The Brute, the Brawler, and the Ballerina: Fighting Styles and Character Development in Firefly and Serenity

POSTED BY: JDC
UPDATED: Wednesday, August 2, 2006 22:25
VIEWED: 2505
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JDC

Wednesday, August 2, 2006 10:59 AM

Found here:

http://ejmas.com/jtc/2006jtc/jtcart_couch_0706.html

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Good DOGS!

SPACEANJL

Wednesday, August 2, 2006 11:23 AM

Lovely piece. I hadn't consciously put together the integration/disintegration of psyche/fighting technique before. But River - 'the killer angel dances' - in the Reaver fight, is pure grace. The most beautiful fight scene I have ever seen.

Inara also diplays elements of classical martial training (as does Saffron.) Interestingly, though, Simon looks to be a brawler, like Mal.

DEEPGIRL187

Wednesday, August 2, 2006 12:43 PM

Very well written. I never gave much thought to it, but the fighting styles shown by the characters really does reflect their personalities. Once again, Joss shows his supreme genius.

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"See, this is a sign of your tragic space dementia. All paranoid and crotchety, it breaks the heart."

NOSADSEVEN

Wednesday, August 2, 2006 8:16 PM

Very good article, exploring things that those of us without expertise in the martial arts usually only pick up on unconsciously, if at all. I've always appreciated how the action scenes in Serenity (and Firefly, for that matter) continue to establish and reenforce character, but wasn't able to come up with such a precise demonstration of it.

Thanks for posting.

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Ain't. We. Just.

MSG

Wednesday, August 2, 2006 8:45 PM

River's fighting style-Hey speaking as a former ballerina...she isn't fighting. She learned a series of movements and how they connect/interact with others. It's all a dance to her( trust me it's just easier that way. It's hard for dancers to learn martial arts). She has such fluid grace and she is an exceptional dancer, but I can see the look on her face. She's dancing...and I'd bet that scene was filmed to music:)

I choose to rise instead of fall- U2

FIZZIX

Wednesday, August 2, 2006 9:29 PM

I'd never thought of the filmed to music bit, but you're right. It could have been... heh.

It is an extremely interesting article. Props for the person of postage!

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May not be smart, and it may not please you, but you're definitely gonna see what I have to say.

SHINYALORA

Wednesday, August 2, 2006 10:25 PM

That's very shiny. I'd noticed that the fight scenes seem to fit better and smoother into the BDS and BDM then they do in other shows or movies but I hadn't consciously thought of why. I agree, Joss is showing his genius with character devolpment again. And I think it's partially the deepness of the characters and the attention to detail in this show that makes it such a rich and loveable experience for all of us. Probably in some way a part of what made all of us fall for it. for joss!
Stay shiny all,
Aubrey