Mal ,'Ariel'
Discussion of all Firefly episodes, including "Trash", "The Message", "Heart of Gold", and any movie news.
Didn't see that one coming. Bloggers getting their BVD's in a bunge? Naaaah.
I've been posting about the film in my blog, anyway and so I posted their synopsis in exchage for a free screening.
Fairly simple terms. And for the record, the theatre folks weren't feeling people up for their picture cell phones at my viewing or threatening in any way.
As for the film. That Joss Whedon is a right bastard. *sniff*
When I first saw it, I saw the political analogy first, and wondered how conservatives were going to react to the 'people power' story. (I also think, on that level, it's an example of the ways in which liberals tend to believe that if people only had the facts, they'd make the correct (aka liberal) choice about matters, when in fact what we all want is a compelling narrative to buy into, which is why the liberals keep losing, gah, but I digress.)
Then I thought about it and realized it was also a story about the fall and rise of the Firefly crew, and on a certain level it couldn't NOT be, if we take Joss at his word about how traumatic that cancellation was for him. I think a lot of writers, like Robin, like myself, find looking back on our work that the stories we're drawn to are about the things we're working through for ourselves.
This reading, however, makes Wash's death more annoying to me, since it takes a story that can be read as a valentine to the show's fans and adds a spike to it by killing off a character who plays a secondary enough role in the film that the only people who are going to be really upset by the death are the people who helped get the film made in the first place - i.e., the show fans.
(One of my coworkers has become a huge fan of the DVDs since the time I saw the film. He keeps quoting Wash at me. I really don't want to have to deal with him on Monday.)
I feel almost exactly the same way I did when I saw The Empire Strikes Back.
I think the film is this weird growing up moment for me. The joy of the series is there. And the fun and excitement of the film is still there. But there is a sad kind of realization that it will never be as whole and as perfect in my mind again.
I think it's something that was needed but it leaves me with a teeny empty hole. It's like when I found out Santa doesn't exist, but that I still get presents.
The meta gets all tangled up in the movie.
As for the film. That Joss Whedon is a right bastard. *sniff*When I saw it in May, I had to rush into this thread finally just so I could say this...
x-posted from Firefly - MSNBC article: Can a failed TV show spawn a successful film?
I'm posting this here because if you look at the "related articles" sidebar, one of the links is Memorial videos played right on the tombstone.
I'm almost positive the "related articles" links on MSNBC are chosen automatically, by looking for words in the main article that also show up in the "related articles." Why was this one included? The subheading of the article is, "Solar-powered 'Serenity Panels' offer ultimate in personalization." The name seems to be coincidental.
This reading, however, makes Wash's death more annoying to me, since it takes a story that can be read as a valentine to the show's fans and adds a spike to it by killing off a character who plays a secondary enough role in the film that the only people who are going to be really upset by the death are the people who helped get the film made in the first place - i.e., the show fans.
Yes, and that's one of the meta-reasons why I was so upset by Wash's death. Beyond my attachment to the character, his death felt like--okay, and I know this is over-dramatic, but--it felt like a slap in the face. It felt needlessly cruel, because it seemed specifically intended to affect us-the-fans, who had been so victorious and happy about the movie being made at all.
(I am, actually, over it by now--was effectively over it a few days after seeing the screening in May--but I was surprised enough at my own extreme emotional response at the time that I still feel the need to bring it up.)
I think the film is this weird growing up moment for me. The joy of the series is there. And the fun and excitement of the film is still there. But there is a sad kind of realization that it will never be as whole and as perfect in my mind again.
This is exactly how I feel about it, too.
I'd be interested to see if non-fans fall for Wash -- I think he was played pretty well in the movie. He was funny, human, and fucking good at his job. Not to mention in an obviously strong and loving relationship.
I think the assumption that only "us" will care is ... well, probably not one made at the time of writing, and it's not one I hold either.
Now, Book's death is a death that only hits the fans. So to speak. No reason a newbie would give a fuck about him. And he didn't need to die for the plot either. Yet as many people don't seem as pissed about that.
I liked the death of Wash, as much as it saddens me. It jolted me into a heightened state of tension that only started to trickle away when The Operative spoke to Mal. I enjoyed that sensation, even as I was tempted to turn around and call Joss a bastard to his face.
Now, Book's death is a death that only hits the fans. So to speak. No reason a newbie would give a fuck about him. And he didn't need to die for the plot either. Yet as many people don't seem as pissed about that.
I am not pissed, but I am more upset about Book's death than I was about Wash's, because even though I knew rationally that we would probably never get to find out Book's back story, I really wanted to, and his death made it official that we never would.
Unless of course the next movie is about the back story...
(I like the color of the sky in my world)
Now, Book's death is a death that only hits the fans. So to speak. No reason a newbie would give a fuck about him. And he didn't need to die for the plot either. Yet as many people don't seem as pissed about that.I wonder if it is because people are resigned that *someone* would die and, after Book dies, the rest of the crew might be safe but for some narrow escapes.
I am actually more (maybe? I can't find the right word.) upset about Book's death. I don't know his story and now I never will except for flashbacks. But I saw his death coming at least a little in the movie. Wash let us breathe the sigh of relief and then impaled him.
I agree precisely with Cass. I thought we were safe. We were not safe. Life isn't safe, and sometimes I like it when my fiction shakes me out of my expectations. Sure, it's a pattern, but it's not the pattern I was expecting.