So we just got back from the advance screening of
Serenity. Yes, I was annoyed by some of the treatment by the staff, yes the long line and lack of communication was annoying, but the movie made up for it. No, actually, the first 30 seconds of the movie made up for it. Read on for a spoiler-free review of the movie.
<edit at 7:35am on 9/28>
It really bugs me that
Universal had to be so ham-handed in their whole invitation scheme. It seems that as a result every positive review that I've seen that isn't in mainstream press is being seen as astroturfing. So to be clear, I really did enjoy the movie as much as it sounds like I did, it's just a shame that Universal has pulled the type of shennanigans that they did. But anyway...
</edit>
First, while it helps fill out the background a bit, you need not be a die-hard fan of the TV series Firefly to appreciate the movie. The movie does fit quite neatly in the canon, but it stands well alone too. There's plenty in the film to hold the die hard fans, and with the amount of amazing writing, well executed fight scenes, and romantic subplot I'd be hard pressed to find a Joss Whedon fan or a testosterone-head or a stereotypical female movie-goer who could not find something to love about this movie. I can honestly say that I laughed, I cried, and for the first time in a
very long time I actually found myself on the edge of my seat in breathless anticipation.
If you've seen the trailer, congratulations, you've seen the bulk of the first 10 minutes of the movie chopped and rearranged in such a way as to make you have no idea what the film was about. That was a relief. I can't stand when a trailer tells you the whole film, and wastes all the good lines. Serenity's trailer, while rich in the good lines did not even begin to tap-out what's there.
Next up, the story itself. The pacing was well timed, with only one moment when I actually though to check my watch, and that was for about 2 minutes, 20 minutes in. Fight choreography was well done, and while I'm sure there are thousands of nit-pickers tearing into each kick like a reaver into a 5 year-old child, I'm not one. Yes, River (Summer Glau) does have some Buffy-like moments, and yes, I'm ok with that. The absence of Book from the trailer had me worried, but he's there too, and as enigmatic as ever. Kaylee (Jewel Staite) is as adorable and geeky as ever. The rest of the cast? No disappointments there either. If you want to watch only one episode of Firefly beforehand, watch Serenity (the episode) so you get an idea of how Malcolm ticks.
Let's see, what disappointed me... The sound effects. Or rather that they did add a few sound effects to the space sequences. Not a lot, no glaring engine noise, but enough to remind me that this isn't the TV show, with the eye (or ear, rather) for detail, like the absence of sound in space). Nope, this is the Hollywood movie with the sound effects being produced to cater to what the studio expects the audience wants to hear. We're not all idiots, you know. Also, I missed the horses. You see, the TV show had this thing going for horses, not so much in Serenity. It's less "sci-fi space western" as it is "post-apocalyptic us vs. The Man".
So briefly stated...
GO
SEE
THIS
MOVIE.
You'll regret it if you don't. Hell, I saw it for free and I'm planning on paying to go see it again.
March of the Penguins didn't even get that.
As for the preview experience itself, well that was annoying. All the pre-registration was really for nothing, and then they had a section marked reserved in the theater. Naturally, I and several others who had pre-registered sat here. We were told by a representative of Universal that that section was for, "reviewers. No, not you blog-people. Real reviewers, real press." well, screw you. You invite us and then tell us we're not good enough? The studio wants to know what I think, now they do. Thanks for letting Joss make a great movie, it's a shame you had to be pricks about it.
So I've been invited to a free screening of Serenity tomorrow night. Free with catches, that is. Apparently, I have to inclued a copy of this:
Joss Whedon, the Oscar® - and Emmy - nominated writer/director responsible for the worldwide television phenomena of BUFFY THE VAMPIRE, ANGEL and FIREFLY, now applies his trademark compassion and wit to a small band of galactic outcasts 500 years in the future in his feature film directorial debut, Serenity. The film centers around Captain Malcolm Reynolds, a hardened veteran (on the losing side) of a galactic civil war, who now ekes out a living pulling off small crimes and transport-for-hire aboard his ship, Serenity. He leads a small, eclectic crew who are the closest thing he has left to family –squabbling, insubordinate and undyingly loyal.
on my page. I'm hoping that the above will meet there requirements. I'm also supposed to write a review of the moive as well. Which I was planning on doing, in an informal way, after I saw the movie anyway. So hey, if I get to see the movie for free, all the better. I still plan on paying to see it anyway, just to annoy Fox. They really shouldn't have cancelled the show. :)
And it's spell companion, not W-H-O-R-E. <wink>
A red light means stop, right?
