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Serenity

film review by dan heaton

"Take my love. Take my land. Take me where I cannot stand. I don't care, I'm still free. You can't take the sky from me." – Firefly Theme

Airing for a brief period in the fall of 2002, the science-fiction series Firefly received little support from the Fox Network and was quickly cancelled. During its 11-episode run, the clever show from genre stud Joss Whedon ( Buffy, Angel) quickly developed a rabid legion of fans known as "Browncoats." Bolstered by their enthusiasm, the series received an impressive DVD release in 2003 that included three previously unreleased episodes and some great features. When the collection's sales went through the roof, Whedon used this opportunity to gain financing for a feature film continuing the adventures of the beloved characters. The result was Serenity, which reunited the entire primary cast and utilized a larger, more action-packed narrative for the big screen.

The primary story focuses on the inhabitants of the Firefly-class ship Serenity, a transport vessel that basically acts like a stagecoach through space. It contains no laser cannons or other violent means to defend itself and must run when faced with a nefarious enemy. The ship's captain is Mal Reynolds (Nathan Fillion), an old-style gunslinger out of a Western film who believes in honor but will defend himself aggressively if necessary. Once an army man who fought (and lost) in a battle for independence, Mal now acts as an outlaw who will take any job to keep his ship running and his crew fed. His right-hand woman is the stern Zoe (Gina Torres), also an army veteran and Mal's most consistent ally. The group's muscle comes from the gruff, self-centered Jayne (Adam Baldwin), whose loyalty is not always certain. The remaining crew members include the friendly pilot Wash (Alan Tudyk), lovable engineer Kaylee (Jewel Staite), professional companion Inara (Monica Baccarin), preacher Shepard Book (Ron Glass), doctor Simon Tam (Sean Maher), and his psychologically unstable sister River (Summer Glau).

The premise for the series and film is too complex to describe in this brief area, but here is a basic overview that should help you to enter the theater with a greater understanding. The events take place 500 years in the future, and humanity has still made no contact with alien life. Earth's resources have been expended (not a surprise), so we have traveled to another solar system and terraformed numerous planets to resemble our original world. Corporate rule has reached another level with the Alliance, an American-Chinese collaboration that aims to make life "better" by controlling everything. Our heroes try to avoid the Alliance and remain among the outlying planets, which resemble old frontier outposts from the Old West. This combination of science fiction and western elements has baffled many a viewer, but it makes sense when considering the history of the series.

Before I bore you with any more unnecessary exposition, let's get to the feature film. It focuses on the secrets housed within the mind of River Tam, a psychic teen who was the subject of horrific experiments by the Alliance . Housed within Serenity, her presence on the ship endangers the entire crew. Hints have occurred as to her special abilities in the past, but they come to the forefront during the film. The primary danger comes from the Operative (Chiwetel Ejiofor), who exudes a methodical, terrifying demeanor and faith in the larger mission. The crew must also avoid the Reavers, zombie-like nasties who have been victimized by the nothingness of space and use their madness to eat people. Averting capture (or death) from both enemies becomes extremely difficult in this picture, which raises the stakes and the danger for our beloved heroes.

So why should so you see Serenity? If you're already a "Browncoat," this release has been a long-awaited moment and you require no convincing. But what about the average viewer who enjoys science fiction but isn't a devotee? First of all, this movie's setting differs considerably from the larger-than-life deeds of the Star Trek or recent Star Wars universes. The characters are common folk who just want to go their way and avoid any intrusion from the dull Alliance guys. I'd love to live on this ship and would enjoy spending time with these pals, which is not the case with someone like the stuffy Captain Picard. In fact, the entire tone of this film differs considerably from the typical overly ambitious efforts of the genre. It feels like a grand adventure, but Whedon doesn't need to constantly prove his mettle with ridiculous special effects (a la George Lucas). Instead, he created nine witty, believable characters that exude plenty of depth to make them compelling.

The cast may not include any major stars, but each actor brings a unique flavor to the role and makes them memorable. When they face a possible end, it's almost excruciating to think that this may be the character's last appearance. Nathan Fillion makes a capable leading man and injects more complexity into Mal than in his television appearance. Being free of Fox's "make him sillier" demands allowed Whedon to write the captain with more intensity this time. Summer Glau receives a larger part this time and is able to showcase her upbringing as a ballerina. The most entertaining actors continue to be Adam Baldwin and Alan Tudyk, who offer perfect comic timing and nail their lines throughout the picture. Baldwin's Jayne remains unapologetic about his selfish goals yet provides such an engaging presence on the screen. Tudyk's comedic skills pay off in a role that could have easily drifted towards a less interesting character. Ron Glass and Monica Baccarin's appearances probably spent a lot of time on the cutting room floor, but they perform well in limited time. Finally, Jewel Staite and Sean Maher continue to stumble through their cute, unstated courtship.

Whedon's emphasis on character over action is outstanding, but they are not the only highlights of this classic film. Its larger budget allows for several stunning chase sequences, which showcase both impressive effects and clever dialogue. The silent space scenes are both grand and eerie, and the use of hand-held camera over CGI remains groundbreaking. The western elements are lessened a bit here, but the gunplay and hand-to-hand fighting remain down-to-earth and never enter Matrix territory.

This adventure utilizes the best elements of Star Wars and Raiders of the Lost Ark while presenting a new story that will hopefully lead to future adventures. As a recent convert to Firefly, I can state with enthusiasm that you will enjoy Serenity even without prior knowledge of the series' origins. It provides equal enjoyment for devotees and newcomers alike due to its clever tone and likable cast. As stated in the show's theme song: "Have no place I can be since I found Serenity."


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