Joss Whedon's Serenity: A Review

Joss Whedon, the Oscar® - and Emmy - nominated writer/director responsible for the worldwide television phenomena of BUFFY THE VAMPIRE, ANGEL and FIREFLY, now applies his trademark compassion and wit to a small band of galactic outcasts 500 years in the future in his feature film directorial debut, Serenity. The film centers around Captain Malcolm Reynolds, a hardened veteran (on the losing side) of a galactic civil war, who now ekes out a living pulling off small crimes and transport-for-hire aboard his ship, Serenity. He leads a small, eclectic crew who are the closest thing he has left to family –squabbling, insubordinate and undyingly loyal.

I just left the Serenity Blogger Bonanza and I must first thank Universal Pictures, Grace Hill Media, and townhall.com for making the screening possible and letting me in as "press". The film was shown in the second best theater in the complex (the first being IMAX) and I got to sit in the premo seats which were reserved for press. I was a bit disappointed by the number of empty seats, but it was a very large theater and I don't think the screening was well published. My friends had all bailed on me, but I met up with a fellow Freestate Browncoat and we chatted a bit before the show.

I have to say that I go to the movies for entertainment. I generally don't tear a movie apart trying to analyze every little bit, I either liked it or I didn't. I thoroughly enjoyed Serenity, but I felt I had to think more upon this if I was going to give a review.

I think the most striking thing was the cinematography. Unlike a lot of sci-fi films you feel the closeness on the ship, the dirt of the universe, and the frustration of life. The play of shadows in the ship and the starkness of daylight on the planets showed how lighting can enhance the mood of a scene. I was moved by the sound--the silence in the external space scenes and then the loud roar as the ship entered a planet's atmosphere. It was exhilerating. And it helps that someone recognized that there is no sound in space. The score moved with the story and always seemed to add to the scene without overpowering it.

And then there are the actors. The cast fit well together and the scenes flowed naturally. I have to say that I felt Sean Maher was a bit too stiff in some scenes, but given his character... I just don't know if it was the acting or how the character was portrayed. Nathan Fillion's (Malcolm Reynolds) and Alan Tudyk's (Hoban 'Wash' Washburne) comic delivery were fantastic. They had great lines and the delivery did them justice. Jewel Staite (Kaylee Frye) also delivered quite well. Unfortunately the story focussed mostly on Malcolm and River Tam (Summer Glau), so we didn't get to see the fullness of the other actors or their characters. Adam Baldwin's portrayal of Jayne Cobb was excellent. You wanted to hate him, but there was something about him that kept you from it.

The best part was the feeling of realness. You just felt like it was possibly real life--people got dirty and stayed that way. There are several scenes where Malcolm is frustrated with a situation and reacts as any man would. During a heated argument Malcom asks Jayne if he wants to run the ship and Jayne answers "yes", Malcolm is at a loss for words and says "well, you can't". It is something everyone can identify with.

The movie kept me engaged the entire time. In the words of the 'verse: it's shiny, very shiny, Don't take my word for it, go see the movie.

Visit Serenity: The Official Movie Website for more informatio.