Film Of The Week #26 - Serenity

Karl Hungus

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0379786/

You know, for out and out repeated enjoyment, nothing has come quite so close as Serenity these last few years. It just doesn't stop being an excellent thrill ride of a film. Even showed George Lucas a thing or two about making a good Sci-Fi Adventure in the process.

johnny_ultimate

As a Serenity fanboy, I should keep this brief otherwise Ill come across as gushing
But the reason myself and so many more adore this film isnt simply because it is the most fantastic sci-fi action film since Star Wars (seen it at least four times and love it more each time), but because it is one time the system was actually beaten. Firefly was cancelled three or four seasons too early, and the fact that the fans got this little bit of closure, against the odds, is a terrific achievement.

You really can't stop the signal.

ixoy

Really enjoyed this movie and the fact we got closure on a franchise, sadly such a rare thing. Not only closure but top-quality closure that was faithful to the short-lived series.

Like a fair few others here I saw it at the "sneak preview" and there was a great atmosphere there. One thing I always admired about it was its line in witty banter, something the (grossly) over-rated Star Wars series never really achieved. Malcolm Reynolds is a legend in his own time.

The plot itself was very satisfying in that it tied together many disparate threads from the original show. It also featured some genuine shocks - who here will ever forget Wash's "sting like a bee" moment?

This is easily the best sci-fi action movie of the last decade and indeed, if it hadn't been for the dystopian "Children of Men" I'd have placed it as the all out best sci-fi movie in ten years.

What I'd find most interesting is anyone here who voted for this movie and hadn't seen the series first and if it meant that you approached the movie with different sensibilities and got something else from it that the more Browncoat-like amongst us did.

There is only one word I can possibly use to describe Serenity, Perfection.

senordingdong

ixoy wrote:

This is easily the best sci-fi action movie of the last decade and indeed, if it hadn't been for the dystopian "Children of Men" I'd have placed it as the all out best sci-fi movie in ten years.

Booooo....

Yeah, Firefly & Serenity really should be remembered as an important part of Sci Fi history.

Duggy747

I have got to see Serenity, then I can understand what the fuss is about. I see it written everywhere on this site.

tvnutz

Amazing movie, ten times better than any of the Star Wars Prequels and probably just as good as the originals. I went to see it having been a big Joss Whedon fan, Buffy and Angel mostly, but I hadn't actually seen Firefly. I was blown away by the movie and bought the Firefly boxset straight away, great show as well, cancelled well before its time (Damn FOX!). It is one of those movies you could watch over and over with some shocking moments as ixoy said and some great dialogue. That is one thing the Star Wars movies never had, good and funny dialogue.

If you havn't seen it, get it now!

TheWolf

Repeat what everyone else here has said. Fantastic film thats well worth a watch

User45701

wahoo it took almost 1/2 a year of me typing serenity whenever i remembered but it got film of the week wahoo. Thats a sign im off to order this in HD off amazon

Tar.Aldarion

Quite a good film all right. Children of Men Ixoy? sigh.

Basq

Brillant!

A wonderful closing chapter to an amazing television event!

Some of the funniest, freshest and thriling script-writing by Joss Whedon. And with a cast that is perfection!

Everyone from the amazing Mal to the cutesy poo Kaylee (who can forget her line: "Goin' on a year now I ain't had nothin' twixt my nethers weren't run on batteries!")

Watched it again a few weeks back - has lost none of it's charm!

johnny_ultimate

basquille wrote:

Everyone from the amazing Mal to the cutesy poo Kaylee (who can forget her line: "Goin' on a year now I ain't had nothin' twixt my nethers weren't run on batteries!")

Ah Kaylee *swoons*.
So many terrific lines too. I absolutely adore the introduction to the crew, after the lenghty pre credits sequence. The music blasts out, all dramatic like, and the Serenity logo is revealed. And then.. "What was that?" "Attention crew, we may experience some turbulence and then... explode", followed by an extremely lenghty take (although last watched I POSSIBLY saw a cut half way through, when Mal and Simon turn a corner) in which we are re-introduced to the crew. Astonishing, vibrant film-making.

Karl Hungus

basquille wrote:

Everyone from the amazing Mal to the cutesy poo Kaylee (who can forget her line: "Goin' on a year now I ain't had nothin' twixt my nethers weren't run on batteries!")

