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I could probably answer this question if I spent 5 minutes listening, but I'm too lazy and my work computer is on the ground - the headphone port is too far down for comfortable listening. I was just wondering what opinions are regarding the two - is one significantly better than the other?nagromme said:
I was a huge fan of Stargate when it first launched, and then it started getting weird and I stopped watching. SciFi, even though I haven't caught it often, seems to have done a great job of setting things right again. Of course, I'm thrilled with BSG (thank you iTunes!) and, even though some will disagree, I thought the Dune movies were incredible. I guess this is a long-winded way of saying I think SciFi would do an admirable job of continuing Firefly if they wanted - especially if Whedon and all the surviving crew actors came back (no more Wash and Bookatari1356 said:
).I keep hearing mixed reports on Serenity - Universal is thrilled, Universal is unhappy with sales, DVD sales are strong, DVD sales don't support another movie, etc. I know Firefly was one of Whedon's babies, and the cast seemed to love working with him and the show (if you believe the DVD extras). It seems like the future of Firefly might hinge on how well Whedon's next two movies do - his scifi flick and Wonder Woman. If he becomes more of a hot commodity in Hollywood (broader name recognition, since right now he's still mostly known for Buffy and Angel), having his name affiliated with a re-launch of Firefly would certianly help draw in new viewers who never saw the original series and may have panned Serenity.
It just seems like the entire Firefly/Serenity project fell victim to a lot of external factors - Fox mishandling Firefly, the movie having an odd release date late in the season, being a highbrow SciFi show when the general populace seems to want to just watch things blow up in space. I suppose the only thing that can be inferred from the recent spat of public comments is that it's not dead...
Sci-Fi channel would be a great home for a return. We can dream! I'd HAVE to get cable if Galactica and Firefly (or Serenity--a better name I think) were both in new episodes.
From one analysis I read, one big reason a show gets cancelled is that even if it delivers high ratings and a large audience for the advertisers, it might be delivering a different demographic from the one advertisers were promised. From what I understand, Firefly advertisers were promised a very specific, young male demographic. But of course (like Buffy and Angel), it actually appealed to very BROAD group of people. So although viewership was good, it wasn't the same people advertisers were told it would be. Options: either find different advertisers or kill the show. Sad but true.
Re podcasts: I haven't listened to enough 'casts to judge. They both seemed fairly professional to me. I thought I saw that Firefly Talk is broadcasting more regularly now, while The Signal was the main one previously.
Now, FYI... if you're in Florida, Serenity's playing at FSU next Thu and Fri, 16th/17th. See: http://movies.fsu.edu/schedule.html
And if you want high-res Serenity ship images to play with, some great ones (apparently from people at Zoic who worked on the movie FX) are posted here--including some detailed plan views AND a technical discussion of how the ship works:
http://www.lwg3d.org/forums/showthread.php?t=26764
(Lightwave 3D was used for the effects in Firefly, Serenity, and Galactica. All by Zoic. The same Serenity model from the show was used in the movie, but with extra detail added to allow close-ups. And apparently new landing gear and paint job.)
My new desktop is one of those plans, converted to amber-on-black.
Did you know the artificial gravity comes from that spinning ring? Did you know Serenity's top speed would take it from the Earth to the Sun in 16 days? Did you know the tailburst radiates energy as hot as the surface of a star? Did you care? Well, too bad. Now it's in your head anyway!
From one analysis I read, one big reason a show gets cancelled is that even if it delivers high ratings and a large audience for the advertisers, it might be delivering a different demographic from the one advertisers were promised. From what I understand, Firefly advertisers were promised a very specific, young male demographic. But of course (like Buffy and Angel), it actually appealed to very BROAD group of people. So although viewership was good, it wasn't the same people advertisers were told it would be. Options: either find different advertisers or kill the show. Sad but true.
Re podcasts: I haven't listened to enough 'casts to judge. They both seemed fairly professional to me. I thought I saw that Firefly Talk is broadcasting more regularly now, while The Signal was the main one previously.
Now, FYI... if you're in Florida, Serenity's playing at FSU next Thu and Fri, 16th/17th. See: http://movies.fsu.edu/schedule.html
And if you want high-res Serenity ship images to play with, some great ones (apparently from people at Zoic who worked on the movie FX) are posted here--including some detailed plan views AND a technical discussion of how the ship works:
http://www.lwg3d.org/forums/showthread.php?t=26764
(Lightwave 3D was used for the effects in Firefly, Serenity, and Galactica. All by Zoic. The same Serenity model from the show was used in the movie, but with extra detail added to allow close-ups. And apparently new landing gear and paint job.)
My new desktop is one of those plans, converted to amber-on-black.
Did you know the artificial gravity comes from that spinning ring? Did you know Serenity's top speed would take it from the Earth to the Sun in 16 days? Did you know the tailburst radiates energy as hot as the surface of a star? Did you care? Well, too bad. Now it's in your head anyway!
Return of Wash and Book...
