Joss Made My 11-yr-old Daughter Cry
POSTED BY: ItWasAllADream
UPDATED: Friday, December 2, 2005 23:41
VIEWED: 25113
PAGE 8 of 9
To paraphrase Mr. Heinlein:
The purpose of art is to move the viewer, with terror or pity, or perhaps sorrow. It's why we take part of the artistic process, as viewers, spectaters, listeners. It's a tribute to the skills of the film makers. Too much and you have schmaltz, not enough and we have a film we don't care about.
I cried, too. And then I realized that it was a film, a work of fiction. I'd worry more about a daughter concerned that Reavers were going to attack her town than one who mourned a sympathetic character.
To enjoy the flavor of life, take big bites. Moderation is for monks. --Robt. Heinlein
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ITWASALLADREAM,
I want to apologize on behalf of an over-zealous fanbase for your mistreatment here in this thread. Folks tend to forget that this is a discussion board for folks to express their opinion on something they love (which judging by your strong reaction, includes you and your daughter).
A lot of folks on these fan sites are afraid to hear any form of disappointment in their "true love" because they feel a naysayer will crumble their precious obsession. I used to be one of those folks. Was a huge fan of a game that has now been destroyed.
What folks don't realize is that their attacks do more to hurt the show by running off folks who otherwise would prove to be valuable supporters.
On another note, try watching Serenity a second time now that you know the results. I watched it for the first time knowing the outcome and without the SHOCK I think I enjoyed the movie better.
STICK with us and with Firefly...
Adam
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And by the way, she should have cried... I'd be more concerned if she didn't! Hell it teared me up.
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No, Joss didn't make your 11-year old daughter cry.
YOU made your daughter cry by:
1. Taking her to a movie that's rated PG 13, you heel.
2. Not exposing your daughter to books and stories where things don't always turn out the way you think they "should". In other words, Life Isn't Always Fair.
You thought the movie sucked because something unpleasant happens?
I guess I feel sorry for you AND your daughter.
Sheesh.
So, you must be new to the Whedonverse.
Or maybe you don't read a whole lot.
Maybe you never read any Shakespere (sp?), eh?
Or saw any movies like...
Oh never mind.
"Take me, sir. Take me hard." -- Zoe
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I haven't read all the replies on this thread, so I may be retreading over ground already covered, and if so, I apologize.
Quote:
No, I didn't really watch Buffy or Angel, so I'm not all up on "what Josh does".
Joss takes his characters on incredible journeys. He will make a beloved character go from being "good" to horrifically evil for a few minutes, an episode or more, or even an entire season. Then he'll flip it all around again. A character you have loathed since their introduction, you care about within a single episode. It's masterful.
The same way that he can put broad comedy and angst within a single shot or few moments of dialogue, that is how he can turn his characters around. And you know what? That is actually a fun ride. It's like the character you've loved still exists, and now there's also a completely new character wearing its face
Select to view spoiler:
which is sometimes literally the case on Buffy and Angel, but I digress.
Other times, you are just watching a character on this incredible personal journey and it is some of the most compelling entertainment ever produced, IMHO.
But more importantly, and this is one of the things that I find so needless about this derisiveness within the Firefly ranks, is the way Joss has traditionally used his actors. He USES his actors, and I mean that in a good way. Supposedly the joke was that the best way to get more work on a Whedon show was to get killed. I've always said that if I was an actor, I would want to be "Dead guy" on page 2 of a Whedon script.
For instance, (Buffy spoilers)
Select to view spoiler:
Julie Benz is an actress who unsuccessfully auditioned for the part of Buffy. Joss gave her a short stint as a character named Darla. After Darla was killed after appearing in probably less than 10 episodes, that character appeared endlessly (sorry, I didn't care for Darla until the bitter end -- a single episode swung me around). Darla was often in Buffy and regularly in the spin-off Angel.
(end Buffy spoilers)
There are those who say that the Buffy and Angel 'verses were magic based and Joss can't do the same stuff in Firefly. It's set 500 years in the future. Joss can drive a truck through that. And should things, er, "change", it won't be "cheesy" or belie or minimize what occurred in Serenity. Joss is a better writer than that.
The thing with Joss is that he plans his story arcs YEARS in advance. That is why he can plant little obscure things that you learn the significance of only later. My personal opinion is that Joss knows where this is going in every possible contingency: if this is the last story; if there is one sequel; if there is a trilogy; if there is a return to TV.
Joss himself was quoted in Serenity The Visual Companion as saying "By the way, there's a strong possiblity that everybody would return for a sequel. How is that possible? Not my usual way -- there are no amulets to be had for love or money. But there's every chance you could see these characters again."
