Summer Glau Movie:

		List Price: $19.98		Label: Universal Studios Salesrank: 7433 Released: April 18, 2006
		Our Price: $3.48
		Used Price: $2.99
		MPAA Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested) Media: HD DVD

Editorial Review:
Universal Serenity - HD-DVDBeloved television cult director Joss Whedon (BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER, ANGEL) makes a spectacular first foray onto the big screen with SERENITY, the cinematic adaptation of his wildly popular but short-lived sci-fi series, FIREFLY. A mix of space western, comedy, and drama, SERENITY follows captain Malcolm "Mal" Reynolds (Nathan Fillion) and his ragtag crew as they trade their way around the edges of civilized society. Of particular interest are two passengers they take on,Simon and River Tam (Sean Maher, Summer Glau), a brother and his telepathic sister on the run from the corrupt governing Alliance. As notorious former members of the anti-Alliance opposition, Mal andhis crew make it difficult for Simon and River tostay hidden. Everything goes completely awry whena government assassin is sent to retrieve River. As Mal is forced to choose between his close-knit crew and the brother and sister newcomers, it becomes apparent that River harbors both a dangerous secret and astounding fighting powers, and Mal decides that discovering the truth about what she knows might just be worth his time.

Description of Serenity [HD DVD]:
Serenity offers perfect proof that Firefly deserved a better fate than premature TV cancellation. Joss Whedon's acclaimed sci-fi Western hybrid series was ideally suited (in Browncoats, of course) for a big-screen conversion, and this action-packed adventure allows Whedon to fill in the Firefly backstory, especially the history and mystery of the spaceship Serenity's volatile and traumatized stowaway, River Tam (Summer Glau). Her lethal skills as a programmed "weapon" makes her a coveted prize for the power-hungry planetary Alliance, represented here by an Operative (Chiwetel Ejiofor) who'll stop at nothing to retrieve River from Serenity's protective crew. We still get all the quip-filled dialogue and ass-kicking action that we've come to expect from the creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, but Whedon goes a talented step further here, blessing his established ensemble cast with a more fully-developed dynamic of endearing relationships. Serenity's cast is led with well-balanced depth and humor by Nathan Fillion as Captain Mal Reynolds, whose maverick spirit is matched by his devotion to crewmates Wash (Alan Tudyk), Zoe (Gina Torres), fun-loving fighter Jayne (Adam Baldwin), engineer Kaylee (Jewel Staite), doctor Simon (Sean Maher), and Mal's former flame Inara (Morena Baccarin), who plays a pivotal role in Whedon's briskly-paced plot. As many critics agreed, Serenity offered all the fun and breezy excitement that was missing from George Lucas's latter-day Star Wars epics, and Whedon leaves an opening for a continuing franchise that never feels cheap or commercially opportunistic. With the mega-corporate mysteries of Blue Sun yet to be explored, it's a safe bet we haven't seen the last of the good ship Serenity. --Jeff Shannon

Serenity [HD DVD] Reviews:
Burn the Land and Boil the Sea
2009-11-10 - This movie proves my claim that part of what makes Firefly a classic TV series is that it's incomplete. In an attempt to turn a brilliant-but-cancelled TV show into a film franchise, the creators try to tie up too many loose ends, lose track of the radiant energy that makes the show a DVD mainstay, and don't even shoot the finished product in a visually appealing manner.

To start with, the movie gives us an opening sequence that flatly contradicts some of the facts revealed in the series pilot. To its credit, this sequence also gives us Chiwetel Ejiofor, an inspired young British actor who adds a strong note to this story. But the confusion brought about by this opening teaser presages the confusion committed fans will likely feel throughout the film.

Then the main body of the story starts several months after the end of the series. Inarra and Book have left the crew of Serenity, and River has crossed a line, getting her and her brother evicted. If this feels like the kind of crew-splitting that caused the first Star Trek movie to have such a confoundingly long opening act, well, that's an apt analogy.

The film then sets out to close down several of the series' unresolved storylines, not by actually closing them, but by creating new storylines that have nothing to do with the series. Couple that with River's newfound superhero powers, and a visual design so murky that the entire movie seems shot through Beijing smog, and you have a film that frustrates rather than satisfies fans.

I really, really love Firefly. Though only fourteen episodes were shot, it's so full of promise and energy that fans of smart stories can't help but be drawn in. That very promise, unsullied by the need for pat answers, has made the unfinished series a classic. This effort at just those pat answers, well, sullies the series. Enjoy your Firefly DVDs, but give this film a miss.

East Meets Western Adventure
2009-11-09 - The movie Serenity is based on the series Firefly - a futuristic adventure which follows the exploits of a freighter owner and his experience of eeking out a living in a post war universe. With each job he is faced with the prospect of doing what he needs to do to survive - mostly "bad guy" stuff - and doing what he feels is the right thing to do despite himself.

The supporting cast provides a wonderful set of personalities who are amazing together. The writing and actors are so well blended you can just sit back and believe they have been working together as a team on this freighter for a long time.

There is also a really great balance between humor and reality wherby the advetures are something you don't ever mind being a part of as the observer!

After watching this movie, I miss being a part of this group of friends so much that I want to start it all over again....and usually do!

Enjoy.




Firefly Movie
2009-11-09 - I'm mad that the "powers -that- be" cancelled the show, but it's nice to have this DVD. It's in good shape and plays as was described. Thanks!

Old School Sci Fi Blended with Contemporary Characters
2009-10-31 - As other reviewers point out, you don't need to know anything about the TV series that came before this movie. In fact, this movie alerted us to the series and we watched all the reruns afterwards.

This movie has superb effects, a great plot, plausible characters and excellent production values.

They stay away from too much science, with the entertainment coming from the characters and plot, not a pseudo explanation of how they zip across space.

Awesome ride.
2009-10-26 - I'm glad that the series' creator got a chance to wrap up a number of loose ends here. The movie carries on with the wry, exiting, occasionally laugh-out-loud style that made the series a must-see.