Serenity (DVD)

This movie is based on a tv series that failed to find an audience but became a cult hit when the episodes were released on dvd.
its fans tend to be bordering on fanatical and call themselves "browncoats". It is produced, written and directed by Joss Whedon, owner of one of the most entertaining and original minds in tv today. He previously brought us "Buffy" and "Angel".

Like his previous efforts, the show works because although its set on a space ship, the characters are full and vibrant. They seem like real people who react as real people would when faced with other-worldly events.The wit, one-liners and sarcasm that made Buffy so enjoyable is alao present.

Though this movie is set in space its ironically more grounded than his previous efforts. No Star Trek aliens in this "verse", just people trying to scratch a living by taking whatever work comes their way (you know smuggling, bank robberies, whatever...!)

The movie features Nathan Fillion as a burned out war-vet whos moral compass is a bit of a burden in his new profession. He plays it like Indiana Jones in space and indeed his fans have started a campaign to have him take over as Indiana Jones. He also played Caleb from Buffy. Gina Torres is his first mate (she previously appeared as Jasmine in Angel) and Adam Baldwin is the more mercenary Jayne.

My boyfriend and I watched this together, and he had not seen Firefly. He definately found it a struggle, and i found i enjoyed the film more after re-viewing Firefly. Other people I talked to love the movie without ever realising there was a tv show.
My advice is buy Firefly and Serenity together. You will love them.

Serenity,One of the best films i have seen in ages.I loved the series and the film just goes to show they have still go it.Thanks.

Good movie, seen it before, good price for my own copy.A must have for the followers of "Firefly". Easier to understand if you've seen the series.

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A magnificent seven retold through scifi. Contains a bit of humour lots of adventure & the right amount of tension through simmering relationships, core beliefs & loyalties. The main heroine has the right mix of strength, where she leaves a bar full of guys completely floored, & feminine vulnerability...a top watch

Following on from the superb TV series: Firefly, Serenity goes some way to answering a number of questions left unanswered when the TV series was unexpectedly not renewed by Fox.

The film stays true to the original series with little in the way of additional Hollywood hype / schmaltz and at a reletively short length of just over an hour, can perhaps be considered as an extra double-episode feature.

Many questions still remain unanswered though (hopefully enough for a sequel, but I guess we'll have to wait and see).

It's definately worth fully aquainting yourself with all the characters and episodes of: firefly BEFORE watching this, if you want to get the most out of it.

As a big fan of Firefly, I looked forward to watching Serenity - and I wasn't disappointed.
The film has been done in a way that newcomers to the idea get the storyline, and inter-relationships in the crew, pretty much straight away, and the film is a gentle encapsulement of the series.
I'm pleased I managed to get the film, as it's a great addition to the series - and it gives me an additional 'fix' when I've finished watching the last episode of the series! <grin>
I would never have thought of putting an old-fashioned wetern theme along with hi-tech scifi, but the combination that Joss Whedon put together works a treat - this film is well worth watching as a stand-alone, and will be enjoyable even if you've never seen the series.

This was not a bad film which is about a race on the verge of extinction let down by their goverment who had experimented on a planet and caused the mutants to become vicious canibles so the merry band of misfits trudge through existence with a secret weapon they didnt know they had

Once you know what is going on its OK but I found it difficult to get into at first as it was also difficult to hear what the actors were saying sometimes. But for the action that happens at the 1 hour 45 mins point is worth waiting for, the girl did all her own stunts and fights and I would put her just below Xena in entertainment value. Yes a lighthearted enough film to pass sometime away with so most will probably enjoy and its a family film.

Serenity is based on the Joss Whedon story 'Firefly'. The series is based in space and takes a turn at twist in every episode. Personally the whitty one liners from the series were carried over and achieved in the film.

My honest opinion is that this is a film you Must-See at least once. I do think however that you should watch the Firefly series first, as this opens up a lot more questions for the movie to answer. But be warned, you don't know what you're in for...

An absolutely fantastic film, great story but the characters in the film are the true highlight of the experience, their interactions with eachother are engrossing. Some great comedic moments and some really dramatic scenes make this one of the all time Sci-Fi greats.

