Well, yes. But, given the story and the structure, I'm really not sure he could have got much more screen time without it seeming unecessary. Since the film more or less had the pace spot on, I'm not sure you can complain about Book from any position other than the fan's. (Cue the exchange we had last night.)
And can I just say that seeing Mal as (reputedly) originally intended was a pleasure?
True up to a point. And Ron Glass' schedule got in the way a bit as well. And Whedon still wouldn't tell us what the story with Book was, on the grounds that he was saving things for the sequel, so I suspect there might be flashbacks.
But yes, as I said last night--if you're a fan, he got screwed, if you're a non-fan, he's just a wise old black man who gets killed. I'm not sure which sucks more, but either way it is a problem.
As I said to you last night via text, this film is essentially a hip b-movie. Book is one of the slighter cliches. Elsewhere, we have totalitarian governments, secret science projects that go wrong, a big chasm over which our hero must climb to get to the mcguffin, a preternatural bounty hunter ... etc. etc. The old black guy dying is small potatoes in comparison.
What lifts the film above the vacuous and empty blockbuster are the performances the character work. And Book comes across in this film - Glass has charisma and a brilliant way at dying, and we are sold that Mal respects, trusts and loves him (Book is the first character Mal opens up to in the film). I'd ask what other role Book could have had in this film.
Q: Will we ever find out what the deal was with Book now?
They did a bit of a cheat, didn't they? I think "in space" was silent, but "in the atmosphere even a little bit" had sound. I'm sure I noticed it in one scene when they were leaving... somewhere, a scene on the bridge, the light from the window faded, and the engine sounds faded out too.
And can I just say that seeing Mal as (reputedly) originally intended was a pleasure?
Hell yes. IIRC, the first "nice Mal" was got in the series was in The Train Job; which was written to please the network, not anyone else. I think Mal would have been much darker throughout the series if they hadn't had to write that episode when and how they did. Seeing his character being so conflicted and mood-swingy and dark was great.
Absolutely - he was definitely fluffed up, and that seems a shame. I like that they covered this discrepancy with Inara's "many versions" line, and there are flashes of his nastiness throughout the show. But I just watched War Stories, and the Mal who is amusing and jokey about Wash and Zoe arguing is not the same Mal who tells everyone to get to work or fuck off in Serenity.
And can I just say that seeing Mal as (reputedly) originally intended was a pleasure?
Thinking on this, I reckon one of the things I liked about Firefly was that Mal didn't whine and sulk his way across space. I rather think that had he been that darker individual hinted at in the film (and his darkest moments are, let's be fair, under extreme pressure), it would have been a bit too much 'Angel-in-space'.
Hm. I'm not buying this backlash against Mal at all. This isn't a character that's whining and sulking (as can be argued for Angel). It's a character that has a lighter side (which he tries out in the series) he thinks of as a weakness (and thus retracts when Book and Inara leave). Given how much he's lost in his life, it's hardly immaturity to try and hold together what he has, even if his method isn't perfect.
We should have guessed this would happen using the following logic: Joss is a fucker. Who is the most lovable character? Who will therefore die? Joss is a fucker. Brilliantly done (Fillion was saying his favourite thing to do at screenings is watch people chuckle at Wash's leaf line before immediately segueing into horror and shocked stillness), but what a fucker.
Wash did, indeed, get screwed. And in a nasty, over-too-quickly, no time for grieving way. Great way to kill him off, but I'll miss him, he was probably my favourite character, and woefully underused except in War Stories.
I have only one change I'd make to the film, but I'll post that on my own journal tonight.
Fillion told us that Joss has said he finds it hard to imagine another film without Wash or Book. The panted one added that Joss is "a clever bastard", so we shouldn't discount the possibility.
"Hey, how come my script ends at page 130?" "You land the ship, the film ends. That's it." "But everyone else's script is longer." "That's because you're better than them. They need more help to get their lines right."
