Film Commentary -- Serenity

[mhalachai]

Ah, Joss Whedon. A man who makes shows about supernatural girls kicking bad-guy ass and people dying from being impaled on sticks.

K, so I saw Serenity yesterday. It was very good, worth waiting for. The story was good, playing a good mix of humour and action. The characterization was good, even if they could only touch on some characters. I couldn't comment on it last night, however. I needed to digest what happened, as the events in the movie hit me a bit hard.

The first thought I had, in the opening sequence with the escape of River and Simon, was completely wrong. I was up and down convinced that Simon was a government plant, and the Academy had let River out into the Real World to have Simon continue her training while doping her up on drugs. I was 100-per-cent convinced.

Then the escape, and the Operative. I was really glad I was wrong about Simon.

Which brings us to the Operative. He was a difficult character to get a handle on, because he was a villain who wasn't all evil. His actions were evil, and he knew it, but he had this vision, a belief, for a better world. Is that evil? The unquestioning belief in a vision, no matter how twisted, for the future?

I'll skip ahead. I think the Operative's decision at the end to not kill Serenity's crew, was completely in line with the character development we had seen throughout the film. His job was not to kill River and Simon. His job was to stop the message about Miranda from getting out. He failed. The moment the broadcast started, his job was finished. There was no need for further action. To have killed the Tams would have been to succumb to emotion.

Also, knowing the Operative's mission made the actions of the Blue Hands in "Ariel" makes much more sense. Killing anyone who spoke with River, on the off chance she told them about Miranda.

It's fun to watch Nathan Fillion getting beaten up on screen.

Regarding Inara. I think that her character wasn't as fully explained as it needed to be. We were not told she was a Companion or what that meant, and for those who have not seen the DVDs, I think a missing point about her.

The end scene with Simon and Kaylee getting it on was put in there to have Sean Maher take his shirt off. I'm not complaining. Hey, and did you know that there were about 20 separate takes of the final make-out seen between Simon and Kaylee in the engine room, with take #20 being the one used in the final cut? I didn't.

K, onto the big thing. Wash getting impaled. I think that it was necessary, in a way, to have someone in the crew killed off. Book's death was sort of like having Obi Wan die on Star Wars. The wise father-figure dies and it's a message, etc. But having someone as integral to the crew, Wash, get killed (and please don't kill me for this), drove the point home. This is a story about fighting impossible odds, not because you think you might live. You know you won't. You're fighting in spite of the fact that you will die alone, in the dark, with no one to mourn you.

At the very end, when Mal goes to pilot the ship and says "So you're going to be my co-pilot?" I thought for a microsecond that he was talking to Wash's ghost, but no. Mal doesn't talk to ghosts.

Quotes:
Zoe saying that a hero is someone who gets other people killed.
Wash: "Can we start with the part where Jayne gets knocked out by a 90 pound girl? Because that's *never* getting old."
Mal: "While I'm gone, Zoe is in command. Now, if I'm not back in an hour, I want you to take this ship, take off... and you come and you rescue me!"
River: "Please, make me a stone." (I've got a lovely fic idea from this, by the way)

Now, questions: If that's how Simon got River out of the Academy, then why was she in a box?
Are we ever going to learn about Book's past?
Why do I love Jayne Cobb so very much?
Can I see it again, please?

And if I see any more Wash "I'm a leaf in the wind" icons, I'm going to scream.

Comments

[mary-re.livejournal.com]

An attempt to answer your questions...with my humble opinion, at least.

1) I think she was in the box because the Alliance would be looking for any 20something male/teenage girl duo, and it would be easier getting transportation if they looked less like the pair of wanted fugitives. Also, River was nowhere near psychologically stable - and still isn't, really - and he didn't want to take the chances of her freaking out in a crowd of people, and getting them caught.

2) Book's past...I have heard so much speculation that he used to be an operative, and the idea is a tempting one...it'd explain why he got immediate clearance to get medical treatment when he was shot during that one episode, and why he knew so very much about the Alliance.

3) I really don't get the appeal of Jayne. Really. He redeemed himself a bit in the movie by checking everyone's seatbelts before strapping himself in, but he is still way too much of a boorish asshole for me. I think it is because I am around redneck hicks like him all the time here in Texas, and have no patience with it. But a lot of people do seem to like him an awful lot, if you look at the amount of fics with him as a main character.

4) I saw it twice. I'm probably going to see it again within the next few days. *g*

Zoe's response to Mal's line about rescuing him was what killed me! "And risk my ship, sir?" *snorfle*
And ohgod, the River "please make me stone" line...I must admit, when I first heard it, I thought she said "please make me stoned," and I almost laughed really inappropriately in the theatre. *embarrassed*

The part that almost killed me about the ending was seeing Mal sit in Wash's place, with all those dinosaurs lined up on the edge...I almost started bawling. *whimpers* Waaaaaash!

But overall, I absolutely adored the Miranda plotline. Government coverups are a time-honoured tradition, and this one went perfectly...just the right amount of utterly horrific actions.

