Post by Caesarmoo on Sept 19, 2006 13:15:58 GMT -5
This may or may not have spoilers. i do not remember. Read at your own risk.
-Serenity 1 & 2
The perfect beginning to an amazing series. these two episodes had me hooked from minute one.
actually, the part where Mal is telling his man that they were too pretty to die and then the call of surrender comes out and they are standing there watching their support fly away.... the soundless action mixed with the beautiful music. the sparks from the bullets and then the guy he just motivated getting shot and falling backwards..... that is the exact part where i fell for the show.
-The Train Job
Kind of a cheesy concept at first... the traditional western train robbery. but it was handled immacutely. I especially enjoyed the ending. He tries to reason with the huge bodyguard and seeing its futile kicks him into the jets. Showing that Reynolds is a reasonable man... but not above being realistic. I enjoyed it quite a bit and it helped cement my taste for Joss Whedon's grim future.
-Bushwhacked
A bit see through but handled well. the Interrogation was a great series of cut scenes that really sold the characters individually. The plot was a bit transparent, but i believe it was meant to be. It was definitely a good episode.
-Shindig
This is one of the two disappointing episodes. First, i understand that this is a Western in Sci-fi's clothing. i like that and enjoy that, being both a fan of Sci-fi and westerns. however, the traditional 1900's Southern Ball and Southern Gentlemen and Ladies? ugh. we're on another planet... can we move away from pre-Civil War Era Southern gatherings? and then tossing The Beverly Hillbillies father look-alike in there to make the standard Gone with the Wind phrases? ugh. i couldnt wait to get through this episode. it was very disappointing.
-Safe
This was the second of the disappointing episodes. again, i understand the concept of a western disguised as a sci-fi. however. they guys ride up classic wild-wild west. then the marshalls do the same. obligatory gun fight..... during this, the doc and river wander out of a bustling town to find a bunch of ppl in the middle of a work day having a party... why? no reasons. at all. during all this, the scary mountain men kidnap the doctor and know he's a doctor out of the middle of a crowd who does nothing. they get them up to their squatter village only to discover that River is .... A WITCH!!!! oh jesus haripod christ on a ritz cracker. how fucking cliche do you have to be? and on top of that... she proves her witchiness by declaring how, again stock fucking cliche as it is, that the town leader is only that cuz he secretly murdered the town leader before him. the rescue was also so cheesy i longed for nacho chips and some sliced hot peppers and a large drink. i was glad when this episode ended.
-Our Mrs Reynolds
Back to the good shit. The lead in was obvious. The crown, drink and dance was obviously some wedding, so no shock there. and you knew the girl was going to be bad news. It was her transformations from innocent to sultry to evil that really sold the character and what was going on with her. the fact that the Shepard could look up that particular backwater cultures marriage rites in an incyclopedia was dumb, but the rest of the show was top notch. i really enjoyed it. the one thing i did dislike was at the end of the episode, he makes it sound like he's going to fuck her up in some way so that she cant hurt others. then it sounds like he did just that..... but as we know from Trash, he did not.
-Jaynestown
Classic perspective confusion episode. i laughed my way through most of this one. the silliness of Jayne being the hero and how fast fame went to his head. His complete ease and comfort with and around hookers and the willingness to do whats right, once forced. i enjoyed this episode.
-Out of Gas
The order and flow of this episode was top notch. fucking grade a. living all of it through the rememberings of a dying and desperate man. The fire looked kind of cheesy, but its CG.. you do what you can. fire has always been a mess to do CG. i think Shrek was one of the few that ever truely pulled off really great looking CG fire, but they didnt have a realistic background to put it on top of. the one thing that bothered me about this episode is that the other ship actually left. realistically, wouldnt they have just hung out for an hour or two, waited for the cap to pass out from his belly wound and come back to kill him? or just shot him originally when he pulled the gun on the other cap? i dont know. i just thought it was kind of weak for him to kick them off the ship like that. but... you had to have some way of getting him shot and giving him the part he needed. i truely loved the flow of this episode and am continually impressed with Joss's vision.
