Over the past week or so, I’ve watched the Firefly series on DVD. I wanted to watch it before the movie Serenity came out, but alas, I am just now caught up on the entire series.
Now, I have to wait until the movie comes out on DVD, because I’m pretty sure it’s not in theaters any more.
At any rate, Firefly is a western style television series set in space. Captain Malcolm Reynolds was a sergeant in an inter-planetary war which led to an Alliance of planets… Mal, as he’s called, was on the wrong side. After the bloody war, Mal became a smuggler and purchased a Firefly class spaceship named Serenity (which just happened to be the name of the final bloody battle of the war where a half million men on both sides lost their lives).
On board the Serenity are an off-kilter yet beautiful mechanic, a pastor with a mysterious past (they call pastors “shepherds” in the world Joss Whedon has created), a trigger-happy thug, a brother and sister on the run from the feds (whose story I believe is the main plot of the movie, but I’m not sure since I haven’t seen it yet), a professional companion (basically a registered prostitute… her profession is esteemed in the world Whedon’s created… but not by all. Mal uses the derogatory “whore” at times, and the good Shepherd Book doesn’t approve, yet he stands above judgment and condemnation), a geeky pilot who is pretty funny with his off-the-wall humor, and a soldier who served under Mal… and she also happens to be married to the pilot.
The casting is phenomenal, the writing extraordinary, and the story compelling. You care about these characters Whedon has created, and you want to know where their story goes. Unfortunately for us, Fox bailed prematurely on the show, and the movie didn’t do well enough to warrant a sequel (I hope I’m wrong!).
Check out Firefly, you’ll be glad you did!
I thought the Serenity movie was awesome! Incredible.
Joss Whedon is my screenwriting/directing hero.
Anonymous
December 1st, 2005
I just found out there’s a theater that has a 4:55 PM showing (the only showing for that movie) this Monday! So I get to see it in the theaters… yeah, buddy
Anonymous
November 26th, 2005
it was a great movie. i loved it.
tammy
November 26th, 2005
we agree.
and more importantly, you and Drew agree.
tammy
December 3rd, 2005
Alan,
I had the same idea about watching the series, then seeing the movie. Fortunately, the timing worked out. I really enjoyed both.
One thing you didn’t mention was the unique theme song (written by Whedon). It is simple and appropriate to the show.
I hope you enjoy the DVD and are wrong about a sequel.
Blessings
Jason Kranzusch
December 10th, 2005
Jason -
I actually didn’t know Whedon wrote the theme song, and I, too, hope I’m wrong about a sequel!
Alan
December 10th, 2005
I LOVE the series and the movie and am extremely upset there is nothing yet to continue the story. I agree the cast was great. My only complaint was that the movie did not use the same theme song as the television series. It’s so sad that something which had such potential is not available anymore. I am HOPING WITH ALL MY HEART Joss will come up with more story lines.
Cathy
Cathy
January 11th, 2006