Yesterday, I was involved in a car accident. I'm ok, Gena's ok, my other passenger (a friend of mine, John) is ok. The car is a little banged up but will be fine, I'm sure.
The three of us were on our way to a picnic in Greenfield, NH and were passing through Nashua from Boston. As I was approaching an intersection, preparing to make a right turn the light went yellow. I slowed down to come to a stop (there was also a no turn on red sign). The light turns red, I stop. As soon as I stop *WHAM*. I get rear ended. After a very fast damage assessment (everyone ok? car intact?) I pull off to the side of the road and turn on the hazards (>1 minute post impact). Call 911. Connected to NH Highway patrol, they route the call to Nashua PD. Apparently your cell phone goes into this emergency beacon mode when you call 911. I never knew that. Kinda neat.
So I remain in the car, get out my license, registration. The other driver gets out and starts looking over the damage to her car. I decide to stay in the car at the wheel until the police arrive. Less than 5 minutes later an officer shows up. I speak to him, give him my account as well as my license and registration. He speaks to the other driver, then returns to his car. I return to the slightly banged up '89 Corolla (that thing is built like a tank!). After about 10 minutes the officer calls over both the other driver and myself, gives us both copies of the "accident information form" and I say my first words to the other driver, "are you ok?" "Yeah, yeah" she responds.
So she's just 3 years older than our Corolla and her car is a full 10 years younger than the Corolla. This amuses me for some reason. Also, her car looked much worse for the impact. She also seemed so calm about the whole thing I almost feel like she's done this before. But anyway...
So yeah. I ramble. I'm still a little shaken up from the whole experience, but I feel like I did the right thing, right? I mean, the other driver sprang out of her car right away, so since she wasn't visibly hurt I didn't want to say anything until the police arrived. Was that rude of me? And why do I even care when she rammed me at a red light (that I even had my break lights on while approaching)? I mean, gah.
And Gabe, you now have yet another reason to be happy you don't own a car.
So which is it?
Should gay marriage be a matter for the legislature to decide (as some Republicans such as Gov. Pataki of New York argue) or should it be up to the courts (teh position argued by Gov. Swartze-nick-nack-paddy-whack of California)?
I mean, you'd think
they could at least get on the same page about these sorts of things.
Sorry for turning this site into a poorly done political blog, but really the last few weeks have really erased the last bit of my patience for screwed-up governance.
<rant mode on>
So the Bush administration privatised hurricane relief efforts for Louisiana back in June, and the company that won the contract,
IEM now has bailed on thier responsibilities. Want
proof? Want to know why I had to link to the internet archive for that one? Because the pulled that little press release from their website. Gee, I wonder why... Maybe they never did what they were paid to do, eh? There's more about this discovery
here.
Now really... Bush and company have been busy talking about how they've been preparing the country for a disaster.
This is prepared? His failure to react swiftly and decisively is criminal. And his FEMA director
blames the victims of the storm. Why, because they're too poor to own cars and get out? I heard an interview this morning with the commander of the military units responding to this disaster on the BBC and he was asked why they waited until Friday to move in. His answer? To paraphrase,
we were prepared with equipment and supplies last Saturday, before the storm hit and were ready to move in to repair the city and aid in search and rescue but we can't do anything until ordered by the President. That order didn't come in until yesterday. Nice job George, wait 6 days to order in the resuce that was ready last week. What does he care, it's only poor African-Americans who were dying, not like they're Republican fundraisers or anything.
And the rest of the world just shakes its collective head in awe at how shockingly poor Bush's response has been.
I can only hope that now with gas crossing the $3.00/gallon price the idiots that feel the need to buy, own , and drive SUVs from their apartments to their offices 4 blocks away will see the folly of their ways and learn to use that amazing skill we evolved 50,000 years ago. Bipedal motion, ya jerks. One foot in front of the other. There you go. Yeah, just like the skill you use to get up and get a pack of twinkies from the kitchen during a commercial break.
It's just a shame that all that money is going to oil companies instead of rebuilding infrastructure. Europe's been paying even more than us for quite some time, except the difference was caused by taxes. They've got the bright idea to tax gas as a disincentive, so people will by smaller, more fuel efficient cars. And the tax revenue? Ever wonder why Germany has such nice roads and ours are falling apart?
Of course, knowing the present administration, the money would just go to harrassing grandmothers that are flying cross country and pumping billions of dollars into the former companies of the Vice President.
