Serenity: The Spoiler Thread

[d'artagnan]

At 9.30 pm tonight, the world premiere of Joss Whedon's directorial film debut Serenity is being held in Edinburgh.

Over the course of the next few days and weeks (and months), more and more people are going to be seeing this film at various special screenings and then, eventually, upon general release.

This thread has been started for the purpose of providing a point where we can engage in spoiler-rich discussion and, as more people see the film, they will be able to come into the thread and participate. By bundling the discussion up in one spot, we can hopefully also avoid the possibility of someone inadvertently spoiling it for others. Let's hope it proves to be a film well worth a lot of discussion and debate.

So, finally, to those who will be at the premiere tonight (along with myself) let's have fun and hope it's a good 'un...

[cassidy]

At 9.30 pm tonight, the world premiere of Joss Whedon's directorial film debut Serenity is being held in Edinburgh.

Over the course of the next few days and weeks (and months), more and more people are going to be seeing this film at various special screenings and then, eventually, upon general release.

This thread has been started for the purpose of providing a point where we can engage in spoiler-rich discussion and, as more people see the film, they will be able to come into the thread and participate. By bundling the discussion up in one spot, we can hopefully also avoid the possibility of someone inadvertently spoiling it for others. Let's hope it proves to be a film well worth a lot of discussion and debate.

So, finally, to those who will be at the premiere tonight (along with myself) let's have fun and hope it's a good 'un...

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well I aint asking for spoilers but some impressions from you lucky gits who saw serenity last night would be good. Come on

[Dom B]

Same here - I'd like spoiler-free impressions please!

[Space Renegade Ulala]

Guys, I love you but hush - this thread was made for spoiling, and that's just what I'll do:

Why are you reading this? Lucky for you I invisotexted it too - GO! TURN AWAY NOW, FOOLS!

Seriously. As far as existing fans go, this is sure to be the film's main talking point, other than Mal's somewhat off attitude:

Book's only in it very briefly, plays Exposition Guy and dies soon after they find him. But later on, things get even worse - Wash is killed by the Reavers. I was so heartbrokenly upset at hearing that that I'm seriously considering not watching the film at all and will instead just sit and think happy thoughts about them all flying around the 'verse having fun forever. Lalalalalala, Joss, can't hear you, etc

/cry

That has to be the most failsafe spoiler post ever. No need to worry about it being viewable if someone clicks 'Quote' either. But anyway, yes, hurry up lucky cinema goers, I want to know if it's as unbearable as I fear...do you really think it can manage to generate a follow up? Would you want one?

[cassidy]

Guys, I love you but hush - this thread was made for spoiling, and that's just what I'll do:

That has to be the most failsafe spoiler post ever. No need to worry about it being viewable if someone clicks 'Quote' either. But anyway, yes, hurry up lucky cinema goers, I want to know if it's as unbearable as I fear...do you really think it can manage to generate a follow up?

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I bloody hate you Ulala , the temptation to read that is so bloody strong. What was your impression of the film.

Oh my god I just read the spoiler and I now wish I hadnt. Tell me you made that up

[Space Renegade Ulala]

CASS, YOU DIV!

Now you know the burden I have carried these last few months...that's why anyone who hasn't seen the film or doesn't know what happens should really stay out of here, it's going to be nigh on impossible to discuss it without mentioning the impact of the second spoiler.

[cassidy]

CASS, YOU DIV!

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Nah just a spoiler whore who now regrets this lifestyle choice

I have a feeling that knowing it is a good thing though and will allow me the months required to mentally prepare for the tears that its gonna cause on the viewing of the movie Me sad now

[Gwynster]

I haven't seen the film, but I read ages ago on the website that

Mal dies

in it. I don't want any details but can you confirm this? Yes or no will do.

[cassidy]

I haven't seen the film, but I read ages ago on the website that

in it. I don't want any details but can you confirm this? Yes or no will do.

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Not according to Ulala's spoiler

[Riccardo]

For non-spoiler impressions, you can read the world premiere thread which details the trials and tribulations of getting tickets, and I'm sure will shortly be updated with premiere impressions around page 12.

Now I'm hightailing it out of this thread until I see the film on Wednesday, because that spoiler tag is looking so tempting!

[Gwynster]

WINNAR.

There's no way I'm reading another word of this thread.

[d'artagnan]

well I aint asking for spoilers but some impressions from you lucky gits who saw serenity last night would be good. Come on

The delay probably has something to do with some people having travelled and, for those of us who are sort of local, the fact that it didn't finish until pretty late. The screening itself didn't finish until a quarter past midnight and the Q&A seemed to go on for a reasonable length afterwards. I know I didn't get home til three this morning.

As for the film. I liked it. I liked it a lot.

