"Serenity" is coming...Elite on the big screen...
Hooplah
"Serenity", the theatrical movie release to the "Firefly"
TV series is coming soon. Josh Whedon, the producer and
director, is already being interviewed on the USA networks
per the upcoming movie release, scheduled per September 2005.
If you don't know what "Firefly" is, then get down to your
local Wal-Mart in the USA, and buy the entire series for
~$40.00 USD. I suspect it will be similar priced in the U.K.
If you want to see the a movie that depicts the closest
Hollywood has come to Elite, then this is it!
No, "Firefly" is not Elite. It takes off on many directions
that Elite never developed. But it has similarities...
Here we have a Captain of a ship trying to make a living in
space lanes. Buy low at one planet, sell high at the next. He
is always having to deal with the politics of a given system,
as per the "Alliance" in the inner worlds. So he often deals
in the outlying worlds where the "Alliance" is not so
prevalent. A.K.A., a Federation ship traveling to an Imperial
world in Elite.
As for what really impressed me as a TV series, Josh was
true to the realities of space. E.G., there is no sound in
space! So you won't hear engine or laser fire sounds when the
scenes cut to the space action.
Josh Whedon created one of the best Si-Fi TV classics of
all time, but Fox really dropped the ball in putting it on the
air. So Josh went to a theatrical movie release. If it does
well, as I expect it will, then several networks will be
offering a continued TV series.
Knowing Josh, I suspect he'll disregard the networks and
go for a movie sequel. Let's see...networks with a few million
dollars to advance per their strict on-air requirements, or a
movie sequal with whatever he wants to do with a possible
500 million revenue at the box office. You do the math...
So check out "Firefly" and the upcoming movie "Serenity"...
They are both worth your attention, as it is as close as
Hollywood has come to the Elite experience.
Regards,
George
The Frontier First Encounters Art Page
http://www.hooplah.com/encounters/index.htm
shard
I still don't know why this series was pulled? I mean it was good fun to
watch, had an ongoing background story arc of sorts, and looked good to.
Although the whole wild west feel may have put off viewers from
countries other than the usa, I as an englishman thought it added some
sense of a real down and dirty frontier. Like when roddenberry said star
trek was kind of wagon train to the stars, I think 'serenity' is what i
imagine the future 'could' be. It looks good at the moment from all the
trailers etc i have seen, and the humour seems just right.
Electric Frog
"Hooplah" <gho...@hooplah.com> wrote in message
news:1123555792.11de406d59c094f0d8a8869097022756@teranews...
> Greetings,
>
> "Serenity", the theatrical movie release to the "Firefly"
> TV series is coming soon. Josh Whedon, the producer and
> director, is already being interviewed on the USA networks
> per the upcoming movie release, scheduled per September 2005.
>
> If you don't know what "Firefly" is, then get down to your
> local Wal-Mart in the USA, and buy the entire series for
> ~$40.00 USD. I suspect it will be similar priced in the U.K.
>
> If you want to see the a movie that depicts the closest
> Hollywood has come to Elite, then this is it!
>
Hmmm there's a lot of people getting excited over Firefly without seeing it,
maybe it just doesn't have enough story for one and a half hours, after all
he hasn't covered himself with glory in the cinema
bu...@heck.huh
> Hooplah wrote:
>
> I still don't know why this series was pulled?
If you get the dvd set there should be an interview with Josh Whedon
that explains it. My understanding is that Firefly had less market share
in the 18-24 male demographic than Fox wanted. The fact that it had
broad appeal across all demographics and exceeded projected viewership
by an order of magnitude or so just makes me belive that Fox management
is a bunch of lobotomized sea cucumbers.
Whedon may go with a sequel to bump his budget up but I do belive he
said that he wanted to make a TV show in order to more deeply explore
some of the subplots. There's just too much potental to be fully
realized in a couple of movies, and he knows it.
Very good news.
--
Friends may come and go, but enemies accumulate.
JamesF
ago?
JamesF
Ceowulf
news:3lt6obF...@individual.net...
>
>
> Hmmm there's a lot of people getting excited over Firefly without seeing
> it,
> maybe it just doesn't have enough story for one and a half hours, after
> all
> he hasn't covered himself with glory in the cinema
No, its exceptional, best Space Sci-Fi I've seen so far. And the characters
are great fun, make you chuckle when you least expect it and are in their
own way so alive that you just want to keep on watching.