-Ariel
A great episode of daring. The plan was great and the training montage was fun and funny. The proving of the doc in the real hospital was nice to see. He was good under pressure but was still a hardnosed mother fucker when it came to calling the other doctor a nub. the CG of the brainscanner was neat as well. i liked that it gave Jayne a chance to follow through on his nature, to sell anything that might have value. the Blue Sun ppl werent that scary to me... its cuz Joss didnt have chance to make them more so. im sure they wouldve become a rather terrible force. what really impressed me about this episode was the ending. the way Reynolds handles Jaynes betrayal. from the time he crushes him with the wrench until the credits roll. that was so well played out and real. i was very impressed.
-War Stories
Until this episode, Wash was a great background character and his marriage to Zoe was a plot point with plenty of potential. their argument was visceral and felt, good acting. and the resolution, while campy, was also realistic.... jealously can fuck up a day. the torture scene showed exactly what it was meant to show... the strength and character of Reynolds. his never-say-die mentality and his leave-no-man-behind philosophy. i even liked that they let him die and brought him back to life. (although Princess Bride was a little more realistic on how weak one would be after being brought back to life). the attack on the base was excellent and River's movements and ending stance, when she shot the three guys, were powerful and meaningful. i liked that the bad guy got away. he'll be back and itll be deadly.
-Trash
The return of Mrs Reynolds. a fun reuniting with a good story of treasure, mistrust and imminent betrayal. the girl that plays Seffron is fucking smoking and definitely slide between personalities rather smoothly and quickly. I enjoyed this episode, especially Reynold's continued action while the husband is still somewhat stunned and confronting Saffron as well as the Doc's confrontation of Jayne.
-Message
an interesting episode. it felt like a filler for most of it because there wasnt much going on besides a sortof ship chase. and the backstory didnt truely bring anything more to the table in terms of Reynolds and Zoe's personalities. it was more just a link between them and the dead guy. however, it again showed the savy of the shepard, eluding again to his not being a shepard at all. the funeral scene was so very beautifully shot it was amazing. the music behind it was moving and sorrowful, heartbreaking. the camera work was incredible. to find out later that it never aired and that the music was written as a good bye to the show and not to the character was interesting because whatever was trying to be portrayed hit fucking home. amazing.
-Heart of Gold
A fun episode of circle the wagons and fight off the outlaws... with a twist. seeing reynolds in the arms of a woman that wasnt Inarra. the last stand at the hooker alamo. the way the mom hooker popped the guy in face point blank. the explanation of death and danger from Jayne to the hooker. Inarra's outburst of shown emotion towards Reynolds. the baby argument between Zoe and Wash. The Shepard being approached by the hookers... jesus... so much going on in this episode. it was a bit full, but well played and really fun throughout. the whole regret scene in the end was kind of corny of Reynolds' character, but it was alright. he hadnt had any strange in quite some time. it was forgiveable that he was a bitch afterwards
-Objects in Space
the resolution of River being on Serenity. definitely a needed episode but it was a lot of filler. the mercenary was goofy to the point of feeling like an anime merc... like he shouldve been in Tri-gun or something. but it was still well done. it required a lot of facial emotion and acting from the entire crew. Definitely something nice to see that they can pull it off. kind of a fucked up way to kill a man.
-Behind the Scenes
i watched both The Way It Was and Serenity: The 10th Character. very insightful and fun. great BtS additions to the dvd. i never knew this was a Fox show. that was the problem. it shouldve started and stayed on Sci-Fi channel... i bet it wouldve made it a lot lot further than 14 episodes (12 shown).
-Serenity, the movie
I like this movie. the scene with the the brother in the lab was very disappointing, however. for one... the Blue Sun group was freakish as fuck and secret enough to kill an entire security branch of federal police officers just because they heard her speak. and in the movie all that was removed. that upset me.
after that, however, it was a great ride. from the time it showed Shepard off the boat, i knew that ppl would die and that this wasnt a continuation, it was the wrap up.
i liked the way they explained the reavers. pretty sweet. they reminded me of Event Horizon. the final fight against them was a bit weaker than i expected for such a formidable foe, but you cant kill off everyone.
the end was a direct reflection of the theme song (which shouldve been in the movie) and of the Mal character.
one last thing i was disappointed with was there was a lot less western in this movie than in the others, but i like that they did add a few more asian influences (since its supposed to be a mix of American and Chinese).
