I know that it’s easy to write this review off as the ramblings of a former Firefly fanatic, but when a film this great comes along, you can’t help but want to shout it from the rooftops, and this film is one of those roof-top-shoutingly great ones. You may have noticed a few sideways and less-than-complementary references to the latest Star Wars movie in this review. I do that not out of spite, but because as a fan of the first Star Wars, I’m saddened to see these prequels, like so many modern sci-fi films, that are so overly reliant on cartoony visuals, with such sub-par dialogue and performances, and no emotional resonance whatsoever, being hailed by critics everywhere as “a brilliant success!”
I remember the *original* Star Wars movies, and more importantly, what they stood for, and I see almost none of that these days, least of all in the prequels. However, Serenity serves as a reminder of what great science fiction should be about: complex characters, great dialogue, and equal parts humor, danger, and wonder. This genre isn’t simply supposed to be a showcase for the latest in digital tech: it should be an exciting, joyous, and emotionally involving experience. And that’s exactly what Serenity accomplishes, whether you’re a returning fan, or a first time visitor to the brain of Joss Whedon and his Firefly universe. When this film ended, I was thrilled and stunned, and I think you will be, too. So I say, come September 30th, gather up a crew of your own and grab a brown coat, because Serenity is a return to truly great sci-fi filmmaking you won’t want to miss.
