I know some of you skeptics might immediately think that a 10/10 reviewer should be dismissed as a fanboy, but here's why I think Serenity remains memorable and relevant 14 years after it was made. In simple terms, excellent casting and character development. If you only just read a summary of the plot on paper, it wouldn't sound like anything too unique. But what I found is that there is something likeable and memorable about every personality in this movie. As you watch the brilliance of Summer Glau, Nathan Fillion, Gina Torres, and the others act out their roles on screen, you will be hooked. In my mind, I find a benchmark of good storytelling is when you can make me care and start hoping for certain outcomes for the characters, then that kind of visceral emotion is what makes for a compelling, enjoyable film with great replay value. In a genre where enormous big budgets and special effects often make just telling a great human story the second priority, Serenity delivers big in this area, and does so gracefully with a very small, limited budget by comparison.
Some ask, is the movie enjoyable as a standalone cinematic experience without watching firefly? I can honestly say the answer is yes, however you will appreciate it more if you do watch the Firefly TV series. I watched the movie first, then went back and watched the series. As a standalone film, I would rate it more as only 8/10, but I found I appreciated it far more after watching the series. So, as an element in the Firefly universe, I think it rightfully deserves a higher score. As many have lamented, Firefly only ran one season for fourteen episodes, back all the way in 2002. It is even more doubtful that there will ever be a sequel to Serenity now that so much time has passed, as the door was left wide open to develop the story even further. But hey, we can all hope, right?
Some ask, is the movie enjoyable as a standalone cinematic experience without watching firefly? I can honestly say the answer is yes, however you will appreciate it more if you do watch the Firefly TV series. I watched the movie first, then went back and watched the series. As a standalone film, I would rate it more as only 8/10, but I found I appreciated it far more after watching the series. So, as an element in the Firefly universe, I think it rightfully deserves a higher score. As many have lamented, Firefly only ran one season for fourteen episodes, back all the way in 2002. It is even more doubtful that there will ever be a sequel to Serenity now that so much time has passed, as the door was left wide open to develop the story even further. But hey, we can all hope, right?
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