Serenity Now...

[shipperx]

You know how sometimes you see a kerfuffle and end up following it just because the kerfuffle itself is interesting? I can't seem to stop myself from following the Joss Vs. Chud.com Guy kerfuffle.

It started with Chud.com writing "Requiem for a Browncoat" here:
http://www.chud.com/index.php?type=news&id=4581

Joss shot back with a response on Whedonesque.

Posted: 03 Oct 2005 10:20 am

So I was flouncing (that's lurking but fancier) about WHEDONESQUE (for which I have forgotten my password yet again) and I couldn't help but see the little CHUD.com hate-bomb that Devin wrote. I don't mind that he doesn't love the film, but things like "It failed in a big way" and "It's over" are about as charming -- and journalistic -- as "I was right." I am being totally realistic when I say the weekend grosses did not meet expectations -- but those expectations were based on models that don't apply to this situation because, seriously, nothing does. The industry is not calling this a failure, just a slightly soft version of a normal opening in a generally weak weekend.

Now I did meet Devin, and he's not a dumb guy. But he seems to have a real animus against you Browncoats, and that's the thing I wanted to comment on, 'cause that doesn't sit well with me. He actually blames you guys for making sci-fi fans stay away from the movie. Says you should be ashamed for having adopted a name, that you will start finger-pointing and bickering now that you've 'caused' the 'failure' of your film. He blames other things as well -- the title, the ads -- but that's fine. If one --ONE -- of you guys reads that column and takes it to heart I'll not sleep. You guys did an amazing thing this weekend -- and the exit polls showed how much you guys were out there, and how much business you dragged in with you.

Not to mention everything you did for the months - sorry, YEARS -- before it opened. I'm crazy proud of you. Yes, there is an exclusionary element to some fandom that is inevitable, but this group has fought that as well or better as any, and maybe I'm a nerd, but being compared to a Trekker (or even a TrekkIE) doesn't offend me a bit.

We all know this remains an uphill battle. We all know that next weekend is crucial -- and a lot of it will rest on us. A lot will rest on the studio reaching people we can't. And factors we can't see coming. But I don't especially appreciate people calling Time of Death while I'm still operating. I don't like smug defeatism. And nobody disses the 'coats without me wading in. That's all.

Chud.com responded with this:
http://www.chud.com/index.php?type=news&id=4590

Online "debating" followed as evidenced by Fandom_wank here:
http://www.journalfen.net/community/fandom_wank/811243.html

Another site weighed into the fray here:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/sfgate/detail?blogid=3&entry_id=1077#readmore

AICN apparently shut down review responses until "this browncoat nonsense blows over" (whatever that means.) here:
http://www.aintitcool.com/display.cgi?id=21451

and apparently some of the AICN in-fighting took place here:
http://www.aintitcool.com/display.cgi?id=21439

And, finally, Chud.com guy addressed his Serenity mail here:
http://www.chud.com/index.php?type=news&id=4611

Comments

[paratti.livejournal.com]

I know the feeling.

[mlgm.livejournal.com]

OK, the Chud guy seemed to be trying to give a professional opinion. Maybe a bit of a jerk, but trying to be professional.

The Browncoats scare me. Rabid Joss fans in general scare me.

[pelinxf.livejournal.com]

They're right of course. Because I'm lazy and very tired, I'll copy one of my posts from elsewhere, regarding Joss's defence that the Browncoats did not hurt the box office gross...

But it is their fault (some of them at least). Do you know why I'm not going to watch Serenity even I love Joss? (And I do love Joss even he pisses me of sometimes) I'm not going to see it because of these fans of his.

I'm a huge Star Wars fan as you know and I admit the prequels weren't for everyone, there were mistakes and frustrations but as a whole I see it as an incredible story.

Now.. I do not appreciate people dissing my fandom in such a low way because they wanted to be bigger. I've read many dissing and humiliating comments on several boards against Star Trek fandom, Star Wars fandom and George Lucas in particular. Sorry... I will not tolerate it. I detest the need to degrade something to exalt something else. Criticizing is one thing, degrading is another. Even GL is a lousy and bad writer as some claim, he's one of the main reasons why Sci-fi is alive today and deserves more respect in my opinion. It is the real reason why I'm not going to see Serenity, a movie and a show I was eager to see once. I'm pissed off and lots of people in SW and ST fandoms feel the same. Are the Browncoats buying movie tickets in masses? Too bad. Maybe they shouldn't insult the other fandoms in the first place.

Some are bitterly disappointed because they don't want "respectable" they want to be bigger than Star Wars, bigger than Star Trek, bigger than The Lord of The Rings..


I'm actually sorry for Joss (even these people deserved it), he's a hugely talented writer and deserves a real success in Hollywood. I apologize to the genuine Serenity/Firefly lovers here, I cannot judge the story as I didn't watch it but you're some of those people I trust their judgments. I'm sure it's a good movie but this's the reality.