Interesting...

[conuly]

Watching Objects in Space. The opening sequence tripped me up the first time, I thought all this was happening in real life, as it were, not in her head. But how much of it is real, and how much is in her head? I mean, of the stuff we know wasn't said out loud, we also know that River is a bit psychic. Was she picking up on actual thoughts, or subtext that had become ingrained in every day reality? Either way, Book's comment is phrased oddly - is he threatening Jayne in River's mind, or just saying things?

Better question: We see three couples in the opening sequence - and then Book and Jayne, who're having a conversation about sex. *gigglesnorts* Clearly, I've been reading too much slash, because, man, subtext much? (And don't give me that old trope about how subtext is an anagram, I know, I know.)

I'm watching the season backwards. Even if I don't get in to that screening, I still want to see the movie soon.

Which brings me to another point. In the official blurb (Joss Whedon, the Oscar® - and Emmy - nominated writer/director responsible for the worldwide television phenomena of BUFFY THE VAMPIRE, ANGEL and FIREFLY, now applies his trademark compassion and wit to a small band of galactic outcasts 500 years in the future in his feature film directorial debut, Serenity. The film centers around Captain Malcolm Reynolds, a hardened veteran (on the losing side) of a galactic civil war, who now ekes out a living pulling off small crimes and transport-for-hire aboard his ship, Serenity. He leads a small, eclectic crew who are the closest thing he has left to family –squabbling, insubordinate and undyingly loyal.) for the site, they call it a "film". Indeed, officially, movies are often called films. But in everyday speech, we say movies. Why?

The synopsis still sucks. I prefer Joss' synopsis (Joss' synopsis, how cool does that sound? Bet you can't say that three times fast!):

[I]f I was going to pitch "Serenity," I'd say it's a space adventure that involves the lowliest of people in the most mundane of circumstances getting caught up in something giant and epic -- without lasers, aliens, or force-fields to protect them.

It's great proof that one can't properly use the English subjunctive (that's if I were, Joss!) unless one grew up with a parent who would interrupt angry yelling to compliment you on the use of the subjunctive, or, alternatively, yell "If I were, it's the subjunctive, get it right!" at random (and not so random) moments during the day.

Plus, it sums up the story a lot better, and in less words, than the official version. And it's far more compelling, I think.

Edit: Returing to the episode, I forgot how much the bounty hunter character irritated me. Honestly, and I think I'm tangential.... I wonder if he's undergone the same "therapy" River did, but it took on him better or something. And there's no way to unlock your doors from the inside? Well, that's a stupid design for a smuggler's ship.

Comments

[l33tminion]

...and then Book and Jayne, who're having a conversation about sex. *gigglesnorts* Clearly, I've been reading too much slash...

Book and Jayne have an interesting relationship. Not of the slashy sort, though, I think (Book seems comfortable with his celibacy; Jayne is quite clearly straight). Still, they have a lot of that sort of frank conversation, and they have a lot more things in common than you would expect. (They both lift weights and they're both excellent shots, just to name two...)

[conuly]

Those rabbits at the monastery sure must've moved fast, huh?

Is Jayne clearly straight? He couldn't, say, be uber-straight due to his deep-seated fear of everybody knowing he's secretly gay? (That'd be a cliche, I know, I know, but lots of things are cliches)

Not that I want to see Jayne/Book anytime soon, I'm just thinking aloud. But not.

[l33tminion]

*shrugs* He could be secretly bi, I guess. But he does seem to love the women, and he's not just all talk and no action on that count.

(Some part of me says, "Jayne can't be gay. He's not sensitive enough to be gay." :-P)

[l33tminion]

"And there's no way to unlock your doors from the inside?"

Serenity doesn't have a brig. If you need to lock someone up, you lock them in their quarters. They do that to that Alliance officer in the pilot episode.

[conuly]

That does make sense. Still, you'd think there'd be *some* way out....

[l33tminion]

Mal probably could have done it, if he wasn't unconscious. Most of the characters in their rooms were either incapacitated or unaware of the situation.

[eofs.livejournal.com]

Don't have a clue about Firefly, having never watched it, so I'll comment on the one bit I can. Although I must admit I can't really tell if you're saying "why have they called it a film?" or "why do we say movie?"

