We just spent the weekend in Toronto for a variety of reasons, but mainly to go see the movie Serenity which was based on the surreptitiously cancelled, Joss Whedon TV show Firefly.
I loved the TV show, I loved that it looked so good for TV, had such an intriguing concept, and an excellent group of characters (not to mention the actors playing them). I was saddened when it was cancelled after only 12 episodes.
My boyfriend (a sci-fi fan, and latecomer to the whedonverse) loved it even more than me.
So, when he saw that there was a preview screening of the movie in Toronto, he snapped up some tickets before it quickly sold out.
We had to sit through some nerd singing, and see some really awful costumed people (although some over-zealous fan brought in these really neat cartoon cardboard cut-outs. Even though I don’t respect the concept of obsessive fandom, I appreciated the artistry).
First of all, I have to admit that the version we saw (we were told) was unfinished. Apparently it was missing some special effects shots, some music, those last few finalizing elements.
Frankly though, I didn’t notice anything being where it shouldn’t. It seemed pretty much complete to me. A bit of CGI here and there, matched up with a banjo solo could not have saved this movie.
It wasn’t awful. But it wasn’t great either. It was basically just an extended season finale of the show. It looked like it, felt like it, and was written like it. Which was mucho disappointing for me. I was expecting big things out of this, Joss Whedon’s first true major motion picture foray. Big things I did not get.
Actually, small things I did not get either (which I frankly, would have settled for, especially in the context of Mr. Whedon).
What I did get was too many underdeveloped characters and an overabundance of cliched action sequences. I have a feeling that the average moviegoer, not being familiar with the TV series will not be able to appreciate this. There are too many holes and unexplained relationships.
The sad thing is, character building and witty action sequences are what Mr Whedon are known for.
It kinda proves something I’ve had a sneaking suspicion about for a while now, That Joss Whedon is not meant to direct, write, or produce films because he just isn’t good at it.
He’s a better TV producer than anything else, and that’s why he’ hasn’t had any success up on the big screen.
He relishes the time to create overarching stories and fully develop characters into members of your household, like he did on Buffy.
Serenity not being very good doesn’t prove that he’s a bad man, it just proves that he should be given another chance.
But back on the small screen this time.
Of course, it could have just been that I was seeing the unfinished cut, and the final version will blow me away. But it’d be pretty hard to completely change the entire plot structure in between now and the release date in September.
Although stranger things have happened.