I guess I would describe Serenity as a sci-fi action drama about the price of freedom. Or, Citizen Kane with spaceships. I could go either way.
The Film
As an unabashed fan of pretty much everything Joss Whedon has written, it should come as no surprise that Serenity is probably my favourite film so far this year. By now pretty much every film critic and media outlet in the world has posted a review, so let me quote Australia's top film critic David Stratton: "It's like watching Star Wars almost back in 1977." I can't imagine more positive words than that. (Check out the Cinecast podcast for a similarly positive review ... there may be one or two others out there as well!).
The core of Serenity is something many big budget feature films miss: solid characterisation, plotting and dialogue. Joss Whedon is, first and foremost, a story teller. He writes people, and writes them well. Sure, they all seem to be imbued with a tad more wit that your run of the mill individuals, but that makes for good dialogue. Serenity has heart; you care about the characters and they face real challenges with, well, very real (and lasting) consequences. While having seen the short-lived series Firefly may enhance the film, it certainly isn't necessary and Joss does a great job of writing enough exposition to let the film stand alone, while not boring the fans. Each character has a story, and with such an ensemble cast it's impressive that you care about every one ("I am a leaf on the wind..."). On the downside, this is also clearly the first feature film Joss has directed: it is shot more like a TV show, with lots of tighter and functional shots, with the odd wider shot here and there more indicative of budget than planning. That's a small complaint, and didn't really impact my viewing pleasure much (it does, however, seem to be the biggest criticism I've read elsewhere.) In a nutshell, though, this is a clever film, with real characters, real dialogue, dealing with actual issues (more on that below) and doing so in a heartfelt and frequently hilarious way.
Article comments
1 - ss
Nice review.
I'd never seen the show, and didn't realize it's connection with the (then)upcoming movie, until I read about here. I read about the Buffy connection, and almost passed.
I happened to notice a repeat playing on the SciFi Channel, I watched and I was hooked.
The SF's a little weak, but it more than makes up for that by having everything Star Wars and Star Trek have always been sorely lacking in.
It's a shame more people haven't seen it, but I plan to buy the movie and the series on DVD.
2 - Hallie
I loved the music. I don't usually pay attention to that sort of thing, but the music really fit with each scene.
3 - nmcil
Ditto on the Nice Review - especially your comments regarding the connections on the current political dynamics and the past as well. I have seen the film, like all films, it did have a some flaws, but very very few of them. The acting, especially Mr. Fillon and Ms. Torres and the wonderful script more than offset the very few things I did find fault with.
4 - nmcil
Ditto on the Nice Review - especially your comments regarding the connections on the current political dynamics and the past as well. I have seen the film, like all films, it did have a some flaws, but very very few of them. The acting, especially Mr. Fillon and Ms. Torres and the wonderful script more than offset the very few things I did find fault with.
5 - macsgian
good review, though i think you missed the politics. the series, and the film, set a libertarian crew in the midst of a socialist world. think about it...who advocates for internationalism? conservatives? libertarians? no...socialists and liberals do. what did the Alliance accomplish? an Anglo-Sino (international) socialist government. if you think socialism and a big government is dandy, your with the Alliance my friend, not the Browncoats.
6 - Maxskyfan
This was a fine review, except for the political analysis. Stars Wars metaphors have been used to mock both extremes. You are making negative comparisons about conservative today, but someone else would be just as likely to have the negative comparison featuring John Kerry instead of George Bush if history had been changed. I was reading the synopsis of a Star Wars that describes the events before Episode I. The back cover read:
One man's fall from power
could lead to the end of the
Republic, and the irreversible
rise of the dark side...
Conservatives have used the phrase “Evil Empire” to attack Russia and Democrats. These kinds of remarks and comparisons are explanation points, not sound rationale.
Serenity as been defined as a western in space and the TV show had a country music theme song. And the captain was a businessman working in the backwaters of space. That sounds very Red State to me.
7 - Tama
macsgian & Maxskyfan, a couple of things: firstly, you seen to be equating communism with socialism, which seems fair, but communism quickly mutated into something quite different from socialist ideals (so, the Alliance might resemble the USSR as it existed, but that's not the same as arguing against socialism per se).
Rather, I'd suggest Serenity does embrace personal freedoms as sacred; many governmental structures across many centuries have oppressed personal freedoms, and that, to my mind, is what Serenity argues against on a political level. Today, that is arguing against Conservative governments who are restricting freedoms under the umbrella of fighting terrorism ... yesterday and tomorrow the government making similar demands may be different. It's the fight that matters ...