I think Kaylee suffered a lot as a character in the film. I'm sure it's hard to cram 9 main characters from a TV Series (aswell as some new ones) into just a 2 hour movie, and somebody had to have gotten the short straw. But Kaylee seems to have been a victim of some shortcomings in the writing department too, because she came off as completely one-dimensional and, well, just horny.

Jello

Just picked this up for €5 in Tesco, will watch later..

Kintarō Hattori

Jello wrote:

Just picked this up for €5 in Tesco, will watch later..

You won't be disappointed.

Jello

eo980 wrote:

You won't be disappointed.

I wasn't!

Not much more I can say that hasn't been said already - it was a truly enjoyable, action packed sci-fi, with some pretty humorous moments too. I couldn't have asked for much more!

Basq

Jello... did you watch 'Firefly' first?

I am one of those firm believers who think only those who have watched 'Firefly' can truly appreciate the characters and some of the repercussions that await them in the film.

Kintarō Hattori

basquille wrote:

Jello... did you watch 'Firefly' first?

I am one of those firm believers who think only those who have watched 'Firefly' can truly appreciate the characters and some of the repercussions that await them in the film.

I saw Serenity myself before seeing Firefly and I remember feeling distinctly left out. Everyone at the cinema seemed to have a much deeper understanding of what was going on and were getting alot more of the humour than I was.

After that I picked up Firefly for the bargain price of €19.99 in HMV and watched it through. It gave me a much better understanding and appreciation for Serenity.

Jello

Nope I never actually watched Firefly so I suppose this was merely an introduction for me. So yeah, I probably I can't appreciate the characters and story-line fully without seeing the series and I probably missed out on some of the main points. So for me it was just a very enjoyable sci-fi rather than a great way to finish a TV series.

However, I've a feeling I'll pick up the Firefly box set quite soon... and it may just seem like a totally different film when I watch this second time round after the TV series.

Karl Hungus

Jello wrote:

Nope I never actually watched Firefly so I suppose this was merely an introduction for me. So yeah, I probably I can't appreciate the characters and story-line fully without seeing the series and I probably missed out on some of the main points. So for me it was just a very enjoyable sci-fi rather than a great way to finish a TV series.

However, I've a feeling I'll pick up the Firefly box set quite soon... and it may just seem like a totally different film when I watch this second time round after the TV series.

Firefly is definetly good, but I would've recommended seeing it before Serenity. There's very little time to get to know the characters in the film as there's so much squashed into just 2 hours, so that when

Wash and Book die

there just isn't the emotional impact if you haven't gotten to know the characters through the series first.

johnny_ultimate

Karl Hungus wrote:

Firefly is definetly good, but I would've recommended seeing it before Serenity. There's very little time to get to know the characters in the film as there's so much squashed into just 2 hours, so that when

Wash and Book die

there just isn't the emotional impact if you haven't gotten to know the characters through the series first.

Yeah

Book especially. The film is mainly concluding the River storyline, so the rest of the crew (except Mal of course) are somewhat on the sidelines. Book especially - a newbie watching would hardly know the signifigance of the character - he had one scene in the film before his death. Firefly fans would know that he actually played a central part in the story (and it's unfortunate that his ties with the Alliance were never explored further, but that was Foxs fault ). Same can be said of Wash, but he does get more screen time in the film, so his death scene his still pretty shocking.

Earthhorse

I'm a big fan of everything Joss Whedon and had seen Firefly, and even read the comics that bridge the gap between it and Serenity, before trecking off to the cinema to watch this. I have to say though, it was a bit of dissapointment.

In many ways the movie is remarkable. It's remarkable that it ever got made. It's remarkable that Joss manages to sum up everything you 'need' to know in the first fifteen minutes or so. It's remarkable, as ixoy said, that we get closure on the franchise but overall I just don't think it's that good.

The nature of the film means the script isn't free to be as inventive as Whedon can be. Instead, he's focusing on finishing off what would have been a 2 or 3 season story arc. There's less frivolity to the whole thing; Mal is darker for starters and certain characters, like Kaylee, are essentially along for the ride. Also, and I don't know if anyone else noticed this, but the sound isn't great in some scenes. I feel a lot of the dialogue in the bar scene gets swallowed up if you don't pay attention.

I'm glad it got made but I don't return to it often and wouldn't care much for it if it weren't for Firefly.

biko

Best script ever:

Jayne Cobb: Boy, it sure would be nice if we had some grenades, don't you think?