[mhalachaiswords.livejournal.com]

-Makes sense about boxing River, actually.

- The concept of Book as an Operative is interesting, but I'm not sure. He seemed to have too much emotion at times to function properly in that role. Plus, that means he was once a bad guy

- The appeal of Jayne isn't "he's so sexy", it's "he's so hilariously *wrong*". (K, plus Adam Baldwin *is* sexy) The character is such an utter boor, he can be used for humour and, and so dumb that he can be used for exposition in a good way. Did you know he's 6'4"?

I have always loved the Zoe/Mal dynamic. This movie made me love them both even more.

The part about the dinosaurs was sweet. Not taking them down just because he was gone. Sort of to remember him.

Miranda.... oh, Joss. I love you and your government fuck-ups plotlines. This one was so good because it seemed plausible and had a "noble" goal at the end: To make everybody "better". Very in-line with the Alliance goals during the war of independance, as laid out in that first Dream-lesson or River's.

[sparrow015.livejournal.com]

I haven't seen any Wash 'I am a leaf on the wind' icons...I want one. I love that line, especially as Wash was all in zen mode as he piloted through the Alliance/Reaver fight.

As for Jayne, he has a very Han Solo likeable quality, it's just...It's Jayne!

As for Book, I think he used to be an Operative, but then got out of it somehow, like he did a certain amount of missions and that granted him his freedom from the Alliance, or something like that. Very Gladiator thinking I'm thinking there.

If you can get to a comic shop, they have a 3 issue firefly comic out called Serenity by Darkhorse comics, Joss called it a prequal to the movie. It's very well done and beautiful. Check that out if you can.

[mhalachaiswords.livejournal.com]

The icons I've been seeing are at ff_icons. And looking back, I think I was knee-jerk reacting to the film. Oh, Wash. It was a perfect line, with Wash doing what he did best -- be one with Serenity.

Thanks for the heads-up on the comics. I'll check those out after payday.

[deepfishy.livejournal.com]

I know that active_apathy's made one. And now it's making me cry, because we won't get to hear him witticise ever again :(.

[deepfishy.livejournal.com]

I agree with pretty much everything you said. Sad and moving, funny throughout; snappy writing and some great action scenes. And a plot, to boot! Some thoughts, itemised because, um...because it's shiny to number things:

1: That bit at the end, where Mal goes to pilot the ship? I thought that he was talking to ghosts, too. Oh, Wash... :,(

2: And with Book, I was all, "No, gorrammit! How are we ever going to uncover your past now?!"

3: Charlieeee!!! *sob* (this will only make sense to fans of Numb3rs)

4: Jayne, Jayne. You and your grenades :). I share the Jayne love.

5: Simon sure has a mighty fine back for a doctor. What's he need all them muscles for?

6: Some of the music had me tapping my feet (quietly) in the cinema.

7: I must see it again!

[mhalachaiswords.livejournal.com]

I was jittering too hard to tap my feet. Maybe in the next run :)

5: Simon sure has a mighty fine back for a doctor. What's he need all them muscles for?

Them's doctoring muscles :D

[houses7177.livejournal.com]

I think I had a slightly different take because I had never seen any Firefly before going to Serenity. All of the deaths were proundly logical to me- each carried a message that rang true for the scenarios and persons presented in the movie. Yes, I cried when Wash died, but as traumatic as it was, it made sense. And it made sense that they all moved on afterwards- Mal flying where Wash used to sit. It was touching, lovely, and traumatic. And still understandable from an outsider's perpsective.

Oh, and Inara? I thought she was a prostitute, plain and simple. After the movie Sean explained that she was more than that- a companion was as much body guard as prostitute. Is that correct?

[mhalachaiswords.livejournal.com]

The deaths all made sense to me, as much as they shocked me. It's good to know that the deaths of so few characters, relatively, can still carry the power to shock the audience (if they know the characters or not).

A Companion is a prostitute, but a high-priced and skilled one, not a bodyguard. Sort of like a futuristic Geisha.

[deepfishy.livejournal.com]

For Companion, think 16th Century courtesan - much more social standing and influence than a mere whore, and (from what I've gathered) also "accomplished", in the Jane Austen sense (can sing/play an instrument etc). The Companions have a whole Guild, and schooling from an early age.

[uforeah.livejournal.com]

I had never watched the show, in fact reading your story is the first time I've ever really heard of Firefly, but I went and saw the movie this weekend, and now I want to watch the rest of the show.

I totally saw Kaylee from your story as the Kaylee in the movie. Which made me smile.
I loved the interaction between the characters, they played so well together.
All and all a totally cool movie that I think I would like to own one day...along with the DVDs of the show.
Thank you for turning me on to it.

[mhalachaiswords.livejournal.com]

Yay! The DVDs are very interesting, and really flesh out the characters. I highly recommend a viewing.

[mhalachaiswords.livejournal.com]

Most awesome. I, too, will be buying the DVD the moment it comes out. Well, maybe a few days after. I hope that there are nifty DVD extras on it. But even it doesn't, I'm a-buyin' it.