The cover and title of the film are misleading - ie, it looks like a 'buffy' type deal (which I hate) - but I found it gritty and quite intelligent with an interesting and involving story line. The characters have a 'shabby' reality about them and the dialogue is sharp and witty. although I've only seen it once , I already want to see it again, and feel I could see it several times - ie, there is enough 'substance' to keep you involved - which is high praise for a purely escapist type movie. I expected a 'teen'/'trendy' type offering, and what I found was more 'balsy' and 'real' - which is a fair achievement for essentially a 'fantasy' movie. Reccomended for Sci-Fi fans.

SERENITY takes place 500 years in the future. Other solar system planets have been inhabited and the whole shebang is ambitiously controlled by the monolithic Alliance. Science now can program everyone’s thoughts and lives (For those interested, I’d like to recommend Jose M. R. Delgrado’s notorious “Physical Control of the Mind: Toward a Psychocivilized Society.”). All, except rebel Capt. Malcolm "Mal" Reynolds (Nathan Fillion) and the crew of his ship, Serenity.

The ship’s doctor, Simon (Sean Maher), needs help freeing his creepy, catatonic, but powerfully psychic, 17-year-old sister River Tam (Summer Glau), from the Alliance’s grip. Shoeless and dopey, River is the latest model of war-craft: a 90-pound killing machine with extraordinary psychic powers. River is controlled with MK-ULTRA-like commands. It is a very easy rescue but Alliance forces, led by a mysterious gent known as Operative (Chiwetel Ejiofor), pursue Serenity across planetary systems. Operative will not die.

If you are not a “cult” fan, the story is simple enough to follow. Fillion, an obvious alterego for Whedon, is given all the sexy close-ups. I liked the personality of the crew, especially the guy who kept – realistically – complaining about the mission to rescue the monosyllabic River. Well, you will be pleased to know that when spooky River is programmed to kill, she finds a pair of SS regulation boots!

The physical laws of strength do not apply here. River is one of those spacey chicks that soon gets annoying. River, for all her importance to the Alliance, is a waif-burden. What I liked about SERENITY? Saying exactly what I liked is a spoiler.

SPOILER ALERT!

The deaths and the hip dialogue. Fillion does not believe in taking prisoners or letting diplomacy mar his agenda. His ex-girlfriend should be dropped off at the nearest planet. The special effects are horrible and Whedon, for all his proclaimed love for his baby, has not realized his universe with the cruel intelligence of, let’s say, BLADE RUNNER.

The original space cowboy adventure! Sequel to the cult tv show Firefly (which is also a must see) and one of my favourite films, Serenity tells the story of a rag-tag crew doing mostly illegal smuggling with a couple of fugitives. Only they have no idea if one River is going to go Psycho and kill them all. With the treat of the alliance military chasing them and the space killers Reavers, an action packed adventure that any SCI-FI or action lover will not want to miss!!

Shiny!

More stuff on the original Firefly crew, although the universe is slightly different. But Joss rocks, as ever.

A lot better than Firefly, the characters have developed well, especially river and it gives more of a sci-fi feeling than the western basis of Firefly. After Firefly I didn't want to see any more, Serenity could develop into a much better series.
Not as good as the classics like Roswell, Farscape, 4400 and Heroes to name buy a few.

To those who loved Firefly and those that like character driven sci-fi this is definitely worth picking up.

A firm fan of Firefly, I watched this originally with a friend, and I have to say it was an very good conclusion to Firefly/Serenity Universe (or should I say 'Verse) story, so I began looking to pick up my own copy.
The characters are 6 months on from the end of episode 14. Inara has left as she promised, and so too has Book.
The story starts with revelations behind Simon and River's story and catapults them firmly into the limelight, both of whom are still considered crew.
All the characters get a further chance to be explored, the story moves along well, and ends in the typical Grand Finale. It could and did conclude there.
As satisfying story only let down by the fact you will always want more. Such a shame that Firefly or Serenity never picked up again.
As well as a story Joss does a fantastic job of keeping the story going whilst filling out a wonderful setting.

Extras on the box include the typical cut-scenes. The bloopers are not that great, and the commentary is nothing spectacular. There is an interesting insight behind both the 'Verse and the technicalities of filming aboard the Firefly ship.