Just to get them out of the way however, I'll cover the few real problems. Once you've had the initial exposition and character introductions out of the way, the film jumps quickly from relevant plot groundwork and development point to plot point. A little too quickly for my tastes. And without immediately apparent explanation. You go from 'well, they're here doing this' then immediately it's 'err, where are we now? how'd we get here and why are they talking to/shooting at these people? ooooohhhh... so that's why.'. There's a not insignificant chunk of the film up until about the halfway point where you're having to do such backfilling. It does all make sense though and it's engrossing enough to hold the attention.

However, from the halfway mark onwards it doesn't do this and the entire third act is almost totally unrelenting - yet still manages to come up with some truly touching moments of comedy and pathos.

Also, some of the characterisation initially seems a little off.

It's as if the apparent 'resolution' of Objects in Space never happened and tensions over Simon and River remaining on Serenity haven't just remained as prominent as ever, but have actually hardened. Also, Simon going for Mal was something you'd never really imagine.

But some of this makes sense in the context of a film which is supposed to be able to stand apart from the TV series and where newcomers need to be able to quickly get a feel for the character dynamics and most of this all sorts itself out later on.

However, the criminal neglect of the character of Shepherd Book is distressing. You're almost left with a 'why bother?' attitude to the inclusion of Book which means that his death really won't have any huge significance to those who weren't already familiar with it.

Next post will cover why the film rules and will be riddled with spoilers

[d'artagnan]

Okay, let's begin...

Chiwetel Ejiofor as the Operative absolutely owns pretty much every scene he's in. It's a staggeringly good performance and gives a lot of depth to a character which is very much a cipher so that you understand the character and his motivations rather than simply writing him off as simply evil.

It also explains who/what Book used to be. Book doesn't tell Mal about his past and says that he never will, but Joss has told us if you bother to think about it. How else would Book have such knowledge about the upper reaches of governance in the Alliance? How else would he be able to make Alliance cruisers bow to his will? How else would he have such an understanding of weapons, tactics and strategy? Why would he have come to hold such a deeply philosophical outlook on life? The Operative is what Book was before he had cause to doubt - that they are both deeply concerned with the idea of sin is of particular relevance. Book must have eventually experienced something which caused him to alter his view on how we approach sin, much as the Operative ultimately does.

The rest of cast do a pretty shiny job

with the exception of Ron Glass, but that's more because he has basically nothing to work with as opposed to being a fault on his part

with both Nathan Fillion and Adam Baldwin in particular getting some tasty one liners. Sean Maher's straight man also creates two of the funniest moments of the film

that look from River in response to 'Am I talking to Miranda now?' and Kaylee's response to Simon expressing his one regret during the final firefight.

More to follow later...

[George Clooney]

Would you say the film was accessable for people that hadnt watched the TV show?

[d'artagnan]

Would you say the film was accessable for people that hadnt watched the TV show?

I think it should be - it immediately sets out the basics of Earth That Was, the Alliance and the relationship and war with the Independents, the crew of Serenity and their various relationships, how they usually employ themselves and the Reavers. All you need to know is laid out fairly quickly and should allow someone coming to it fresh to get the general idea of what's going on. In some areas it actually offers more background than the TV show did.

[oli]

I thought it was totally ace

Although am I the only one who found the acting for the first 10 minutes or so to be a little wooden?

[diesel_dickson]

alright

i went to see it having never seen any of the series and i understood it fine eough, just didnt really seem to get into it anywhere near as much as everybody else. ie some moments that were humorous to em were friggin hilarious to everybody else

but that was probably because it was cause i hadnt seen the series.

i would say it was a good enough sci fi romp just not anything spectacular

sorry

Colin

(plus i feel a little pissed that i didnt sell all the tickets i bought for my friends on Ebay as someone paid 150 quid for a ticket, 900 quid for 6 tickets that would of been NICE)

[d'artagnan]

I thought it was totally ace

Although am I the only one who found the acting for the first 10 minutes or so to be a little wooden?

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The first ten minutes was Univeral log morphing into Earth That Was, ships departing Earth that was with voiceover cutting to the class being taught about the history of the Alliance before the war being brought up and the POVs of both sides in the war being presented with River arguing the Independents position. This establishes all the background history to the show and gives us our first introduction to Summer.

Then it snaps-forward to Simon breaking River out of the facility where she was being held and experimented on with the Doctor's discourse establishing why River is important and establishing what the Alliance wants her for, then another snap-forward to the Operative which further introduces us to this new character and further establishes just how dangerous the Alliance views River to be and how far they're prepared to go to eliminate her as a threat. It also establishes jsut what the Operative is permitted to do i.e. anything.

The next snap-forward is to the minimal credit sequence which tracks through Serenity (establishing it as the name of the ship in addition to the name of the film)giving you a basic introduction to the crew and their various roles and seeing how they relate to each other and interact.

I don't think it was wooden per se, it just had the problem of having to communicate a hell of a lot of exposition very quickly without being incomprehensible to the as yet unenlightened. And it really did need to make sure you understood all those things.