Ok, I've been cycling through the Podcasts in the last couple weeks in an effort to try to clear them off of my HD. They often have audio footage from Joss Whedon at various conventions. One interesting note is that if more movies are made he wants to bring back Wash and Book and "not in the cheesy twin brother way."
So I'm thinking that Serenity was actually the last movie of the possible trilogy. The more I think about it the more it makes sense.
Mal seems to be a lot less skeptical about Book's advice in the movie than the series, almost as though Mal knows Book's full story.
Simon and Kaylee finally hook up.
No mention of the "hands of blue" which seems to point to them no longer being a threat (there may be something about this in the graphic novels set between Firefly and Serenity but I haven't read them yet).
Serenity seems to provide good closure to the series/movies and it probably made more sense to start there so that if no other movies were made people wouldn't feel like they were abandoned in the middle of the story.
Ok, I've been cycling through the Podcasts in the last couple weeks in an effort to try to clear them off of my HD. They often have audio footage from Joss Whedon at various conventions. One interesting note is that if more movies are made he wants to bring back Wash and Book and "not in the cheesy twin brother way."
So I'm thinking that Serenity was actually the last movie of the possible trilogy. The more I think about it the more it makes sense.
Mal seems to be a lot less skeptical about Book's advice in the movie than the series, almost as though Mal knows Book's full story.
Simon and Kaylee finally hook up.
No mention of the "hands of blue" which seems to point to them no longer being a threat (there may be something about this in the graphic novels set between Firefly and Serenity but I haven't read them yet).
Serenity seems to provide good closure to the series/movies and it probably made more sense to start there so that if no other movies were made people wouldn't feel like they were abandoned in the middle of the story.
The only real problem I have with that theory is that if any more movies are to be made, there would be exactly ZERO suspense regarding any of the main characters coming to any real harm.
I know, I know, it's all about the journey... but you have to admit that seeing Book and Wash get killed was DEFINITELY a surprise (to most of us, anyway) and it increased tension: Who else might get killed? When you know no one you care about will die, it's not really as fun.
I know, I know, it's all about the journey... but you have to admit that seeing Book and Wash get killed was DEFINITELY a surprise (to most of us, anyway) and it increased tension: Who else might get killed? When you know no one you care about will die, it's not really as fun.
clayj said:
That's true, but if Mr. Whedon manages to bring them back another way it ruins it as well since anyone who dies can be brought back.
The only other way I can think of to bring them back would be through flashbacks, but I can't see that many flashbacks being good in a feature film, or to have them as figments of River's imagination which would be too "Star Wars."
Of course he might have something else up his sleeve but the prequels would make sense for addressing some of the missing story and Serenity would make a good ending for a trilogy.
Mind you this is just a theory based on Whedon's comment that any sequel would include all 9 of the cast members.
a lot of my friends have asked me to burn them a copy of the DVD, and I have refused. Instead I go out with them and pay for half of a new dvd. I have now bought to equivilent of 5 serenity dvds. keep the sales coming!!!!
Cleveland Serenity Showing - Tomorrow
Calling all Ohio and Lake Eerie region Browncoats! Tomorrow, Feb. 24, there is a showing of Serenity at Case Western Reserve University in Clevland. There are 3 showings, at 7:00, 9:30, and midnight. There will be costume contests, brownies for Browncoats, raffles, and the Big Damn Heros in 35 mm glory for the last time in this half of the country until June.
For more details, click here.
Tickets are $3, and there is free parking.
I for one, will definitely be there.
PS. Forward this info to any Firefly fans you know in the region.
Calling all Ohio and Lake Eerie region Browncoats! Tomorrow, Feb. 24, there is a showing of Serenity at Case Western Reserve University in Clevland. There are 3 showings, at 7:00, 9:30, and midnight. There will be costume contests, brownies for Browncoats, raffles, and the Big Damn Heros in 35 mm glory for the last time in this half of the country until June.
For more details, click here.
Tickets are $3, and there is free parking.
I for one, will definitely be there.
PS. Forward this info to any Firefly fans you know in the region.
Do you guys know if they'll release a super spiffy directors cut blah blah blah version of the DVD, or is this it? I would have bought it already, but I don't want to get burned.
MarkCollette said:
If they ever do, my guess is it'll 25 years down the line when it's a cult classic. Of course, maybe that's just wishful thinking. I certainly don't know of any plans to release a special cut.
My guess is that in the US there is LIKELY (probably not yet known) to be an enhanced version. Not a director's cut (Whedon says the movie in theaters WAS his director's cut) but with more special features, maybe some more deleted scenes etc.MarkCollette said:
I say that because I seem to recall some non-US DVDs have special features the US version lacks. That makes me think they were contemplating 2 versions for the US, and held some things back. (I'm not sure what.)
Since DVD sales are supposed to be good, I expect they will follow through with another version, although maybe not soon.
This is only guesswork though.
