I’ve now seen Joss Whedon’s Serenity a total of three times.
Twice amid the rush of my friends to catch one of the unprecedented public pre-screenings. (To reward Serenity’s politely rabid fan base, Universal released three unfinished cuts of the film in 35 American cities. Most screenings sold out in minutes, crashing Fandango and the movie’s website.) And once more at a recent press screening.
As a Cinderella story, Serenity has caught a lot of attention in the last few months. Few obscure television series canceled after 11 episodes get picked up by Universal Pictures. And even fewer first time directors are given buckets of cash and complete free reign by Hollywood. But Firefly was unique.
The first post-9/11 SF television series, it was gritty, sharply realistic and completely unlike anything else ever aired. Firefly's quiet genius stemmed from Whedon’s very human portrayal of family of rejects. Navigating through the quiet darkness of space in pursuit of a free life. Fans don’t buy back for the fancy effects, the shoot-outs or intrigue. They go back for the characters. In that alone, Whedon trumps all his competitors; he knows how to write people so realistic you’ll instantly hate everything else on television.
Enter Serenity.
As the writer and director of a feature film continuing his beloved, but poorly popularized, series, Joss Whedon inevitably walked a fine line. He had but two hours to return viewers both new and old to his finely crafted world. To bring his story to some semblance of completion, while still doing justice to each of his nine characters. And somehow end up with a movie that didn’t suck.
With a private cult embedded across America of everymen ready to tear apart any flaw they found, and the entire corporate structure of Hollywood horrified at his successful crusade, I think it’s fair to say Whedon was under considerable pressure.
I know that I walked into my first screening with, it must be said, absolutely no faith in him.
I don't like Vampires. I think Buffy was crap. And no, I will not shut up. Just 'cause a guy writes the wittiest scripts in Hollywood don't make him infallible. Plus the guy's fat. And I hate fat people on principle.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Joe
The fact that you hated Buffy simply because you don't like vampires is the exact reason so many people missed out on its sheer brilliance. It was never about vampires so much as it was the surprisingly realistic life lessons the characters learn and go through that are wrapped up in metaphor. Failure to look below the surface is what results in so many people with the opinion that it's "crap."
And fat person or not, Whedon's intelligence surpasses most still working in film and television today and his weight shouldn't be a relevant factor to whether you like him or not, especially considering he's never actually on screen in any of his work.
2 - bubblecat
Errmmmm..
Joss Whedon = Numfar, Angel, Season 2 ep: Through the Looking Glass.
Go watch his joyous dance :).
3 - Bob A. Booey
I didn't feel Firefly, but Buffy was pure pop TV genius. They had their high and low moments, but Buffy and Angel were among the very best shows on TV in the last 10 years.
That is all.
4 - William Gillis
I hope you realize the weight stuff was all in good fun.
...I did enjoy parts of Angel. But I feel that Buffy waxed a bit too cheap-television.
5 - Whatever
Perhaps you are still just a stupid kid, but a lot of people eat for psyhological reasons (some smoke, some drink) - one should feel compassion perhaps even pity toward them, but not the totally stupid hate. Grow up kid.
6 - William Gillis
Fat people aren't me, therefore I must hate them.
Geeze, what America are you living in? Get with the program.
7 - Hjermsted
Joss isn't fat, but he's definitely "phat".
8 - Lovok
"Fans don’t buy back for the fancy effects, the shoot-outs or intrigue. They go back for the characters." You then go on Buffy is crap. Your quote not only summarizes why Firefly is great, but also why Buffy and Angel are great. I don't watch Buffy for the corny looking monsters, I watch it for the realistically developed characters. You are missing out on some of the best TV ever made by not digging deeper into what Buffy is *really* about.
9 - MaTwang
I am so pleased by this review. It's the ability to make true "believers" out of staunch doubters that helps me hope that perhaps the movie will be the huge hit that the series should have been.
I still hate Fox for axing Firefly -- I still remember the day the ax struck: December 13, 2002.
Is that sad or what?
Now that HBO has joined the Fox "ratings before art" bandwagon and axed Carnivale (IMHO the best show on TV, period), Serenity is one of the few lights that I'm keeping an eye on.
If this does turn out to be a Cinderella story, just remember my friends, the evil stepmother is FOX!!!
Please tell your friends about Serenity -- and keep her flying!!
MaTwang
"Carnivale: it's not a show, it's a drug"
NO CARNIVALE -- NO HBO.
10 - adrock2xander
You bash BtVS...condemn vamps...praise Firefly and try to get away scot-free in one essay?
You are one sad sad bloke...bubblecat's comments i shall reiterate...
The fact that you hated Buffy simply because you don't like vampires is the exact reason so many people missed out on its sheer brilliance. It was never about vampires so much as it was the surprisingly realistic life lessons the characters learn and go through that are wrapped up in metaphor. Failure to look below the surface is what results in so many people with the opinion that it's "crap."
Get with the program you Buffy-hater...
11 - Kristina
Have you seen Joss lately? Not so much with the fat. He looks positively toned.
12 - Sania Delian
First, great, great line, "the painful voyage in search of a reason to live." Very poetic and very lovely.
Second, I shall not condemn you for hating Buffy for Vampires, only because you have evoked the wrath of the fandom, and therefore, you shall die a fiery soulless death in their eyes, and only through redemption shall you find peace and solace... aka, watch the damn show.
