owlmoose | serenity, c.s. lewis, and other coming attractions

There's a lot that I could say about "Serenity" but

peachespig already said most of it and better than I could have, so I point you to his thoughts instead. Note: major, big bad serious spoilers behind that link. Follow at your own risk. The short story is that I liked it a lot, I think it more than did the series justice, and I recommend it if you have any interest in sci-fi films whether you watched the series or not.

One of the trailers on the movie was for the upcoming live-action The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. I am concerned. Between the battle scenes and the treks across snow-covered mountains, it looked far too much like it's trying very hard to be "The Lord of the Rings". Narnia is certainly epic fantasy, but it's a different kind of epic fantasy than Tolkein. Also, in the trailer anyway, the scene where Lucy finds the wardrobe is all wrong -- she opens it slowly and gravely, and magical white light pours out of it. The whole point is that it's just a wardrobe to all appearances, that she goes in there thinking nothing of it and then eventually finds herself in another world. I really hope that was a scene made just for the trailer. If not, then I fear that the whole attitude of the movie is going to feel wrong to me.

There were some good things about it. Most importantly, at first glance, the cast seems good. The kids look perfect (assuming they can act -- I do hope they found a kid with the chops to play Edmund properly), and Tilda Swinton as the White Witch is quite possibly the most inspired casting in any movie ever. But I'm still worried. I have been waiting much of my life for this movie and I will be disappointed if it doesn't measure up.

We also saw a coming attractions bit about the new Wallace and Gromit. Now that looks fun, even if it is just a rehash of Bunnicula. That comes out next Friday. It's going to be a busy movie season.