Serenity (Widescreen) (2005)

"Not since the Matrix has a movie rocked so relentlessly!  Mark S. Allen, UPN-TV/Premiere Radio Networks
"An absolute blast.  John Procaccino, CBS-TV
"Slamming Action Sequences.  Tom Long, The Detroit News
"The funny, adventurous Serenity proves there is life after cancellation.  Christian Toto, Washington Times
"...flies with sass and spirit, qualities that have been in palpably short supply in that Star Wars series since, well, Star Wars.  Jan Stuart, NewsDay
"...superior in almost every respect to George Lucas's aggressively more ambitious screen entertainments.  Manohla Dargis, The New York Times
"A triumph! A thrillingly original science fiction creation.  Peter Hartlaub, San Francisco Chronicle

Editor's Note Beloved 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 and his crew make it difficult for Simon and River to stay hidden. Everything goes completely awry when a 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. Many of the film's action sequences revolve around Summer Glau's martial arts skills in her portrayal of River. Glau prepared for her role with Hong Kong stuntwoman Ming Lu, as well as stunt coordinators Chad Stahelski and Hiro Koda, and as a resulted performed nearly all the stuntwork herself. In addition to the stellar stunts, realistic graphics, and an often haunting score, the film's actors display a rare chemistry that brings viewers both into their lives and into a possible version of humanity's future.

	Alan Tudyk
	Gina Torres
	Morena Baccarin
	Nathan Fillion
	Barry Chusid - Production Designer
	Barry Mendel - Producer
	Christopher Buchanan, et. al. - Executive Producer
	David Newman, et. al. - Original Music By
	Jack N. Green - Cinematographer
	Joss Whedon - Director
	Joss Whedon - Writer
	Lisa Lassek - Editor

Entertainment Weekly
"[A] TV season's worth of roller-coastering drama, most of it balanced on the capable shoulders of Fillion, a natural leading man." -- Grade: B 10/07/2005 p.51

Sight and Sound
"Many of the film's pleasures are down to small-screen values...and the good-humoured playing of an experienced, non-starry ensemble cast." 11/01/2005 p.78

New York Times
"Scene for scene, SERENITY is more engaging and certainly better written and acted than any of Mr. Lucas's recent screen entertainments." 10/28/2005 p.E29

Premiere
"Sci-fi connoisseurs will find this esoteric universe quite refreshing; the effects and action are wisely underplayed to keep the focus on its crackling, character-driven story..." 03/01/2006 p.111-112

Uncut
4 stars out of 5 -- "This fantastically funny, inventive triumph defied all the doubters, proving both a smash with sci-fi nerds and a joy for skeptics..." 04/01/2006 p.142

Widescreen Review
"Some scenes have a surreal blown-out and hazy appearance that evoke a dreamy mood....The visual effects are effectively incorporated with the live action." 06/01/2006 p.64

James Berardinelli's ReelViews 7 of 10
Serenity is a fast-paced, engaging science fiction adventure tale. The emphasis should be on "adventure;" the "science fiction" just gives Whedon (making his directorial debut) an interesting canvas to paint upon. In many ways, the film is old-fashioned. The space-ships are not sleek and streamlined - they're hunks of junk being held together by paperclips and masking tape. The characters talk like they learned English in the 19th century Old West (with occasional Chinese curses thrown in for good measure). And guns fire bullets, not laser blasts. This is one of the key elements that separates the Star Trek camp from the (new) Battlestar Galactica one. Serenity falls in the latter, "retro" category. - James Berardinelli

Chicago Sun-Times 8 of 10
Science fiction fans will recognize the plot line and most of the characters from a short-lived Fox series named "Firefly," which (I learn in a letter from Stephen McNeil of Sydney, Nova Scotia), was canceled in mid-season, but not before the episodes were carelessly shown out of proper order. What a crock, especially considering that Joss Whedon, the TV series author (and writer-director of "Serenity") earlier created "Buffy, the Vampire Slayer," and so deserved the benefit of the doubt..."Serenity" is made of dubious but energetic special effects, breathless velocity, much imagination, some sly verbal wit and a little political satire...Like Brave New World and 1984, the movie plays like a critique of contemporary society, with the Alliance as Big Brother, enemy of discontent...Some of the dialogue sounds futuristic, some sounds 19th-century, and some sounds deliberately kooky. (Captain Mal: "Do you want to run this ship?" Discontented crew member: "Yes." Mal: "Well, you can't"). There are also unanticipated scenes of real impact, including a planet where -- but see for yourself. I'm not sure the movie would have much appeal for non-sci-fi fans, but it has the rough edges and brawny energy of a good yarn, and it was made by and for people who can't get enough of this stuff. You know who you are. - Roger Ebert

ReelViews 8 of 10
Serenity is a fast-paced, engaging science fiction adventure tale. The emphasis should be on "adventure;" the "science fiction" just gives Whedon (making his directorial debut) an interesting canvas to paint upon. In many ways, the film is old-fashioned...There are plenty of special effects, including an impressive space battle that, while not on the same level as the one that started off Revenge of the Sith, is nice enough in its own right. But Serenity isn't about effects. It's about narrative and characters, and it does a solid job in both areas. Whedon propels the story along at a breakneck pace, but keeps it smooth enough that we never get lost, and occasionally pauses to allow for character interaction. There are plenty of "fan moments," but they don't interfere with the overall viewing experience...The film leaves open the possibility of future adventures - whether they materialize remains to be seen. Whedon went all-out for the fans with Serenity...For the average movie-goer, the movie may not have the same emotional resonance it achieves for Firefly aficionados, but those who enjoy science fiction adventure will find plenty to appreciate. It's self-contained and entertaining - arguably the two things most necessary for Serenity to soar. - James Berardinelli