Uh oh...

POSTED BY: BadgersHat
UPDATED: Tuesday, May 24, 2005 23:21
VIEWED: 4641
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BADGERSHAT

Tuesday, May 24, 2005 2:56 PM

Okay, brace yourselves...

One of my best friends has a sort of co-worker friend person. This guy worked on the set of the BDM.

He has informed the lot of us that Whedon fans LOVE the flick at test screening.

However, the larger part of the audience, the NON-Whedon fans, hated it. They didn't get it, they didn't like the humor, they thought it was terrible. Also, there's apparently too damn many characters to keep track of (like the Star Trek flicks), and so the focus is almost entirely on Mal and River.

This bodes badly for the much-wanted trilogy. The story is left open to develop a trilogy, but if it doesn't do well, that's the end...

This could be disastrous, to say the least.

--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

RHYMEPHILE

Tuesday, May 24, 2005 3:23 PM

Well, the same can be said of The X-Files: Fight the Future, which performed fairly well despite dismissive critics and absolute confusion from non-fans. And with a second X-Files film in the works, I think we should be positive about a BDM trilogy, or at least another film.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I've seen life on this planet, Scully, and that's precisely why I'm looking elsewhere."

-- Fox Mulder, The X-Files

SERGEANTX

Tuesday, May 24, 2005 3:36 PM

Poppycock! Balderdash! Nonsense, I say! This movie is going blow minds because it's everything that ROTS is not. It's got intriguing characters(even if their number does confuse the low attention span crowd), great dialog and real human pathos. The critics will lavish praise on it, despite the shortcomings you've mentioned, and the crowds will come. You mark my words!

SergeantX

"Dream a little dream or you can live a little dream. I'd rather live it, cause dreamers always chase but never get it." Aesop Rock

ZNACHKI

Tuesday, May 24, 2005 3:49 PM

I believe that there might have been some of this at the very early test screenings (way before the 5/5 screening).

According to bits and pieces I've gleaned along the way, some of the folks thought they were going to see a Star Wars preview, some folks would not have chosen to see a sci-fi movie if they'd been choosing, and there were some things that were confusing for someone who had never seen the series. That's why early anonymous test screenings can be useful and problematic, and why we should try not read too much into them.

It is my understanding that the confusing aspects have been addressed. I can't remember which cast person - or it could have been Joss who said it or where (but it is available for the digging), but they did realize that, and looped some dialog, &etc.

Most of the reports I've seen from the admittedly few "non-Firefly" initiated that went to the 5/5 screening, is that they liked/loved it, and for the most part had no problems following what was going on. The nuances that we love might have been missing for them, but it doesn't necessarily prevent their enjoyment. The new fan is not carrying in the baggage that we are. If they are looking for an interesting, fast-paced, well written sci-fi movie, their expectations will most likely be met.

It's been interesting to see the problems fans have had with all this. I think it has been very difficult to try to take a step back from our past experience and try to look at it from a fresh perspective. It may be impossible.

ZEEK

Tuesday, May 24, 2005 3:55 PM

I've been wondering if people who haven't seen Firefly would really get the movie. I mean it has enough to keep people entertained I think, but it won't be that incredible experience if they haven't seen the series IMO.

Which is why I'm redoubling my efforts to convert new Firefly fans.

RABIT

Tuesday, May 24, 2005 4:50 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Zeek:
Which is why I'm redoubling my efforts to convert new Firefly fans.

Yeah, but {*possible spoiler*}

Select to view spoiler:

if they're not Whedonites, they need to be warned that he's a hard, hard man, and will tear your heart out if given the chance.

Just something to think about...

I do think that, when people who are interested in the trailer come to see the movie, they will thoroughly enjoy it, immediately tell friends about it, etc.

I personally hope that they actually have an ad for the DVDs before the movie, as that will get a lot of people to better understand the beauty of the Firefly 'verse...

Rabit

PSYCHICRIVER

Tuesday, May 24, 2005 4:53 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by SergeantX:
Poppycock! Balderdash! Nonsense, I say! This movie is going blow minds because it's everything that ROTS is not. It's got intriguing characters(even if their number does confuse the low attention span crowd), great dialog and real human pathos. The critics will lavish praise on it, despited the shortcomings you've mentioned, and the crowds will come. You mark my words!

Exactly. 'Nuff said.

PsychicRiver

"Two by two, hands of blue."

"We'll take care of each other. I'll knit!"

Summer Glau to me - "You are so photogenic."

Me -

SERGEANTX

Tuesday, May 24, 2005 5:03 PM

And I wanted to mention, I'm not picking on Revenge of the Sith. I haven't even seen it yet, and I've heard it's got plenty going for it, but all the things the critics are complaining about are areas where Joss really shines. That's why I'm saying those very same critics will be jumping up and down come September 30 saying "See... this is what we're talking about"

SergeantX

"Dream a little dream or you can live a little dream. I'd rather live it, cause dreamers always chase but never get it." Aesop Rock

BROWNCOAT1

Tuesday, May 24, 2005 5:51 PM

I don't understand the arguement that Firefly/Serenity has "too many characters" or that it is too difficult to keep track of them. Star Wars and Star Trek both have more characters than Serenity and people don't seem to have an issue keeping up w/ them.

Other shows with many characters and their multiple story arcs: Battlestar Galactica, Stargate SG1, Stargate Atlantis, Babylon 5, and Farscape to name a few.

__________________________________________

"May have been the losing side. Still not convinced it was the wrong one."

Richmond, VA & surrounding area Firefly Fans:

http://tv.groups.yahoo.com/group/richmondbrowncoats/

LEEH

Tuesday, May 24, 2005 6:41 PM

And here's this--people went in droves to Lord of the Rings, even those who'd never read the books. As a Tolkien aficionado, I couldn't figure out how they could follow the movies without benefit of the books. But they did. In fact, some people went to Two Towers and/or ROTK who hadn't seen the previous installments! All of the above just blows away any theories we might come up with about how people won't like or understand Serenity because they lack the context of FF!

You know, I think it boils down to this (sadly)--if the word of mouth and hype are good, people will go because they will be afraid of missing something. If word of mouth is bad or nonexistent, they won't go, the box office #s will be low, and we can kiss sequels goodbye.

So let's just hope Universal has the savvy and commitment to do a good marketing job. . . .

"Well, my days of not taking you seriously are certainly coming to a middle. . . ."

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