Presumably it says film because a) that's the official term and b) that's the more international term - it translates directly in several European languages, and the UK doesn't use the term movie (I'm not sure about Oz.)

You chaps say movies because, well, it's slang. And people use slang. It used to be here that one said they were going to the flicks, but that's died out really now and we've reverted back to the more 'formal' "going to the cinema." And yes, they aren't direct translations, but you would never say "I'm going to the films" ;0)

[interactiveleaf.livejournal.com]

Either way, Book's comment is phrased oddly - is he threatening Jayne in River's mind, or just saying things?

Threatening Jayne?!? I may misremember the comment, but I thought he was thinking about River.

[conuly]

He said "I don't care if you're innocent, so where does that leave you". That sounds like a Jayne-directed comment to me.

[interactiveleaf.livejournal.com]

I think it was slightly more aggressive than that. I remember the line as "I don't give a hump if you're innocent, etc." But back to the point . . .

Why would *anyone* on that ship refer to Jayne as an innocent? Why, if Jayne and River and any third party were in a room, and the third party said/thought anything about an innocent, WHY would you assume he was talking about Jayne?

Also, Book turned to look at River when he said it.

[conuly]

Did he?

Like I said, the first time this aired, I was confused about what was going on. I still have no idea what, exactly, everybody is doing and where they're looking. I like it, but details aren't my forte.

[interactiveleaf.livejournal.com]

Yeah, he did. It's fresh in my mind because I just NetFlixed the whole series, and I've watched that scene more than once in the last week; I'm ordering the DVDs on Amazon this week.

[conuly]

Also, I didn't think he thought of Jayne as *an* innocent. That'd be absurd. But I thought he might be talking about innocent in one specific incident. As far as Jayne and Mal's behaviour indicates, only four people know what happened on Ariel. Do we know if the others even suspect?

[interactiveleaf.livejournal.com]

I don't think anyone else even suspects, no. Simon's behavior was too laudatory of Jayne to give them a suspicion.

And I'm pretty sure Book was thinking about River. The thought snippet had nothing to do with the conversation he and Jayne were having; the fact that it came just as River walked in the door, and Book glanced at her, gave me the impression that it an almost subconscious reaction to her.

I'm dying to find out if Book's story is covered in the movie. He's the most fascinating character in the series to me right now.

Go see the damned thing and report back, will ya? I have tickets for the premiere day in my state, but that's for almost a whole 'nother WEEK! AAARRGH!

[conuly]

I shall do my best!

[rachelkachel]

Plus, it sums up the story a lot better, and in less words, than the official version.

Fewer words. ;)

[conuly]

I knew that.

[rachelkachel]

You were just seeing if anyone was paying attention, right? ;)

[hopefulnebula]

What's been driving me nuts is how every bit of info about this is all about Joss. You can just tell they're milking that to death.

[conuly]

Yeah!

[hopefulnebula]

Also, now that you've got me rewatching the ep (damn you :P )...

given all the sound effects, the incongruity, and the fact that these people are "looking" at River as they speak, I'd say that Simon's "I'd be there right now," Jayne's "I got stupid, money was too good," Book's "I don't give half a hump if you are innocent or not... so where does that put you?", Inara's "I'm a big girl, just tell me," and Mal's "None of it means a damn thing" are all in River's mind. My guess is she's telepathically picking up on their thoughts, but not getting a complete view.

[l33tminion]

...and then Book and Jayne, who're having a conversation about sex. *gigglesnorts* Clearly, I've been reading too much slash...

Book and Jayne have an interesting relationship. Not of the slashy sort, though, I think (Book seems comfortable with his celibacy; Jayne is quite clearly straight). Still, they have a lot of that sort of frank conversation, and they have a lot more things in common than you would expect. (They both lift weights and they're both excellent shots, just to name two...)

[conuly]

Those rabbits at the monastery sure must've moved fast, huh?

Is Jayne clearly straight? He couldn't, say, be uber-straight due to his deep-seated fear of everybody knowing he's secretly gay? (That'd be a cliche, I know, I know, but lots of things are cliches)

Not that I want to see Jayne/Book anytime soon, I'm just thinking aloud. But not.