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Date: 2005-08-25 10:04 am (UTC)Well, yes. But, given the story and the structure, I'm really not sure he could have got much more screen time without it seeming unecessary. Since the film more or less had the pace spot on, I'm not sure you can complain about Book from any position other than the fan's. (Cue the exchange we had last night.)
And can I just say that seeing Mal as (reputedly) originally intended was a pleasure?
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Date: 2005-08-25 10:14 am (UTC)In a towel with bedhair?
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Date: 2005-08-25 10:14 am (UTC)His hair was longer than in the show. OMGTHEYISCHANGINGOURSHOWFORTHEMASSIESS!!!1!
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Date: 2005-08-25 09:14 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-08-25 10:30 am (UTC)But yes, as I said last night--if you're a fan, he got screwed, if you're a non-fan, he's just a wise old black man who gets killed. I'm not sure which sucks more, but either way it is a problem.
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Date: 2005-08-25 10:37 am (UTC)What lifts the film above the vacuous and empty blockbuster are the performances the character work. And Book comes across in this film - Glass has charisma and a brilliant way at dying, and we are sold that Mal respects, trusts and loves him (Book is the first character Mal opens up to in the film). I'd ask what other role Book could have had in this film.
Q: Will we ever find out what the deal was with Book now?
Fillion: ... No. Next question.
He's such a tease, that Nate.
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Date: 2005-08-25 01:09 pm (UTC)You know, that was one of the first thoughts I had about the film... after omgthey'reinspacebutyoucanstillhearthesplosions that is.
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Date: 2005-08-25 01:14 pm (UTC)And I just want to see the film again, now.
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Date: 2005-08-26 04:24 pm (UTC)They did a bit of a cheat, didn't they? I think "in space" was silent, but "in the atmosphere even a little bit" had sound. I'm sure I noticed it in one scene when they were leaving... somewhere, a scene on the bridge, the light from the window faded, and the engine sounds faded out too.
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Date: 2005-08-25 09:20 pm (UTC)Hell yes. IIRC, the first "nice Mal" was got in the series was in The Train Job; which was written to please the network, not anyone else. I think Mal would have been much darker throughout the series if they hadn't had to write that episode when and how they did. Seeing his character being so conflicted and mood-swingy and dark was great.
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Date: 2005-08-25 09:24 pm (UTC)(no subject)
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From:A belated comment, but I've only just seen Serenity
Date: 2005-10-24 10:26 am (UTC)Thinking on this, I reckon one of the things I liked about Firefly was that Mal didn't whine and sulk his way across space. I rather think that had he been that darker individual hinted at in the film (and his darkest moments are, let's be fair, under extreme pressure), it would have been a bit too much 'Angel-in-space'.
Re: A belated comment, but I've only just seen Serenity
Date: 2005-10-24 10:36 am (UTC)Re: A belated comment, but I've only just seen Serenity
From:Re: A belated comment, but I've only just seen Serenity
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Date: 2005-08-25 10:14 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-08-25 10:15 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-08-25 10:16 am (UTC)I mean I thought it was upsetting enough watching Serenity get smashed up like that..
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Date: 2005-08-25 10:19 am (UTC)(no subject)
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Date: 2005-08-25 10:21 am (UTC)That was beautiful. Waah.
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Date: 2005-08-25 10:19 am (UTC)(no subject)
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Date: 2005-08-25 10:26 am (UTC)I have only one change I'd make to the film, but I'll post that on my own journal tonight.
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Date: 2005-08-25 10:28 am (UTC)Fillion told us that Joss has said he finds it hard to imagine another film without Wash or Book. The panted one added that Joss is "a clever bastard", so we shouldn't discount the possibility.
Hmm.
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Date: 2005-08-25 10:27 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-08-25 10:29 am (UTC)(no subject)
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Date: 2005-08-25 10:38 am (UTC)"Hey, how come my script ends at page 130?"
"You land the ship, the film ends. That's it."
"But everyone else's script is longer."
"That's because you're better than them. They need more help to get their lines right."
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Date: 2005-08-31 08:37 pm (UTC)