Ceo-
Iain
It's pretty good and the characters are pretty interesting but it
doesn't have the same depth as Babylon 5 although the GGI has got a
touch better! Not sure it's as good as the new BSG either for sheer
edginess. It's on our list of series to collect though once we're
up-to-date with SG-1 and have checked out Farscape.
Simon Challands
>> If you don't know what "Firefly" is, then get down to your
>> local Wal-Mart in the USA, and buy the entire series for
>> ~$40.00 USD. I suspect it will be similar priced in the U.K.
Hah, not bloody likely. I wouldn't be surprised if it's £40 or more.
--
Simon Challands
Angus Manwaring
Based on the series, which I have seen, "enough story" is not going to be
a problem.
All the best,
Angus Manwaring. (for e-mail remove ANTISPEM)
I need your memories for the Amiga Games Database: A collection of Amiga
Game reviews by Amiga players http://www.angusm.demon.co.uk/AGDB/AGDB.html
Hooplah
From the posts I've see so far on this thread, there
are many who don't "get it" per Firefly. Probably my
fault as I didn't mention what was so special in this
series in my previous post.
Josh Whedon, the writer, producer, and director takes
you on many twists in the plot that you don't normally
see on a TV episode. For example, the bad guy is holding
a gun at the head of the damsel in distress. Normally in
a TV episode there would be lots of dialogue filling up
three minutes before a commercial break. In Josh's
version the good guy enters the scene, and blows away
the bad guy with one shot. No dialogue, no cut to a
commercial, etc.
There are also many more unexpected results such as
this in the Firefly series. I won't spoil it for you...
Writing is everything...and Josh does it well.
Regards,
George
Ceowulf
news:1123675370....@g49g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
>
> Ceowulf wrote:
>> No, its exceptional, best Space Sci-Fi I've seen so far. And the
>> characters
>> are great fun, make you chuckle when you least expect it and are in their
>> own way so alive that you just want to keep on watching.
>>
>> Ceo-
>
> It's pretty good and the characters are pretty interesting but it
> doesn't have the same depth as Babylon 5 although the GGI has got a
> touch better! Not sure it's as good as the new BSG either for sheer
> edginess. It's on our list of series to collect though once we're
> up-to-date with SG-1 and have checked out Farscape.
Wooo actually you are right, I forgot about Bab 5 (Season 5 for me) was
right up there on the "I'm the best" list.
SG-1 Atlantis has proven to be great and I cant wait for next season, though
SG-1 got pretty old near the end.
Farscape is great too, much better than Andromeda... Farscape was one of
those I had to watch to the end.
Damn you Iain, now I have no favorite! ;)
Ceo-
Ceowulf
news:17b45798...@helvellyn.plus.com...
Yea, $69.95 here in Aus.
Iain
Ceowulf wrote:
> "Iain" <iaint-...@usa.net> wrote in message
> news:1123675370....@g49g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
> >
>
>
> Ceo-
HtH :)
Jan Knutar
> though SG-1 got pretty old near the end.
"got"? Dude, they're making even more of them.
> Farscape was one of
> those I had to watch to the end.
Be sure to watch the sequel miniseries "Peacekeeper wars" too :-)
Ceowulf
news:t2ivs2-...@breadbin.mine.nu...
> Ceowulf wrote:
>
>> though SG-1 got pretty old near the end.
>
> "got"? Dude, they're making even more of them.
That I did not know, talk about flogging a dead horse. :/
>> Farscape was one of
>> those I had to watch to the end.
>
> Be sure to watch the sequel miniseries "Peacekeeper wars" too :-)
Will look em up, cheers.
Ceo-
Martin Schiffer
>>
>>"got"? Dude, they're making even more of them.
>
>
> That I did not know, talk about flogging a dead horse. :/
And the lead actors of Farscape are together in the
first five eps of Season 9, Mr. Ben "Woerrmholss" Browder
(as Lt. Col. Cameron Mitchell) will be acting along 'til
the bitter end of the Season, while
Mrs. Claudia "Love him or kill him" Black (as Vala Mal Doran)
might be back for a recurring appearance on the sinking ship.
Farscape is the best.
If you like Muppets in Space on Acid, that is.
