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The Rambling Review of 'Serenity'

Serenity.
I had never heard of this movie. I don't even recall it coming out. Do you?
Here I was hanging out in Best Buy (referred to as BB in the rest of this rambling review) with pops and he is rambling about some movie he and Maryjo had seen. He was talking about how great it was and yada yada yada. So we are looking around for it, which I was not real clear why. I figured he wasn't going to buy it, he never does. He never watches movies more then once if he can help it, as far as I know. Everytime I try to watch a movie he has senn he lets me know he has seen it. I usually make him watch it anyway. Going back to the story. We are in BB looking for this movie and dad is the one rambling. We are looking in new releases and the science fiction section and it is nowhere to be seen, but of course he had just rented it (did he bring it up to share, no). Finally I find it in a mid row rack tucked away. Once in his hands he starts telling me it's part of a television series made by my favorite writer/director Joss Whedon. He has made several shows including "Buffy the Vampire Slayer", "Angel" and "Firefly". Well "Firefly" is where this movie springs from. "Firefly" was a show created in 2002. Unfortunately it only made it one season and it was canceled. Usually the story would end here, for example: "My So Called Life" (1994) survived one season and I still have no clue if Rayanne and Angela will be friends again (yes I did go there). However "Firefly" had generated rabid fans and somehow enough interest to bring it to the big screen in the form of "Serenity". Hooray!!
So here is a brief synopsis of "Firefly", which will set up the movie. The show takes place in the future (as all self respecting sci-fi space adventures do). In a time that the planet Earth has been abandoned and a new galaxy filled with planets made hospitable abound. Of course there is an 'Alliance' and then there are those who wish to live outside of the Alliance. We are introduced to a ship, Serenity, and her crew. Which includes Captain Malcolm "Mal" Reynolds, first mate Zoe Warren; pilot Hoban 'Wash' Washburn; mercenary extroadinaire Jayne Cobb; engineer Kaylee Frye. Passengers aboard include "companion" Inara Serra (a professional escort of sorts), Shepherd Book (a preacher), and fugitives Doctor Simon Tam and his psychic sister River. This group of misfits, fugitives and outcasts are making a life outside of the 'Alliance'. They travel where the work is and find themselves transversing against criminals, Alliance patrols and a psychotic group known as the 'Reavers'. Of course the Doctor and his sister have a few stories to hide and bring a whole new series of problems with them. Apparently, River is extroadinarily gifted and the government desperately want her back. What happens then? The series gets canceled. Which is inexplicable because this series is well written and the lines are well delivered. I saw the show before I saw the movie thanks to the wonder of Comcast's On Demand service. I think this is probably the best and most entertaining series I have ever seen and I immediately began craving more. So I ordered 'Serenity' from the On Demand Service the minute it was available.

The crew: Jayne, Kaylee, Wash, Zoe, Mal, the doc and River.

'Serenity' pretty much picks up where the tv series left off. Add a few years and have a few characters no longer making the ship their home (Shepherd Book and Inara Serra). They are finding work harder to come by because of the security issues associated with River and the Doc. The Alliance has upped the ante by bringing in a man, known simply as The Operative, who will stop at nothing to get River back. On Serenity, we find that River is getting harder and harder to handle. Her psychotic breaks are becoming more frequent and more dangerous for the crew. The Doc decides he and lil' sis need to leave the ship. At a port where Mal is looking for work and the Doc is looking for a new place to go, River has a fun episode of violence when she hears a trigger word, "Miranda". Joss Whedon loves trigger words he used this idea in 'Buffy'. The doc luckily knows another trigger word that shuts her down completely. With almost all the potential flights out of there dead the doc is in a world of hurt but good ol' Mal takes them back on. They decide that they need to find out what the deal is with 'Miranda' and they need to do it quick.

A picture of the captain (left) and Jayne(right).

The movie is just as great as the series was. You have to see it! Go to the video store now and get it! GO NOW! My site will be here when you get back.

I can not remember the last time I was so excited about a show. Well that's not true I was this excited about Harry Potter. Anyways the only bad thing I have to say is that as far as I can tell there are no plans to restart the series or creat another movie. I guess all we can do is HOPE!!!

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