Trying to decide between Corpse Bride or Serenity…
i’m a fan of Burton films, the quirkier the better, and i loved Nightmare Before Christmas (far preferred Jack Skellington’s version of Christmas to the real thing…) and Corpse looks to have a similar charm, although reading thru the thread on the movie here in the SDMB, i get the feeling that it’s more of a “wait for the DVD” movie
Serenity?, i’m an absolute neophyte to the Firefly universe, never seen an ep, although i understand that it’s got a very “Farscapian” feel too it, and i frelling LOVE Farscape, then again, there just seems to be something…unnerving about the legions of rabid Whedonverse fans, don’t understand their idolatry of the man, i did watch the Serenity preview that came with my S1 BSG DVD set, and it looks to be a fun, quirky film, but how lost would i be knowing none of the backstory…
so, Corpse Bride, or Serenity?
I’d recommend Serenity out of those two choices, and I’ve seen both. It’s true that the Firefly fanbase (Browncoats, I think?) is pretty intimidating, but Whedon did a good job of tailoring Serenity to both the loyal fans and the neophyte viewers. It’s really just an enjoyable movie in its own right.
Corpse Bride is very similar to Nightmare Before Christmas in aesthetic style, but I found the storytelling to be somewhat lacking. Although I enjoyed the movie, it was mostly because I’m a huge animation fan and I spent most of the time just staring at different effects and stop-motion techniques, trying to guess how they did it. I think Corpse Bride could safely be tossed into the “wait-for-DVD” pile, but definately check it out eventually.
well, here’s where it gets tough, as i have a soft spot in my heart for stop-motion animation, i used to make short (3 minute) stop-motion claymation films with a Super-8 8MM film camera while i was growing up, so i know and appreciate how much craftsmanship, time and work is involved
maybe it’s part of the “I could do that but i don’t want to” thing, but i prefer stop motion animation (and claymation) animation to any other style…
so i’m unfairly favorably biased towards “Nightmare Before/Corpse Bride” films
still, there has to be a reason for the rabid fanbase of Serenity/Firefly
I’d have to suggest:
Lord of War
Waiting
40 Year Old Virgin
*Waiting *was good for a few laughs, American Pie style.
*40 yo. * was very very good. Instant classic
Lord of War Was an all-around excellent film.
I know nothing about either of the ones you were considering, otherwise I’d have more to contribute.
Ahh, that does make it tough. I too have said soft spot; I recently Netflix’ed the Wallace & Gromit DVD to refresh my mind before the new one came out. If that’s the case, I recommend you seeing Corpse Bride in the theater, so as to better appreciate the technical skill and beauty of the animation.
Still though, Serenity is a must-see! It is very entertaining and requires no previous knowledge of Firefly to enjoy it. Definately see this one in the theater too.
As for tonight… flip a coin?
I liked them both. That said, I’d recommend Serenity. It’s just so darned much fun.
well, i went with my gut instinct and watched Corpse Bride…
a decent film, on a scale of 1-10, i’d give it a 7.5, good, but not great
the animation, as expected was flawless, jaw-droppingly good, if only the story wasn’t so weak and predictable, i mean, c’mon…
it should be obvious to anyone even vaguely familiar with Greek and Roman Gods that a character named “Bacchus” was going to have a wine-related downfall, and did they have to be so obvious with the shadow of Lord B. matching the shadow of Emily’s “mystery man” who left her for dead at the altar, it’s like they didn’t even try to disguise it…
still, a decent film, just a little weak and predictable in the storyline
ironically enough, what song was playing on my iPod Nano on the drive home?
Alice Cooper’s “I Love the Dead”, appropriate somehow…
still, i think that Victor would have been happier with Emily, but it would leave the Victoria thread unresolved, maybe she could fall for that nice jazz singing skeleton chap… 
oh well, tomorrow i might take in Serenity after work