Cmdr. Andi Relok
aaa
the tv series, sorry).
But... noone has noticed a certain similarity to a tv series called...
cowboy bebop?
Iain
Ceowulf wrote:
> Farscape is great too, much better than Andromeda... Farscape was one of
> those I had to watch to the end.
Just got teh season 1 box-set and watched eps 1 & 2 last night.
Su-bloody-perb.
might be as good as B5 once it settles down a bit.
Ceowulf
news:CvnMe.57424$2U1.3...@news3.tin.it...
>I was inspired, truly, watching the trailer online (i don't know about the
>tv series, sorry).
> But... noone has noticed a certain similarity to a tv series called...
> cowboy bebop?
Hrmmm yes absolutely now that you've drawn the connection for me :)
Ceo-
Kegs
Bah, get the new Battlestar Galactica series on DVD instead, it is
chuffing great, far far better than the original, unless you prefer high
camp space opera to something grittier and more equivocal.
As a bonus, it is even available for the bargain price of £35, from
Tesco's, rather than the standard £50 everywhere else.
Doesn't include the pilot though, but that is only a tenner.
--
James jamesk[at]homeric[dot]co[dot]uk
Imagine, if you will, someone typing on a keyboard whilst sipping and...
clearing the sinuses. -Torak on AFP
Ceowulf
news:87iry4g...@athena.homeric.co.uk...
> Bah, get the new Battlestar Galactica series on DVD instead, it is
> chuffing great, far far better than the original, unless you prefer high
> camp space opera to something grittier and more equivocal.
I couldn't watch it all! Couldn't do it, I was so pissed of at the Cylons
and just wanted them all to die (the infiltrator models) that I just had to
stop watching.
Really I guess that is testament to how good it is, but I still cant do it
:p
Ceo-
Iain
Ceowulf wrote:
>
> I couldn't watch it all! Couldn't do it, I was so pissed of at the Cylons
> and just wanted them all to die (the infiltrator models) that I just had to
> stop watching.
>
> Really I guess that is testament to how good it is, but I still cant do it
> :p
>
> Ceo-
Definately shows how well done it was - not many shows give away the
big secret so early on and use it so well. Felt quite sorry for some
of them towards the end.
Ceowulf
> Definately shows how well done it was - not many shows give away the
> big secret so early on and use it so well. Felt quite sorry for some
> of them towards the end.
Hrmmm, good to know. Might be enough to make me dust of the covers and give
it another go.
Ceo-
Hooplah
Kegs writes;
> Bah, get the new Battlestar Galactica series on DVD instead, <
> it is chuffing great... <
Battlestar Galactica appeared in the 70's when the first big
screen TVs appeared on the market. These were mostly front
projection TVs (rear projection came a few years later). So
every place that was selling big screen TVs added in a high-end
sound system, and was playing Battlestar Galactica. It was an
amazing audio/video experience at the time, and probably sold a
ot of TVs!
But Battlestar Galactica was a generic Universal Hollywood
release with little character development and depth. The writers
even had to go to the planet Earth in the third season just to
keep a decent share on the network ratings.
So while the plots and characters were soft bubble gum, the
graphics were state-of-the-art at the time. Once the viewers
became accustomed to the graphics, they left in droves per the
lack of good story lines.
Thirty years later, Josh Whedon started with excellent
writing, then added the visuals. He even used what is considered
as taboo in Hollywood per zooms, out-of-focus shots, and pans
that no one is using today. The result is a series that adds
more realism to space than what you see on TV or theaters.
Character development is everything. Develop a character
that the audience can totally relate to, and you have a winner.
Given what is on the big screen at the local theaters, I truly
believe you will experience a "Significant Emotional Event" when
you see the "Serenity" movie.
An "SEE" is when what you see on the screen has an immediate
emotional impact on you. I had this experience per the first
StarWars release in 1977. After seeing this movie, I wanted to
go to the parking lot, engage the hyperdrive, and "fly" home
instead of waiting in line in a primitive automobile. Next up
was "Close Encounters of the Third Kind". I was looking up at
the heavens for a month afterwards!
So I hope "Serenity" the same impact. Given Josh Whedon's
dedication to the story, and his unrelenting desire to get it
right the first time, I suspect this will be a great movie.
