WOO HOO!!!! Seriously good review from VERY noteworthy source!!!

POSTED BY: Static
UPDATED: Monday, February 21, 2005 07:23
VIEWED: 33083
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STATIC

Friday, January 21, 2005 5:47 PM

Orson Scott Card, the NOTED Science-Fiction author. . .heralded by some to be the BEST Sci-Fi writer of our age. . .the FIRST to ever win both the HUGO and the NEBULA awards TWO YEARS IN A ROW for "Ender's Game" and "Speaker for the Dead" lives in my hometown of Greensboro, NC. He writes for a local paper called "The Rhinoceros Times", who's editor-in-chief is a self-appointed watchdog of local politics. In his weekly piece, "Uncle Orson Reviews Everything", THIS is what one of the finest SCI-FI minds had to say about our beloved show.

Quote:

It only lasted one year on FOX, but Firefly was, in my opinion, the best space-opera sci-fi series ever on television, and you can get the whole season now on DVD.

I was stunned by the stupidity of the bad reviews this series got. I suppose if you think television should be Desperate Housewives or Felicity or some other thing that passes for "edgy", Firefly won't look good to you.

But the writing is witty, just a little tongue-in-cheek, and keenly aware of what good science fiction is supposed to be.

Though I could make a good case for Firefly being the best western on television since Maverick.

It's fun even as it's tense, and it's smart all the time. So smart that some reviewers have no clue what they're seeing.

The actors are wonderful, though a couple of characters can be annoying, especcially at first (couldn't Jewel Staite have occasionally stopped smiling idiotically during the early episodes?).

Adam Baldwin, whose career began in the great high school movie My Bodyguard back in 1980 finally has the role of his career.

Gina Torres, a survivor of the Matrix sequels, is boldly credible as soldier-of-fortune Zoe; Morena Baccarin is luminous as the "companion" (i.e., really expensive prostititute) Inara Serra; and Alan Tudyk, a hit in A Knight's Tale, is equally charming as the pilot, Wash.

Delightful as Ron Glass was on Barney Miller and The New Odd Couple, I think he's got his best role here as the enigmatic preacher. While Sean Maher has recovered from the debacle of the remake of Brian's Song to play a truly complicated (and really cute, my wife tell me,) character.

And Nathan Fillion rises out of nowhere - small forgettable parts where he was little more than a pretty face - to show that he has the strength to carry a TV series.

They're making a movie called Serenity, to be released next September, and the whole cast will appear in it. Count on it getting bad reviews; go anyway. And prepare for it by buying or renting the Firefly DVDs.

YEAH!!!!!!! SCORE!!!!!!

Remind me to send that guy a fruit basket or something!!!

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"Wash. . .we got some local color happening. A grand entrance would not go amiss."

EMBERS

Friday, January 21, 2005 6:16 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Static:
Orson Scott Card
Quote:

They're making a movie called Serenity, to be released next September, and the whole cast will appear in it. Count on it getting bad reviews; go anyway. And prepare for it by buying or renting the Firefly DVDs.

well, I sure hope this quy is wrong about 'Serenity'
I have my heart set on Joss being recognized as the next big thing...
I want 'Serenity' to be the unlooked for sensation that 'Raiders of the Lost Arc' was!

am I hoping for too much?

AUROTER

Friday, January 21, 2005 6:50 PM

Woah, let's be nice. I happen to like his books, and good reviews by well-enough-known sci-fi writers are promising. Let's just enjoy the attention and popularity we get, no matter what source. The more, the better I say.

you can't take the sky from me

STARPILOTGRAINGER

Friday, January 21, 2005 6:51 PM

I vehemently disagree with the man's politics, but I like the man's fiction... hell, I've even got a quote from Ender's Game in my sig. He _is_ one of the most highly rated - he didn't just win Hugos (which are decided on fan popularity) on a number of occasions, but also Nebulas (decided by other SF writers and editors), for the same works. He's written books on writing SF that are still popular. As a writer of science fiction, he's well known and respected, even if his personal views are way off the mark IMHO. It is a shame that there can be such a disconnect in a person, but I'll not throw out the good just because of the bad either.

Whether his endorsement means a lot for Firefly, I don't know - I know a lot of SF fans who hadn't heard of Firefly or who hadn't liked it based on the whole 'Western in Space' vibe. Maybe this'll convince them to give it another look.

Star Pilot Grainger
"Remember, the enemy's gate is down."
LJ: http://www.livejournal.com/users/newnumber6 (real)
http://www.livejournal.com/users/alternaljournal (fictional)
Unreachable Star: http://www.unreachablestar.net - Comics & SF News/Reviews/Opinions

STATIC

Friday, January 21, 2005 7:07 PM

Something else that should be kept in mind. . .

The publication this bit appeared in is, as I mentioned, an independantly published local newspaper that is read by a very wide audience in two major NC cities. The people who read this paper often support practically everything they read (it's sometimes disheartening, how easily the people of this city are 'led'), and I'm confident that there's almost two entire cities right now saying to themselves, "Hrmmmm. . .Uncle Orson likes this "Firefly" show. I think I'll check it out."

