Movie Loner

It’s time to wrap up sci-fi week with what I believe to be the best science fiction movie of the decade. Those familiar with the short-lived FOX series Firefly have heard of Serenity, the feature-length follow-up/conclusion. Creator Joss Whedon made Buffy the Vampire Slayer a smash success from 1997-2003, but a prolonged battle with FOX executives afforded him only 14 episodes of Firefly. Thankfully, he was able to secure funding for Serenity, a rip roaring space adventure that never fails to entertain.

Mal Reynolds, stalwart Captain of the ship Serenity, and his crew of space pirates have been hiding Dr. Simon Tam and his sister River, an unstable psychic whom Simon rescued from an Alliance medical facility. The Alliance, a ruthless galactic government, fears what River knows so they dispatch a cold-blooded assassin called an Operative to find her. Concerned for River’s safety, Simon chooses to remove her from the criminal lifestyle aboard Serenity. Before the Tams can leave, River unleashes an deranged attack on the patrons of a bar, leaving her near catatonic and muttering the word “Miranda.”

An angered Mal locks up River and interrogates the good doctor. Simon confesses that River was trained to be a weapon and what’s inside her head threatens the Alliance. Rather than give River up, Mal decides to stay on the run. The mystery behind Miranda sends the crew to the remote reaches of space in search of a forgotten planet. Standing in their way are Reavers, cannibalistic marauders who terrorize the galaxy. A stunning revelation pits Serenity versus the enormous Alliance army and the maniacal Reavers in an action packed climax.

This film just plain kicks ass. A layered story, smart, witty characters, knockout action sequences, and a menacing villain make Serenity a memorable movie experience. Nathan Fillion is sensational as Mal, the gruff but charming Captain who will risk everything to do what’s right. Opposite the heroic Mal is the Operative (Chiwetel Ejiofor), an astute, malevolent loyalist who kills without compunction. A note to Joss Whedon: make a sequel. Well, that wraps up sci-fi week at Movie Loner. It’s been fun. Until next time…

A scene from Serenity: