Please God- I hope this never happens

[Justme]

That's what I was thinking today- the genius about Buffy is that it wasn't a solo supergirl saving the world. It was her & her misfit friends! The Core Four's friendships were such a huge part of the show, & without that, is it really Buffy? I guess they could dig up some other friends for her, but I rather think that they'll ignore that element for a sexier Buffy, great visual effects, and more violence.... Or they'll uber-camp it like the 1st movie.

OK stepping back in the thread uno momento. I don't know if I think this anymore but I used to think....

The friends thing in Buffy is all part of the feminist element. Things that are typically seen as "weak" feminine characteristics are all part of Buffys strength. The fact she is pretty and cares about appearance, she is soft hearted, she is emotionally dependant on people, she will act on her heart rather than her head etc. These are her strengths, they are what make her superior to the slayers who came before. The friendships and chemistry that developed within the show all come from this basic premise that you don't need to be masculine to be strong.

Of course this all got thrown out in series 7 when it turned out that the correct way to act was to ditch your friends, become emotionally detached and only trust the guy who isn't afraid to smack you around. /rant off (Sorry Spuffies please don't yell, I love Spike really).

 

[msfantastico87]

I keep trying to stay out of this thread, but Amber Benson just said something on twitter a few hours ago that finally put the finishing touches on why I love her:

Well, @Phoenix_Ranger, they asked me to play the penis montster from 'Double Meat Palace' in the reboot & I said that Tara doesn't do dick.

I will find out a way for her to sign our marriage papers 🙂

 

[zobothehobo]

Ok... so I came up with something... what if they re-named the character and called the movie "The Vampire Slayer"? I kind of think that would work.

 

[brinkster130]

This is the WB's attempt at making money off the latest teen vamp craze.

Honestly, Twilight's Eclipse made over 70m million the opening day in North American alone. The WB would be crazy not to attempt to cash is on this teen phenomena.

That being said, I personally don't support this movie without Joss, I think it is pathetic and petty that they are resorting to using un-original ideas in hopes to cash in and make a quick buck. Clearly Anderson and everyone else involved in this are taking a gamble and hoping that this film will do well.

I hope their attempts fail. Hollywood has more than enough un-original writers....do we really need to add more?


I mean Honesty, so many people from Buffy are offended and upset by this...it speaks volumes about how this is being handled.

 

[prophecygrrl]

OK stepping back in the thread uno momento. I don't know if I think this anymore but I used to think....

The friends thing in Buffy is all part of the feminist element. Things that are typically seen as "weak" feminine characteristics are all part of Buffys strength. The fact she is pretty and cares about appearance, she is soft hearted, she is emotionally dependant on people, she will act on her heart rather than her head etc. These are her strengths, they are what make her superior to the slayers who came before. The friendships and chemistry that developed within the show all come from this basic premise that you don't need to be masculine to be strong.

Of course this all got thrown out in series 7 when it turned out that the correct way to act was to ditch your friends, become emotionally detached and only trust the guy who isn't afraid to smack you around. /rant off (Sorry Spuffies please don't yell, I love Spike really).

There is also strength is also in realizing the power that you *personally* have, and in taking personal responsibility. 😉

Er, one really shouldn't be blamed for feeling detached from friends who have steadily been growing apart for a while now. And I really wouldn't say that having friends is a "feminist" element exactly. For the sake of convenience we'll use Joss's other work. Firefly, Dollhouse, and Angel all had a "friends" element as well. That's more to do with the concept of nontraditional family than it is with defying "masculine" standards. Same with Buffy.

And yes, there's an individualistic element in traditional male heroic narratives, but placing female characters in an absolutely "feminine" box makes for some very restrictive storytelling.

Feminism in the Buffyverse is a very, very inconsistent creature. Sometimes it is seriously lacking and sometimes it's not. Most of the time I want to smack Joss for the times when it's not. Hard. But I really wouldn't take the things that happen in the Buffyverse as a feminist PSA or whatever, lol. A lot of the events in the Buffyverse aren't meant to be perfect allegories because they really just can't translate to our world.

I don't remember if I've already said this (been commenting on the Buffy reboot in multiple places, lol) but feminism and Buffy is one of the reasons I'm very interested in seeing this new Buffy movie from the perspective of a woman. I get all the opposition cause believe me, I'm not over the moon about it myself, but I'd love to see Whit Anderson's take on it.

 

[zobothehobo]

prophecygrrl agrees: Maybe, but they'd still be using the mythology and everything that Joss created himself. Aside from the traditional vampire lore, I mean.

Oh yeah, the questionable ethics would still be there... but at least they wouldn't be marketing it as Buffy. It's been generally stated time and again, Buffy without Joss isn't Buffy and/or this movie will not be the Buffy we all know and love. As I pointed out in one of my previous posts, most people (even if they've never watched it) hear "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and think of the show. Since it's common knowledge this "Buffy" will not be Buffy as the public knows it, I feel it's misleading to market it as "Buffy." It's misleading in several ways. 1. It says that this movie is something or like something that a lot of people love (and we know it won't be so this area of misleading is just annoying and a thorn in a lot of our sides) and 2. it's misleading to potential fans. I've heard the argument "if this movie does well, people who ordinarily wouldn't have watched the show might become fans" but here's the thing, the fans of the new movie are going to be mislead if they think that the new movie will be anything like the show...

I just feel like it would solve so many problems just to stop marketing it as a Buffy movie and rather a movie about a girl who fights vampires.

 

[Litheran]

INT. - FORGOTTEN CASTLE - NIGHT

A lowly MESSENGER runs down a gothic hallway; before he reaches the end he skids to an abrupt halt. Raising his fist he taps lightly on the heavy wooden door in front of him. The sound REVERBERATES off the walls, creating a ghostly echo.


LORD WHEDON
(V.O.) ENTER!!!!

The messenger opens the door slowly, inside the dark lord of the Buffyverse stands in front of a roaring fire; casually tossing in dvd copies of the original Buffy film.


MESSENGER
(gulps)
I bring news my lord.
LORD WHEDON
What do you have to report?
MESSENGER
It would appear that the Bangel and Spuffy fans are forming an
alliance. They plan to take down the remake.
LORD WHEDON
(drops the dvds)
This cannot be allowed to happen!
MESSENGER
But my lord; that would solve everything.
LORD WHEDON
Don't you see you fool; a force combined of Spuffy and Bangel alike
would wield more power than even Illyria pre-time bomb.
MESSENGER
(smiles)
Good callback sir.
LORD WHEDON
SHUT UUUUUPPP!!! Once they've torn this remake apart....who's to
say...who's to say they wont come for me next.




THE END?

 

[BananaBuffy]

The thing that gets me is that they aren't listening to anyone. If they really cared they would be listening. They've said they're fans who really care about this project but they certainly aren't showing it. See, if they were fans then wouldn't they be doing everything in their power to get Joss involved? I would! No Buffy anything should be allowed to go forward without him. And maybe they could even get some of the stars involved, if it was possible or workable. But they haven't attempted any of these things.

Like, Joss has even commented on it. He's upset that they won't include him, that it's been greenlit and nobody has asked him to be a part of it. It's outrageous really. If he's interested in doing it then give him the reins. It's HIS creation. He did all the hard work. He created the characters, the myth stuff and almost all of the majorly huge episodes in the series run. It shouldn't be allowed to happen unless he sets it sail, right?

And they should also use their common sense. THE FANS DON'T WANT IT! Don't they get that? Nobody can say that the fans are keen to see this because we aren't. Not unless we get the Buffy we want. Not to mention, even the stars are laughing at it. Eliza Dushku's tweet about it was pretty awesome and I most definitley re-tweeted Amber Benson and Emma Caulfield's shouts to it. We all know it's going to fail. This is just a cheap attempt to market another vampire movie. But Buffy can't just become another vampire movie. That's against everything it stands for. And so releasing it when Vamps are all the rage is just plain wrong. We can't release it when Twilight is out and about. Next we'll have fans of Twilight watching Buffy and comparing Spike and Angel badly to Edward Cullen. Imagine!

 

[Justme]

There is also strength is also in realizing the power that you *personally* have, and in taking personal responsibility. 😉

Er, one really shouldn't be blamed for feeling detached from friends who have steadily been growing apart for a while now. And I really wouldn't say that having friends is a "feminist" element exactly. For the sake of convenience we'll use Joss's other work. Firefly, Dollhouse, and Angel all had a "friends" element as well. That's more to do with the concept of nontraditional family than it is with defying "masculine" standards. Same with Buffy.

Buffy always realised her power and took responsibility without feeling the need to go on some sort of weird superiority power trip thing or whatever it was.

I didn't watch Firefly and I thought Dollhouse was terrible. It's really open to interpretation what it's "to do with" however I do disagree it's about non-traditional family. I don't blame Buffy for growing detached. I blame the writers.