I know this is a long post, but there is such a rich tapestry that was woven by Joss for the Buffy and Angel fans. We were given the time to learn something that the fans of only Firefly were denied (stupid Fox *spit*): Your travels with Joss will almost never go in the direction you expect. But ultimately, it will be a better journey than you could ever have planned.
macpro75
_________________________________________________
"I dislike violence, but I'm awfully good at it."
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Quote:
Originally posted by macpro75:
Joss himself was quoted in Serenity The Visual Companion as saying "By the way, there's a strong possiblity that everybody would return for a sequel. How is that possible? Not my usual way -- there are no amulets to be had for love or money. But there's every chance you could see these characters again."
This reminds me of the conversation I had with two friends while walking through the parking lot after seeing Serenity. One of them had not watched Firefly beforehand and the other had seen three episodes (Ariel was one, not sure what the other two were). Basically, they were wondering how Wash could be incorporated back into the story, now that he was dead. My response was that one of the best episodes of the series was told almost entirely in flashback.
Anything's possible.
Quote:
I know this is a long post, but there is such a rich tapestry that was woven by Joss for the Buffy and Angel fans. We were given the time to learn something that the fans of only Firefly were denied (stupid Fox *spit*): Your travels with Joss will almost never go in the direction you expect. But ultimately, it will be a better journey than you could ever have planned.
So true. Thank you for posting that.
To the original poster: Have you seen the movie again? I'm just curious as to your reaction the second time.
Hell with this; I'm gonna live! - Kaylee "Serenity"
If nothing we do matters, then all that matters is what we do. -"Angel"
Browncoat? Canadian? Join us:
http://movies.groups.yahoo.com/group/canadianbrowncoats/
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Quote:
Originally posted by Tallgrrl:
No, Joss didn't make your 11-year old daughter cry.
YOU made your daughter cry by:
1. Taking her to a movie that's rated PG 13, you heel.
2. Not exposing your daughter to books and stories where things don't always turn out the way you think they "should". In other words, Life Isn't Always Fair.
You thought the movie sucked because something unpleasant happens?
I guess I feel sorry for you AND your daughter.
Sheesh.
So, you must be new to the Whedonverse.
Or maybe you don't read a whole lot.
Maybe you never read any Shakespere (sp?), eh?
Or saw any movies like...
Oh never mind.
"Take me, sir. Take me hard." -- Zoe
Right on, TALLGRRL! Keep spreading the good news! (take another drink of Kool Aid!)
There is no place for your style of ad hominem troll-esgue attack in civil discourse. To those who loved the
Select to view spoiler:
deaths of Book and Wash
and/or thought they made they movie great...what would your opinions be if everyone came out unscathed? Would you all have been on the other side of the thread, as it were, posting thread titles such as
Select to view spoiler:
Joss sucks! How come nobody died?!
or
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Serenity wasn't realistic at all!
etc. Let's just all try to be intellectually honest and civil, shall we?
Signed,
A Firefly Fan...
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Oh please. Grow up. You're the only one sippin on Kool-Aid.
The "you know whats" were part of the story arc.
They happened because they happened.
Had they not happened, then I guess it would have been OK. Writer's perogative and all that.
And it's Joss's work. Not yours, not mine, and not the boards.
People on the boards who bitch about what someone else writes need to go and write something themselves.
When Things happen in a story, a mature person accepts it.
ESPECIALLY SINCE IT'S ONLY A MOVIE.
The mature person accepts it and appreciates it because it does happen in real life.
"Troll"? I got your troll, baby.
Because you don't know me, I'll let you in on something: When the first "you know what" happened, I was sad but not surprised.
When the 2nd "you know what" happened, I actually heard someone mutter "Son of a Bitch!"
That someone was ME.
When the big "you know what" happens, the emotion of the whole movie is ramped up because at that moment All Bets Are Off.
You are literally on the edge of your seat because if THAT can happen to that person...then who's next?!!!
Joss once said "if it makes you cry to see it, know that it made me cry when I wrote it".
The man knows what he's doing.
YOU put down the Kool-Aid.
And do some reading.
Please.
"Take me, sir. Take me hard." -- Zoe
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My depressive cycle is starting up so dont even go there pieface.
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Quote:YOU GO, TALLGRRL!!!!!
Originally posted by Tallgrrl:
Joss once said "if it makes you cry to see it, know that it made me cry when I wrote it".
The man knows what he's doing.
Chrisisall, who still can't believe Lando and Chewie didn't kick the bucket in Jedi!!!
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