Serenity Review
I saw serenity for the second time last night. It was nice to see a high quality print with all the finishing touches. I hadn't realized just how dark and grainy the preview film was until seeing it in all it's glory last night. Zoic outdid themselves with some spectacular special effects. I think Serenity stands out, even better than Star Wars, for integrating the ships and other CG objects into the environment. I particularly love the Companions' castle/temple. That was a beautiful shot. So plenty of eye candy, but that is not the focus of the movie. That's just a bonus on top of the story. It's sounds cliche to say Serenity has a gripping plot, but that's what it is, so I'll say it. Gripping, as in I was gripping the arms of my chair, because this movie never pauses. The are no slow spots, no places that drag, and yet the pace isn't fast just to be fast. It never felt rushed, just intense, and you had to pay attention. Everyone who knows me, knows that I like movies to play with your expectations, and that's one of the reasons I'm such a Whedon fan. He does the unexpected. As I told Rebecca after the show, there's only on part of the movie that feels a bit forced, but it was necessary to the plot, and oddly enough, did not seem as forced the second time watching.
Have I mentioned the humor? The other thing I love about Whedon's writing is his dialogue. The movie is chock full of quotable lines and witty banter. And yet again, it's never forced. It's natural conversation, never a joke just for a joke, but because that's how these characters interact. But it's also not just a funny action flick. There's a deeper theme running through. Those who watched the show Firefly will know that Mal has lost his faith. Not just in God, but in life. He expects things to go badly and is just living to live. The film is a natural extension of Mal's disillusionment. The movie ultimately addresses the lack of meaning in his life and the need for belief. This was not a religious statement, no "religiosity for the fuzzie wuzzies," but about the human need for purpose and the dispair that sets in from not knowing or denying that purpose.
To sum up, I can't say enough good things about this movie. I am so happy that Firefly didn't die on Fox, so I can't say I'm completely impartial, but this movie transcends the sci-fi genre. Go see it. :-)