[oli]

Sorry I meant the first 10 mins or so aboard the actual ship

[d'artagnan]

Sorry I meant the first 10 mins or so aboard the actual ship

Ah, yeah. See exactly what you mean - it did feel a little odd that.

[oli]

Ah, yeah. See exactly what you mean - it did feel a little odd that.

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It seemed like a sketch or rehearsal - it did get better though

Where were you sitting in the end? We started queuing about 8 to get reasonable seats

[Alex W.]

Full of typically excellent lines. The way they killed off Wash was absolutely brutal though. Everyone's grinning or chucking along to one of his typical little lines, and then out of nowhere, he's gone. Senseless. Very effective.

River's fighting is one of the best pay-off moments in a movie in a long time.

[d'artagnan]

Full of typically excellent lines. The way they killed off Wash was absolutely brutal though. Everyone's grinning or chucking along to one of his typical little lines, and then out of nowhere, he's gone. Senseless. Very effective.

Fuck yes. Some twat had already spoilered it for me that two people die. I figured Book died because Ron Glass wasn't in any of the promo stuff, trailers etc. But the way Wash died really kicked you in the chest. He'd been wise-cracking through the film, he'd just pulled off the most amazing piece of flying, he'd saved everybody. Then *BOOM* impaled. I really didn't see that coming. Nor did anyone else it seems... I swear that everyone tensed when that happened.

The only downside is that knowing two people died, Simon getting shot didn't cause me to jump in the same way it did others.

River's fighting is one of the best pay-off moments in a movie in a long time.

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That ruled. The bar-fight was amazing. The final fight... fuck yeah!

[d'artagnan]

do you really think it can manage to generate a follow up?

The budget was apparently pretty low - $45m. Which means that it only has to do okay to get Universal to exercise their option.

Would you want one?

Hell yeah. I want to know how Zoe handles Wash being gone. I want to know how River develops now that she's free of the nightmare which fragmented her mind. I want to see if Mal and Inara are going to end up together. I want to see Simon and Kaylee make a life together now that they both know that they feel the same for each other. And I really want to see what happens with the Alliance...

[oli]

I wish I'd asked at the Q&A if the film was the direction the show would've taken had it not been cancelled

[Plissken]

Not entirely convinced it will crossover, but certainly has cult classic stamped all over it. Definitely will keep the fans happy.

Would echo much of what has been said here - slightly ropey start and some definite hard to follow bits. However, I was down at the front and the aircon was fucking freezing so I was sat with jacket on. My GF was practically shivering, coat round her face, curled up and everything. Not the best way to enjoy it.

Much darker than the series - the Reavers are nasty bastards and Whedon didn't hold back. The tone is much like "Bushwhacked", dark, scary. This is not a fluffy film.

Plus side: The dialogue was superb (Jayne got some great lines), plot was excellent, Chiwetel Ejifor was a standout. The death of Wash, the final sequence from the first "Reaver Run" to the end is unrelenting and brilliant. Kaylee's line about not wanting to die practically had me cheering. Summer Glau is *excellent*.

Minus side: A little too much packed in to truly follow - several characters wasted (Mr Universe, Book, the twins). Across too many planets without explanation - one minute we're with Inara, the next on Haven, the next...

I give it 8/10, but I reckon it is one of those films that rewards rewatching.

Got the post-screening Dance of Joy, singalong and Hero of Canton on my phone. Some truly stupid questions - which at the following days Q&A were avoided. (I asked the "Did you have to compromise?" question, which on reflection wasn't the best.) Oh, and the Q&A was brilliant, the interviewer (director of the festival?) was excellent.

[Alex W.]

Two questions asked by Rllmuk members and neither of us included "bummed in the gob" or "have a wank". What an oversight.

[oli]

Two questions asked by Rllmuk members and neither of us included "bummed in the gob" or "have a wank". What an oversight.

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So it was someone here who asked about if the sequels would be 'sell outs'? If so, I urge a ban request because that was the worst question ever. Totally cringeworthy.

Anyone else see the Magic Numbers a-likes?

[Plissken]

So it was someone here who asked about if the sequels would be 'sell outs'? If so, I urge a ban request because that was the worst question ever. Totally cringeworthy.

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Not guilty your honour. I was on the verge of yelling "Get to the point, fella" at him.

With that "question" (or rather, ego-wankery) and "will there be a second series?" - at that point I was thinking that my 15 quid for the Reel Life Q&A the next day was going to be a waste of money.

I was trying to work a way of getting "bummed in the gob" into a question - but the interviewer asked about casting and stuff, so that was one, ahem, avenue closed.

[d'artagnan]

Nice little review on The Scotsman's Edinburgh Festival site.

Particularly nice is the line:

What's great about this film version is that it doesn't require you to be a fan to enjoy and understand it. I went in knowing nothing and was hooked almost immediately.