Lastly, Joss Whedon isn't fat or phat. He's merely pregnant with Fillion's baby. Jeeze don’t you people know anything??
13 - -E
I love Firefly. I'm watching it all this month leading up to the release of the movie. I'm looking forward to it.
14 - mynameisbill
Hey, guys--I sort of disliked Buffy too, though not for the vampire reason. It mainly had to do with the fact that it was too campy for my taste--and in my opinion the humor and the seriousness never meshed well. And hell, even the "horror" was never horrifying anyway--and ultimately all the supernatural force in the show stems from a requirement for a MONSTER OF THE WEEK. Anyway, it had its moments--Willow going beserk in season 6...but generally, I was never a big fan. Okay? Jeez.
15 - Tom
The fifth rule of reviewing: if you offer a controversial opinion on anything other than the thing you're reviewing, everything else you write will be ignored.
16 - eric
Joss Whedon ain't fat... at least now -- he lost weight. I went to the movie premiere and he looks very skinny.
==-=-=-=-=-
PLUS AWESOME movie, my expectations were blown out of the water. Best movie ive seen in a while. Star Wars eIII is shit compared to Serenity.
17 - Rob Kafka
Haven't seen the movie yet. Read the script, though.
I agree much with the author of this review. Whether Joss Whedon is fat or not (giggle), I do have to say that I highly disliked Buffy and Angel. Granted, I watched maybe three episodes tops (including the HUSH episode, which was clever I admit), I just didn't find in it what other people did. The original Buffy movie with Pee Wee Herman was awesome. Does that make me seem any prettier?
Anyway. Been a fan of Firefly since the second episode, which was actually the first, but was supposed to be the second... Blah. The large offices at FOX are filled with morons. So I've been anticipating Serenity for a long time. Still can't wait to see the movie, but from what I've read of the script... it's fantabulous. Buffy lover or not, I do believe this is something for everyone. It uses all the devices of great film, or great literature for that matter, and spins the western, gothic, action, mystery, and drama genre's around until they're not distinguishable, but so perfectly interlaced within each other that they are, simply, a new genre.
Well, I haven't been to bed for 48 hours, so these may be the ramblings of someone in dire need of sleep, or just another one of THOSE people who will see Serenity opening night.
Hope to see you there.
18 - KellyLady
How dare you be so shallow to hate someone for some extra weight! That is shallow, shallow, shallow.
I didn't like Buffy either...mostly because everyone in it was really ugly.
19 - Matt Hoffman
Hey, all, just wanted to say my bit about all this.
1) Loved Buffy, hated angel. So there.
2) Loved Firefly. Best science fiction show ever! Very excited to see Serenity. Plan to see it 3 times on opening day. What? What do you mean "that's weird?"
3) According to the Dali Lama, "It is more useful to be aware of a single weakness in oneself than to be aware of a thousand weaknesses in someone else." Who cares if Fat people bother you. They are still people and, according to the buddhism you pointed out is a part of "Firefly/Serenity", their "Fatness" is a transitory state. Just like your writing ability.
Otherwise, thanks for a great review!
See you out there...
20 - Tunk
KellyLady how dare you be so shallow to dislike someone for being ugly! That is shallow, shallow, shallow.
(and you must have watched different buffy than I did)
21 - Jack
Surely telling us he doesn't like Buffy is just letting us know he isn't a mindless Joss Whedon fanatic that would love anything he did. It gives his opinion on Serenity more weight if you ask me. Good review, btw.
22 - Anthony Surma
Just saw Serenity so here's my $.02 :
It's not as good as I hoped for... but I'm sure fans of Firefly will enjoy it because it brings closure to the short-lived series.
The story, like it's characters, while being somewhat entertaining, falls somewhat flat and is/are a bit bland. Which is (duh) why the TV series was cancelled.
The movie is like the last 3 episodes of a TV series which knew it would only have one season to tell it's story.
If you're a fan of Firefly, yeah, go see Serenity -- atleast it explains the Reavers.
If you haven't seen the TV series yet, catch them on TV -- you might get lucky and see something you like.
If you didn't like the TV series, then you won't like the movie.
And yes, it's quite obvious that Serenity is securely on it's way to flop in the box office.
23 - Michelle Galloway
Serenity is the only movie I can ever recall where all four generations of my family were positively giddy about going to see it. From my 29 year old step son to my 65 year old father. Absolutely Giddy. After showing my father the series he told me he liked it better than 'Star Trek' which was saying a lot. But what really startled me, is that my mother liked it more. And as far as fat people go, I am a 40 year old mother two and certainly weigh more than I should but I could kick your ass with little trouble. 11 years in various styles of martial arts and 3 years spent training with a navy seal. You may not like us, but you better be polite.
Michelle
24 - Aleosha
That's how the world works - you write an excellent review and end up with tons of fans who hate you only because you didn't like their favorite show, and don't care about your review at all.
Thank's for the review, Bill, it's excellent :)
25 - anon
Everyone is running the reviewer down and overlooking one fact...they really liked Serenity! Props to them for admitting there preconceived notions and giving Serenity the review it deserved.
Speaking of which, if you haven't seen it, IMHO I suggest you do. It is that good.