Research Question

POSTED BY: J00
UPDATED: Tuesday, April 25, 2006 22:57
VIEWED: 6743
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J00

Thursday, April 13, 2006 8:00 PM

Hey y'all,

I am a college student taking a TV analysis and Criticism class and I'm trying to gain a perspective from the Firefly fan community of how we judged "Serentity". What I'm interested to know is who of you were avid fans of Firefly before the movie came out, and what your immediate criticisms of the movie, as far as character, story, style, etc. And also I'd like to get the critisisms of those who became fans from the movie and then started watching the episodes. Also, what do you all think is a true fan of Firefly? Thank you for taking the time to read this and I'd be equally, if not more thankful if you found the time to respond.

Peace,
Mike

JYA

Thursday, April 13, 2006 8:28 PM

Well, I'll be brave and go first. I started watching Firefly when it was airing on Fox. When the DVD's came out I bought them right away. The movie was great and I loved every second of it. With that said, I'm still sad that we couldn't get the whole Firefly story. A TV series gives you a more complete look at the 'verse Joss created. There is just so much to the story that is impossible to see in a 2 hour movie.

As for what makes a "true fan", I'm not sure. Fan seems like too tame a word to me. I know it's short for fanatic, which is a bit closer. When I talk about it, I don't say I'm a fan. I just say I'm a Browncoat, which seems to cover it all. I think a Browncoat is someone who has gone beyond enjoying the shows and has immersed themselves into this new 'verse. It's when you think beyond the stories you are shown to the untold stories that exist only in this made-up world before you. It's what makes Star Trek fans into Trekkies. It's what makes Star Wars fans blind to the fact that eps 1&2 actually sucked.

RACH

Thursday, April 13, 2006 8:37 PM

Hey Mike

The movie was loaned to me by a flatmate. Always loved Buffy, never really got into Angel and was somewhat sceptical about the sci fi/Western idea. But I watched it. Then I watched it again. Then I stood over another flatmate's shoulder as he watched. Then I downloaded the series from the original flatmate's computer and watched them over 3 nights when I should have been revising/sleeping. Then I watched a couple of them again. Then I ordered 2 boxsets, one for my brother's birthday and one for myself. And watched it all again.

I recently revisited the movie for the first time after having seen the series, and was amazed at (a)how much richer it all seemed now and (b)how incredibly rich it had seemed in the first place without having seen the series.

For me, it's about 3 things. Firstly, the humour. There's a lack of sentimentality in it; a dramatic premise that's then promptly undercut. That humanises it. Secondly, the relationships. All so, so finely drawn, all so believable and frequently heartwrenching. The storylines nearly (and I said NEARLY) become incidental (that may be a big part as to why people love, rather than merely like it). Finally, the complexity of the individual characters and the world in which they live (not to mention the language. Learnin' to say 'ain't' is a whole world of fun).

Read some of the other threads; the debates on everything from faith to sex to big damn guns. Read the other threads generally; they'll tell you what you want to know.

(Actually, there's a fourth point; Mal's ass. Don't call him ol Sexybum for nothin'.)

I don't do fandom: I've never posted on a fansite before and I don't really watch that much TV. Certainly no other show has grabbed me as much since I watched X Files when I was 12. A huge part of the appeal of this for me is that it was just a really great show that got a raw deal, and there is the potential to do something about it. The work done by elder fans was amazing; they basically got a movie made (well, I suspect Whedon had something to do with it too). So the possibility of action is also quite seductive.

What makes a fan? Ah, you'd need more experienced heads than mine to tell you. I'm just the rawest of recruits. Enthusiasm would certainly seem to play a part.

DONCOAT

Thursday, April 13, 2006 11:54 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by J00:
Hey y'all,

I am a college student taking a TV analysis and Criticism class and I'm trying to gain a perspective from the Firefly fan community of how we judged "Serentity". What I'm interested to know is who of you were avid fans of Firefly before the movie came out, and what your immediate criticisms of the movie, as far as character, story, style, etc.

I was one who watched (most of) the original broadcasts and have been a fan since day 1.

My first reaction to the movie was pretty complex. I was overjoyed at having the chance to revisit the 'verse, and stunned at the film's sustained pace and intensity. Like many other fans, I was sad about the character deaths and a bit shocked by the way one of them, in particular, occurred.

Unlike some, I thought the movie was faithful to the series in terms of character. A couple things were a bit jarring -- Simon as River's rescuer and demotion from "crew" to passenger. I do understand the reasons for those changes, though. Joss had a very daunting task in making the movie accessible to "virgins" without alienating the fan base.

The toughest loss for me was that the movie didn't portray one of the things I love about the series: the growing sense of family that ties the crew together. Again, I understand the reason this was sacrificed; the pacing of an action film doesn't allow for leisurely scenes around the dinner table. Of course, Joss did give us some wonderful substitutes, like River and Simon in the cargo locker.

In short, Serenity is, and had to be, a different animal than Firefly, simply because of the different medium. But with that said, unlike at least a few Browncoats, I think Serenity is an excellent movie and a worthy follow-up to Firefly.

But, by the same token, it's not enough. Not nearly enough. We Browncoats will never rest until we get our Big Damn Heroes back!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I don't disagree on any particular point.

