Serenity DVD [SPOILERS]

[LostSoul]

I liked this one:

"Did we fight?"

"No..."

"TRAAAAP!!!

Can I do that one over again?"

 

[Dark Jezter]

I liked Serenity, but didn't think it was the greatest sci-fi movie in years like some did. Still, it was enjoyable enough for feeling like an extended episode of the television series with nicer special effects.

I've never liked the character of Inara. She never interested me much in the series, her acting annoys me, and it seems like only real purpose was to provide a prospective love interest for Mal. Watching Serenity made me dislike Inara even more, mainly due to the reaver fight near the end of the film: what kind of freakin' moron chooses to fight with a bow while defending against a human wave assault when automatic and semi-automatic firearms are available? To me, that indicates a downright stupid love affair with archaic weapons.

I didn't care much for the Operative (for reasons stated by Wormwood) or the 90-pound supergirl. I also thought that Book's death was very cliche: With his dying breaths, he manages to give Mal a poignant speech and then dies as soon as he's said his piece. It reminded me of Trinity's death scene from The Matrix: Revolutions.

 

[Mallus]

At no point in the film did he seem like anything but a writer's construct. Which is sad because Whedon actually can create compelling, unique characters.

But Whedon's characters always seem like writer's constructs. They're very up front about it, and that's part of their charm. Whedon starts with broad, often instantly familiar stereotypes, and then he spends an inordinant amount of time making them into people.

Start with almost cardboard cut-outs, and then surprise the audience by imbuing them with an inner life. That's my take on the game he's been playing all these years.

 

[Umbran]

Start with almost cardboard cut-outs, and then surprise the audience by imbuing them with an inner life. That's my take on the game he's been playing all these years.

*nod* Joss - the Jiminy Cricket of the genre. Shepherding all the wooden puppets along until they become real people.

The problem with the Operative is that the process takes a bit of time, and there wasn't a whole lot of time to spend on the Operative...

 

[KaosDevice]

Well, obviously I'm one of the gushing Firefly fan-nerds so you know already that I am biased, but I really loved Serenity. I liked how it could go from laugh out loud to *gasp* in the space of 10 seconds (you all know the scene I'm talking about) and that it raised some very interesting moral questions that have relevance as much real world as they do in the movie (How far should a person or government go to protect what they believe is a greater good for example). It's definately a DVD I will buy and watch many times (as soon as I get off work, AARRRRGGGHHH!!!).

 

[Kai Lord]

With his dying breaths, he manages to give Mal a poignant speech and then dies as soon as he's said his piece. It reminded me of Trinity's death scene from The Matrix: Revolutions.

I was surprised while watching Matrix Revolutions that when Trinity finally died after reciting her memoirs that when they cut back to Neo he wasn't sporting a full beard. I know I was when it was finally over.

 

[KaosDevice]

I was surprised while watching Matrix Revolutions that when Trinity finally died after reciting her memoirs that when they cut back to Neo he wasn't sporting a full beard. I know I was when it was finally over.

I used that time to take a language course and a cooking class.

 

[BiggusGeekus]

Watching Serenity made me dislike Inara even more, mainly due to the reaver fight near the end of the film: what kind of freakin' moron chooses to fight with a bow while defending against a human wave assault when automatic and semi-automatic firearms are available? To me, that indicates a downright stupid love affair with archaic weapons.

I think it's implied that those are the only weapons she knows how to use. In the Firefly episode "Shindig" she's good with a rapier and in a later episode she admits to being a lousy shot (the one with the laser pistol and Mrs Reynolds).

Of course none of that is established in the movie and you have to be a Firefly fan to pick up on the rest.

 

[Hijinks]

From what I gather in the Firefly series and what I've read here and elsewhere, Inara's use of the bow ties into her Companion training. Obviously in this verse, being a Companion means being well-versed in many old traditions, such as pouring a proper tea (we see her doing this in the film, iirc - I haven't watched the DVD yet, just got it last night, and it's been a while since I saw it a 2nd time in the theater). She was trained to use archaic weapons because that's what she IS - archaic, formal, never casual like a laser gun would be. I guess you just kinda gotta look at it from the perspective of the character and profession, not just "is it practical to use that kind of weapon?"

My favorite outtake: "Kaylee, find that kid who's taking a dirt nap ... we need a hood ornament." Gawd. *wipes a tear from laughing*

 

[Dark Jezter]

I think it's implied that those are the only weapons she knows how to use. In the Firefly episode "Shindig" she's good with a rapier and in a later episode she admits to being a lousy shot (the one with the laser pistol and Mrs Reynolds).

Of course none of that is established in the movie and you have to be a Firefly fan to pick up on the rest.

Having used guns and bows for both hunting and recreational target shooting, I find it somewhat difficult to believe that Inara could be completely clueless about how to use a gun but skilled with a bow (especially being around types like Mal and Jayne, who definately like their guns). It's even harder considering that becoming a good shot with a bow is harder than becoming a good shot with a gun.

Plus, there's also the fact that in a close-quarters firefight like the one at the end of the movie, pinpoint accuracy would be a minimal concern.

From what I gather in the Firefly series and what I've read here and elsewhere, Inara's use of the bow ties into her Companion training. Obviously in this verse, being a Companion means being well-versed in many old traditions, such as pouring a proper tea (we see her doing this in the film, iirc - I haven't watched the DVD yet, just got it last night, and it's been a while since I saw it a 2nd time in the theater). She was trained to use archaic weapons because that's what she IS - archaic, formal, never casual like a laser gun would be. I guess you just kinda gotta look at it from the perspective of the character and profession, not just "is it practical to use that kind of weapon?"

If she's in a desperate battle and chooses a substandard (bordering on useless) weapon because using a gun would be too "casual"... Well, that's just idiotic no matter which definition of the word you use.