Comments on: Dollhouse: Not great. http://www.scary-crayon.com/blog/03-03-2009/dhousehk1212/ It's Scary-Crayon's blog, baby. Tue, 27 Jul 2010 05:12:35 -0400 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=2927 By: Monty Python http://www.scary-crayon.com/blog/03-03-2009/dhousehk1212/#comment-52592 Monty Python Sun, 05 Apr 2009 08:28:52 +0000 http://www.scary-crayon.com/?p=1229#comment-52592 I've never liked a Joss Whedon anything. I've never liked a Joss Whedon anything.

]]> By: Greg http://www.scary-crayon.com/blog/03-03-2009/dhousehk1212/#comment-50726 Greg Wed, 04 Mar 2009 15:53:34 +0000 http://www.scary-crayon.com/?p=1229#comment-50726 I didn't even think "Firefly" was that amazing. It was OK, it pulled off western-in-space fairly well without being "Cowboy Bebop," but the acting was a mixed bag (Alan Tudyk, Ron Glass = HURRAY! Nathan Fillion, Gina Torres= MEH! Morena Baccarin = BOO!), I didn't feel it developed the character and world history enough (some blame FOX for canceling it too early, but they could have easily have cut out some of the more stupid episodes, like the one where they try to save the planet of prostitutes, and replaced them with more character driven episodes), and that theme song got so fucking annoying after a while. I still have the biggest crush on Jewel Staite though. Have had it since she was on Space Cases way back in 96. I didn't even think "Firefly" was that amazing. It was OK, it pulled off western-in-space fairly well without being "Cowboy Bebop," but the acting was a mixed bag (Alan Tudyk, Ron Glass = HURRAY! Nathan Fillion, Gina Torres= MEH! Morena Baccarin = BOO!), I didn't feel it developed the character and world history enough (some blame FOX for canceling it too early, but they could have easily have cut out some of the more stupid episodes, like the one where they try to save the planet of prostitutes, and replaced them with more character driven episodes), and that theme song got so fucking annoying after a while.

I still have the biggest crush on Jewel Staite though. Have had it since she was on Space Cases way back in 96.

]]> By: Wes http://www.scary-crayon.com/blog/03-03-2009/dhousehk1212/#comment-50722 Wes Wed, 04 Mar 2009 14:54:43 +0000 http://www.scary-crayon.com/?p=1229#comment-50722 TresobYr: Yeah, I was under the impression that <i>Serenity</i> was the film version of "Firefly" as well! It wasn't until I read the Wiki while writing that article that I heard that it was supposed to be a continuation. The original draft of the article had a tangential mention of book/film adaptations and how having read the book doesn't enrich a film version -- it just means that the book is better -- but I figured it wasn't relevant if the film was meant to be a continuation. I'm not even sure that it really was meant to be a continuation given some of the apparent overlap between events, so I'm inclined to believe that that's just another Whedonite excuse for the film's shortcomings. ;) Reading about the awards that <i>Serenity</i> received in the Wiki also made me kinda angry all over again. I admit that I probably would've liked the movie better if I hadn't heard the hype from people on Buffy forums and elsewhere on the 'net -- they really played the film up as if it were the best. movie. ever. And it wasn't. I positively loathe films that somehow manipulate the masses into believing that they are significantly better than they really are. (Same with <i>The Dark Knight</i> -- I hate that flick more on principle than for any genuine badness it actually contained.) But honestly, if we're counting the entire Transformers movie, I think that's kinda bad too. The first half is pretty amazing, but then there are Junkions and Weird Al songs and the annoyance that is Wheelie and the movie kinda grates on the nerves. I watched it as an adult, though, so I have no idea how a kid might respond to it. :) That said, even I got teary eyed when Optimus passed on. Tetsu: I sort of get why Whedon has a legion of devoted fans -- during certain seasons, "Buffy" and "Angel" were <i>really</i> good. That said, I tend to think that he gets too much credit for how good they really were. Many of the episodes that he wrote were great, but many were also blah and some were downright awful. And given that he tended to write the season finales, you have to wonder whether they were great because of Whedon's writing or because they were the exciting conclusions of engaging season arcs. The actors also deserve quite a bit of credit for how good those shows were -- in fact, I tend to think that even "Dollhouse" would be better with Sarah Michelle Gellar in the role of Echo. Not that SMG is the best actress ever, but she's got at least eight notes to Eliza Dushku's one. Anyway, what I <i>don't</i> understand is the nature of that kind of slavish devotion in general. I mean, there are a handful of artists -- musicians, actors, writers, etc. -- that have produced works that I <i>really</i> like, but I've never gotten to the point at which I worship the artists themselves or refuse to admit the shortcomings of their other works. I'd say Richard Linklater is probably my favorite director (at least judging by the number of his movies that I'd include among my favorites), but I thought <i>A Scanner Darkly</i> sucked bigtime. Also, kudos are completely unnecessary -- I <i>love</i> pissing off fanboys. :mrgreen: TresobYr: Yeah, I was under the impression that Serenity was the film version of "Firefly" as well! It wasn't until I read the Wiki while writing that article that I heard that it was supposed to be a continuation. The original draft of the article had a tangential mention of book/film adaptations and how having read the book doesn't enrich a film version -- it just means that the book is better -- but I figured it wasn't relevant if the film was meant to be a continuation. I'm not even sure that it really was meant to be a continuation given some of the apparent overlap between events, so I'm inclined to believe that that's just another Whedonite excuse for the film's shortcomings. ;)

Reading about the awards that Serenity received in the Wiki also made me kinda angry all over again. I admit that I probably would've liked the movie better if I hadn't heard the hype from people on Buffy forums and elsewhere on the 'net -- they really played the film up as if it were the best. movie. ever. And it wasn't. I positively loathe films that somehow manipulate the masses into believing that they are significantly better than they really are. (Same with The Dark Knight -- I hate that flick more on principle than for any genuine badness it actually contained.)

