are fans boycotting the movie? (major spoilers)
POSTED BY: XanderHarris
UPDATED: Thursday, October 20, 2005 16:27
VIEWED: 20975
PAGE 9 of 9
I've been reading a ton of posts over the last couple of weeks and when I back off and look at what seems to be upsetting people, I see this:
A lot of fans have watched the seriers episodes over and over and over and in the process have created their own personal versions of what they think the characters are. So, years later, when the movie is finally released, they walk into the theatre with an entire attic full of expectations. How could they NOT be dissapointed?
I've read all these posts: "So and so wouldn't do this" "so and so wouldn't do that". "This was meaningless and stupid" "that was insulting and senseless". ALL of these complaints are bourne out of people's own personal expectations in my humble opinion. It's a bummer, but it's true.
Wash's death may seem meaningless to a lot of people. That doesn't mean that the story is not structurally sound. It is. I think people are entitled to their opinions and it's great that they're willing to share them here. I also think it's important that no one, not even Joss, is above constructive critisism. But I haven't heard much of that anywhere on these boards. I've heard a bunch of shocked fans who can't believe this or that. The truth of the matter is: You're in Joss playground. It's not yours, it's his. I think the outrage and dissapointment comes because people really care about these characters (which is great), but what some seem to have forgotten is that they're Joss's characters. How can anyone possibly think they know these characters' motivations and traits better than Joss? That's rediculous.
And while I have heard people give what seems to be thoughtful critisisms, they're still frought with emotion. People don't like that Wash died. It seemed meaningless. Joss is just jerking us around. It's not fair. Well, neither is life. It never has been. And if Joss wants to jerk you around, then that's his prerogative. Personally I don't think that's what he was doing. I think he was making a point and using it as a device to highten the tension. Some people can look at that and see it as a shallow storytelling gimic. But really, so can everything else then. Storytelling is formulaic. It just is.
I think that if most of the dissapointed people pushed past the emotional shock they've had to the film and look at it from that new vantage point they would see how technically and emotionally sound it is. Does it have some major bummer stuff in it? Hell yes (Wash has always been my favorite character), but that doesn't mean it wasn't a great story, and a fitting story at that, to really take these characters to new places and tie up what was unfinished from the series.
And I'm sorry but the characters are the same characters from the series. They are, through and through. Anybody who doesn't think so has just forgotten that they're Joss's characters and not their own. But to me even that is kinda cool 'cause that means that these characters are soooo likable that people have completely adopted them as their own. But you gotta let go of some of that if you are to enjoy the movie and accept it as the completion of the story.
And for anyone who still thinks that the movie sucked and could have done better, then go and do so! I loved the movie, so if you made one that was actually better I'd be lining up to see it over and over just like I have this one.
"I don't wanna explode."
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