Serenity: Review By moviegeek

Aug 26th, 2010 by moviegeek
COMMENDABLE
  • OVERALL
    3.5
    GREAT
  • Story
  • Acting
  • Directing
  • Visuals
Most probably know that Serenity was based on a prematurely-cut TV series called 'Firefly'. Loved by fans, the show was turned into a feature-length film. This is a great sci-fi movie with a lot of spirit and style. Unfortunately, there is no real aim in the scattered, detached story, an incurable criticism to someone who has yet to watch this show.

River is a telepathic young woman, brainwashed by the galactic government known as the Alliance. Rescued by her own early on, the ship Serenity and her crew try their best to safely escort the unstable girl out of harm's way.

Serenity should be applauded for its magnificent photography. The action is terrific and exciting. The landscapes are picturesquely intriguing. The special effects aren't tremendous or ground-breaking. But from what is easily interpreted as a low-budget picture, they are beautiful.

The climactic battle scenes and some earlier moments show great potential for a sci-fi classic. The pacing and rising tension are perfectly calculated and executed. As is most films, there are shining moments of greatness.

Also, as in most films, there is an underlying problem. And my criticism will be easily explained away by fans of the show. Watching it, I was instantly convinced of how well this would work as a TV series. There seems to be multiple climaxes and far too many characters for a film. The premise is not well defined. In a show, you have an underlying goal that each individual episode works towards. In this movie, there is a lot of work, but it is all for a seemingly minimal goal. Instead of making one huge adventure, it seemed like one giant episode of a very workable series.

I'm sure that fans of the show will love Serenity. It is a very good science fiction picture. I was trying to figure things out more than I was enjoying its momentum, but the show probably cleared up much of my confusion. I admired and respected this film's look, spirit, and style. But there is just too much going on in what should be a broader adventure.

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Comments (14)

  1. OhTheFilmNerd

    The Movie Was Poorly Made, no, the story was poorly made, no was poorly represented the story has so much, but the pacing and the way they deliver their liness was quite bad, but it is full scale sciene fiction at its best,

    3 years agoby @ohthefilmnerdFlag

  2. ed_wood

    Good review. The movie and show were both awesome.

    3 years agoby @ed-woodFlag

  3. Diaigma

    Can't agree more, @moviegeek1 - nice review!

    3 years agoby @diaigmaFlag

  4. ejk1

    Oh, @moviegeek1, as far as the show goes, it was excellent.

    3 years agoby @ejk1Flag

  5. Dan

    Yeppers... those sons of bitches.

    3 years agoby @dan1Flag

  6. ejk1

    It was purposefully. Fox, for reasons unknown to me, hated the pilot episode. The premiere episode was "The Train Job," the third episode. The pilot episode, which was two hours long and explained everything, was the last episode aired, weeks after it was canceled(if my memory serves me correctly, Firefly was canceled in November, but the pilot aired in early December). Also, two episodes remained unaired, so only 12 were shown to the public. Fox desecrated this show, which is why I was so surprised Whedon took Dollhouse to them. He should've tried it at CW, a channel that would have loved to have him in the fold.

    3 years agoby @ejk1Flag

  7. moviegeek

    Well they are on Hulu so maybe check em out in the near future! In order..

    3 years agoby @moviegeekFlag

  8. Dan

    I dunno all the details. I know they didn't air the pilot 1st, they aired a different episode. Then the pilot later or something. And not all of them even aired.

    3 years agoby @dan1Flag

  9. moviegeek

    Out of order....? Purposefully?

    3 years agoby @moviegeekFlag

  10. Dan

    Yeah. And when Fox aired it, they aired it out of order. It was a damn shame. Once you get like 3-4 episodes in, you'll already feel yourself becoming invested in the characters, and then boom, it's over.

    3 years agoby @dan1Flag

  11. moviegeek

    Ohh. Well many people have recommended the movie and the show to me so maybe I'll check it out sometime. Only 14 episodes?? Yikes.

    3 years agoby @moviegeekFlag

  12. Dan

    Takes place afterwards. It has some prequel-esque scenes that fill in some gaps to the show, but mostly afterwards.

    3 years agoby @dan1Flag

  13. moviegeek

    Thanks! Does the movie take place before the series or does it work as a continuation of where it left off?

    3 years agoby @moviegeekFlag

  14. Dan

    I was happy that we got a film after Fox f*cked up one of it's finest sci fi shows and cancelled it. It continued the story to a point that I liked. But you are correct sir, it was more meant for TV with its structure. I'm still mad at Fox over that travesty.

    3 years agoby @dan1Flag