Lucky little sod that I am, I've just come back from a pre-screening of Joss Whedon's forthcoming science fiction movie "Serenity," known to Firefly fans like myself as "the movie event of the year." I won't post any spoilers here until the movie has come out and people have had a chance to see it. This isn't a review as such. I just wanted to take the opportunity to say how absolutely fucking AWESOME this film is.

I went with three other people to this pre-screening. One was the guy who originally got me into Firefly, the other two were practically ignorant of the series other than having watched brief snippets of an episode or two. After the film, one of these neophytes was practically a dyed in the wool convert. The other...well, if he picks up Firefly on DVD then my fellow Browncoat and I will know for sure that he too has become a convert.

It's everything the new Star Wars trilogy wasn't, and while that may not sound like much, you have to consider that I grew up on the original "Holy Trilogy." This movie perfectly demonstrates that all the special effects in the world are no match for a good story and well-rounded, realistic characters. Serenity spans the entire spectrum of emotions, blending comedy and tragedy with some kick-arse action sequences. Mundane movie staples like flashbacks and exposition are given a new lease of life and seamlessly woven into the story, never once breaking immersion.

If you like intelligent movies of any genre then you will enjoy Serenity. No, if you enjoy intelligent movies Full Stop (or "Period" as the Yanks say) then you will enjoy Serenity. Even if you've never seen Firefly, the movie gently eases you in before releasing the brakes and sending you hurtling towards its conclusion. Come September 30th (or mid-October for my fellow Brits), I urge everyone to go out and see it. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll be in for one hell of a ride.

- trag, "I am a leaf on the wind"

I hate and envy you on truly epic levels right now.

Threnody - Waiting for september 30th as a small child awaits a combination christmas/easter/birthday, or would if such a day existed

So tell me this, trag. In your opinion, will Serenity do what we, the fans, hoped it would do: convince Fox that there is an audience for Firefly and to put it back into production?

That's a tricky question to answer, because I do not know the minds of the executives at FOX. One of the unofficial reasons I heard for the series being cancelled in the first place was simple corporate politics at FOX; it seems there really are some dim, spiteful, art-hating fuckwits at that corporation. Besides, Joss Whedon has said in interviews that his whole experience with FOX has put him off doing TV in favour of more movie work.

However, I will stress again that although I viewed it from thperspective of a hardcore fan, the two non-fans I was with both greatly enjoyed it. One of them in particular goes out of his way to find the tiniest of flaws in a movie (he ripped the piss out of Saw for the sheer amount of "watch us, the creators, beat you the viewer over the head with a big stick of solid IRONY" in it). The worst he could come up with was a few weak comments about The Operative's martial arts prowess, but these were said mainly in jest.

Serenity is a movie that not only deserves to do well, but I believe can do well if promoted well. Think back to the way the first Matrix movie appeared out of nowhere and grabbed everyone's attention. Serenity easily has the potential to do that. It does truly have something for everyone, including a kick-arse space battle that pisses all over the one in Revenge of the Sith.

As for what a potential new series would bring, I can't really say anymore without posting spoilers.

- trag, "I don't wanna explode!"

I doubt that this would be too much of a spoiler, but is Serenity equipped with guns like I think I saw in the trailer? I wasn't too pleased when I saw that, if it is what I saw.

Oh, and as far as pre-screening the movie goes: I hate you.

-Glandith

*shakes tiny little fist at Trag, then cleans green spittle-flecks of jealousy off the monitor*

As a confirmed addict, I officially gnash my teeth in envy at you.

I can't wait for this film, and even those friends I have whom I haven't been able to convert think the trailer looks amazing. Myself? The 30th seems so far off. But my entire family is now hooked and dying to see it. I continue to hope that a success with this film might bring back the series. Fox has been know to do it before- take the case of the Family Guy. They were cancelled, but when DVD sales were through the roof, Seth Macfarlane was asked to bring it back. The same could happen here... maybe.

Captain Nevarre

Allow me to put your fears of an armed-to-the-teeth, catering-to-the-action-movie-crowd Serenity to rest. At one point in the film Serenity is indeed equipped with A (singular) gun, but only for a short while. Think of Jayne using Vera in "Our Mrs Reynolds," only the gun's a bit bigger.


Serenity is pretty much "Firefly: Season 2" condensed into two hours of awesome. After seeing the film, I have mixed feelings about FOX ever picking it up for another series. Why? Simple; I don't think I could bear to see them screw over Mal and his crew again. On the way home my fellow Browncoat said he wasn't sure he'd even want to see a Serenity sequel, because the movie tied things up so nicely (while still leaving enough for more, of course).


"What I do is evil. I have no illusions about it but it must be done."

