Twin suns shining down on me...

Disclaimer: Serenity and Firefly don't touch my Star Wars fandom by even 12 parsecs, nor is it anywhere near as great, awesome, incredible and inspiring as the Star Wars saga in my opinion... but it's still fun stuff, it ain't too bad and it's brought some fans together along with the filmmaker, which is just, well... nice. Don't worry - this is only minimally about Serenity and Firefly, in observance of Serenity Day.

Edited for post-Serenity Day:

Serenity Day has now passed. Did you buy it? Rent it? Watch it? I would think that the proceeds from rentals also will all tally in to show how popular Serenity is, as fans pulled together on June 23rd. The show of support by fans of Firefly led to the making of Serenity in the first place. Star Wars would not have gotten far if it weren't for the fan reaction to Episode IV, and George Lucas has acknowledged this. Now we'll see what Serenity Day will lead to.

I didn't think I would be able to get a copy on the day, as I was stuck on the outer rim world of East Yapeepee, at a graduation dinner party type thing. Lo and behold, I found an oasis of a commercial center whilst navigating the speeder truck back to home base (and enjoying an incredible twin sunset on the way - serenity sure is a good word for it).

The last widescreen edition on the shelf? I'll take it. I enlightened the shop dude as to the reason I was purchasing my copy, and he mentioned there were a few other life forms inquiring about the very same movie and or Firefly TV series that day.

Fan participation is pretty fun. I felt so a part of something picking up my DVD of Serenity on Serenity Day, just as I felt a part of the Star Wars fandom when I went to see ROTS, and any other SW film in theaters as much as I could, to put my small part in and boost box office scores. And what a success the fans have made of Star Wars.

Bragging rights: I got to catch a few of the Firefly episodes when they were originally aired several years back, which drew me to see Serenity when it hit theaters last year. I liked it then, and I like it now - but I think nowhere near as zealously as some I've seen (I'm a Star Wars fan who enjoys a little fan fun in some other things too). So I feel a little extra special at participating in Serenity Day.

Bummer that the DVD came with a coupon for $10 off if I bought any Battlestar Galactica season along with it. They didn't have any of them in stock! I'm still waiting on the complete BSG second season anyway, and Serenity was on sale too. I strongly urge anyone who hasn't checked out the new BSG, to do so.

Of course I couldn't stop there with the Star Wars on the brain that I have. Always looking for cool things related to our beloved saga and it's actors. Looking through the selections, I had my paws on a copy of Long Way Round, but it was a bit too pricey, so I put it back with a mental note to find it online for a nicer price. I'll just have to wait a little longer to see Ewan's glory ride to the fullest. I did find a copy of Comic Book the Movie for 6 bucks. I love anything Mark Hamill. Score! I'll take it... I did take it.

Why the heck do I have a picture of George Lucas with our fuzzy and shiny friends? The reasons are several. For one, I really do feel a sense of serenity when I gaze upon this picture. Another is that I'm giving George Lucas props for largely creating the environment that allowed for a series like Firefly and Serenity to come into being, both CG/SFX-wise and conceptually. Star Wars has set the stage and pioneered for so much of the "genre" as we know it today. I don't think Star Trek would even be what it has become throughout the years if it weren't for George Lucas and Star Wars. Joss Whedon has attested to being greatly inspired by George and the saga in his Serenifly ventures.

Here's to creativity and filmmakers who hear their fan base, and speak back to them in their art.

But what REALLY made my day is when I saw my dad. "You'll never guess what I pulled out of the basement" the dark lord of the thunderwalker clan said to me with a twinkle of excitement at our mutual family love of Star Wars. The Force is strong in our family and I knew something good was coming. He pulled out an original 1983 copy of the authorized biography of George Lucas: Skywalking: The Life and Films of George Lucas. I felt like I did getting Star Wars toys on the holidays as a kid as he handed it over to me, as if he were handing down the family lightsaber. I'm so excited, I scanned the cover.

Overall a pretty good and shiny day today. As the hour grows late here in the unknown regions, I'm going to put in my spiffy new Serenity DVD. Who else got their DVD today? Anybody watching tonight?

Now let's blow this thing and go home!

And if you haven't already, check out these sweet Star Wars action figure movies.

jkthunder Attack of the Blog