Capt. Malcolm Reynolds: I'll take the shuttle in closer. Zoe, ship is yours. Remember, if anything happens to me, or you don't hear from me within the hour... you take this ship and you come and you rescue me!!

S.M.B.

So who was at the 'Can't Stop the Signal' screening then? Great way to watch the film, probably the best cinema experience I've ever had!

TheIrishGrover

The theatre was full of fanboys (Hey, I was there too so I suppose I'm one too). More than one browncoat there. Recording of Joss Whedon played that's on the DVD. The bit where

Wash dies

caused such a surprised gasp that I though the screen would be sucked off the wall. My ears popped with the presure drop .

Many knew that someone was going to die and assumed it would be Book

.... Then Jewel Staite (Kaylee) and Sean Maher (Simon) turned up for a Q&A. Yay!.... And Jewel Staite.......... Yep.

Loved the film obviously but was interested to hear the responses from the people above who hadn't seen the series. Nice to hear they enjoyed it

lodgepole

Compared to the best episodes of Firefly the film is pretty mediocre. It's alright. Tends to a bit over-rated. I was disapointed that some of the more interesting characters were given

fairly unceremonious deaths and little storyline.

koneko

S.M.B. wrote:

So who was at the 'Can't Stop the Signal' screening then? Great way to watch the film, probably the best cinema experience I've ever had!

Definitely, getting to see it months before it was out was bonus enough, but a vid from Joss and then meeting Jewel Staite and Sean Maher (I brought the DVD boxset for someone to sign, just in case!)... Great night.

S.M.B.

koneko wrote:

Definitely, getting to see it months before it was out was bonus enough, but a vid from Joss and then meeting Jewel Staite and Sean Maher (I brought the DVD boxset for someone to sign, just in case!)... Great night.

My Firefly set is signed by Jewel and Sean now too!

I was going to try get tickets for the World Premiere in Edinburgh and was overjoyed when I heard there was a screening in Dublin.

TheIrishGrover

S.M.B. wrote:

My Firefly set is signed by Jewel and Sean now too!

I was going to try get tickets for the World Premiere in Edinburgh and was overjoyed when I heard there was a screening in Dublin.

Aye, there was more copies or Firefly in the cinema that night than in HMV.

wet-paint

I remember seeing the movie before knowing about the tv series. Liked it a lot, rented and copied it. Watched it about twice more, and then it got consigned to the dusty spindle of watched rips.
Then I heard about the tv series, and d/led and watched it over one night. Fell in love with the characters. Went searching for the movie, and I remember being a lot more upset at the Big Shocking Moments as a result of knowing the score.
God, was I gutted when I heard that the show was cancelled, about two days after getting hooked on it. Even watched the fan made documentary of the making of the movie.

Karl Hungus

Just finished watching Serenity yet again. I have to say, it's certainly one of the more frequently watched DVDs in my collection, and a testament to how good a film it is.

Petey2006

Really enjoyed Serenity. But I think I really liked it because I watched Firefly first. I don't know if I'd have liked it as much otherwise. It is, however, one of the best sci-fi films of recent years. And yeah, really showed up the Star Wars prequels for the poor films they are.

Anyway, here's what I thought of Serenity after I watched it for the first time.

PWEI

Well I'm one of those people who never heard of Firefly until Serenity made film of the week here.And I had really enjoyed Serenity even though I watched it before Firefly.I agree with all the above,its easily the best Sci Fi of the last decade.I've just finished Firefly now and absolutely gutted there isn't a second series but I suppose that's what makes it so special.I'm not a big Sci Fi head,always hated Star Trek and couldn't get in to the new BattleStar Galactic but I couldn't stop watching Firefly.What a genius idea making a Sci Fi come Western style series.But the most enjoyable aspect of the series was the funny and witty dialogue.I'm looking forward to watching Serenity again now after just finishing the series.
If Blakes 7 was ever remade, this is how it should be.

Basq

PWEI wrote:

I'm not a big Sci Fi head,always hated Star Trek and couldn't get in to the new BattleStar Galactic but I couldn't stop watching Firefly.

Yep, same with me. In fact, if you search the Sci-Fi forum, i think i made a topic about "Will i like Firefly given the fact i didn't like Sci-Fi?". And i did love it!

That's what made Firefly and Serenity so special - it was, in my opinion, barely Sci-Fi.

What made the series / film was the witty dialogue and extremely likeable characters.

User45701

Firefly is the closent thing i have ever seen to a flawless show, there are shows that i like better because they had a chance to develep into what they are like BSG but firelfy is the only show i would describe as completly flawless.