But honestly, if we're counting the entire Transformers movie, I think that's kinda bad too. The first half is pretty amazing, but then there are Junkions and Weird Al songs and the annoyance that is Wheelie and the movie kinda grates on the nerves. I watched it as an adult, though, so I have no idea how a kid might respond to it. :) That said, even I got teary eyed when Optimus passed on.

Tetsu: I sort of get why Whedon has a legion of devoted fans -- during certain seasons, "Buffy" and "Angel" were really good. That said, I tend to think that he gets too much credit for how good they really were. Many of the episodes that he wrote were great, but many were also blah and some were downright awful. And given that he tended to write the season finales, you have to wonder whether they were great because of Whedon's writing or because they were the exciting conclusions of engaging season arcs. The actors also deserve quite a bit of credit for how good those shows were -- in fact, I tend to think that even "Dollhouse" would be better with Sarah Michelle Gellar in the role of Echo. Not that SMG is the best actress ever, but she's got at least eight notes to Eliza Dushku's one.

Anyway, what I don't understand is the nature of that kind of slavish devotion in general. I mean, there are a handful of artists -- musicians, actors, writers, etc. -- that have produced works that I really like, but I've never gotten to the point at which I worship the artists themselves or refuse to admit the shortcomings of their other works. I'd say Richard Linklater is probably my favorite director (at least judging by the number of his movies that I'd include among my favorites), but I thought A Scanner Darkly sucked bigtime.

Also, kudos are completely unnecessary -- I love pissing off fanboys. :mrgreen:

]]> By: Tetsu Deinonychus http://www.scary-crayon.com/blog/03-03-2009/dhousehk1212/#comment-50714 Tetsu Deinonychus Wed, 04 Mar 2009 05:03:28 +0000 http://www.scary-crayon.com/?p=1229#comment-50714 Wow that might be the most topic-jumping post I've ever typed. Wow that might be the most topic-jumping post I've ever typed.

]]> By: Tetsu Deinonychus http://www.scary-crayon.com/blog/03-03-2009/dhousehk1212/#comment-50713 Tetsu Deinonychus Wed, 04 Mar 2009 05:01:25 +0000 http://www.scary-crayon.com/?p=1229#comment-50713 I love Penny Arcade! I don't have much idea who Joss Whedon is, but from what few works of his I saw I'd say he's a <b>good</b> writer. That's "good" <b><i>not</i></b> "great". I really don't understand why this guy has a legion of devoted fans. Good for you, not being afraid to piss them off. Now, Peter Chung on the other hand, <b>there's</b> a guy worth building a shrine to. Anyway, the concept of this show does sound kinda interesting. But, I think I liked it better as Cammy, Juli, and Juni's backstory from the Street Fighter games (BTW SF4 looks awesome, and I'm planning to grab it for PC soon). Also dug, the new Haiku. Ken, if you're reading this, nice pic! :) I love Penny Arcade!

I don't have much idea who Joss Whedon is, but from what few works of his I saw I'd say he's a good writer. That's "good" not "great".

I really don't understand why this guy has a legion of devoted fans. Good for you, not being afraid to piss them off.

Now, Peter Chung on the other hand, there's a guy worth building a shrine to.

Anyway, the concept of this show does sound kinda interesting. But, I think I liked it better as Cammy, Juli, and Juni's backstory from the Street Fighter games (BTW SF4 looks awesome, and I'm planning to grab it for PC soon).

Also dug, the new Haiku.

Ken, if you're reading this, nice pic! :)

]]> By: TresobYr http://www.scary-crayon.com/blog/03-03-2009/dhousehk1212/#comment-50706 TresobYr Wed, 04 Mar 2009 02:38:51 +0000 http://www.scary-crayon.com/?p=1229#comment-50706 It's a shame you didn't get the full experience of Serenity. I missed the movie when it was in the theaters, and didn't realize it was part of Firefly until after I was given the series as a Christmas present. I can honestly say that watching Serenity just after finishing Firefly was the closest thing I have ever experienced to watching the original Transformers Movie for the first time as a kid. It was the closest...but it wasn't quite the same. In the end, Serenity was a very flawed Hollywoodized version of Firefly, whereas the Transformers Movie was actually an improvement on the kid's show. It's a shame you didn't get the full experience of Serenity.
I missed the movie when it was in the theaters, and didn't realize it was part of Firefly until after I was given the series as a Christmas present.
I can honestly say that watching Serenity just after finishing Firefly was the closest thing I have ever experienced to watching the original Transformers Movie for the first time as a kid.
It was the closest...but it wasn't quite the same. In the end, Serenity was a very flawed Hollywoodized version of Firefly, whereas the Transformers Movie was actually an improvement on the kid's show.

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