Amazon.co.uk Review
Serenity is a film that, by rights, shouldn't have been made. For starters, it's spun out of the short-lived and quickly-cancelled TV series Firefly, which has only itself got the full recognition it deserves on DVD. It then marries up two seemingly incompatible genres, the western and science fiction, has no major stars to speak of, and pretty much has `hard sell' written all over it.
Perhaps that explains its modest box office performance back in 2005. What it fails to reflect, however, is that this is one of the most energetic, downright enjoyable sci-fi flicks in some time. Not for nothing did many rate it higher than the Star Wars movie that appeared in the same year.
It follows renegade captain Mal Reynolds and his quirkily assembled crew, as they work on the outskirts of space, trying to keep out of the way of the governing Alliance. That plan quickly changes when they take on a couple of passengers who have attracted the attention of said Alliance, and thus the scene is set for an action-packed, cleverly written movie that deserves many of the plaudits that have rightly been thrust in its direction.
What's more, Serenity works whether you've seen the TV series that precedes it or not. Clearly fans of the Firefly show will be in their element, but even the casual viewer will find an immense amount to enjoy.
The only real problem is that given the film's box office returns, further adventures of Reynolds and his crew look unlikely. Unless Serenity turns into a major hit on DVD, that is. It's well worth playing your part in making that happen.--Simon Brew
Customer Reviews:
*SPOILER* Watch the TV series, Firefly first, then the movie........2008-03-12
I understand why some reviewers gave this film low marks. There are nine characters and it's impossible to get to know them all and care about them in such a short amount of time.
I saw this before I watched the TV series and I thought it was entertaining enough, but *SPOILER* I wasn't moved when two characters died. I decided to give the TV series a chance because I'd heard good stuff. I loved it and then decided to watch the film again. It was like watching it through new eyes. I'd gotten to know the characters through the TV series so I cared what happened to them and the film was emotionally involving for me.
Before watching the TV series = 3/5
After watching the TV series = 5/5
I hope there are more movies.
What can I say?.......2008-03-03
Nothing I say about the cancellation of the series or about how good the movie is has not been said already.
Hope it comes back more times than Stalone in Rambo.
Poor.......2008-02-11
I didn't like Serenity at all. I think I'd probably take the characters in Spaceballs more seriously than the ones in this film. I had heard an awful lot of good things about this film and I always welcome a science fiction film of genuine quality, but this was poor. I notice that one star reviews of this film are deemed unacceptable by some other reviewers, despite it being a matter of personal opinion. I wonder if I'll pick up a scorching one-line attack in the Comments section too.
A pleasant surprise, a very good movie........2008-01-25
I wasnt expecting anything special when buying this DVD, I didnt think the 'Firefly' TV series was anything but dull. Serenity however is classic intelligent sci-fi. The synic in me will say that this is basically Buffy in space, but if you can put the fact that the creator of this also created the terrible 'Buffy' series, you might actually enjoy this. The story is good, the acting suprisingly enjoyable and i found myself sucked in. ITs a shame it didnt do well at the box-office as you'll struggle to find a better sci-fi film in the past 5 years.
highly entertaining.......2008-01-14
Wasn't sure what to expect from this film .I like sci-fi. I was pleasantly suprised at how good this film is. Didn't recognise any of the actors at all, that didn't matter. Effects were good and the story was plausible.
Amazon.co.uk Review
Serenity is a film that, by rights, shouldn't have been made. For starters, it's spun out of the short-lived and quickly-cancelled TV series Firefly, which has only itself got the full recognition it deserves on DVD. It then marries up two seemingly incompatible genres, the western and science fiction, has no major stars to speak of, and pretty much has `hard sell' written all over it.
Perhaps that explains its modest box office performance back in 2005. What it fails to reflect, however, is that this is one of the most energetic, downright enjoyable sci-fi flicks in some time. Not for nothing did many rate it higher than the Star Wars movie that appeared in the same year.
It follows renegade captain Mal Reynolds and his quirkily assembled crew, as they work on the outskirts of space, trying to keep out of the way of the governing Alliance. That plan quickly changes when they take on a couple of passengers who have attracted the attention of said Alliance, and thus the scene is set for an action-packed, cleverly written movie that deserves many of the plaudits that have rightly been thrust in its direction.
What's more, Serenity works whether you've seen the TV series that precedes it or not. Clearly fans of the Firefly show will be in their element, but even the casual viewer will find an immense amount to enjoy.
The only real problem is that given the film's box office returns, further adventures of Reynolds and his crew look unlikely. Unless Serenity turns into a major hit on DVD, that is. It's well worth playing your part in making that happen.--Simon Brew
Customer Reviews:
*SPOILER* Watch the TV series, Firefly first, then the movie........2008-03-12
I understand why some reviewers gave this film low marks. There are nine characters and it's impossible to get to know them all and care about them in such a short amount of time.
I saw this before I watched the TV series and I thought it was entertaining enough, but *SPOILER* I wasn't moved when two characters died. I decided to give the TV series a chance because I'd heard good stuff. I loved it and then decided to watch the film again. It was like watching it through new eyes. I'd gotten to know the characters through the TV series so I cared what happened to them and the film was emotionally involving for me.
Before watching the TV series = 3/5
After watching the TV series = 5/5
I hope there are more movies.
What can I say?.......2008-03-03
Nothing I say about the cancellation of the series or about how good the movie is has not been said already.
Hope it comes back more times than Stalone in Rambo.
Poor.......2008-02-11
I didn't like Serenity at all. I think I'd probably take the characters in Spaceballs more seriously than the ones in this film. I had heard an awful lot of good things about this film and I always welcome a science fiction film of genuine quality, but this was poor. I notice that one star reviews of this film are deemed unacceptable by some other reviewers, despite it being a matter of personal opinion. I wonder if I'll pick up a scorching one-line attack in the Comments section too.
A pleasant surprise, a very good movie........2008-01-25
I wasnt expecting anything special when buying this DVD, I didnt think the 'Firefly' TV series was anything but dull. Serenity however is classic intelligent sci-fi. The synic in me will say that this is basically Buffy in space, but if you can put the fact that the creator of this also created the terrible 'Buffy' series, you might actually enjoy this. The story is good, the acting suprisingly enjoyable and i found myself sucked in. ITs a shame it didnt do well at the box-office as you'll struggle to find a better sci-fi film in the past 5 years.
highly entertaining.......2008-01-14
Wasn't sure what to expect from this film .I like sci-fi. I was pleasantly suprised at how good this film is. Didn't recognise any of the actors at all, that didn't matter. Effects were good and the story was plausible.
DVD Review:
- Dr. Dolittle [1998] (REGION 1) (NTSC)
- Dream of a Warrior [2002]
- Edward Scissorhands [1991] (REGION 1) (NTSC)
- Elizabeth: The Golden Age [2007] (REGION 1) (NTSC)
- Emmanuelle's Intimate Encounters [2000] (REGION 1) (NTSC)
- Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind [HD DVD] [2004] [US Import]
- Fantastic Planet [1973] (REGION 1) (NTSC)
- Farscape 3.2 [1999]
- Fat Albert [2004] (REGION 1) (NTSC)
- Fist of the North Star [1995] (REGION 1) (NTSC)
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