This year we saw Star Wars III: Revenge of the Sith being hype as the year’s most anticipated (sci-fi) movie, and while it may have been the best of the prequels it didn’t really match the original for storytelling, and generally disappointed on many other levels. But this was part of possibly the biggest movie franchise in history, and although it may have raised the awareness of sci-fi in the eyes of the general public it did nothing to dispel the idea that sci-fi is only about aliens and spaceships.
But there is another sci-fi film (also involving space craft) that has been long awaited, with even more fevered anticipation, among a steadily growing legion of fans. A movie that has snuck in under the radar, and that is Joss Whedon’s Serenity. This is the feature film based on Whedon’s prematurely axed TV series Firefly.
The film had its official world premiere at the Edinburgh Film Festival (full story will follow, along with other Joss news) ahead of its general UK release on October 7. Tickets for the premiere and the subsequent showing sold out within fifteen minutes of going on sale. An additional showing was added for The Best of the Fest on the 28th, with tickets just as fast as the other showings. Now, after all that preamble, is it any good?
The answer is a resounding yes. If you are already familiar with the TV series, it is just like that, only more so. It obviously has a bigger effects budget for the set pieces, which I suspect, to a certain extent, might have been added to pander to the uninitiated, multiplex audiences. As far as the film’s story goes, it starts with some events that happened before the series story begins, pertaining to River and then jumps to a time after the series finished. As I started watching I wanted to try and see it through the eyes of someone watching it anew rather than as someone who has seen the whole series more than once and was completely familiar with the characters and their histories. Unfortunately, I was swept along by the action and story and completely forgot my objectives, except at times when I was one of a minority laughing at the banter between the crewmembers. Afterwards I remembered what I had written in my Star Trek: Insurrection review about the lack of familiarity with the characters affecting the understanding of the dialogue. Overall though I think the story stands on its own, but it will be enjoyed that much more by the fans. So, for the uninitiated, here is a quick, spoiler-free synopsis.
The story is set some 500 years in the future, when the earth can no longer support its population, they have expanded out into the galaxy and colonised planets by using a process called terraforming. This, basically, creates an earth-like environment to allow humans to live in (and saves a lot of money on creating alien landscapes). On the “Outer Rim” of the galaxy, however, it is far more inhospitable, resembling the pioneering towns of old westerns, and as this is Serenity’s stomping ground, we get the sci-fi western.
Serenity is the name of a Firefly class cargo spaceship. It was named after the place of the final losing battle in the rebellion against the Alliance, where the ship’s captain, Mal Reynolds, fought. But once a rebel always a rebel and Mal’s cargo vessel and its crew are available for any paying job. In the first episode of the TV series Mal agrees to take some paying customers, one of whom is Simon, a doctor, and his mysterious cargo, which turns out to be his sister, River. It is the events that lead up to that moment that start the film, and the consequences of River’s presence that make up the rest of the movie, as they are chased across the galaxy by a ruthless killer, who works as a covert operator for the Alliance.
Because the film answers questions and fills in gaps from the series, it will be enjoyed most by the fans. But, being written by Joss Whedon, it is filled with great dialogue, humour and human relationships. Of course there is plenty of action, with the obligatory martial arts, and plenty of old-fashioned fist and gun-fights too, that will satisfy anyone who enjoys a good action spectacular. The characters are already well-developed from the TV series, and this is heightened by the excellent performances from the cast, who are already familiar with their roles and the rest of the cast. The script is so well constructed even those coming to it fresh will quickly feel empathy for the whole of the motley crew.
I get the feeling this is going to be a big hit, but through word of mouth rather than over-hyping. It is certainly the best film I’ve seen this year, or at least the most enjoyable. I laughed, I cried and was even startled once or twice, and came out of the cinema buzzing with excitement. For the fans it is full of surprises and shocks, which I am definitely not going to even hint at. For the newbies, try and see the TV series before the movie and it will definitely increase your enjoyment of what is already a fantastic movie.
Here’s a tip: if you can still find the boxed-set of the series at a discount price, buy it now, coz as soon as the film hits the cinemas you can bet they are going to be sold at full price. If you don’t want to buy it, advise your local video store to get it in as a good business investment.
Now we just have to wait to see if the series gets recommissioned.
Can’t stop the signal.
