Raisin Nut Bran-

So the movie's climax didn't piss me off time, since I was ready for it. I still think there's just too much going on in rapid succession without a chance to release tension. My friend who saw it for the first time tonight agreed, but also brought up the point that the constant boom-boom-no-time-to-think tension accurately represents the characters' state of mind at that point. Which I will agree with, but I still think you need to give the audience a break or they will force one for themselves, like I did the first time.

I can't say I enjoyed it better or worse the second time, I just know I enjoyed it differently. The first time was incredibly intense but led to me being overloaded and shutting myself off from the it. The second time I was able to just relax and enjoy it for what it was. Both have their benefits and drawbacks.

Yeah, I also noticed those things you mentioned.

I think the only thing I really didn't like about the movie (aside from Simon and Jayne not professing their previously unspoken but implied attraction, of course) was that the final standoff was a little too obviously a set piece. I get the tactical reason they'd pick a place like that to hole up, but it was the one setting in the movie that felt like a soundstage rather than a real location.

I can see how people might have an "oh, come ON!" reaction to the reveal of Mr. Universe's backup system and attendant whirly reactor core of grisly death-by-julienne, but my response, like Jessica's, was to be reminded of Galaxy Quest's similar scene with Sigourney Weaver and crack up.

God, that was seriously intense. May have more to say after I catch up in the thread, but that won't be until at least Sunday.

I really almost barfed. aversion to gore + deep and abiding love for characters = much difficulty watching the fight scenes

I get the tactical reason they'd pick a place like that to hole up, but it was the one setting in the movie that felt like a soundstage rather than a real location.

I knew something bugged me about that. I think this was it.

Heh, or Joss has alternate footage of the entire last half hour of the movie and someone else buys the farm in Sept.

It makes me sad AND hopeful that I wouldn't put this past the man.

Joss's "You may call yourself browncoat" speech and the huge Braveheart style cheer that followed it.

I want to cry when I think about how he said, "We have done the impossible, and that makes us mighty." More even, than when I think about Wash. But I'm a person who insists that Xander has TWO EYES, and Wesley NEVER DIED. (We'll let Fred die though, because Illyria is badass.) So I'm all "Wash? Dead? Clearly this movie takes place in an alternate universe." I am even thinking of it that way REALLY, a little. And while I know the Simon saving River thing can be made not a retcon, it felt retconny to me.

Mal felt pretty off: he felt much more like the Mal from the original Firefly script that Fox insisted be lightened up. Or at least a Mal from before "Safe" and "Ariel". This Mal saw Simon and River as outside, not members of his crew, in a way that I don't buy in the aftermath of the 13-ep run, especially the end of "Objects in Space". Which is not to say he isn't justified in being angry at not knowing about River's fighting ability; but the way it was expressed really made him less likeable than we know he is.

It is my sincere hope that the comic book will explain this - because I was actually ANGRY at Mal for a while there, thinking, "But you kept insisting before that they WERE part of your crew. WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?"

I kept thinking "He'll get better! He'll have a space-age cure, right?" right up until I saw the gravestone.

smonster and I were sure that when the Alliance blew that door open it would be Wash. I was hoping for a Train Job like entrance, myself.

Did the other crowds go nuts in that scene when Mal hit the three switches?

I did. Though it seemed like he hit three different switches than Wash always did.

...I think what I missed most in the movie, what I wish had really been there, was the love for the ship itself that was in the show. I understand that things are different in film than TV, and they didn't have the time to develop that sense of space. But I kept being like, "This isn't MY ship!" (I have a complex where I think I'm Kaylee and/or Mal, depending on my mood) and stuff. So Zoe's line about making the ship an abomination hit me hard, and I was about to cry for THAT, when they showed it all Reavered up.

...I am sad about Book only because it bursts my theory about the possible trilogy going River-Book-Inara as central characters, because they were the three with secrets.

I WANT TO KNOW THE SECRETS, I'm pretty sure had the series lasted 5 years he would've died MUCH later on.

I liked Kaylee's line about vibrators.

And I think my favorite serious part of the whole movie was, "She's tore up plenty, but she'll fly true." I want to tag it, but I fear that it'd be spoilery and stuff.

Saw the preview last night, and as tommyrot and Kathy A. can attest, my reaction was, "That fucker killed my two favorite characters!" Strangely, I was more angry than sad. Stages of grief or whatever, I guess.

I loved the film. Loved it. I do think that non-tv show people will not care about the deaths very much. Or even care about the danger the crew is in. I don't think the movie does a very good job of character development as a stand-alone.

I was actually ANGRY at Mal for a while there

My friend who saw it for the first time last night felt the same way. He did suggest that his behavior might have something to do with Inara leaving, because once they got her back he was behaving more like TV!Mal.

I do know Joss and Nathan have talked about how each member of the crew are parts of Mal's psyche and he keeps them close because it helps him hang on those parts of himself. It's possible Inara's presence helps temper his rage and sense of loss after the war. Mal complains to her about her clouding things up for him. On some level, he _wants_ to be the bad guy, to stop caring, but he won't let himself and Inara reminds him of that.

But yeah, hopefully there will be an explanation in the comic book.

I do know Joss and Nathan have talked about how each member of the crew are parts of Mal's psyche and he keeps them close because it helps him hang on those parts of himself.

I think Book helped him in this respect too. The whole "you're not that person" (or whatever the line was) and "you gotta have faith" thing seemed to be what tipped Mal into trying to save River again.

eta: OK, that's not quite right, as Mal did save River before talking to Book. But Book helped him along that path....

Saw the preview last night, and as tommyrot and Kathy A. can attest, my reaction was, "That fucker killed my two favorite characters!" Strangely, I was more angry than sad. Stages of grief or whatever, I guess.

I was right there with you with the rage after seeing it the first time. (Though Kaylee beats out Wash and Book for my favorite character, they're right behind her.) I'm still not happy about it, but I've gone through all the stages to acceptance at this point. I agree that I don't think people familiar with the series will get much of an impact out of the deaths. That said, the amount of tension in the climax that was too much for me, might work perfectly for people new to the story who aren't as invested in the characters.

He did suggest that his behavior might have something to do with Inara leaving, because once they got her back he was behaving more like TV!Mal.

I thought of this, much later. In the car, on the way home. An hour into the drive. Once I was done complaining.

I said to Chris Buchanan, "I WILL NEVER FORGIVE JOSS!" and then followed that with a quiet, "But this isn't the first time I've said that," which drew laughter from the few fans remaining when I went to talk to him. (I waited for the line to go away. My intention was to be at the front of it, but I always run to the side of the autograph table. Which is fun and makes me feel special, but means I don't ACTUALLY get to talk to the cool people.) Joss is a devil man. He rips out my heart and jumps up and down on it. Then he puts it back in place VERY carefully, so it can MOSTLY heal before he rips it out again.

Joss is Niska. But cuter.