love." I am a sap.

Also, this is a geeky thing that has been bugging me. I keep reading in various places that it's supposedly been six months in between "Objects in Space" and the movie, but did they say that anywhere in the film? I think it has to be four months, because Simon and River had been on Serenity for four months in OiS and in the movie they mention that it's now been eight months since they arrived.

Now I almost wish I could see the preview again to see what of my reaction to the finished version is editing and recutting and adding, and what is just me being successfully manipulated by cleaner visuals and a soundtrack

I wonder if there isn't a torrent..

JZ was a wreck, sobbing uncontrollably from the minute Wash said "I'm a leaf on the wind" the first time. But she enjoyed it too.

Oh man this is so going to be me tonight when I go for my second viewing. Must remember the tissues.

Andi was feeling th good pain thusly as well.

I was manly and stoic, but oddly had allergies causing my eyes to water profusely.

I tried to hold it together. I was sitting next to a reporter during the early screening so I felt like a display of emotion would have freaked him out.

Funny thing was, I was spoiled for it. I KNEW it was going to happen. And yet it still surprised me. Joss is that good. The bastard.

The bastard

he killed Washy

I know this has already been addressed, but my impression re: The Operative and the gummint and the end of the movie was:

The Operative didn't know or give a rat's ass why the Alliance wanted River. He had no idea what "the secret" was. I also got the impression that the Alliance had no idea what River knew...but they were sure she knew somethin', that's fer gosh-darn sure.

So The Operative hunted and tracked and trapped Serenity and was *real* surprised when Serenity shows up lookin' all uglified and gross and towin' a passle o' Reavers.

(This faux-Western speech just comes nat'ral when talkin' Serenity. Go figger.)

(Also...when Serenity busts outta that cloud and the Operative is all smug and then the Reavers bust outta the cloud...me and Aimee looked at each other and said "And what *you* don't seem to realize is that *my* ship is towing *mines*".

Ahem. GalaxyQuest reference. I'm only slightly embarrassed.)

When Mal shows the Operative the Special Extended Edition of "Miranda and The Secret of Pax", well...big shock to the Big Op, big blow to the Big Belief and Operative turns his coat.

I'm sure the Alliance, despite the Operative's assurance, would not just shrug and go "Damage done, time for the spin doctors" ("Two by two, they'll bullshit you") but smile kindly and, the instant the Operative is out of the room call Operative Part Deux and say "Yeah, whatever. She may *also* know about Councilman Pervo's secret harem of choir boys, so get cracking and get killin'. Plus, duh, we spent a brazillion Uni-Bucks torturing this girl, enhancing her psychic abilities and showing her how to Jackie Chan the shit out of anyone we point at and say 'Sic 'em' so, you know...go gets us our money and our *other* secrets back, wouldja?"

In other words, out of all the craxy crammed in that girl's cranium, the Reavers may be only one li'l ol' thing.

In other news: I do not think Book was an Operative. I do think he was a Fed...the Alliance version of a G-Man. Book was a bad-ass, but he wasn't the level of Bad Assedness that the Operative was. But Book did know a lot about crime. He just smelled like a cop to me. I am muy disappointed we won't get that backstory, but c'est la vie.

I was disappointed that Wash died, but I also thought it was brilliant. Some people may take issue with this, but I thought it was worth it just because it kept me on the edge of my seat for the rest of the movie half-convinced that all or any of them were going to die and that Mal would fail. Joss is just crazy, just mean enough that...I could see it. I could see Mal failing to broadcast the signal and it all ending on a "Mwah hah hah" Twilight Zone "screw you" note.

I'll miss Wash. But I miss lots of people. If I drank less coffee before going shooting I might improve.