Anyone else like it better than the TV show? - Serenity (2005) Discussion

[–] HypnocraticGoat 10 years ago

I'd be surprised if any Firefly fans like the movie BETTER than the series. While the overwhelming consensus is that the movie is awesome in its own right, it is nevertheless missing some of the best elements of the series: character exploration (Out of Gas, War Stories); quirky fun (Jaynestown, Shindig); the singular masterpiece that is Objects in Space.

Serenity has a different tone than Firefly. For the most part Serenity is just a sci-fi action film, whereas Firefly was so much more. Joss Whedon was a master at pushing the boundaries of episodic TV with Buffy, Angel, and Firefly. But with Serenity Whedon had a singular objective, and he pulled it off brilliantly in my opinion.

reply

[–] Clementine28 10 years ago

That had a kind of poetry to it HypnocraticGoat. 🍃

reply

[–] BaRtMaN2466 10 years ago

I agree completely with HypnocraticGoat on this... Honestly, it would have been so much better if the content of this film played out over several seasons; but instead we only got 1 movie to cover it all... Which is a shame, since a lot of it feels rushed due to the time constraint.

Royale with Cheese! - Pulp Fiction

reply

[–] theater_dreamer 9 years ago

Seriously?

Serenity is excellent, but the character development in Firefly is what makes everybody in the 'verse special.

To me, they're like salt and pepper. Can't have just one. They go together for a reason.

Ten years later, and I'm still angry Wash is dead.

Never for the sake of peace and quiet deny your convictions-Dag Hammarskjold

reply

[–] PreachCaleb 9 years ago

Ok, can I just say, I love your username?

Can't stop the signal.

reply

[–] wes8520 9 years ago

I agree. One of the best I've ever seen.

reply

[–] thekingofinfinity 9 years ago

I like the movie alot more than the show. The movie gave me the science fiction feeling that was missing in the show. I am not a huge fan of the wild west feeling of the show.

reply

[–] Morbius_Fitzgerald 9 years ago

Personally, I think it is.

reply

[–] MaximumMadness 9 years ago

I hold Firefly and Serenity in the same high regard.

Firefly is the perfect space-western/sci-fi/drama television series.

Serenity is a near-flawless example of Sci-Fi action/adventure done exactly right.

I would argue that I believe Serenity is inherently more watchable due to it's fast pace, great tone and constant entertainment. And I've definitely seen Serenity more times than Firefly since I discovered the series a few years back because it's a lot easier to devote 2 hours to a film as opposed to several days on a series at this point in my life. (I've probably seen the series about 5 times start-to-finish over the past two years, and the movie at least 15 times.) So the movie is definitely a quicker, easier way to get your fix when you might not have the time.

But I personally hold them on equal ground in terms of quality, and wouldn't say either was better.

And FURTHERMORE, this is my signature! SERIOUSLY! Did you think I was still talking about my point?

reply

[–] ozart2002-919-392694 8 years ago

To me, the true test of a film (or show) is the ability to be watched multiple times without suffering ennui....I have watched Serenity at least 15 times, and I enjoy it just as much as I did the first time. In fact, I actually like knowing that a specific scene I really enjoyed is coming next, and I absolutely never get tired of the dialog (one of the reasons that Deadwood and Justified rank where they do.)

I have the much same affinity for Firefly, but being a series, I naturally have favorite episodes, and others I can take or leave.

On a side note, Serenity contains what I consider one of the best space battles ever put on film, especially given the somewhat limited budget.

reply

[–] poem 9 years ago

Without watching the tv show first, this would have been a mess.

---
You shall have no other Kates before Kate Winslet.

reply

[–] NVDan 9 years ago

Without watching the tv show first, this would have been a mess.

Why do you say that? There have been a lot of posts from people who watched the movie first and enjoyed it. Many of them didn't know there was a series before posting here.

___
Sorry, sometimes my wife forgets that she is not an alien from outer space.

reply

[–] poem 9 years ago

Because the very point of this movie was to finish what the tv show started. In a single movie.

Thus this movie is packed with stuff that wouldnt make much sense to somebody who had not watched the show.

I cant see how this movie would work well as a standalone. 

There have been a lot of posts from people who watched the movie first and enjoyed it.

Yeah OK its probably not an outright bad movie if watched as a standalone, but I still think you'll enjoy it a LOT more if you watched the tv show first.

---
You shall have no other Kates before Kate Winslet.

reply

[–] NVDan 9 years ago

Thus this movie is packed with stuff that wouldnt make much sense to somebody who had not watched the show.

I can't think of a single thing that happens in the movie that wouldn't make sense to somebody who had not watched the show. Perhaps you could supply some examples of the sort of stuff you say this movie is packed with.

I cant see how this movie would work well as a standalone.

And yet there have been many posts by people who didn't know it wasn't a standalone and thought it was a great movie.

Yeah OK its probably not an outright bad movie if watched as a standalone, but I still think you'll enjoy it a LOT more if you watched the tv show first.

I think it might have more impact for those who have seen the show first, but the movie was made to be a standalone movie.

___
Sorry, sometimes my wife forgets that she is not an alien from outer space.

reply

[–] MaximumMadness 9 years ago

I actually recall my family renting Serenity back in the day without knowing that it was a follow-up to Firefly, and everyone really liked it. (Although I didn't watch it because I knew it was a follow-up to a TV series and I didn't want the ending spoiled in case I ever did watch the show... which I eventually did.)

My mom, step-dad and sister had all watched it and said it was a lot of fun. The only comment I can recall being somewhat negative was that my mom thought the pacing was too fast and that a few plot elements didn't feel quite properly established. But when I mentioned that the movie was a follow-up to a tv-series, she basically said "Oh, that makes sense then, they probably just introduced everything more in the show." But she still quite enjoyed it and understood it all.

Granted, she did eventually watch the show (and movie again), and she liked the movie a bit better the second time around because there was more explanation, but the only reason she watched the show was because she liked the movie enough to want to check it out eventually.

And FURTHERMORE, this is my signature! SERIOUSLY! Did you think I was still talking about my point?

reply

[–] PreachCaleb 9 years ago

Without watching the tv show first, this would have been a mess.

Disagree. Plenty of people have said how much they enjoyed the movie and later watched the show.

Can't stop the signal.

reply

[–] mrbluto-2 9 years ago

Agree

reply

[–] doubl3 9 years ago

I never saw the tv show, but all I know is this movie sure had some bad acting. I thought it was still pretty good, but I am surprised critics rate it as high as they apparently have. To me it was on the 6/7 border, not the 7/8. The story was good, although if there was a tv show, maybe it shouldn't get credit even for that if it's a story that was already presented. (I haven't looked into the history)

reply

[–] PreachCaleb 9 years ago

The story was good, although if there was a tv show, maybe it shouldn't get credit even for that if it's a story that was already presented.

Why not?

Can't stop the signal.

reply