Commentaries on Firefly DVD

POSTED BY: Shauna
UPDATED: Wednesday, January 14, 2004 19:11
VIEWED: 6885
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REKKA2

Wednesday, January 14, 2004 4:10 AM

see my post "Costume Glitch", i beat ya to this one!

UNICORN

Wednesday, January 14, 2004 4:53 AM

Was anybody else at all frustrated by some of the commentaries? I wanted more content, whether it was behind-the-scenes info about the shoot or creative stuff like Joss's discussion of "Objects in Space..." I liked stuff like that. There was a lot of... filler in there, you know?

I know I don't post very often, but you must believe that I've been a lurker at this site since around the time I got my fireflysupport.com T-shirts... I love the show heart and soul. I mean no disrespect to any who worked on it or for it. I just wish there could've been more 'stuff' to the extra stuff. You know?

There is no such thing as a weed.

LENNIER

Wednesday, January 14, 2004 6:51 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Unicorn:
Was anybody else at all frustrated by some of the commentaries? I wanted more content, whether it was behind-the-scenes info about the shoot or creative stuff like Joss's discussion of "Objects in Space..." I liked stuff like that. There was a lot of... filler in there, you know?

I know I don't post very often, but you must believe that I've been a lurker at this site since around the time I got my fireflysupport.com T-shirts... I love the show heart and soul. I mean no disrespect to any who worked on it or for it. I just wish there could've been more 'stuff' to the extra stuff. You know?

I know what you mean, but most commentaries everywhere are like that. I think some of joss's commentaries (such as Hush and Restless) are actually shockingly 'topical' by commentary standards (i haven't watched his objects in space one yet, but I expect it's the same).

Anyhow, a good creator wants his work to speak for itself, and often its better not to say everything that went in to the creation of something ...and firefly does an excellent job of speaking for itself thematically, don't you think? And you just know that for every thing that joss says even in his most pedantic commentaries, there are million more things that are 'really' going on in the episode, underneath the surface. It's much better to discover these things for ourselves by thinking about them (except in cases, like Firefly, where the intent of the creator may have been twisted by a studio, and it may be more difficult to see what he was trying to express ...and in that case I'm not saying that you can redeem the work by explaining it, I just mean that it would be more interesting than usual to hear a verbal description of what the creator intended).

At the end of the day, I think the real benefit of the commentaries is just the opportunity to 'hang out' with the people who made the show, regardless of what they're saying. I think we should just let them have their fun and take what comes (otherwise we wouldn't really be 'hanging' with them, would we?). My favourite aspect of commentaries is that intimate feel and getting to know just a sample of the relationships behind the production. And after all, even in the most 'hardcore' commentary, you can't *really* explain what's on screen in only a few words, rushed as the scene zips by (in fact, if you could explain it properly in words, even in many words, then a good artist wouldn't be using a visual and storytelling medium in the first place).

just to be clear, I do share your sentiment, though, i could ALWAYS use more creative insight, espcially for a show as rich as this one. ;)
I wish there were 3 commentaries for every episode, one fun, one 'behind the scenes', and one thematic/creative intent. But I think that on this DVD we got what was most important (except that there could have been MORE commentaries from MORE actors and writers! ;)

p.s. one thing that does bother me in commentaries, and they only do it occasionally in the Firefly DVD, is when they start doing a straight 'play by play' of what's happening onscreen. I don't mind at all if they want to sit back and REACT to things, especially if it's a group of people, but it bothers me when they actually make an effort and end up just re-stating what is happening onscreen, or repeating background info that we already know from other episodes (this usually happens when the commentator seems to be nervous or feels as if they need to say something "important" and can't think of anything intelligent to say). That sort of thing I have no use for, though at the same time I can't blame the writers/actors who do it, because what the heck do you do when you're faced with the episode and have a mic stuffed in front of you? (especially if you're an actor who only played one part in a much larger work?).

BOOMERGOODHEART

Wednesday, January 14, 2004 12:13 PM

Personally, I like the idea of creators & actors just sitting around bullshitting (excuse the language). This is what my family and friends do, so it appeals to me.

Hunh...guess I'm not very deep.

BoomerGoodheart
"I love my Captain."

HATEHATEHATEFOX

Wednesday, January 14, 2004 2:00 PM

I liked listening to MB, JE (writer) and ?? (costumer?) talking about Shindig. It was very chatty and did give some background info on things happening off-camera (e.g. it was hot, JE didn't like the smoke during the duel - she thought it looked like the tree was on fire ... which it did )

It was also funny to hear MB say a couple of times that they had all gone quiet at the same time b/c they were getting so into the ep that they were content to just watch. Pretty cute.

~~~~~~~~
Nothing is ever so profoundly regretted as a kind act.
Robertson Davies

REKKA2

Wednesday, January 14, 2004 5:33 PM

I agree...I havent finished all the commentaries yet, but I think the one on War Stories, with Alan and Nathan just joking around, is the best one so far.

"Maybe I should stop calling her my baby since shes married"
"Yea...to someone that could definately kick your ass"
Alan and Nathan, WarStories Commentary

SHINY

Wednesday, January 14, 2004 7:11 PM

I like the 'bullshitting' to. I think my favorite commentary lines were:

NATHAN: so we meet him as he once was
JOSS: yes
NATHAN: I like it; you're a smart guy, man...
JOSS: you know, I just...
NATHAN: ...I don't care what people say...
JOSS: I, um...uh, wha?

RIVER
Purple elephants are flying.
MAL
Good. Thanks for the update.

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