Matrix vs. Firefly
POSTED BY: reginaroadie
UPDATED: Thursday, July 14, 2016 06:09
VIEWED: 10950
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I was just looking over the new ten disc Matrix trilogy DVD set I bought for my brother for Xmas, and it got me to thinking about the Matrix trilogy again.
To tell you the truth, even though I'm a 19 year old guy, I'm not really that big of a fan of THE MATRIX. I thought the first was just enjoyable, but at it's core it was a techno knock-off of the far superior DARK CITY. And the sequels I wasn't dissapointed with because I had no real expectations of them. And I know that there's been many different reasons as to why a lot of people didn't like it, but I think it's a bit simpler.
The reason I never liked it was because it was emotionless. Sure the action and sfx was cool, and that it had a lot of philosophical waxing, but the thing that always got me was that the characters didn't really have an emotional center. I thought it was funny that these people were just as sterile and emotionless as the machines and agents they were trying to defeat.
Now on the flipside, you have FIREFLY. And I think that one of the key qualities to it is that it actually has emotion in it. These characters are very emotional and there is a real emotional attachment to these characters and their situations. There is more emotion, humor and actual human connection in just three minutes of the series than there is the entire Matrix trilogy.
Which leads me to a concern of mine about SERENITY. Now I know everyone reading this will try to bring everyone they know and their grandmother to the BDM, but a cult audience can only bring so much. If SERENITY is to soar, the uninitiated and common masses will have to push this hard to make it the new STAR WARS or MATRIX. And if the most popular sci-fi franchise in the last five or so years is a barren, emotionless wire-fu trilogy that's also a Philosophy 100 lesson, how can we be sure that a movie based on a cult sci-fi western that didn't even last half a season is going to fly at the box office?
Of course, said public that embraced THE MATRIX then abandoned it, so maybe SERENITY will become like the next STAR TREK. They're hoping for a trilogy, but why stop there? I always thought you could make a movie focusing on each of the characters, so you could have nine movies theoretically.
What do you think?
"NO HAI ES BANDAI. THERE IS....NO.....BAND. AND YET....WE HEAR A BAND."
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Star Wars (4, 5 and 6) were emotional - that's one of the reasons they were so good. I think Serenity will stay true to the spirit of Firefly - it'll just be bigger.
I really like the first Matrix film but though the second two were poor. They could have made a good trilogy if they'd planned it from the start. The agents should have always been stronger until the final film. It just wasn't as tense once Neo was like Superman.
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I agree the Matrix was fairly emotionless. When characters died the others were usually like "I am sad now." "I too am sad." "I am angry. *clears throat* grrr."
Serenity will not become the next Matrix. It doesn't have the same qualities. It's not a special effects marvel with action packed, over the top fights. At least Firefly didn't.
However, I almost wonder if we'd feel the same if it did become a hit. Right now we are a tight, intelligent, friendly community. The second it becomes popular to be a browncoat we will get trolls and fanboys gallore. We will also lose our status (not the right word) with the stars. They will be come mega-stars and there will be throngs of fans saying they've loved them since the start. When we'll all know that we were the ones writing to Fox and buying cakes. It's sorta sad to know that we have to let our baby leave the nest and enter the full world for it to grow. We fall into obscurity. While the show will be allowed to continue.
Somebody say something inspirational and happy before I start questioning whether I want Serenity to be successful.
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Mmm. Tricky isn't it? We need the mass market to love Firefly and yet...
My bet is that they'll swamp some of the bigger places (like the official site) but fireflyfans.net should be okay.
Don't forget, the Matrix has faded from the public consciousness very quickly (amazing how two really bad sequels will do that for you) and people are always willing to accept new ideas in sci-fi.
My own personal dread is the "If you liked *******, then you'll love Serenity!" campaign/write up that is bound to happen. My money is on Back to the Future part III being mentioned. Not that it's a bad movie but it has practically nothing to do with Firefly except for the sci-fi/western thing.
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Unfortunately the Matrix is one of those movies that should have never had a sequel. I liked the mystery of the first one. Joss is a much better storyteller, he won't compromise for the sake of a buck. Up unitil the Matrix the brothers had only done what? Bound? Come one, Not much of a track record there. Firefly surpasses MAtrix in so many ways. Yes both are Science fiction, but I actually want the Verse to be real, the Matrix...no so much. Ok my two bits said
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"Two roads diverged in a wood, and I took the road less traveled by and they CANCELLED MY FRIKKIN' SHOW. I totally shoulda took the road that had all those people on it. Damn." --Joss
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"They could have made a good trilogy if they'd planned it from the start."
