Serenity (2005)
Directed by Joss Whedon
A group of rebels travel the outskirts of space evading the sinister Alliance regime. Their lives of smuggling and cargo-running are interrupted by a psychic passenger who harbours a dangerous secret. Soon, the crew find themselves being pursued by an Alliance agent who will stop at nothing to find them.
30 connections found
View:
30 films that influenced Serenity
What critics say influenced Serenity
Its story embraces undue pretensions, its dialogue thinks it's far more clever than it is, and its Star Wars envy is positively unseemly.
This movie was everything I had hoped the last few installments of Star Wars had been.
In the end, while the well-intentioned “Serenity” might not achieve the revered status of “Star Wars”, at least it’s no “Episode 1”.
Serenity isn't exactly what you'd call sci-fi based on ideas, but it is a delightful, infectious blend of pulp Westerns, Star Trek, Star Wars and even samurai films (the bad guy carries a sword).
Picture “Star Wars” mixed with, I don’t know, something really intelligent and witty and you’ve got “Serenity.”
It’s what made Peter Jackson’s “Lord of the Rings” trilogy click and it’s what George Lucas’ new “Star Wars” trilogy lacked.*…
Given that "Firefly" is often referred to as the anti-"Star Trek," it's worth noting that Whedon rationalizes a deep-space cloud formation by pointing to Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan and boasts that Mal and Inara are standing on the same rocky slope that served as the Genesis Planet in Star Trek III: The Search for Spock .
Joss Whedon, who created the show and wrote/directed the film, seems to want to bypass Star Trek: The Motion Picture and go directly to Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan.
It is no exaggeration to say that writer-director Joss Whedon has become an icon among those of us who continue to obsess over his erstwhile television shows "Firefly" and "Buffy the Vampire Slayer."
The creator of the show, Joss Whedon, has a rabid fan base all his own after his atypical TV-writing style for his show, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, landed him hurrahs from critics and the general viewing public.
Creator of the cult TV series "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "Angel," writer-director Joss Whedon melds Western and sci-fi genres -- an unlikely combination that worked exceedingly well in the TV show, although the oater element is understated here -- for this adventure about a motley crew of misfits aboard the titular transport ship-for-hire.
His shows “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” “Angel” and “Firefly” inspired much geekiness, to be sure, but no nerdery is required to enjoy “Serenity,” a ridiculously smart and funny sci-fi Western space adventure that picks up where the short-lived “Firefly” left off.
And even if Whedon's first feature film Serenity doesn't quite match the dark, witty brilliance of his TV creations Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel, it's still a lot more sweaty fun than the last three overhyped, sterile, for-dorks-only Star Wars cartoons.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer creator Joss Whedon inspires an intense devotion in many sci-fi geeks, most of whom have undoubtedly seen this feature-length sequel to his cancelled Firefly TV series twice already.
For those new to the fold, these characters include Mal (Nathan Fillion), who is very much cut from the same cloth as the more nihilistic western heroes James Stewart portrayed (think The Man from Laramie and you're pretty damn dead on) as well as a bit of roguish Han Solo tossed in for good measure, the leader of a band of merry renegades that includes Zoe (Gina Torres), Wash (Alan Tudyk), Inara (Morena Baccarin), Jayne (Adam Baldwin), Kaylee (Jewel Staite), Simon (Sean Maher), River (Summer Glau), and Shepherd Book (Ron Glass).
Advertisement
They’re faulted but decent, from posturing but whiny Jayne (Adam Baldwin – yes the guy from “My Bodyguard”) to talented but neurotic Wash (Alan Tudyk) to hard-edged but fair Zoe (Gina Torres) to loyal but self-conscious Kaylee (Jewel Staite).
Whedon's storyline incorporates bits of "THX 1138," "Night of the Living Dead" and, of course, "Star Wars," and the inspirations are smartly utilized.
Serenity's opening passages have the obsessive tenor of Robert Wise's introduction to the "Enterprise" in Star Trek: The Motion Picture--a long tracking shot (re-)introducing the major players follows a tight prologue (re-)establishing the River subplot and giving over the role of prime mover to the operative character.
Joss Whedon, who created the show and wrote/directed the film, seems to want to bypass Star Trek: The Motion Picture and go directly to Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan.
Alluding to or embellishing upon other highlights in the history of science fiction, including Blade Runner , The Matrix , On the Beach , and The Day the Earth Stood Still -- and offering rather weighty commentary on the corporatized evil empire of twenty-first century America-led imperialism -- Whedon has hitched his philosophical wagon to a shooting star.
Whedon also plunders Star Wars, Alien, Mad Max 2 and Blade Runner, as well as an entire video store of classic kung-fu flicks, zombie movies and spaghetti westerns.
Advertisement
The director Michael Crichton successfully spliced the sci-fi and Western genres in 1973's Westworld, which cast Yul Brynner as a rampaging robotic cowboy.
There’s even a beautiful homage to “Rio Bravo” in the climax.