Serenity well i love it. I have it on DVD 3 times, i bought it for my dad, thats 4 copies. Then i bought the HD DVD Serenity and i have also orderded SErenity Speciel edition so thats 6 times ive bought the movie and i know i will buy it again, actually i own it 7 times, i was on my way out of town and saw it in extra vision for only 10 euro and well.. every sale helps.

Eire 4Ever

I think the series was much better but i did enjoy the movie

Serenity is a good movie, brilliant in fact (I've seen it at least 5 times) but I always felt it left itself to be a nod to the Firefly fans more than the general audience. Not that this is a bad thing, it just goes to show how popular Firefly was before its untimely demise.

I've only started watching the series properly now and it is adding that bit more to the movie.

@ Karl Hungus: surely the character of Sheppard Book suffered more than Kaylee did.

The only time we saw him was when he died

Theboinkmaster

I thought the film was just ok - not a patch on the series, which IMHO is one of the best EVER made (of any genre)

johnny_ultimate

Deleted User wrote: »

@ Karl Hungus: surely the character of Sheppard Book suffered more than Kaylee did.

The only time we saw him was when he died

There is another scene with book near the start, when Mal and crew visit his planet for some advise and the such. But yeah, as a character he suffers: to the degree that I can only imagine those unfamiliar with the show will feel little to no emotional impact when he is murderised by the Alliance

.

Bubs101

Without a doubt Book suffered mmore than the other characters

The big story loop of him maybe being a former alliance officer was completely ignored

and is the only grievance I have with my favourite sci-fi film

Tusky

Jello wrote: »

Nope I never actually watched Firefly so I suppose this was merely an introduction for me. So yeah, I probably I can't appreciate the characters and story-line fully without seeing the series and I probably missed out on some of the main points. So for me it was just a very enjoyable sci-fi rather than a great way to finish a TV series.

However, I've a feeling I'll pick up the Firefly box set quite soon... and it may just seem like a totally different film when I watch this second time round after the TV series.

Do yourself a favor and pick up Firefly. I saw Serenity before I saw the series and really liked it. Then I watched Firefly and absolutely loved it.. I then watched the movie again and realized how great it actually is.

Jello

Tusky wrote: »

Do yourself a favor and pick up Firefly. I saw Serenity before I saw the series and really liked it. Then I watched Firefly and absolutely loved it.. I then watched the movie again and realized how great it actually is.

Just ordered it off play.com (only €15.49!) and looking forward to watching it now, been meaning to for a while.

gordon_gekko

once upon a time in america was on last night on film 4

my all time favourite film
without words the movie would be a masterpiece thanks to the music

Zillah

Sorry to drag up an old thread, but I only discovered Firefly/Serenity recently. Watched the series, adored it. Watched the film, adored it. I realised that I didn't really give a toss about most of the storylines, rather it was just an excuse to see more of these awesome characters.

However, I never liked Book. I felt he was kind of squeezed in and never quite fitted.

So I was quite delighted that it was he who died rather than one of my favourite characters. Imagine my shock when Wash gets speared suddenly in the chest, that was very upsetting. What I found to be most hard hitting about that moment was Zoe's reaction; both subtle and powerful at the same time.

Its strange that Firefly lacked general popularity, but that those who do like it tend to be head over heels in love with it.

Zillah

Zillah wrote: »

Its strange that Firefly lacked general popularity, but that those who do like it tend to be head over heels in love with it.

I think it is the definiton of a cult show, the small but immensly loyal fanbase whom adore it more than life its self. I watch both the show and film at least once a month and quote it from start to finish.

ziedth

ixoy wrote: »

hadn't seen the series first and if it meant that you approached the movie with different sensibilities and got something else from it that the more Browncoat-like amongst us did.

I am in fact one of these people, I went to the cinema without ever seeing the series(I wasn't mad into telly at the time). I really wish I had though cause even the fact the film was excelent at the time (its much much better since I watched the series and rewatched it) The shock scenes didn't mean anything to me such as

wash and book getting killed

cause I didn't realise their importance.

The scene just before they

make the ship look like revers in heaven

is so satisfying to see cause you only get the odd sight of say his Hero side even though you know that its there in the series.

Joss weadon tells a stunning story you only have to look as far as the buffyverse, I've become a massive fan of firefly since I watched the film in fact i'm watching it on sci-fi lately.