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a scene in serenity
ghrog
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when they keep on saying "packs" (in reference to the thing that killed those things [being vague in order to not spoil it for those who haven't seen it]). Anyways, I kept thinking PAX every time they said "packs" or "pax"... Just thought I'd let you all know 
I can't wait untill next year
I can't wait untill next year
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It was a play on peace
Pax meaning peace. Also a play on Roman Catholic cultural opression. Not that I agree with thier sentiment but I got the point.
Personally, I read it more as an "apathy is killing us" statement in general than a poke at any particular religion.
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That’s funny the message I got from the film is the one I see in some other philosophies. And that is, a perfect (or sinless) world cannot exist. The reasons as to why some believe this are different. Some believe it’s human nature that evolved this way and does not need to change or cant be changed. Others believe in the balance of good and evil and that the seed of righteousness is in evil and the seed of evil is in righteousness, in other words the yen and yang. I don’t really agree with these but I see how some can. though I do find both views wholly depressing and limited in scope.
I think the movie was pushing the whole balance of good and evil idea. With Pax They tried to remove evil but all they did was increase the contrast between good and evil. The good were so good that they did not do anything for themselves and the evil was so evil they became reevers who did everything for themselves and had no limits as to how much they would take from others.
Throw in how much they talk about belief I definitely think there were some kind of messages in this move.
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In the very first scene, River first talks about how the Alliance meddles, and that's the reason people aren't willing to accept Alliance "help". The war itself was fought for Independance from government control. It's not one government verses another, it seems to be more of a group of individuals that just want to be left alone and were willing to fight to keep their freedom...although one might expect that if Mal's side were to have won, there likely would be a government created specifically embracing the freedom they had grown accustomed to, which would not necessarily be unlike the creation of America.
And that's what ultimately the atmosphere of Serenity is to me...the Universe painted is that resembling what America would have been if we had lost the Independance War.
Instead of the "Central Plants", we had the British Colonies. Instead of the Outer Rim, we would have still had the West. Untamed lands that only stretches beyond Alliance Control because the Alliance simply doesn't have the manpower (yet) to control the vast amount of people who flock there specifically because they want to have control over their own lives.
PAX was the solution to the Alliance's problem. Instead of trying to fight against people who passionately believe in their own independance, take that passion from them. Turn them into the type of people who don't care about their freedom, don't care about being in control over their own lives...take away their free will, or at least their motivation to act on what free will they have.
To follow the parallel, if you take away someone's free spirit, what are you left with? Anything? My guess is, Joss Whedon is saying you're left with nothing...or at least nothing Good. Leaving those who survived with only evil.
Again, as a Libertarian myself, my thoughts could very well have been projected onto the theater screen. This is not researched at all...it's certainly not my intent to put words or philosophies into Joss Whedon's mouth. Just my interpretation.
In real life there is an anti-anxiety drug called "Paxil". That sort of creeped me out.
:shock:
That seems fitting here.
"but somthing went terribly wrong. about 10 percent of the population has become extremly violant... its the pax....AHHH!!!! *bang bang bang*"
It's from Pax Romanii.
The Roman Peace. Unite everything in the world under the flag of the Roman empire and there would be no war.
Didn't work out for the Roman's real well either.
AWW! But thats so much fun!
Ha Ha yeah... wait no. Thats not fun. Not fun at all. :shock:
That's what we have SE++ for.
So true :P
Espically when there actually *might* be a season 2:
http://www.fireflyseason2.com/index.asp
Probably not though
There better be a season 2, and Fox better not have anything to do it with it this time...
Although if it was upto me, Id made the second season take place between Firefly and Serenity, and then pick up after Serenity with the third season... Serenity was awesome and all, but Id still like to see a little bit more Pre-Serenity show... For obvious reasons...
It's certainly up for interpretation, and I think yours is a valid one, but I disagree with it. The message that I got was that the primary protagonist (warning English major) was a bad (Mal - Latin for bad) guy. He's uneducated (it's suprising that he knows a poem), uncouth (Shindig), a murderer (Pilot), beats his wife (Our Mrs Reynolds), steals from hospitals (Ariel), etc. His foil (the Agent) is a good guy: shows respect (giving the doctor an honorable death), loves peace (offers to allow Mal and his crew freedom if they willingly comply with the law), is self-sacrificing (admits that he has no place in the new order) and merciful (spares Mal and his crew when he realizes he's wrong).
The point that I think Joss makes is that Peace (Pax being the play on words in this case) isn't what is actually desirable. A world without sin is, in Mal's opinion, a world without interest, conflict, freedom of action. In fact Reavers don't sin. They're sub-human. In most religions, animals can murder, consume other animals, cannibalize, and they're not considered evil because they don't have free will. I'd argue that Reavers don't have free will either (If we run, they'll have to chase us, it's their way). The larger percentage of people who just laid down and died also didn't sin, because they didn't act.
The the corrolary to Joss's point about Peace (or perhaps just peace at any price) being undesirable is what is more desirable than peace. I think he'd say freedom is. That's why when the Independent's freedom is threatened, they fight, and failing that, flee. Freedom (Keeping his ship and keeping moving) is paramount to Mal and his crew. If they have to live a life that never knows peace, but where they are free to do as they please, they believe they're happier.
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