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[Press Release} 14th Annual Actorfest New York, an actor's tradeshow
ACTORFEST® New York sends our thoughts and prayers to the Americans in the Gulf Coast.
Back Stage®
Presents the 14th Annual
ACTORFEST® NEW YORK
October 29, 2005
9am - 5pm
New York Marriot Marquis
1535 Broadway
New York, NY (August 31, 2005) -...
Aspect Ratio: Full Screen Vs. Wide Screen
Movies on DVD and VHS are often available in two screen formats: full screen and wide screen. The full screen is where a movie is modified to fit a television screen. If you have watched a video release, you have probably seen the message: “This...
It's All Porn and Games 'Til Someone Gets Hurt
An 11 year old kid in Britain recently got caught selling adult DVDs on school grounds (at http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/south_west/4678869.stm). When I first read this, three thoughts immediately went through my mind, in quick...
More Music From Ray
Artist: Ray Charles
Title: More Music From Ray
Format: CD/DVD
Genre: Soul- Jazz.-Pop- R & B-Blues
Label: Rhino Records-http://www.rhino.com
Website: http://www.raycharles.com
I suppose that I am like many others, I have discovered the...
Strongly Recommend movie “I Am David” available on DVD
When the movie “I am David” became available on DVD in the fall of 2005, I did not rent it, because the movie reviewers gave it a rating of 2.5 stars or approximately a B-. They could not have been more wrong. “I am David” is one of the best...
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Firefly quenches sci-fi thirst
"Take my love, take my land,
Take me where I cannot stand.
I don't care, I'm still free.
You can't take the sky from me.
Take me out to the black,
Tell them I ain't comin' back.
Burn the land and boil the sea,
You can't take the sky from me.
There's no place I can be
Since I found Serenity,
But you can't take the sky from me..."
Those words, from the theme song of Firefly, perfectly capture the spirit of the television show, from the creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel, Joss Whedon. Captain Malcolm Reynolds and his daring crew aboard the spaceship Serenity forge their livings in a vast and lawless frontier, reminiscent of the Wild West. The show actually embraces the Wild West theme, featuring six-shooters, horses, cowboys, and twangy music. From a sci fi show, that might seem odd, but it makes sense. If you're struggling to survive in distant space, would you rather have expensive, state-of-the-art equipment that could break and then require scarce parts, or cheap and proven technology that's easily replaceable?
Even considering the logic of the Wild West theme, it would shift from novelty to annoyance quickly in a normal show. Thankfully, Firefly is not a normal show. I say, without exaggeration, it is one of the best science fiction programs of all-time.
As you might have inferred from the program's desperate Wild West theme, the crew of the Serenity aren't virtuous and heroic explorers spreading enlightened values, a la Star Trek. They're real people facing serious problems that don't always wrap up neatly with a bow on top by episode's end. As they smuggle, help, thieve, and sneak their way across the far reaches of an oppressive empire, each of the unique characters demonstrates the best and worst of humanity. We flawed yet decent humans can sympathize and emphasize with these characters: The irascibly ethical Captain Reynolds. The tough and sensitive Jayne. The perky, plump, sexy, and intelligent engineer, Kaylee. The super-talented but super-unstable River. The moral though practical preacher, Book. The scrupled whore, Inara. Etc.
In that regard, Firefly distinguishes itself from the modern Battlestar Galactica. Even
when things go to hell, and the baser instincts of people emerge, the courage, hope, and humor that are also hallmarks of our species burst into view. Light triumphs over dark, not always cleanly, but eventually. The same episodes that make us gasp and cry also make us smile and laugh. To some people, that might seem like a dichotomy that could only lead to disjointed installments. But Whedon makes the juxtaposition work.
Further adding to the appeal of Firefly is its defiance of genre. Certainly, as a show with a spaceship in the future as its primary setting, Firefly is a science fiction program. Yet weird aliens, peculiar anomalies, and complicated technobabble don't drive its plots. Anyone who likes drama, comedy, and action could enjoy Firefly.
Unfortunately, Firefly only ran half a season in Fall 2002 before Fox canceled it, after bungling it throughout its whole time on the air. For example, Fox aired the first episode, explaining the premise of the show, last! Luckily for us, we can still watch Firefly as its creators intended on DVD. It's 14 episodes of sci fi/action/drama/comedy goodness.
Additionally, Universal Pictures has picked up the Firefly ball from where Fox dropped it, and they're using it in a grander game than Fox ever considered. On September 30, the rough-and-tumble crew will fly across the silver screen in the motion picture Serenity. Now that Star Wars has become one with the Force, and Star Trek has stopped boldly going, the adventures of the Firefly-class Serenity can satisfy our craving for space adventure.
And then some!
About the Author
The author, Jason Vines, maintains Hypersyllogistic, a freewheeling personal website, at http://www.hypersyllogistic.com. Hypersyllogistic enshrines independent thought and respectful discussion.
This article is © Jason Vines. All usage of this article must include a citation to the author and a link to Hypersyllogistic.
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