Then, of course. . .Joss' work will do the rest. . .hearts and minds will be won. . .the movie will be the 'sleeper sensation' of 2005, we'll get to see Joss get an Oscar. . .Adam Baldwin will get an Oscar for "Best Supporting Actor". . .Summer Glau for "Best Actress". . ."Firefly" for "Best Musical Score". . . Universal will make SO MUCH money on the movie, they'll wave money under FOX's nose. . .FOX, being money grubbing idiots, will hand over TV rights. . .our beloved crew will double-team the small screen AND the big screen. . .

*shiver*

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"Wash. . .we got some local color happening. A grand entrance would not go amiss."

HJERMSTED

Friday, January 21, 2005 7:15 PM

Bad reviews?!?!

O.S. Card must be assuming Firefly was canceled due to poor critical reception which isn't the case at all. The show, as we all know, was canceled because Fox execs didn't get it (or perhaps couldn't even SEE it with their heads lodged firmly up their asses).

I appreciate his review of the Firefly DVD set, but I wonder if Card has watched the 'Serenity' or 'Train Job' episodes with the commentary tracks? The Firefly vs. Fox story is made apparent there (granted from a pro-Firefly perspective).

Firefly received fantastic reviews and support from mainstream outlets such USA Today and TV Guide AS WELL AS from online geek havens such as AICN, CHUD and Dark Horizons.

I love O.S. Card's books regardless of his opinions/commentaries (Treason is one of my all time favorite novels)... but, socio-politically, he always seems to me to be a bit out of touch with what's really going on if not just plain square.

mattro

STATIC

Friday, January 21, 2005 7:18 PM

Bear in mind that after the DVD set was released there were some bad reviews. . .but we don't sweat small stuff from small minds.

==================================================
"Wash. . .we got some local color happening. A grand entrance would not go amiss."

BADGERSHAT

Friday, January 21, 2005 9:41 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Static:
Something else that should be kept in mind. . .

Hey!!!

That's MY line, dude!! Check my threads, I and I alone am the one who always says "Keep in mind" and you're paraphrasing me without my express written permission.

No Christmas card for you this year...

I know absolutely NOTHING about Orson Scott Card, other than I see abouta billion of his books in Barnes & Nobles. But I've never read a word he's scribed, nor have I ever heard anything about theman himself before reading this thread.

If the description offered here is accurate (and I have no reason to doubt it), I'd have to say this:

1) He's a moron, in a class with Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson and their ilk. If they believe God mae all mankind, and that God made us as we are, then they should, by definition, believe that God made some of us same-sex oriented, some of us opposite-sex oriented, and some of not not give a crap either way

2) He's obviously well known, with a built-in audience who like his work. Many artists, in books, film, music and otherwise, create amazing work, but are, personally, dickwads who are detested by thousands. First example--did you know that something like 45% of Howard Stern's listening audience claims to HATE him and his entire career? They listen to him so they know what he does, and will, subsequently, know what horrible thing he's done that they can complain about. The average Stern FAN listens 38 minutes a day. The average Stern HATER listens almost double that. Both groups listen for the same reason--"I want to know what he'll say next."

I'm not saying we should embrace OSCs politics or anything, but anyone with a known name and audience is a worthwhile endorsement. Let's just use his schmuck-faced ass to help the cause.

And obviously, deep down inside he LIKES gay/lesbian activity, because he professed to LOVE the show (best sci-fi and western show on TV at the same time) DESPITE the VERY NOT-HIDDEN sex scene between two women in "War Stories"--makes you think, huh?

--Jefé The Hat

***************************
--Don't bother trying to predict, figure out, second guess, criticize, or suggest anything that comes from the mind of Joss Whedon, for you shall usually be wrong, and shall find out the Truth and Purpose in due time.
(This is the Truth of Whedoning)

"I like smackin 'em"--Jayne

BADGERSHAT

Friday, January 21, 2005 10:13 PM

I have to agree with you--I don't like militant homophobes, either. Actually, I don't like militant ANYTHING, for that matter. I don't like militant people who have the EXACT SAME opinions I have... loud people piss me off.

And, as I said, I know nothing about the guy, but I do think that, in the sci-fi fan world, there's probably a lor of people a lot more open minded than not, and I have to believe that the people who read him probably just like his stories, and couldn't care less about his views (I hope, anyway).

So, let's hope he just says "I like it" and keeps his mouth shut beyond that, and that his fans, ALL of them, go see "Serenity" three times each (and that one out of every three of those fans brings their gay friends with them!).

Wouldn't it be great if a gay-rights organization had a group outing (no pun intended) to see "Serenity" and made a public statement that they all went to see if after readin Orson Scott Card's review? And that OSC has like a billion gay fans? That would probably drive the dude out of his mind--"I hate them all!! And yet, they're paying for my mansion and fleet of cars... "

Just a thought...

--Jefé The Hat

***************************
--Don't bother trying to predict, figure out, second guess, criticize, or suggest anything that comes from the mind of Joss Whedon, for you shall usually be wrong, and shall find out the Truth and Purpose in due time.
(This is the Truth of Whedoning)

"I like smackin 'em"--Jayne

NEDWARD

Friday, January 21, 2005 10:20 PM

Regardless of OSC's roles as Noted Homophobe and Noted SF Author, I think he's a good reviewer. I've read his column for years and tried a number of things on his recommendations, which have almost always proven good ones.

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