Being a long standing firefly fan the excitement of this movie was undescribable. The story brings up everything you wanted to know and brings conculsions to questions left unanswered by the sudden ending of the show.

The film is open to those who have seen the show and those who have not. The cast are fantastic, taking a bunch of relative unknowns and making them into the stars they are now deservedly becomming.

The storys not just for sci-fi fans, anyone who loves a story with a heart wherever its set then this is for you.

Watch it once and you will love it!

There is no movie like this one. Refusing to conform to genre stereotypes, Serenity has been lovingly dubbed the "space cowboy" movie. A follow up form the cancelled show "Firefly", nine people from different backgrounds (and planets) try to dodge authority and commit petty crime to keep themselves alive while hiding figitives and transporting people with no obvious motive to fly with them, only to stumble upon something that threatens to destroy the world they know...
Mal, the captain, and Zoe the first mate are the only survivors of their platoon from the battle of Serenity valley for which the ship is named. Both are battle hardened, and it was in this war that Mal lost faith in God. Zoe's loyalty to her captain is only exceeded by her love for her husband, Wash, the amazingly skilled pilot who has saved everyones lives more than once. Jayne loves his weaponry, and sweet Kaylee is mad about machines...the ships engineer, she nurses a tentative crush on Simon, the charmingly awkward doctor and ships medic who would reciprocate if he had any time off from looking after his crazy sister, River, tortured into insanity by the mysterious Blue Sun Initiative. Shepard Book, a pastor, we learn very little about, which leaves Inara, a companion or high class prostitute, whose growing love for Mal caused her to leave Serenity before the film began. I have spent so much time describing the characters because they are who the film is really about, while the fight scenes are amazing and the chase scenes are so cool. The movie shows us that what binds these people together is stronger than even blood - it is love. You will laugh you head off - this is Whedon, after all, and you will gasp in fear, you will fall in love with their wonky and beautiful ship held together by duct tape and spit and prayers, you will be utterly heartbroken. I guarantee it.
A massive and scarily obsessive fanbase called the browncoats (me included) fought tooth and nail to bring back this astoundingly brilliant show after it got axed after only one season. We can make do with this, our BDM: Big Damn Movie. You cannot see this film and not understand why we love it so much, it was worth fighting for. My favorite movie and, even if you dislike sci-fi's and westerns, Joss Whedons masterpeice makes an exception to any rule.
You can't stop the signal...

Review:
Having converted most of my old video collection to DVD I was thrilled to find this film gem in digital format. If you watch this in widescreen format, it really does the battle scene great justice; coupled with surround sound, you'll be gripped by the amazing cinematography. I would recommend the director's cut that includes scenes about the relationship between the lead character and his estranged wife and helps you to understand the motivation behind his decision.

Serenity is a readaptation of the series Firefly i have never watched the series but heard of the film and if the series is as good as the film then you will not be dissapointed.

Shorn of the black-and-white morality of other Sci-Fi creations 'Serenity' introduces a cast of complicated characters with shifting allegiances and friendships. Sometimes they do good things; sometimes bad. The characters can be related to in a way that other Sci-Fi creations fail to achieve (Jar Jar Binks in the new Star Wars films for example).

It's one of the few films that I have seen in a theatre where the audience clapped and cheered at the end.

People that don't like Sci-Fi will like Serentiy.

Its nouthing like buffy .. thank god ! one film to see... it was more a a horror film than a film about some brother looking out for his little sister.. oh yes who happens to have some strang powers .. powers of a woman to kick ass when triggered (some call it PMT). Great film had me on the edge of my seat, Oh and I though is space you use'd lazers, not in this you can harpon as well. The one part that got me is when the tough guy gets harpon'd through the leg ... not fot the faint of heart ENJOY!

saw the tv series backwards and finally got the film to go woth it, all good ideas but a shame that man has not developed anything better than guns even though intergalatic space travel is common. the plit was beter than the series, and fans will learnt alot, although probably know it all anyways.

I am a science fiction fan particularly space scifi and this was typical of the type of title I really enjoy. It was action packed very technical and a very good story line. The acting was believable and the special effects were top notch. Excellent watch!!!!