- trag

Though I've never had the privilege of seeing the original series, just by seeing the trailer I am drooling over the awesomenes that is this movie. This is one of the few movies I can say I'm looking forward to and now I know that it's even more than an action flick, it sounds all the more savory.

For the record: I am jealous.

Also for the record: I'd have to go dig through a pile of comics and comic-related magazines in order to give you the source, but in a recent interview, Joss Whedon stated that it was very unlikely that he would return to the small screen with the crew of Serenity. His reasons are twofold: first, because FOX has been fucking him at every turn for years and he is fed up with TV and second, because Mal and the gang have been taken to a bigger place, and Joss doesn't want to pull it back down to the small screen and cheapen the experience. I am guessing that if we see more of Serenity, it will be in cineplexes or on the printed page.

My review of Serenity can be found in my LJ HERE for any interested. There are no spoilers, so enjoy.

Welcome to the fold.

- trag, "We're going to need a lot of red paint."

Honestly, I couldn't help but feel a little geekishly special when the rep from Universal pulled me from the line of others there for the early screening and said, "Oh, you're one of the Blog reviewers. Your seats are reserved. Go to the head of the line." and then I got a handstamp and sent on my way in.

Luna - VIP for a day
"I don't wanna explode!"

We didn't quite have that kind of VIP treatment at Bluewater. Not that we cared one jot because hey, we were going to see Serenity! The cinema wasn't packed completely, which we found odd because the tickets for it had all sold out. My friend theorised that some obviously bought tickets and then were unable to make it for some reason.

So that makes two of us who've seen it. We still can't post spoilers of course, but that doesn't stop us making not-so-sly references does it?

- trag, "Three mags and my swinging cod!"

Right, the movie is out now so if you've been good little US Browncoats you should have seen it already. If not then tough, because I'm going to post spoilers here.

So, River's made of chocolate. I honestly thought Penny Arcade was making it up, and my hat is well and truly off to Joss Whedon for giving viewers that totally unexpected plot twist. To be frank I could see Jayne's spontaneous combustion scene coming a mile off (yes, I'm afraid he does explode, yet it's thankfully not fatal), but the moment Zoe got frozen in carbonite just knocked me for six. Many of Whedon's critics have accused him of shamelessly ripping off Star Wars but apart from that, Kaylee and Inara's gold bikini dance and the Alliance's huge planet-destroying battle station, I didn't see many similarities. I did love how the cargo they delivered at the end WAS actually a shipment of black-market beagles, which was one of many nice nods to Firefly fans. Shepherd Book leading the US 5th Cavalry in a charge against the Alliance Parliament building was sheer genius. When he finally emerged triumphant, covered in the blood of his fallen enemies, I had a tear in my eye.

Bad points? There were only a few. I was disappointed that Mal actually behaved immaculately throughout most of the film, despite what he says in the trailer about aiming to misbehave. The only instance of wrong behaviour I saw was when he used the incorrect cutlery in THAT scene (those who've seen the movie know exactly what I'm talking about), the repurcussions of which nevertheless blew me away. Never in all my years of movie-watching have I seen cocktail sticks used in such a fashion; it is to this movie what Bullet-time was to The Matrix. Badger's sex-change, though completely necessary to the plot, went into too much gory detail. A few glimpses of Simon Tam working away dilligently would have been more effective than showing an entire half hour of the procedure. I also found the homages to Forbidden Planet a tad too unsubtle, what with Robbie the Robot's sudden appearance and Wash screaming "Monsters from the Id!" Finally, the Reavers non-violent protest scene where they waved placards reading "Bush = Warmonger" and "Christopher Walken in 2008" could alienate some viewers.

Okay, those aren't really spoilers. In fact they're just bare-faced falsehoods. My point however is that Serenity "only" took $10million on its opening weekend, coming second to Flight Plan. Who the hell wants to go see a movie about some woman losing her son on a plane? How do you lose a kid on a plane anyhow? "Help! Help! My son is missing! Oh wait, he was hiding in the toilet all along."

You, whoever you are, must see Serenity. Firstly because it is an outstanding movie and, secondly, so I can finally discuss it properly with you fine people.

- trag, eagerly awaiting the October 7th UK release date

I've finally gotten to see it! I've been waiting so so patiently and I finally was treated to one of the best films of the year and one that now ranks high in my personal 10 best films ever.

I had to wait longer than I wanted, but it was my fault alone. I recruited half a dozen new Browncoats when I returned from the nether realms of Orlando with a few shiny DVDs. My entire family and all I came in contact with were quickly converted. Then they delayed my viewing for days!

But the wait is over. Now I too weep at the phrase "I am a leaf on the wind". Damnit.

So the only question remaining for me is: when am I going again, and with whom?

Captain Nevarre
"screw that! I'm gonna LIVE!"