[uforeah.livejournal.com]

I don't know if they will be different but my sister said that when she rented the DVD's to watch the whole show there were several shows that didn't air that they put on the DVDs.

[silver-venus42.livejournal.com]

First off: Jayne is my favorite because he's just awesome. Plus, the stubble on his face...holy CRAP! Attractive.

I saw the movie three times over the weekend with different people and am happy to say that everyone has been converted and will now be watching the show. Its also glorious that Serenity came in #2 at the box office. *Jumps for joy*

On the whole "Joss killing Wash" thing... when I first saw it, I didn't beleive it. It took me to the end of the movie, when I saw the funeral, to actually think that Joss had killed Wash. But, thinking on it later (much later), I came to the conclusion that, "how else would Wash died?" He wasn't a fighter. He had to go out being the hero in his own way, which is, being a brillent pilot. And he did. Plus, isn't that what Joss does on all his other shows too? Think about it.

I LOVE NATHAN!

{River: "Please, make me a stone." (I've got a lovely fic idea from this, by the way)} This sounds like a REALLY god idea. I support you.

[mhalachaiswords.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you liked it!

I totally agree with you on Wash. Someone had to die, someone who had made a connection to the audience. Book wasn't connected enough. Wash was a good choice, too, esp. after he did that magnificent flying.

I went to see it again last night, and the reaction of the girl next to me summed it up: She was laughing with the rest of them at that line, then when Wash got staked, she exclaimed, "What?"

Even after a few days, it's still the bext movie in a while. Plus, they showed the trailer for Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe. OMG I can't wait!

[silver-venus42.livejournal.com]

I agree. My summer movies would have to be Serenity and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

Ditto on The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe! So many good previews but that one was my favorite! I'm so glad they are making a movie. Did you ever see the one the BBC (or someone) made? It was so horrible... I have to go re-read all the books now! Mucho exited!

[mhalachaiswords.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I saw that BBC series. So. Bad.

LWW is a brilliant book, even reading it again as an adult. CS Lewis is just a great writer. I'm so excited about this movie.

[watcher457.livejournal.com]

Wash!!! *wails* though i agree. someone had to die. i'm just so sad it was him. wash was a great character.

as for jayne... i love him!! i like all of the characters, but he is pretty damn close to my favorite. i think it takes a certain mentality to appreciate a man like him. he's great.

as for mal talking to wash's ghost... you too, huh? i think it was done on purpose. it's good to see a way for river to earn her keep, though. it's good to see she's going to be the new pilot. she'll be awesome.

all in all, i loved the movie. it was awesome.

[watcher457.livejournal.com]

oh, and by the way, another awsome quote: Zoe: "Are we exploding again?"

[mhalachaiswords.livejournal.com]

Joss Whedon's a master at giving us little hints to lead us in the direction that he wants us to go, without bringing out the exposition axe.

Like I said to the person I went to the flim with last night -- Jayne's not a nice or a good character, but he's a character, and a well-written one. He draws the audience in. Adam Baldwin plays him so well.

[watcher457.livejournal.com]

he is... he's not a nice guy, but he's not a bad guy. he's almost sterotypical in his liking of guns and stuff. he's... there are no words. he amuses me.

[(Anonymous)]

I think that this is a movie of details, that it will take more than one viewing for me to fully appreciate every single last jot of creativity and genius vested in it. I loved the flow of the first scenes, the whole introduction. Each of those scenes incorporated an element from the previous scene. The beautiful dream of school to the dreary lab and escape to the security tape hologram to the title of the movie to the decal on the ship.

I also love the absolute believability of all the effects. I could not tell the fact from the fiction, it was so well disguised. The ships looked REAL, River on the ceiling looked REAL, the cities looked REAL, the whole thing was dirty and grungy and appeared completely physically plausible, motion, shape, sound (well...maybe not the sound of those weapons. That was a little StarWarsish. Sound cannot exist within a vacume or something like that.), and especially the relationships between the characters which were so totally REAL.

The music...eh...it could have been better, but it could have been worse...I thought that it was most distracting when the sound of battle faded away to make way for the 'love confessions' and sappy talk.

This movie deserves all the hype it has not been getting...So it's up to us to spread the word. It's a proven marketing technique that word of mouth is the most effective form of advertising...I was still surprised when I found the theatre only half-filled.

E.A.V.

[(Anonymous)]

when the sound of battle faded away to make way for the 'love confessions' and sappy talk.


Really! Wouldn't you have loved to hear rending flesh, gun shots and death cries during an outpouring of the heart? Sheesh, sometimes I amaze myself...is that callous or what?

And as another nitpick on the movie...That spike whent straight through Wash, the pilot. If the reavers enjoy killing their victims up close and personal, then they would have tried to miss the pilots, and it makes it even more of a chance out of trillion that that spike went straight through him. So were they aiming for him or not, and if they were aiming for him, then why go against their MO? Sheesh, that sounds horrible, but then I love analyzing movies and movie talk so I'll let it stand.

E.A.V.