Most of what Joss has said suggests to me that he'd simply carry the story forward in the usual linear way. Regarding his "bring them back" comment:atszyman said:
1. What was the context? Joss has a weird sense of humor
2. Firefly doesn't have a supernatural element (and he talks about that in the commentary about River claiming to "posess" Serenity). I really don't see any NON-cheesy way to bring them back. (And even in Buffy and Angel, which are supernatural, resurrections are rare and NOT taken lightly.)
3. But if flashbacks count, then Wash and Book could have cameos again, and Book's story could even tie into some future story. (My bet is on a sequel dealing with Inara's secret.)
So they like the movie enough to OWN it (not just watch it once), but they don't want the creators to get paid for their work?! And they don't want a sequel?!sprstu said:
Good for you setting a good example
At your own expense, no less.
nagromme said:Most of what Joss has said suggests to me that he'd simply carry the story forward in the usual linear way. Regarding his "bring them back" comment:
1. What was the context? Joss has a weird sense of humor
2. Firefly doesn't have a supernatural element (and he talks about that in the commentary about River claiming to "posess" Serenity). I really don't see any NON-cheesy way to bring them back. (And even in Buffy and Angel, which are supernatural, resurrections are rare and NOT taken lightly.)
3. But if flashbacks count, then Wash and Book could have cameos again, and Book's story could even tie into some future story. (My bet is on a sequel dealing with Inara's secret.)
He was definitely not joking. I heard the audio from one of the conferences he was at and he definitely said that Wash and Book would be in the sequel(s) if they are made. Since I've cycled through about 40 podcasts in the last week I doubt I could find the audio again but it was from the Firefly Talk podcast. I've heard enough of the Joss conferences now to know his jokes from the serious comments. How he brings them back is the mystery. A prequel seems like a good way to do it, but Joss has many tricks up his sleeve. It's possible that Serenity is the middle story and the prequel deals with Book's secret while the sequel deals with Inara's secret.
I could see flashbacks but I don't see flashbacks being that prominent in a feature film, especially since his tone seemed to indicate that they wouldn't be just bit parts.
As I said the prequel idea is just my theory, I'm most likely wrong, but I thought I would share.
If you're referring to the UK version (that FINALLY gets released on Monday!) I remember reading that there's only 1 extra featurette on it, so I can't see as that would justify a US release of an uber-edition later. Just recompense for having to wait so damned long.nagromme said:
I'm working a similar system, although I'm using threats of violence instead of monetary aid. If any movie needs support from the fans it's this one, and "fans" taking pikey copies of the DVD...sprstu said:
I really really like Serenity, and so did my friends.
So, we went to Blockbuster and rented it, when it came out, for only $4. We then ripped in onto my computer, and burned 25 copies onto cheap DVD-R disks, and gave those out to everybody we know. I know that Joss Whedon is struggling to break even on Serenity, but I figured I'd save up my money for something else, like a boxed set of Survivor seasons.
Ok, so that was a total lie. But, what I'm curious to know is, exactly how mad did that make you, as a Serenity fan? Did you want to tell me off, shoot me with a sniper rifle from atop a bell tower, or what? Prove the veracity of your Serenity fandom, by coming up with a novel way to have revenge on people who pirate this movie
So, we went to Blockbuster and rented it, when it came out, for only $4. We then ripped in onto my computer, and burned 25 copies onto cheap DVD-R disks, and gave those out to everybody we know. I know that Joss Whedon is struggling to break even on Serenity, but I figured I'd save up my money for something else, like a boxed set of Survivor seasons.
Ok, so that was a total lie. But, what I'm curious to know is, exactly how mad did that make you, as a Serenity fan? Did you want to tell me off, shoot me with a sniper rifle from atop a bell tower, or what? Prove the veracity of your Serenity fandom, by coming up with a novel way to have revenge on people who pirate this movie
I'd have to hunt you down like a dog.
Only joking.
But, seriously, I would.
Fitting revenge? How about no original ideas being filmed ever again as they don't make for profitable movies, so the pirates have nothing to download aside from mainstream, Hollywood, by-the-numbers rom-coms, filling their spindles of cheap, unbranded DVD-Rs with soul-destroying, vacuous pap?
Actually, I need to think up a fitting revenge for whoever ok'd the cover art for the UK version.
Only joking.
But, seriously, I would.
Fitting revenge? How about no original ideas being filmed ever again as they don't make for profitable movies, so the pirates have nothing to download aside from mainstream, Hollywood, by-the-numbers rom-coms, filling their spindles of cheap, unbranded DVD-Rs with soul-destroying, vacuous pap?
Actually, I need to think up a fitting revenge for whoever ok'd the cover art for the UK version.
MarkCollette said:...Prove the veracity of your Serenity fandom, by coming up with a novel way to have revenge on people who pirate this movie
Pieces of gao se who pirate this movie need to be forced to sit in a steaming pile of daxiang baozhashi de laduzi!
Oh, I agree entirely. "Daxiang baozhashi de laduzi" is Chinese for "broken glass with salt sprinkled on it", isn't it?atszyman said: