Serenity on DVD Out For Christmas

nerd4hire

nerd4hire

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I don't know where region 1 is, but dvdtimes.co.uk has this to say -

Universal Studios Home Video have announced the Region 1 DVD release of Serenity for 20th December 2005 priced at $29.98 SRP. A passenger with a deadly secret. Six rebels on the run. An assassin in pursuit. When the renegade crew of Serenity agrees to hide a fugitive on their ship, they find themselves in an action-packed battle between the relentless military might of a totalitarian regime who will destroy anything - or anyone - to get the girl back and the bloodthirsty creatures who roam the uncharted areas of space. But, the greatest danger of all may be on their ship. From the mind of Joss Whedon (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel) comes a new edge-of-your-seat adventure loaded with explosive battles, gripping special effects and fantastic new worlds!

Available in separate Widescreen and Full Screen editions features include:
English and French DD5.1 Surround
English SDH, French and Spanish subtitles
Feature Commentary with Writer/Director Joss Whedon
Deleted Scenes
Outtakes
Future History: The Story of Earth That Was
What's in a Firefly
Re-Lighting the Firefly
Joss Whedon Introduction
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Yes, Region 1 is USA and Canada. Yayyyy!



OMGGGG! Off to Amazon to preorder! Edit again: Darn. Amazon doesn't have it up yet.
 
WOOWOO!! YES! Guess what EVERYONE I know is getting for Christmas? my parents, my friends, me...yep. DVD sales will SKYROCKET. Just thanks to me.
 
I think it's gonna translate well to the small screen. Everything tightens up when you shrink it. The low budget elements will look more at home on TV screens. And it'll still have the nice letterboxed look (who doesn't like the widescreen format?).

Here's to hoping it sells like hotcakes!
 
Oh that is just freeking awesome I already spent like 50 dollars going to see that movie....goood thing they're coming out with it now or I'd go broke
 
Ugh! I don't dig this cover art at all:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000BW7QWW/103-7488630-6083011?v=glance&n=130

I think it's another reflection of the conflicted marketing dilemma Universal seems to feel with Serenity. 30 years ago, this was novel. Now, it looks like a messy, cliche'd Star Wars space opera montage. Mixing the sepia tones with color, the smashing together of unconnected (invented?) scenes. It looks like they're trying to appeal to the twelve-year-old video gamer crowd (which is understandable to a degree). Trying to hedge bets, explain the film to the masses...

The Serenity crowd is largely sophisticated, popculture savvy geeks. Would be nice to see something really stark, simple, bold"”an intentional departure from run-of-the-mill sci-fi marketing method. Think of all the classic, memorable movie posters. Metropolis. The Godfather. Alien. Full Metal Jacket. Kill Bill. They're usually very, very simple. Iconic. Less is more, ya know?

How about just that beautiful circular, red/yellow Serenity logo on a field of black or dark brown? That'll probably be the collector's special edition.

Apologies for the geekish rant...
 
S
StuckinTraffic
no apology necessary, you are absolutely right. Just more proof that the studio execs don't "get" it. Oh well....I'm preordering today anyway, whether or not they get it, I sure do!
P
ProphecyGirl
very much so
goldenboy said:
I think it's another reflection of the conflicted marketing dilemma Universal seems to feel with Serenity....It looks like they're trying to appeal to the twelve-year-old video gamer crowd (which is understandable to a degree). Trying to hedge bets, explain the film to the masses...
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Exactly....and I view that as further proof that the studio execs (like the network execs before them) just don't "get" Serenity.

- and -
goldenboy said:
The Serenity crowd is largely sophisticated, popculture savvy geeks. Would be nice to see something really stark, simple, bold"”an intentional departure from run-of-the-mill sci-fi marketing method. Think of all the classic, memorable movie posters. Metropolis. The Godfather. Alien. Full Metal Jacket. Kill Bill. They're usually very, very simple. Iconic. Less is more, ya know? *snip* How about just that beautiful circular, red/yellow Serenity logo on a field of black or dark brown? That'll probably be the collector's special edition.
Click to expand...
I agree......so, maybe they're not as dumb as they look? They sure know how to get my money, because I'd buy the Collector's Edition if it came with the artwork you mention....for sure!

goldenboy said:
Apologies for the geekish rant...
Click to expand...
No need to apologize!
 
Yeah, when I first looked at the cover, I thought it was OK, but the way Goldenboy explains it, yeah, I get his point.
 
Ooh, those look really good ProphecyGirl. Clean, simple compositions, nice washed out sepia look. Simple, fun slogan.

I guess a movie poster and DVD covers are different animals to a degree. Posters can function more like teasers maybe. I dunno.

But I'm still thinking that "simple" actually stands out on the store shelves"”everything's so busy looking usually...The special edition DVDs usually look cleaner, classier. And think of Sin City for example. Stark black and white with the bold red typography"”looks awesome and it's unconventional.

Miffed67 surely has a point about marketing strategies and multiple editions...
 
goldenboy, as if we needed further proof, a couple of Serenity reviews from Amazon.com. Note the erudite and well thought out commentary:

It's about the people..., November 2, 2005
Reviewer: *name withheld* - ed. (Millbury, MA USA)

I'll admit it right up front: I'm a Firefly/Serenity geek. I've seen the movie nine times in the theater (by far the most for me, any film, any genre). I've never developed such a deep connection with any other entertainment franchise with the possible exceptions of "The Lord Of the Rings" -- the books, mainly, though the movies were great too -- the "Narnia" series, and "Watership Down".

So what is it about this fictional world that draws me in so? Has senility kicked in and I'm experiencing my second childhood? Maybe, but I think I still have a bit of critical judgement left.

I think the real reason is that this is science fiction done right. It's not about bumpy-headed alien monsters or supernatural forces. It's about people, ordinary people like you and me who find themselves caught up in events outside their control. It's about holding things together when every force in the 'verse is trying to rip them apart.

Technically, this film is beautiful, with just enough SFX to tell the story without having the effects become the story. The one really heavy CGI sequence is a head-spinning thrill ride, but it's not what the movie is about.

"Serenity" is far more fast-paced than the Firefly series was, and that's a mixed blessing. The serial television format allows for more deliberate pacing and character development, which is compressed in the movie. One side effect is that "Serenity" holds up well to multiple viewings, as you catch the nuances that might have flown past too quickly on the first pass. On the upside, the fast pacing means this film is action packed. There are more twists and turns in its first nine minutes than most movies give you in their entire running length.

Even so, "Serenity" takes enough time to show you the lighter side of these characters. There are a lot of laughs here, including a few really big ones. Some of them come just when the tension seems to be nearly unbearable. That's a sign of gifted writing.

Though it's never rubbed in your face, the movie also carries a timely political message, demonstrating how evil may result from the best of intentions.

It's no surprise that Firefly has more female fans than many other SF tales. If I may be permitted a gross generalization, women tend to be more empathetic and relationship oriented than men. "Serenity" has what women, and men who are in touch with that attribute, are looking for: people you care about, trying to hang on to their humanity at the raggedy edge.
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-and-


Best. Sci-fi movie. Ever., November 2, 2005
Reviewer: *name withheld* - ed.

Sci-fi doesn't get much better than Serenity. You'll find great action sequences, an intriguing plot, a cast who obviously loves their characters, and wonderfully original dialogue (I'm looking at *you* George Lucas). Serenity is one of those movies that transcends the genre, like The Matrix. Even if you don't like sci-fi, you'll find something to love in Serenity.

Based on the "failed" television series 'Firefly', Serenity takes place six months after the last episode in the series. I say "failed" in quotes because after gross mismanagement of the series by Fox, Firefly came into its own on DVD, garnering a large, rabid fanbase (fans of the series are affectionately called Browncoats). It continues to be one of Amazon's top DVD sellers.

I highly recommend picking up the DVD box set of Firefly before digging into this movie. I know that sounds like a big commitment. "You mean to tell me I have to watch 13 episodes of a failed TV show before I can watch this movie?!" What I'm saying is that the show is incredible (although give it until about episode 8. True love will set in. Trust me.) If you're even remotely interested in this movie, you're doing yourself a disservice by not watching the show.

That being said, I think Serenity stands on its own. It has one of the most compelling villians I've seen in a sci-fi film (no sneering, every-action-movie-you've-ever-seen-villians here). The cast is largely unknown, and I think that helps the movie because you don't have any preconceived notions about the actors. The world is an original mash-up of American and Chinese culture, with a bit of the wild west thrown in for good measure. The story, while generally sticking to sci-fi standards, is filled with little detailed touches of brilliance you haven't seen in a sci-fi movie since, well.. maybe the original Star Wars.

How about one of the opening scenes: The camera follows Mal as he walks around the ship, interacting with the crew. The whole thing happens in one long shot, introducing you to the characters and giving you a feel for the ship. Brilliant! Look for the scene where Mal and Zoe are arguing in a corridor. Notice the sound and lighting change, ever so subtly, and then let it sink in as to why. How cool is that? Look for the scene where River is on the verge of panic and prays "Please God, make me a stone." I love the dialogue in this movie. It's witty and natural and funny as hell.

My guess is that most of the people reading this review are already fans. But if you haven't seen this movie yet, do it. We're always happy to have another Browncoat.
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All I have to say is.....YUP, YUP!

Linky: Serenity DVD at Amazon.com
 
Serenity's destined for culthood just like Buffy/Angel/Firefly...the DVDs will do massive business over the long haul (I predict).
 
Ok I was looking around the Browncoats website and I came across a thread where they designed a different cover for the DVD, look at these:

s2ve.jpg


serenity-art-11thHour.jpg


dvdcopy.jpg


Source

They are 10 times better than the actual cover, I think its insane that the Fans can come up with better covers for the DVD then professional designers 🙁 I would rather print one of these out and stick it over the cover 🙂
 
Wow, BEG, thanks for those! You're right, they ARE way better than the professionally designed cover! I might take your suggestion to heart and print one to put on the DVD! LOL! I love these. Some very talented people out there in the black!
 
The first of the fan one is almost as pretty as Jewel Staite.

Joss has commented on the dvd cover art, simlpy stating "Guess what else I'm not the boss of."
 
I guess Joss is just counting his lucky stars that he got to make the movie. Still don't think Universal completely understands what they've got. Although, Joss has been fairly glowing in his descriptions of all the executives, higher ups.
 
Yeah, but what is he gonna say? "They're idiots who wouldn't know a good franchise if it came up and bit them in the *rse?" Don't bite the hand that feeds you, you know? He can't burn those bridges...not while there's a possibility of a sequel.
 
I'm so not worrying about the cover. Fans would buy the DVD if it had nothing more than a piece of cilantro on the cover. The idea is to sell the DVD to mainstream America, whatever that is. (If Serenity had sold to mittel Amerika a little better, just enough to take the top spot opening weekend, it would have been perceived as a hit, and grown to meet its perceptions IMO.) If you want to fanwank your own cover, more power to you.

One thing to be encouraged about: Serenity is already #19 on Amazon's DVD best seller list.
 
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