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Serenity

Starring: Nathan Fillion, Gina Torres
Director: Joss Whedon
Genre: Action
Year: 2005
Rating: 4 / 5

Turning a television program into a potential film franchise is nothing new, as the concept has been floating around Hollywood for decades by now. Turning a failed television program into a major motion picture is another story entirely. When creator Joss Whedon (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) was offered the opportunity to adapt his critically-acclaimed series Firefly for the big screen – even though it did not even last a full season on Fox a few years ago – he eagerly accepted. He would be making his feature film directorial debut, because, after all, no one else could possibly do justice to his quirky space western. How does one market a film based on a series that had trouble attracting more than a few million viewers to a network struggling for a hit? Joss Whedon happily took on this challenge, because Serenity represented the continuation of a tale that had not yet reached its end.

Potentially riskier than reviving a failed television program is doing so with the same cast of no-name actors that helped doom you to failure in the first place. For Whedon, however, making Serenity without his band of lovable losers would be sacrilege. Fans of the original series – myself, included – no doubt rejoiced at this news, meaning that the likes of Nathan Fillion, Gina Torres, and Adam Baldwin, to name but a few, would be returning for one more adventure. Even if the actors did not change, the budget did, affording Whedon an opportunity to tell his grand space tale as he intended. In this regard, budgetary funds are well-spent, as Serenity comes across more like a big screen epic than the low budget Firefly ever did. After all, if you’re staring at one final chance, you best give it your very best shot.

Serenity tells the story of a crew of misfit rebels, scrounging up jobs in the far corners of the universe while evading the ever-present Alliance, victors in a war for ultimate supremacy. The ship in question is captained by Malcolm Reynolds (Nathan Fillion), decorated veteran of the conflict but now a mere smuggler and thief trying to make ends meet. His crew includes a gritty commanding officer (Gina Torres), the requisite muscle (Adam Baldwin), a doctor (Sean Maher), and the mysterious River (Summer Glau). It seems that River, sister to the good doctor, is wanted by the Alliance, for she possesses some strange and unusual “talents.” In addition, these talents have allowed her to obtain some knowledge about the Alliance, including information that could damage its stranglehold on power in the universe. Can a ragtag bunch of rebels protect a woman who might hold the key to the future of the galaxy?

When discussing adaptations such as this, potential viewers always wonder if the film holds something for fans and non-fans alike. In the case of Serenity, there is a little something for everyone. A Firefly background certainly helps to add a little context to the actions and motivations of some of the ship’s supporting players, as the film’s two-hour runtime does not afford Joss Whedon the chance to develop his characters as fully as the television series. That being said, the novice film director wisely decides to focus his efforts on a few central characters, using them to propel a rather brisk story and some spirited action sequences. Fans will appreciate the subtle allusions to the original series, while newcomers will be able to enjoy Serenity for what it is – a rollicking space adventure, and a pretty good one at that.

Cast:

Certification: Rated PG-13 for violence.
Running Time: 119 minutes.

Additional Info: Internet Movie Database
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