This is all another thread anyway, back to the point...

I said emotional dependence on others and asking for help are seen as typical feminine characteristics and that the importance of friend ship in the show could be seen as growing out of this initial concept. The point being that the core values of female empowerment and challenging stereotypes (which the way I understand it is what Buffy is about) can be developed a number of different ways.

Of course I don't think Buffy is a feminist treatise, it's baby lipstick feminism. Lord the whole thing could be picked apart in seconds by any feminist academic worth her salt but it worked on the level it was meant to (I thought) at leas until season 7.

I agree that it would be really interesting to see another writers take on this concept. Ironically our posts are in agreement.

 

[Litheran]

Had to do one more cause it's just too cute

EXT. - ENCHANTED FOREST - DAY
A young SERVANT GIRL walks casually down a dirt path; clutching an envelope bound with twine against her chest. As she exits into a clearing she comes upon SARAH MICHELLE GELLAR.


SERVANT GIRL
(smiles)
Milady, Master Marsters has replied to your correspondence.

Lady Gellar smiles longingly and rushes over; nervously she takes the parcel and kneels to the ground. Tearing away the binding she pulls out the note which is written in the most beautiful script. She reads the note as a dubious grin hints the side of her mouth.


SERVANT GIRL
What does it say milady, has thou paramour agreed to band
together against this most unholy remake?
SARAH
(smiles)
Go fetch me my Scythe.

(Cue Kill Bill soundtrack.)

 

[Washburne]

Ok... so I came up with something... what if they re-named the character and called the movie "The Vampire Slayer"? I kind of think that would work.

I wouldn't object to it too much and if that mean that fans would calm down by it it's not a downside. Not sure they, as a whole, would though. I can see them screaming "Rip off" and curse about the fact that someone is stealing Joss's idea, renamnng it and trying to get money from it.

Taking a character and do their own spin of it feel more honest to me. Not saying it's morally right if Joss haven't given his ok, but more honest than making the story and just changing the name of the character.

 

[zobothehobo]

I wouldn't object to it too much and if that mean that fans would calm down by it it's not a downside. Not sure they, as a whole, would though. I can see them screaming "Rip off" and curse about the fact that someone is stealing Joss's idea, renamnng it and trying to get money from it.

Taking a character and do their own spin of it feel more honest to me. Not saying it's morally right if Joss haven't given his ok, but more honest than making the story and just changing the name of the character.

I feel like whatever they do is going to scream "rip off" to me. But if they want to do this, I'd much rather they not market it as Buffy.

 

[MRNewman]

The thing that could save this movie...is if they started with Whedon's script for the original movie as a starting point. Not that the original movie was great - but think of the basic plot summary of the movie, it had the potential to be great. Starting from there and updating it for the fact that it's not the mid-nineties, and it could be better than anticipated.

Or, it could suck. I'm still holding out hope that it's awesome. Just as I'm hoping the new Tron sequel is amazing.

 

[The Unspoken]

The 1992 movie has about as much to do with the current Buffy franchise as the actress that played Willow in the original pilot. Legally, it's a remake of the 1992 movie, but in reality, the appeal of this movie - or lack thereof - is based entirely on the goodwill and reputation the TV-show spawned. Like Giles would say, 'something isn't right there'. THIS is why people are so opposed to this movie.

 

[AndrewCrossett]

Ok... so I came up with something... what if they re-named the character and called the movie "The Vampire Slayer"? I kind of think that would work.

I would be fine with it if they called it something other than "Buffy the Vampire Slayer."

However... the title is really all they have. It's the whole reason they're making this movie... to exploit the popularity of the brand name. If not for the title, they might as well just come up with their own idea for a movie.

But this is Hollywood, so we can't have that.

 

[xaphania]

I'm a bit tired of seeing the movie discussed everywhere, so I'll just keep bringing the funny to the thread.

Made me laugh. 😀

(Not my image, found it in a thread on Digital Spy)

 

[Washburne]

Had been more funny if it had been real. But maybe it's this stupid head ache that keep me from laughing.

 

[JoeyLostDharma]

It's pretty funny. Let's just hope it's not true.

They really could go darker and more adult with the Buffy movie, but I don't think they will...

 

[Litheran]

Okay, almost completely sure this is the last jab I'll make at the remake. This one actually resembles a full scene.

That old song.

Had to look after my fellow Cangel-ites!

 

[Username]

I liked that! even though I´m not a Cangel shipper, but I was pretty distracted by that scientology ad, what's up with that?