DEEPGIRL187

Friday, April 14, 2006 12:31 AM

I became a fan before the movie, but after the show. In terms of the movie, the only critcism I have is that the scenes that were deleted really should have been in the film. They were really too important to character development to leave out. As far as the fans that were influenced more by the BDM go, I don't think there's anything to criticize. A Browncoat's a Browncoat, and we need all the flans we can get. The one thing that makes a person a fan is their willingness to believe. When they join up means little and nothing.

At last.
We can retire and give up
this life of crime.

RMMC

Friday, April 14, 2006 12:50 AM

Hi Mike,

Well, I watched Firefly when the network-which-shall-remain-nameless di their half-assed job of showing the series and loved it from the start.
With Serenity, several things came to mind. While Joss did a hell of a job compacting a season and a half into a two hour movie, I kinda wished for a bit more characterization, especially for Inara and Book. I may be in the minority here, but I frankly wish Joss hadn't cut most of the scenes with Inara. I think a bit more expansion of her character should have been warrented. I understand why he had to, as there's just no way that amount of time could be compressed and still get in everything we came to love from the series since TV shows have considerably more time to get characterization in as they've got in the 14 episodes (which is approx 10 hours) vs. 2 hours for the BDM.
The same for

Select to view spoiler:

Book, so as to give the audience more time to get to know his character before his death and to see a bit more why his death effects mal as much as it does.

We who watched the show may have know, but the first time viewer would have had a bit harder of a time picking that up.
The movie itself made me laugh with the wonderful unexpected funny dialogue; wince with pain at the physical abuse the crew took; cry in anguish at the crew's losses; and to cheer with them when possible.
I also wanted a rolled-up sock to throw at Joss's name in the credit...

this is a good thing. If I want to throw a sock at his name, he's done a great job and probably did something that I never saw coming. It usually involves someone going *pifft* unfortunately. (I know it's weird, but as a Buffy and Angel fan prior to the show, I've kinda gotten used to his torturing his fan bases in a good way.

The Buffy list I was on would frequently say after a paticularly angst-ridden eps, "Ave Joss, you bastard.")
I think the a true Firefly fan is anyone who loves the show and/or the BDM and considers themselves to be a fan, because I just can't see negating someone as not being a true fan because they do or don't do something. Whether or not one is a fan of something depends on how that individual sees themself, not how others do. To put it more simply (yeah I know--too late!

): it ain't my call and I don't think it's anyone else's either.

Does that make sense? if not, buzz me and I'll try to straighten my brain out to explaim myself more coherently.

****
RMMC

NUCLEARDAY

Friday, April 14, 2006 12:56 AM

What, like I'm going to pass up a chance to talk about myself? I think not

Technically, I've been a fan of the show since it aired on Fox. But I wasn't able to catch most of the episodes, and when I heard it was cancelled I sort of pushed it to the back of my mind. (Too much pain, and I've been known to get emotionally attached to shows in the past only to have them cancelled on me.)

Serenity really seemed to wake something up in me, though. What made me put on the Browncoat. So there really ain't anything bad I could say about the BDM. It's certainly a different animal, and some of the focus had to shift a bit from the crew as a whole to Mal and River. And I do miss some of the 'family' feel to the series, the little moments, etc. But I still get pretty emotional watching it, which is something movies do a bit better than television.

Give me a Big Damn Trilogy, and I'll call it a win. But for frell's sake, give me the series back after we've had our blockbuster hits :)

For me, a true fan of Firefly is anyone that decides to call themselves a Browncoat. What we need now is numbers. Also, like a previous poster said about the Trekkies. If it moves you in some way, if you 'get it,' then your coat is brown.

________________________________________________
You can take my hope when you pry it from my cold, dead fingers.

CARTOON

Friday, April 14, 2006 1:06 AM

While I'd seen ads for "Firefly" contemporaneously to its airing, I never watched it. Then I saw the trailer for "Serenity" and immediately decided to see it, having no idea is was in any way related to the show I'd never watched.

The day before "Serenity" was released here, they had a marathon of "Firefly" on SciFi, which I watched, and thoroughly enjoyed. I only saw 3 or 4 episodes that day, the day before I saw "Serenity", but I enjoyed the show, too.

And, to this day, "Serenity" is the only film I've watched 5 times in 3 days (with the DVD).

I can't say what would comprise a "true" fan. Anyone who joins a show's online forum, however, has to have more than just a casual interest in the show.

JOSSISAGOD

Friday, April 14, 2006 1:09 AM

I was an immediate "Flan" from day one. I have no criticism of the Serenity, both it and Firefly were PERFECT! I would diffine a "true" fan as, someone who enjoyed Serenity and firefly enough to know that the movie and the show were uniquely great, as apposed to all the other crud on TV and in movies these days.

JOSSIS(Most Definitely)AGOD

RIVERGIRL

Friday, April 14, 2006 1:12 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by J00:
Hey y'all,

I am a college student taking a TV analysis and Criticism class and I'm trying to gain a perspective from the Firefly fan community of how we judged "Serentity". What I'm interested to know is who of you were avid fans of Firefly before the movie came out,

ME ME ME

and what your immediate criticisms of the movie, as far as character, story, style, etc.

character deaths ~ but I understood them

Also, what do you all think is a true fan of Firefly?

anyone who loves the show

Thank you for taking the time to read this and I'd be equally, if not more thankful if you found the time to respond.

Peace,
Mike

Also, I can kill you with my brain.

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