Movie Notes: Serenity

December 9th, 2008

= 5 stars if you’ve seen the series, 4 stars otherwise

Starring Nathan Fillion, Summer Glau, Chiwetel Ejiofor
Directed by Joss Whedon

Synopsis

In a solar system colonized by humans, the outlaw spaceship Serenity, captained by gruff Mal (Nathan Fillion), is harboring two mysterious fugitives, River (Summer Glau) and Simon. The “Alliance” dispatches a secret operative (Chiwetel Ejiofor) to capture them.

The Good

• Many of my favorite parts of the series were expanded upon. We see much more of the Alliance that we only got a tantalizing glimpse of (Ariel), the Reavers (the pilot episode), an Alliance “operative” (Objects In Space), and the mystery behind River’s fighting ability, evidenced during Mal’s resuce at Nisha’s space station (War Stories).
• Less focus on the western metaphor and more on the Alliance and action.
• We finally get some answers as to the nature of the medical experiments on River. Her potential was only hinted at in the series.
• Once the origin of the Reavers is learned, the Firefly “verse” becomes a statement on humanity — the Alliance is intent on controlling people through technology, in attempts to create a “world without sin.” The other extreme of humanity are the Reavers, who have reverted to an animal nature. The “browncoats” of which Mal and the Serenity crew are a part of, exists in between the two extremes, valuing freedom and personal choice. By the example of the planet Miranda, the end message is of caution and humility when it comes to humankind’s desire to shape the world.

The Bad

• Anybody watching this film without first seeing the series would be at a huge loss. The film is much more satisfying knowing the details of Mal and Inara’s relationship, Kaylee and Simon’s flirtations, and especially, the characters of Wash and Shepherd.
• The large cast of characters — necessary for a television show — becomes rather superfluous in this film. Inara, Zoe, and Kaylee aren’t really essential to this plot and often stand around just for the sake of being there. Oddly, the boorish Jayne who sometimes seemed ridiculous in the series, fares better in the movie as comic relief and as a “heavy” amid the film’s emphasis on gun battles.
• Would have been good to have one, long, smoldering fight between Mal and Inara, for old time’s sake.

Conclusion

Serenity is a very satisfying conclusion to the Firefly series which unfortunately got canceled during its first season. But I hesitate to recommend anybody until you’ve watched the television series, first. That’s the film’s biggest flaw. And ultimately, there’s a big bummer as the movie wasn’t successful enough at the box office to warrant any more sequels. Other than that, it’s a fun ride.

IMDB: Serenity
Wikipedia: Serenity
Rotten Tomatoes: Serenity 82%