General Thoughts on Serenity the Movie

[Kanazaka]

I could not find a thread like this in the "Firefly" sub-forums (at least not one that was obviously titled so), so here it is. I recently watched this on DVD, and liked it about as well as I did when I first saw it in the theater back in 2005. I enjoyed the film a bit more on the big screen (as is the case for most of the films that I have seen), but it holds up well. This time around, though, I appreciate the characters more, having seen their character arcs on "Firefly". It made more sense why

Spoiler

the Operative beats up Mal so badly, because Mal tends to get beat up badly by villains

. The Simon/Kaylee sexual tension also makes more sense, as does Zoe's relationship with Wash (despite Joss's view, when I first watched the film, I did not immediately understand that the two were a couple, and only fully understood when

Spoiler

Wash died

). Outside of the film, I liked some of the deleted scenes, as well as the "Relighting The Firefly" Featurette, but am not a fan (so far -- I haven't yet finished it) of Joss's commentary. As with most of his commentaries, I find his self-deprecating humor to be a bit off-putting.

 

[BuffyElevated]

I could not find a thread like this in the "Firefly" sub-forums (at least not one that was obviously titled so), so here it is. I recently watched this on DVD, and liked it about as well as I did when I first saw it in the theater back in 2005. I enjoyed the film a bit more on the big screen (as is the case for most of the films that I have seen), but it holds up well. This time around, though, I appreciate the characters more, having seen their character arcs on "Firefly". It made more sense why

Spoiler

the Operative beats up Mal so badly, because Mal tends to get beat up badly by villains

. The Simon/Kaylee sexual tension also makes more sense, as does Zoe's relationship with Wash (despite Joss's view, when I first watched the film, I did not immediately understand that the two were a couple, and only fully understood when

Spoiler

Wash died

). Outside of the film, I liked some of the deleted scenes, as well as the "Relighting The Firefly" Featurette, but am not a fan (so far -- I haven't yet finished it) of Joss's commentary. As with most of his commentaries, I find his self-deprecating humor to be a bit off-putting.

ITA about Joss and his commentaries. I like to listen to them to hear the little behind the scenes tidbits he sometimes gives, but I honestly can't take much of him before I'm sick of listening to him talk. His self-deprecating humor comes across as one of those people who is really arrogant and stuck on themselves trying to fool people into believing otherwise.
Anyway....
I love "Serenity". I bought it for my husband while he was in AIT and I asked him how he liked it and he was so enthusiastic about it I refused to watch it til I saw the series first, and now I'm SO glad I did. 🙂 The movie definitely makes better sense if you know the histories of the characters, even though you can (like my husband) fall in love with it without having to know all the backstory.

 

[white avenger]

Like a lot of other people here, I didn't watch the "Firefly" series until after watching "Serenity," so I was kind of in the dark about the characters and their relationships. Even with that, I thoroughly enjoyed the movie and went home that evening and ordered the series on DVD from Amazon. Whether by design, coincidence, or sheer dumb luck, Joss perfectly revived the "Wagon Train To The Stars" theme that Gene Roddenberry envisioned for "Star Trek" (and revived the "Space Cowboy" theme from the otherwise thoroughly forgettable "Battle Beyond The Stars") back in the '70's, and with the mixed blessing of having a very short run, thereby avoiding the network interference and resultant quality deterioration that Roddenberry had to contend with in Season 3 of the original "Star Trek."

As for the recurring rumors of a "Serenity 2" movie, I personally think that it would be a mistake. The original movie brought closure to the serie, possibly not the exact ending that some would have preferred, but close enough. To go back there would be wrong, and a "Firefly: The Next Generation" would be next to impossible to pull off properly.

Of course, that doesn't rule out a totally new series taking place in the same universe. Maybe something like a family working to raise livestock on one of those newly terraformed moons. A wise matriarch and his boisterous offspring. "Bonanza To The Stars," anyone?

 

[sisterofmercy]

I don't think Serenity was as good as Firefly was, it's a lot darker in tone which was ok but it probably would have made me less enthusiastic about the series if it was the same. The reavers are awesome though, they genuinely freak me out a bit.

 

[badwolf]

Well I watched the series first, then Serenity and I definitely liked the series a lot more. I didn't like how they went over River's past again, but I get that for the sake of the movie and audience they had to give some backstory. I also felt like it was the River show, when I just wanted more Mal screentime. But certainly, it was a solid film and tied up the series nicely. And we got more Firefly, so what's NOT to like about the movie? 😀

 

[dexeded]

I watched the Firefly two-part pilot, and then Serenity. I love the revelation about the Reavers and the general progression of the movie. The bit where Simon gets River out at the beginning was super cool.

 

[WhedonsHorse]

Serenity must be my favourite movie, Joss did a really good job on it####1

 

[VisionGirl]

I don't think Serenity was as good as Firefly was, it's a lot darker in tone which was ok but it probably would have made me less enthusiastic about the series if it was the same. The reavers are awesome though, they genuinely freak me out a bit.

The Reavers are one of my favorite things about the movie (& the series). I love how they're completely human, but still so scary!

Well I watched the series first, then Serenity and I definitely liked the series a lot more. I didn't like how they went over River's past again, but I get that for the sake of the movie and audience they had to give some backstory. I also felt like it was the River show, when I just wanted more Mal screentime. But certainly, it was a solid film and tied up the series nicely. And we got more Firefly, so what's NOT to like about the movie? 😀

I do feel a bit like it's the River Show. I mean, it was a well-done River Show LOL. And I didn't dislike the storyline at all, I just wish it would've been balanced out by some of the other characters (Mal especially).

 

[Spikefan31]

No doubt Serenity was fantastic, but I agree with others who've said the tv series was better. I wish there was more. *sigh*

 

[WillowHallow]

I watched the Firefly two-part pilot, and then Serenity. I love the revelation about the Reavers and the general progression of the movie. The bit where Simon gets River out at the beginning was super cool.

It was, it also shows a bit of a evolution of characters, which I like. The bit where River kicks the Reavers' arses is epic! It shows that she understands what Simon gave up for her and how much he loves her<3

 

[Bluebird]

I thought the movie was fantastic, as a stand alone movie. In comparison to the greatness of Firefly though... it doesn't really hold up. It was constricted too much by having to be all things to all people. Making it accessible to the audiences who hadn't heard of the show, but at the same time acknowledging what had gone before. Some of the characters weren't given much screen time or properly given their due, but again it was constricted by what had to be done, and the running time.

Still love it though!

 

[Dagenspear]

The series wasn't dark enough. That's why the movie is better.