-Serenity 1 & 2
The perfect beginning to an amazing series. these two episodes had me hooked from minute one.
actually, the part where Mal is telling his man that they were too pretty to die and then the call of surrender comes out and they are standing there watching their support fly away.... the soundless action mixed with the beautiful music. the sparks from the bullets and then the guy he just motivated getting shot and falling backwards..... that is the exact part where i fell for the show.
-The Train Job
Kind of a cheesy concept at first... the traditional western train robbery. but it was handled immacutely. I especially enjoyed the ending. He tries to reason with the huge bodyguard and seeing its futile kicks him into the jets. Showing that Reynolds is a reasonable man... but not above being realistic. I enjoyed it quite a bit and it helped cement my taste for Joss Whedon's grim future.
-Bushwhacked
A bit see through but handled well. the Interrogation was a great series of cut scenes that really sold the characters individually. The plot was a bit transparent, but i believe it was meant to be. It was definitely a good episode.
-Shindig
This is one of the two disappointing episodes. First, i understand that this is a Western in Sci-fi's clothing. i like that and enjoy that, being both a fan of Sci-fi and westerns. however, the traditional 1900's Southern Ball and Southern Gentlemen and Ladies? ugh. we're on another planet... can we move away from pre-Civil War Era Southern gatherings? and then tossing The Beverly Hillbillies father look-alike in there to make the standard Gone with the Wind phrases? ugh. i couldnt wait to get through this episode. it was very disappointing.
-Safe
This was the second of the disappointing episodes. again, i understand the concept of a western disguised as a sci-fi. however. they guys ride up classic wild-wild west. then the marshalls do the same. obligatory gun fight..... during this, the doc and river wander out of a bustling town to find a bunch of ppl in the middle of a work day having a party... why? no reasons. at all. during all this, the scary mountain men kidnap the doctor and know he's a doctor out of the middle of a crowd who does nothing. they get them up to their squatter village only to discover that River is .... A WITCH!!!! oh jesus haripod christ on a ritz cracker. how fucking cliche do you have to be? and on top of that... she proves her witchiness by declaring how, again stock fucking cliche as it is, that the town leader is only that cuz he secretly murdered the town leader before him. the rescue was also so cheesy i longed for nacho chips and some sliced hot peppers and a large drink. i was glad when this episode ended.
-Our Mrs Reynolds
Back to the good shit. The lead in was obvious. The crown, drink and dance was obviously some wedding, so no shock there. and you knew the girl was going to be bad news. It was her transformations from innocent to sultry to evil that really sold the character and what was going on with her. the fact that the Shepard could look up that particular backwater cultures marriage rites in an incyclopedia was dumb, but the rest of the show was top notch. i really enjoyed it. the one thing i did dislike was at the end of the episode, he makes it sound like he's going to fuck her up in some way so that she cant hurt others. then it sounds like he did just that..... but as we know from Trash, he did not.
-Jaynestown
Classic perspective confusion episode. i laughed my way through most of this one. the silliness of Jayne being the hero and how fast fame went to his head. His complete ease and comfort with and around hookers and the willingness to do whats right, once forced. i enjoyed this episode.
-Out of Gas
The order and flow of this episode was top notch. fucking grade a. living all of it through the rememberings of a dying and desperate man. The fire looked kind of cheesy, but its CG.. you do what you can. fire has always been a mess to do CG. i think Shrek was one of the few that ever truely pulled off really great looking CG fire, but they didnt have a realistic background to put it on top of. the one thing that bothered me about this episode is that the other ship actually left. realistically, wouldnt they have just hung out for an hour or two, waited for the cap to pass out from his belly wound and come back to kill him? or just shot him originally when he pulled the gun on the other cap? i dont know. i just thought it was kind of weak for him to kick them off the ship like that. but... you had to have some way of getting him shot and giving him the part he needed. i truely loved the flow of this episode and am continually impressed with Joss's vision.