Forget Spielberg's latest "War of the Worlds". It was a total
acceptance as to what Hollywood thinks we want to see. Let's
see if Josh can do better...
Hooplah
In case you haven't guessed, I'm a "Firefly" fan.
But don't take my word for it...check out:
alt.tv.firefly
I'm mild compared to these fans!
Kegs
> Greetings,
>
> In case you haven't guessed, I'm a "Firefly" fan.
No shit ;)
> But don't take my word for it...check out:
I wasn't talking about the old battlestar gallactica, which
is more than a little camp and silly, but the new one, which
has just started its second series in the states, which is a
completely different kettle of fish, being far darker than the
original. It also has the added bonus of not being cowboys in
space like firefly is. ;)
--
James jamesk[at]homeric[dot]co[dot]uk
"All kings is mostly rapscallions."
-- Winston Churchill
Hooplah
> I wasn't talking about the old Battlestar Gallactica... <
Sorry about that. I figured that out AFTER I posted my previous
thread.
But I haven't been too impressed with the new series either. That
is not to say it is bad, it's probably great, certainly much better
than all the other crap on TV today. It's just to me the new series
seems to use the same old TV formulas for dragging out a script to
maximize audience viewing. Alas, given renewal for the next season,
these formulas are a necessary evil on the networks.
Even so, the writers did create some unique scripts, per showing
up front who are the bad guys/gals. Then we keep watching to see
when the "dark side" takes over! I wonder if they paid George Lucas
royalties for this idea...
Best Regards,
Crayfish
news:1123555792.11de406d59c094f0d8a8869097022756@teranews...
> Greetings,
>
> true to the realities of space. E.G., there is no sound in
> space! So you won't hear engine or laser fire sounds when the
> scenes cut to the space action.
I watched the first episode of the TV series last night and thought it was
okay, although not brilliant. Some budgetary limitations were noticeable
with the same area of desert seemingly used for every planet they visit and
the starport being constructed of 20th century cargo containers.
I have to respond to the point raised above about it reflecting the
realities of space. I found the part where the Serenity encountered the
Reaver ship jolted my sense of disbelief a bit. The navigator says there's
a ship in range, captain asks for a visual and is told that the ship is too
far away. So far so good. Then less than a minute later the captain
appears to look out of a window to identify the ship visually. Errr, ok.
Then the Reaver ship appears to pass within at most a thousand meters of the
Serenity and they are hoping it will ignore them and not change course. The
thing that gets me here is the space is huge (insert HHGTG commentary on
vastness of space), if the Reaver ship had not already changed course to
pass so close to the Serenity then how come it was so close?
I realise there was good screenplay reasons to build up the sense of drama,
but to say its realistic would be pushing it.
Cdr. Crayfish
Hooplah
> I found the part where the Serenity encountered the Reaver <
> ship jolted my sense of disbelief a bit. <
After reviewing the episode, I'd have to agree with you on
your points. It seems like the Script Supervisor (also known
as the Continuity Director) totally missed these points.
He/she was probably more concerned with lighting, costume, and
set decorations between shots, and missed the technical aspect
of the script. I wonder what their technical advisor was doing
at the time? Probably on break at the commissary!
> I realise there was good screenplay reasons to build up <
> the sense of drama, but to say its realistic would be <
> pushing it. <
The only true reality in space on TV is of course REAL
space video per NASA, etc. TV and movies will always use their
"artistic license", and what works best to get you and me to
watch it!...A sideline note. I stream NASA TV to my WiFi PDA.
Pretty darn cool! I must be a total Geek to get so excited
about it!
So Firefly and the upcoming movie Serenity won't be perfect
per reality. Heck, I watched all the TV episodes many times
and never once was there a mention or display of Newtonian
physics! But then again, Newtonian physics is pretty boring
to all but us Elite players! (grin)
What did impress me was that the series did add SOME
realistic items like no sound in space. I also liked the now
taboo-in-the-industry jerky, out of focus, zoom/pan effects
that you don't see in current movies. It added a "documentary"
effect which added to the realism.
So it's not perfect, but it is very entertaining. What is
perfect? When some Elite fan wins a huge lottery, then makes a
theatrical release of "The Dark Wheel". Of course, if he asks
for technical input from alt.fan.elite members, it could be
years of discussions as to how to do it right!
Best Regards,
George