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MOVIES / ON DVD / SERENITY
Serenity

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Serenity (2005)

82%
75%
90%
N/A
N/A
N/A
82 %
Reviews Counted: 169 Fresh: 138  Rotten:31 Average Rating: 7.2/10
 
Consensus: Snappy dialogue and goofy characters make this Wild Wild West soap opera in space fun and adventurous. Snappy dialogue and goofy characters make this Wild Wild West soap opera in space fun and adventurous. more
 
Rated: 15
Runtime: 1 hr 59 mins
Theatrical Release: 07-10-2005
Synopsis:
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... [More]
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. [Less]

Genre: Science-Fiction/Fantasy

Starring: Nathan Fillion, Gina Torres, Alan Tudyk, Morena Baccarin, Adam Baldwin

Director: Joss Whedon
Producer: Barry Mendel
Screenwriter: Joss Whedon
Composer: David Newman

DVD Info

Release:

Jan 6, 2008

[DVD Details]

DVD Features:

  • Region 1
  • Keep Case
  • Dual - Single Layer
  • Anamorphic Widescreen

Audio:

  • Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround - English
  • Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround - French
  • Subtitle - French
  • Subtitle - Spanish
  • Subtitle - English (SDH)

Additional Release Material:

  • Deleted Scenes
  • Outtakes
  • Audio Commentary - 1. Joss Whedon - Writer/Director
  • Featurette - 1. FUTURE HISTORY: THE STORY OF EARTH THAT WAS
  • 2. WHAT'S IN A FIREFLY
  • 3. RE-LIGHTING A FIREFLY
  • Introduction - 1. Joss Whedon - Writer/Director

DVD-ROM:

  • Weblink - Consumer Offer to Download a Free Movie Ticket ($7.50 Value)

Reviews

 
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1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
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Ratings Image

The settings and tone are hyper-real, yet the human behaviour is grounded and credible, the moral conflicts complex and involving. Shiny, intelligent fun.

Full Review | Comment
06/24/06 03:25 AM
Nick Funnell
Time Out
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
Ratings Image

If you’re a novice, this is a plucky introduction to Whedon’s world and the most fun sci-fi of the year. If you’re a devotee, this is the magnificent return you’ve been praying for.

Full Review | Comment
04/01/06 03:27 AM
Olly Richards
Empire Magazine
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
Ratings Image

You don't have to have seen the show to enjoy the film (although we do recommend you go out and buy the DVD set of Firefly because it's bogglingly good).

Full Review | Comment
10/15/05 03:28 AM
Scott Andrews
FilmFocus
Ratings Image

A gently intelligent action sci-fi with wit, drama, and emotion to spare, this is the blockbuster you've been waiting for all year.

Full Review | Comment
10/08/05 03:30 AM
Jonathan Trout
BBC
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
Ratings Image

Effectively a Western in space, Serenity is a thoroughly entertaining, smartly written, beautifully acted, rip-roaring action-adventure movie, that will appeal to both Firefly fans and newcomers alike.

Full Review | Comment
10/08/05 03:30 AM
Matthew Turner
ViewLondon
Ratings Image

Serenity blasts George Lucas’s recent prequels into the ether thanks to some rip-roaring action scenes and a knack of not taking itself too seriously.

Full Review | Comment
10/07/05 03:15 AM
David Edwards
Daily Mirror [UK]
Ratings Image

One of the most satisfying action movies in a long, long time.

Full Review | Comment
09/15/05 03:15 AM
Rich Cline
Shadows on the Wall
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review | Comment
01/15/08 03:15 AM
Garth Franklin
Dark Horizons
Ratings Image

For what it is -- viewed as filmmaking in and of itself -- Serenity is tense and smoothly put together.

Full Review | Comment
09/23/07 07:03 PM
Rob Gonsalves
eFilmCritic.com
Ratings Image

Joss Whedon makes a rousing feature-directing debut, exploiting the cult status of his short-lived series Firefly to continue it on the big screen.

Full Review | Comment
06/06/07 09:24 AM
Andrea Gronvall
Chicago Reader
Ratings Image

Firefly finally has the triumphant finale fans longed for: the excitingly tense, often surprising and even more frequently comical Serenity. Fans will rejoice.

Full Review | Comment
08/31/06 12:56 PM
Todd Hertz
Christianity Today
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In the context of an action cinema driven by false hope, misogyny and sadism, Serenity is an inspiring respite.

Full Review | Comment
05/27/06 03:27 AM
Steve Schneider
Orlando Weekly
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The movie is a sci-fi buccaneer swashbuckler; Whedon hits all the obligatory space-opera notes, and he does it with a degree of verbal wit and agile pacing that could teach George Lucas a thing or two.

Full Review | Comment
05/12/06 03:15 AM
Jim Lane
Sacramento News & Review
Ratings Image

Go out and see Joss Whedon’s witty whizbang of an action movie, or we will kill a kitten.

Full Review | Comment
05/12/06 03:15 AM
Ken Tucker
New York Magazine
Ratings Image

Has a simultaneously sprawling yet intimate quality.

Full Review | Comment
05/05/06 01:57 PM
Nick Schager
Lessons of Darkness
Ratings Image

I personally didn’t care when anyone died, I was bored for most of the way, wasn’t impressed by its few action scenes.

Full Review | Comment
12/16/05 03:16 AM
JoBlo
JoBlo's Movie Emporium
Ratings Image

It has everything the TV series possessed, but also manages to elevate the tension to the next level.

Full Review | Comment
12/06/05 07:37 PM
Greg Bellavia
Film Threat
Ratings Image

Any fan of Sci-Fi should enjoy this one. It's a bit too gory for the little people,but older kids and the parents, should have a blast.

Full Review | Comment
12/06/05 07:37 PM
Kamal 'The Diva' Larsuel
3BlackChicks Review
Ratings Image

The film features plenty of exciting action and fight sequences blended with interesting and believable narrative.

Full Review | Comment
11/17/05 05:25 PM
Wesley Lovell
Oscar Guy
Ratings Image

Serenity pulls off more honestly thrilling action with a fraction of Lucas' average budget.

Full Review | Comment
11/16/05 11:20 AM
Mike Sage
Peterborough This Week
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