[l33tminion]

*shrugs* He could be secretly bi, I guess. But he does seem to love the women, and he's not just all talk and no action on that count.

(Some part of me says, "Jayne can't be gay. He's not sensitive enough to be gay." :-P)

[l33tminion]

"And there's no way to unlock your doors from the inside?"

Serenity doesn't have a brig. If you need to lock someone up, you lock them in their quarters. They do that to that Alliance officer in the pilot episode.

[conuly]

That does make sense. Still, you'd think there'd be *some* way out....

[l33tminion]

Mal probably could have done it, if he wasn't unconscious. Most of the characters in their rooms were either incapacitated or unaware of the situation.

[eofs.livejournal.com]

Don't have a clue about Firefly, having never watched it, so I'll comment on the one bit I can. Although I must admit I can't really tell if you're saying "why have they called it a film?" or "why do we say movie?"

Presumably it says film because a) that's the official term and b) that's the more international term - it translates directly in several European languages, and the UK doesn't use the term movie (I'm not sure about Oz.)

You chaps say movies because, well, it's slang. And people use slang. It used to be here that one said they were going to the flicks, but that's died out really now and we've reverted back to the more 'formal' "going to the cinema." And yes, they aren't direct translations, but you would never say "I'm going to the films" ;0)

[interactiveleaf.livejournal.com]

Either way, Book's comment is phrased oddly - is he threatening Jayne in River's mind, or just saying things?

Threatening Jayne?!? I may misremember the comment, but I thought he was thinking about River.

[conuly]

He said "I don't care if you're innocent, so where does that leave you". That sounds like a Jayne-directed comment to me.

[interactiveleaf.livejournal.com]

I think it was slightly more aggressive than that. I remember the line as "I don't give a hump if you're innocent, etc." But back to the point . . .

Why would *anyone* on that ship refer to Jayne as an innocent? Why, if Jayne and River and any third party were in a room, and the third party said/thought anything about an innocent, WHY would you assume he was talking about Jayne?

Also, Book turned to look at River when he said it.

[conuly]

Did he?

Like I said, the first time this aired, I was confused about what was going on. I still have no idea what, exactly, everybody is doing and where they're looking. I like it, but details aren't my forte.

[interactiveleaf.livejournal.com]

Yeah, he did. It's fresh in my mind because I just NetFlixed the whole series, and I've watched that scene more than once in the last week; I'm ordering the DVDs on Amazon this week.

[conuly]

Also, I didn't think he thought of Jayne as *an* innocent. That'd be absurd. But I thought he might be talking about innocent in one specific incident. As far as Jayne and Mal's behaviour indicates, only four people know what happened on Ariel. Do we know if the others even suspect?

[interactiveleaf.livejournal.com]

I don't think anyone else even suspects, no. Simon's behavior was too laudatory of Jayne to give them a suspicion.

And I'm pretty sure Book was thinking about River. The thought snippet had nothing to do with the conversation he and Jayne were having; the fact that it came just as River walked in the door, and Book glanced at her, gave me the impression that it an almost subconscious reaction to her.

I'm dying to find out if Book's story is covered in the movie. He's the most fascinating character in the series to me right now.

Go see the damned thing and report back, will ya? I have tickets for the premiere day in my state, but that's for almost a whole 'nother WEEK! AAARRGH!

[conuly]

I shall do my best!

[rachelkachel]

Plus, it sums up the story a lot better, and in less words, than the official version.

Fewer words. ;)

[conuly]

I knew that.

[rachelkachel]

You were just seeing if anyone was paying attention, right? ;)

[hopefulnebula]

What's been driving me nuts is how every bit of info about this is all about Joss. You can just tell they're milking that to death.

[conuly]

Yeah!

[hopefulnebula]

Also, now that you've got me rewatching the ep (damn you :P )...

given all the sound effects, the incongruity, and the fact that these people are "looking" at River as they speak, I'd say that Simon's "I'd be there right now," Jayne's "I got stupid, money was too good," Book's "I don't give half a hump if you are innocent or not... so where does that put you?", Inara's "I'm a big girl, just tell me," and Mal's "None of it means a damn thing" are all in River's mind. My guess is she's telepathically picking up on their thoughts, but not getting a complete view.