Serenity

[cupcake_goth]

We went and saw Serenity tonight.


hmmm.

Spoilers ahoy!



I did like it, but ...

Look, I'm well-aware of how ... overly-sensitive what I'm about to say sounds, but oh well.

Wash's death diminished my enjoyment of the movie as a whole FAR more than I would have thought. I went into the movie completely unspoiled, so I was utterly caught by surprise by that scene, and spent the rest of the movie somewhat in shock.

I understand the narrative reasoning behind it. It made the battle with the Reavers that much more tense, because there was the sense that anyone and everyone else might die. I get that, I really do. However, I still feel ... betrayed, I guess. I think I will enjoy the movie when I eventually see it again (be it in the theatre or on DVD), but the knowledge of Wash's death does tarnish the whole thing for me.

I have other thoughts about the movie (the Reavers plot was clever, the ret-conning of Simon being the one to break River out of the lab kinda bugged), but they'll have to wait for a bit.

Comments

[cindywrites.livejournal.com]

I was spoiled about Wash and Book. I'm not sure when I'll get to see the film. But each time I read an interview with Joss in which he's asked if there will be sequels, I want to yell, "What's the bloody point?"

I leave this for you, Peev, and everyone else who is angry about this

[tolkiencub.livejournal.com]

Joss *specifically* said, in the post-Edinburgh Film Festival interview, that he has 2 more films planned.

And the next one will completely focus on two characters specifically:

Book and Wash.

Which means it's not a sequel, in the sense of "this next film takes place in advancing-time order". It's just another "Firefly" movie.

If you can use the word "just".

We will see them both again, and learn their special stories. My biggest gripe? Inara was sidelined so heavily. At least people that didn't know the show didn't *care* about Book - we don't know him, then he's dead. Um...okay.

Inara was so utterly reduced to trvilality without the "benefit" of exiting.

she better get her day in the sun, too.

[elenabtvs.livejournal.com]

I can reconcile Simon being the one to break River out - barely. What I hate is the info given by the Alliance doctor about what they were doing to River and why. I understand that they were doing it for the benefit of the audience, but Simon didn't have that information - it's why they broke into the freaking hospital on Ariel in the first place.

And, yeah, Wash's death stunned and saddened me.

[wire-mother.livejournal.com]

Wash dying: i think the point was that it was sudden and unexpected, as death often is. it was intended to leave the audience in shock, i expect. that people feel betrayed, i think, and you are not the only person who has said exactly that, speaks volumes about people's relationship to death (or fiction, perhaps).

Simon "retcon": i'm not so sure it is retcon. i am starting to suspect that Simon has always been lying a little bit about what happened and what he knew. even before "Ariel", he seems to have a certain level of understanding of what is wrong with her - the mission to Ariel just gave him much more to work with in treating her. there were many things not quite on the table on that ship, it seems.

[oldhalloween.livejournal.com]

His death had me weeping and bad sniffles. In any epic story though you lose characters. Its sad, and yet it replicates life and all those we lose to soon. At the end I said..what he lives through a bazillion Hercules adventures and gets taken out by a pointy stick! Bah!