Serenity (2005)

[ZapRowsdower]

Serenity
Nathan Fillion, Summer Glau, Sean Maher, Adam Baldwin, Alan Tudyk, Gina Torres, Morena Baccarin, Jewel Staite, Chiwetel Ejiofor
Written and directed by Joss Whedon

I never watched Firefly, but I've heard it was one of Fox's many wrongfully cancelled TV series. Creator Joss Whedon decided to show Fox what they were gonna miss out on, and he brought a film version of his series to Universal. Those Fox execs must be feeling really stupid now. Not only is Serenity a hit, but it's also a damn good movie.

This is one of the most original science fiction films I've seen in a long time. Joss Whedon put plenty of effort into the mythology surrounding it- he brought us a new world of fantasy the likes of which we haven't seen since the original Star Wars. I mention Star Wars because Serenity is also reminiscent of the old serials. Non-stop action, likeable characters, and the escape from one dangerous situation only to walk into another, it's all there.

The cast had great chemistry. Perhaps it's the fact that they've all worked together before, but they played off each other very well and all seemed to be having fun. Summer Glau, however, stands out above the rest. Not only can she kick ass, but she can act. Her performance is one of the best this year, because of her ability to show a hint of humanity under her veil of mystery, rage and sadness.

Joss Whedon wrote a screenplay that elevates the quality of his movie above that of the Star Wars prequels. Unlike the Star Wars prequels, Serenity has personality. It has characters we care about; characters we understand and can relate with. The screenplay comes equipped with the naturalistic humor, wit and energy that hasn't been seen (although it has been attempted) since Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.

As Whedon's first big screen effort, he really did an impressive job directing the film. He carried out his vision of the future much better than most with his experience would. Considering this guy normally does TV series for the WB, I was very impressed.

The visual effects weren't quite as prestigious or 100% perfectly integrated like Star Wars or Lord of the Rings, but they weren't overbearing and they maintained the fantasy. Besides, it was kinda nice to see that while CGI was used quite a bit, they didn't try to replace the story with it.

David Newman's score was beautiful. It's difficult to describe it, but this was the most exciting original score I've heard all year. My one complaint would be that it should have been used more.

Surprisingly enough, Serenity is one of the best movies of the year. It is perfect in every aspect, and it's also the tongue-in-cheek serial this decade has been waiting for. I'm told I should try to watch Firefly, and believe me, I'm going to. If it means watching a longer version of Serenity, I'm in.

Premise
Conspiracies, cover-ups, and one disturbed girl who knows the truth.
10

Performers
Nathan Fillion, Summer Glau, Sean Maher, Adam Baldwin, Alan Tudyk, Gina Torres, Morena Baccarin, Jewel Staite, Chiwetel Ejiofor
10

Screenwriting
Joss Whedon
10

Direction
Joss Whedon
10

Visual Effects - Below the radar, doesn't attempt to distract the audience.
10

Original Score
David Newman
10

Oscar predictions:

Best Picture*, Best Actress in a Leading Role (Summer Glau)*, Best Original Screenplay (Joss Whedon)*, Best Original Score (David Newman), Best Visual Effects, Best Sound

*Wishful thinking. I'm aware it probably won't happen.

Final score: 100%
A+

[Phoenix]

Thanks for the great review Smitty! I was hoping you would write one.

About a week ago I watched a marathon of Firefly episodes on Sci-Fi channel to prepare myself for the film. I had only seen maybe one or two of them before that, and thought they were totally zainy. So after 10 hours of that on in the background I was so excited to see the film that I drug my husband kicking and screaming to see it with me the next day.

My thoughts:
WOO HOO! A great final chapter to the series, with homages to westerns and science fiction alike. My 72 year old grandfather even liked this movie!

