Serenity [DVD]

A neat coda to the first season of 'Firefly' but, ultimately, disappointing; the story deserved more than the studio would allow. A mini-series would have been preferable, perhaps four or six hours but, as with all things 'Firefly', it was not to be. As a movie, I enjoyed it and would heartedly recommend it if you have watched the first (and only) season of 'Firefly'. If you have not, get it before you watch this.In the end, we must be thankful for these small mercies, however paltry they seem.I sometimes wonder whether the inclusion of what essentially was a 'call girl' in the central 'ensemble' cast turned the networks against 'Firefly'?

Love Firefly/Serenity to bits and mainly bought this as an upgrade to my DVD and to watch to extras. Serenity was originally going to be a season two arc and ending, but as Joss first feature film it's up there with Star Trek TOS & Wrath of Khan. So, I expect in 10 years time someone will think its a good idea to revisit the series and do a reboot/tv series/feature film. One thing I would like to see now since it's got to be over 15 years since this first came out..BRING ON THE DIRECTORS CUT PLEASE. All the cut scenes where Joss says "I really didn't want to cut this" now is the time to put them back in and give us the Directors Cut version.

An excellent film. I must admit, I saw this film before checking out the equally excellent Firefly series a while ago. It is the Fawlty Towers of sci-fi. Not in slapstick comedy, but the cultural impact such a short-run series can make to a genre. This film allows the creators to tie up loose ends left in the cancelled series, in a concise and tidy package (though you don't have to watch Firefly to thoroughly enjoy this). All the series regulars return, as do the series creators. A lot of fun.

Great swansong for the cast of Firefly, here given breadth of scope and budget to coda the project in a deserved manner. The stellar cast have gone on to be staples of many laudable TV series and movies - Terminator, Castle, Gotham, Deadpool . . . and Josh Whedon needs no further exposition. Superb film, bears repeat viewing to pick up all the humour and references . . . or just watch the X-ray feature.

This show has an unusual blend of Wild West meets sci-fi on a budget that takes a few minutes getting used to. What will draw you in is the characters, and the fine performances from the cast and guests.What's tricky for a movie spin-off is how to engage a new audience and satisfy the rabid fanatic fans of the show. Wheedon does a great job here (which probably got him the Avengers slot for the same reasons), and the balance between exposition, character introduction and action is perfectly done.Of course, we're left wanting more, but I doubt that'll happen this side of the 'verse.Definitely worth watching.

I watched this with some friends a few years back. They wanted to see it because they had seen the tv series Firefly. I tagged along. Now I have watched the series and I decided it was time to watch it again.I'd not recommend watching this film without having seen the series. Back stories, how the characters are connected - none of this is explained in the film, and some small things are only briefly mentioned.What is going on between Inara and Mal or Kaylee and Simon are hinted at in the film, but without understanding the events of the series, it for instance makes little sense when Simon talks about regrets with Kaylee, and you have no idea how Simon and River became passengers in the first place. If you haven't seen Zoë and Mal fight side by side in the battle of Serenity Valley, you don't really know what connects them either. Shepherd Book shows up in the film, and you wonder who he is and what he is to the other characters. I hardly even noticed him watching the film the first time, but it all made more sense seeing it again.On its own it's a decent action film with some admittedly well-choreographed fight sequences and an okay story. I'd have given it 3 stars. Treat it as the last and slightly more cinematic episode of Firefly, and it should be worth 5 stars. I'll give it four as a compromise.I think the film should have been marketed as a continuation and conclusion of Firefly. It does not stand well on its own.