-Ariel
A great episode of daring. The plan was great and the training montage was fun and funny. The proving of the doc in the real hospital was nice to see. He was good under pressure but was still a hardnosed mother fucker when it came to calling the other doctor a nub. the CG of the brainscanner was neat as well. i liked that it gave Jayne a chance to follow through on his nature, to sell anything that might have value. the Blue Sun ppl werent that scary to me... its cuz Joss didnt have chance to make them more so. im sure they wouldve become a rather terrible force. what really impressed me about this episode was the ending. the way Reynolds handles Jaynes betrayal. from the time he crushes him with the wrench until the credits roll. that was so well played out and real. i was very impressed.
-War Stories
Until this episode, Wash was a great background character and his marriage to Zoe was a plot point with plenty of potential. their argument was visceral and felt, good acting. and the resolution, while campy, was also realistic.... jealously can fuck up a day. the torture scene showed exactly what it was meant to show... the strength and character of Reynolds. his never-say-die mentality and his leave-no-man-behind philosophy. i even liked that they let him die and brought him back to life. (although Princess Bride was a little more realistic on how weak one would be after being brought back to life). the attack on the base was excellent and River's movements and ending stance, when she shot the three guys, were powerful and meaningful. i liked that the bad guy got away. he'll be back and itll be deadly.
-Trash
The return of Mrs Reynolds. a fun reuniting with a good story of treasure, mistrust and imminent betrayal. the girl that plays Seffron is fucking smoking and definitely slide between personalities rather smoothly and quickly. I enjoyed this episode, especially Reynold's continued action while the husband is still somewhat stunned and confronting Saffron as well as the Doc's confrontation of Jayne.
-Message
an interesting episode. it felt like a filler for most of it because there wasnt much going on besides a sortof ship chase. and the backstory didnt truely bring anything more to the table in terms of Reynolds and Zoe's personalities. it was more just a link between them and the dead guy. however, it again showed the savy of the shepard, eluding again to his not being a shepard at all. the funeral scene was so very beautifully shot it was amazing. the music behind it was moving and sorrowful, heartbreaking. the camera work was incredible. to find out later that it never aired and that the music was written as a good bye to the show and not to the character was interesting because whatever was trying to be portrayed hit fucking home. amazing.
-Heart of Gold
A fun episode of circle the wagons and fight off the outlaws... with a twist. seeing reynolds in the arms of a woman that wasnt Inarra. the last stand at the hooker alamo. the way the mom hooker popped the guy in face point blank. the explanation of death and danger from Jayne to the hooker. Inarra's outburst of shown emotion towards Reynolds. the baby argument between Zoe and Wash. The Shepard being approached by the hookers... jesus... so much going on in this episode. it was a bit full, but well played and really fun throughout. the whole regret scene in the end was kind of corny of Reynolds' character, but it was alright. he hadnt had any strange in quite some time. it was forgiveable that he was a bitch afterwards
-Objects in Space
the resolution of River being on Serenity. definitely a needed episode but it was a lot of filler. the mercenary was goofy to the point of feeling like an anime merc... like he shouldve been in Tri-gun or something. but it was still well done. it required a lot of facial emotion and acting from the entire crew. Definitely something nice to see that they can pull it off. kind of a fucked up way to kill a man.
-Behind the Scenes
i watched both The Way It Was and Serenity: The 10th Character. very insightful and fun. great BtS additions to the dvd. i never knew this was a Fox show. that was the problem. it shouldve started and stayed on Sci-Fi channel... i bet it wouldve made it a lot lot further than 14 episodes (12 shown).
-Serenity, the movie
I like this movie. the scene with the the brother in the lab was very disappointing, however. for one... the Blue Sun group was freakish as fuck and secret enough to kill an entire security branch of federal police officers just because they heard her speak. and in the movie all that was removed. that upset me.
after that, however, it was a great ride. from the time it showed Shepard off the boat, i knew that ppl would die and that this wasnt a continuation, it was the wrap up.
i liked the way they explained the reavers. pretty sweet. they reminded me of Event Horizon. the final fight against them was a bit weaker than i expected for such a formidable foe, but you cant kill off everyone.
the end was a direct reflection of the theme song (which shouldve been in the movie) and of the Mal character.
one last thing i was disappointed with was there was a lot less western in this movie than in the others, but i like that they did add a few more asian influences (since its supposed to be a mix of American and Chinese).