What Joss Whedon can do is write. His characters are fun, in depth, and you actually care about them. My husband, who remember I had to argue with to see this movie, was blown away by the film. Apparently you dont have to watch 10 hours of Firefly to invest emotion into the characters. While Smitty dismisses Whedon as just a writer/director of a WB show, let me remind you that the show was Buffy the Vampire Slayer, one of the best cult TV shows ever made...and it started on FOX fyi. If you're familiar with Whedon's work it's not surprising that the film is so good - I was mainly worried that the studio might hack some things up. I am guessing they left his 'vision' intact.

Like Smitty said, the acting is great. I was worried about the CGI but I give it an 'A' - pretty good for a film without the HUGE budget of those other Sci-Fi biggies. Even a ship fight was exciting to watch!

My only negative, which isn't the films fault, is that there are some serious fanatics out there (called 'Brown Coats') of the series and they are a loud, nerdy, rowdy bunch. Try not to sit near them in the theater - they'll ruin the film for you.

I also give it 10/10

[ZapRowsdower]

phoenix said:

While Smitty dismisses Whedon as just a writer/director of a WB show, let me remind you that the show was Buffy the Vampire Slayer, one of the best cult TV shows ever made...and it started on FOX fyi.

Oh, I didn't mean anything negative towards Whedon. I only used that to show that this was his first big screen effort.

And the attacks on Fox were for their idiotic cancellation of the show. They could have had a real classic on their hands. I'm also pissed that they cancelled Futurama.

[Pulpmariachi]

Fox cancels everything, then leaves on Family Guy. Bastards.

Just saw and it really, really liked it a lot. Great intensity, someone said what the Star Wars prequels should have been (I didn't say that, but I read it somewhere) and has that whole Western edge to it.

Pretty great movie all around. I'd give it ***1/2 /**** myself.

[ZapRowsdower]

Hey, Family Guy is great!

And I'm the one who said it was what the Star Wars prequels should have been. ;D

[Heineken Skywalker]

iamthesmitty said:

And I'm the one who said it was what the Star Wars prequels should have been. ;D

Dude, you loved THE PHANTOM MENACE! Probably more than anyone else around here.

[ZapRowsdower]

I never said I DIDN'T. I DID love those films. A lot, actually. But you gotta admit, there was plenty room for improvement.

[Heineken Skywalker]

Was there room for improvement? Of course, but I feel that way about most movies. Any movie that I rate below a 10 has some room for improvement or I would rate it the perfect score of a 10.
The only STAR WARS movie I've ever rated a 10 was the very first one, EPISODE IV: A NEW HOPE. I don't think any of the sequels, or prequels, recaptured that magic, fun & spirit of the original. Maybe because in '77, it was something new and completely different from anything else I, and most people, had ever seen.
I thought the STAR WARS prequels got progressively better with each installment, with SITH being a very solid entertainment. Despite some bits of clunky dialogue and the occasional wooden line reading, I thought it also featured a few fine performances, a good story and some great effects. It gave me pretty much everything I would want from a SW flick.
It just seemed in your review that you were jumping on the "Bash the STAR WARS Prequels Bandwagon" despite having given them all a thumbs up previously.
I would like to see SERENITY some day, but I'd really like to watch the FIREFLY TV series first.

[Quorthon]

The original Star Wars trilogy is head and shoulders above the new trilogy, I think. Episode III--for as much as I loved it--really bothered me at times. The emperor's "evil" voice sounded kinda cheesy and, like I said in the Massive Movie Holes Thread (in Sci-Fi section), there was a massive moment of unrealistic science going on that made me squirm in my seat in the theater.

I was always a Return of the Jedi fan. Hey, I grew up in the 80's.

[Heineken Skywalker]

Fair enough. I agree that the new trilogy doesn't touch the original, overall. But hey, wasn't that pretty much the same voice The Emperor had in the original trilogy? If it's cheesy now, it was cheesy then.

[Quorthon]

Well, the part of it that I view as cheesy was the way that he just "formed" his "evil voice" while talking to Mace Windu. I don't know why, but I hated it. When in the original trilogy, that was the only way you ever heard him talk, it sounded fine. But going from "I'm a politician" voice to his "I'm the devil, muthafucka!" voice just sounded kinda cheesy.

But that's just me.