Apparently, they did. But I don't know that for sure. Makes you wonder if the first (which I think is a classic) was a complete fluke..
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Zeek wrote:
Quote:
...Somebody say something inspirational and happy before I start questioning whether I want Serenity to be successful.
The original Matrix was successful because it challenged our perception of reality. If a simulation is totally immersive and convincing, what separates it from reality? The problem the last two films in the trilogy faced was the removal of that aspect; there was no more mystery left in the Matrix construct; it lost its 'possible reality' status and became a place they only visited on day trips. ...Just in case you were wondering why the concluding two movies left you feeling so empty, but couldn't quite put your finger on it...
Serenity, on the other hand, is not about the nature of reality (and it damned well better never turn into that, either): It is about the nature of being human. At its core are these lonely and disparate people -- with polarized beliefs and attitudes -- who manage somehow to become a family. The uniting force for them is the Firefly-class cargo ship, Serenity.
For the doubters, the uncomprehending and the plain old 'show-me' types, a little evidence:
Think about how everyone came to be on the ship. Mal bought the ship because he was a misfit in Alliance society; the ship was his escape. Zoe, for whatever reason, follows him, not because he is 'her man', but because she owes him a (undisclosed) debt of loyalty. Wash comes to Serenity because -- regardless his magnetic personality, sophisticated demeanor and very fine moustache -- women avoid him like the plague; he figures on Serenity, he'll have a captive audience with no where to run, no where to hide; turns out, he figured right. Jayne comes to the crew through an act of betrayal, the ultimate loner whose only loyalty is to loot. Book is first seen wandering the dusty streets with all his worldly possessions in tow, looking to go only his God knows where. Kaylee is a misfit tomboy grease-monkey who dreams of being a fairy tale princess, who only needs to tell her parents that she's leaving her home planet (probably for good); that's how much she is alone. River and Simon have each other, but not as they were when they were children; she is too badly damaged, and all that remains is the bond of love; furthermore, they have irretrievably abandoned all they once knew as 'home' and 'family'. Which should leave us with Inara, if my math is correct. She is aboard Serenity because she is undergoing some crisis. She gave up her path to career excellence, outcasting herself to the Rim aboard a cargo hauler, not even a luxury cruiser.
All of these people are bent, bruised or broken in some way that matters. They all have disparate viewpoints. Here are only a few:
Jayne has no comprehension of Mal's code of honor. Inara sided with the Alliance and sells her body, neither of which Mal can abide. Zoe wants children; Wash doesn't. Wash wants to be alone with Zoe; Zoe has a debt of loyalty to Mal. Book is a man of deep, godly devotion; Mal is an apostate. Kaylee is so optimistic that she can't be understood by the more realistic crewmates, let alone the cynics like Mal and Jayne. She can only be accepted, like a (beneficent) force of nature. No one -- not even River -- knows what River's essential nature is. Everyone on the boat knows what a social clutz Simon is; he can't even get out of his own way without saying something awkward, condescending or outright insulting.
Yet, these people become a family in spite of, because of these differences. All they need is a blessed space, a temple, a home. Serenity is that space. In aviation, there have been some special aircraft, universally loved by those who flew them, regardless that there were more expensive or technologically advanced designs. Those 'gee-whiz' marvels just weren't as dependable and fun to fly. The Firefly is one of those universally loved and 'special' craft. I suspect that part of her magic is in her living spaces and common areas. They put people in co
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(Mal-licious unfolds her arms, nudges Jefe with her elbow, and, with a bit of a sneer, says)
"Look how long that post is. And not one damn thing in it about ME. Just some guy who hasn't been seen in months. Ingrate."
(Jefe shakes head in commiseration)
Mal-licious
Co-Holder of the Red Bell from Hell
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'Lish:
Damn, baby, you're fast! I just posted that and was still checking spelling and you're already flaming me...
Mmmm-a-licious wrote:
Quote:
...Look how long that post is. And not one damn thing in it about ME...
Oops! My bad! How's this?
"Mutant Enemy (ME), Joss' erstwhile TV production company are still part of the family. We are all looking forward to TM's new series, 'The Inside'."
It's kinda tough to get ME into every topic, without sounding forced...
Revisionally,
-zed
P.S.
Have I told you how lovely you are, lately?
What color is your hair this hour?NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME