Serenity
dir Joss Whedon
out 7 OctoberIt depends on whom you ask: Serenity is either the highly-anticipated result of an unprecedented fan-led revolution, or the doomed offspring of a failed TV show. The film is a continuation of Firefly, Buffy creator Joss Whedon’s sci-fiwestern. When Firefly was cancelled after only eleven episodes, overwhelming fan support (and, more cynically, DVD sales) led to a surprising film offer.Set some time after an unspecified disaster has forced mankind to leave Earth, Serenity follows the crew of a small cargo ship whose regular diet of small-time piracy is disturbed by the results of government experimentation on one of their number. On the run from the authorities, they are forced from planet to planet, until the eventual discovery of the sinister reason behind their persecution.Much of this is a direct translation of the TV show’s formula, which, along with the return of all nine original cast members, ensures that the (slightly rabid) fanbase will be in heaven. Entirely separate from this is the question of whether it is actually any good.The shocking answer is: Yes. Very. The cast (largely unknown in film roles) are universally impressive, managing, despite the swift pace of the plot, to maintain both plausibility and emotional weight. Combine this with a witty script and superb, often artistic, cinematography, and the film avoids the danger, familiar from Stars Wars and Trek, of imploding under the self-indulgent weight of its own mythology.In fact, the future world presented in Serenity is one of its most intriguing aspects. Mankind’s exodus from Earth gives opportunity and wealth to the rich, and strands the poor on barely fertile moons. The result is a surprisingly believable dystopia. Other details, such as the ubiquity of both (American) English and Chinese as de facto linguae francae, add the impression that, while PPEists may be unconvinced, there is more going on under the surface than we are privy to.The plot, while entertaining, is the film’s weakest element. Although the grisly experiments performed on River (the young sister of the ship’s doctor) by the authoritarian Alliance government are intriguing, the revelation which forms the film’s major twist is involving rather than shocking, and does not feel weighty enough to provoke the reaction which comprises the end of the movie.Regardless, Serenity is worth watching – even for those who have never heard of Firefly, or wouldn’t normally enjoy science fiction. Quality acting, spectacular special effects and an unusual backdrop make for a captivating two hours. And, as an added bonus, the film comes with optional DVD extras in the form of the original eleven-hour long series box set.ARCHIVE: 0th week, MT 2005
Big Screen
