Serenity [Blu-ray] | ![Serenity [Blu-ray]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51JDWLU5VNL._SL500_.jpg)
| Director: Joss Whedon
Actors: Nathan Fillion, Gina Torres, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Alan Tudyk, Morena Baccarin
Studio: Universal Studios
Category: DVD
List Price: $29.98
Buy New: $19.99
You Save: $9.99 (33%)
New (12) Used (2) from $19.99
Avg. Customer Rating:  9 reviews
Sales Rank: 48
Format: Ac-3, Color, Dolby, Dts Surround Sound, Dubbed, Subtitled, Widescreen
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Subtitled), French (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled), French (Dubbed), Spanish (Dubbed)
Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Media: Blu-ray
Number Of Items: 1
Running Time: 119
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 6.7 x 5.3 x 0.6
MPN: MCABR61106554
UPC: 025195055796
EAN: 0025195055796
ASIN: B001KOFH2G
Theatrical Release Date: 2005
Release Date: December 30, 2008 (New: Last 30 Days)
Shipping: Eligible for Super Saver Shipping
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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Product Description
Studio: Uni Dist Corp. (mca) Release Date: 12/30/2008 Run time: 119 minutes Rating: Pg13
Amazon.com
Serenity offers perfect proof that Firefly deserved a better fate than premature TV cancellation. Joss Whedon's acclaimed sci-fi Western hybrid series was ideally suited (in Browncoats, of course) for a big-screen conversion, and this action-packed adventure allows Whedon to fill in the Firefly backstory, especially the history and mystery of the spaceship Serenity's volatile and traumatized stowaway, River Tam (Summer Glau). Her lethal skills as a programmed "weapon" makes her a coveted prize for the power-hungry planetary Alliance, represented here by an Operative (Chiwetel Ejiofor) who'll stop at nothing to retrieve River from Serenity's protective crew. We still get all the quip-filled dialogue and ass-kicking action that we've come to expect from the creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, but Whedon goes a talented step further here, blessing his established ensemble cast with a more fully-developed dynamic of endearing relationships. Serenity's cast is led with well-balanced depth and humor by Nathan Fillion as Captain Mal Reynolds, whose maverick spirit is matched by his devotion to crewmates Wash (Alan Tudyk), Zoe (Gina Torres), fun-loving fighter Jayne (Adam Baldwin), engineer Kaylee (Jewel Staite), doctor Simon (Sean Maher), and Mal's former flame Inara (Morena Baccarin), who plays a pivotal role in Whedon's briskly-paced plot. As many critics agreed, Serenity offered all the fun and breezy excitement that was missing from George Lucas's latter-day Star Wars epics, and Whedon leaves an opening for a continuing franchise that never feels cheap or commercially opportunistic. With the mega-corporate mysteries of Blue Sun yet to be explored, it's a safe bet we haven't seen the last of the good ship Serenity. --Jeff Shannon
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| Customer Reviews: Read 4 more reviews...
 Top Tier audio/video for a Top Tier movie January 6, 2009
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I could go on forever about how much I love this movie, but for those that haven't seen the movie or show I'll just say this:
Watch FIREFLY (the TV series), fall in love and then watch SERENITY. The movie is ten times better when watched in proper order.
This is my fourth purchase of SERENTIY, and I rarely double-dip, let alone purchase the same movie SEVERAL times. Two DVD releases and an HD DVD precede my ownership of the Blu-Ray.
The HD DVD video transfer is pretty grand, with few complaints. This Blu Ray is ported directly over, as far as I can tell. The real winner with the Blu Ray is the DTS-HD lossless audio. SERENITY has never sounded better! If there's one thing I'm happy about Blu-Ray taking the leading crown over HD DVD is the extra memory space to allow such astounding audio!
If you have previous versions, this is worth the upgrade if you have the audio set up to exploit it. Video is fantastic as well, especially if upgrading from a DVD.
 Firmware Trouble Strikes Again January 5, 2009
0 out of 12 found this review helpful
This is NOT a review of the movie itself. The movie is great.
I am not sure how the producers of Blu Ray expect us to continue like this. I have owned my Blu Ray player for a little over a year now and I upgraded my firmware twice due to not being able to watch a new release movie. I just upgraded the firmware last about a month ago. Now, one versioni later was released mid December and I can't watch this new release. My Sony player starts the loading process and then powers down and restarts again.
 One of the best sci-fi films in that last 10 years January 4, 2009
I watched this movie before seeing the television series Firefly, which despite being a huge sci-fi fan I somehow missed. I expected an average sci-fi epic with less than average visuals. What I got was probably my favorite science fiction film in a number of years. What makes this such an enjoyable film is that it doesn't take itself overly seriously, and has the same sort of unbridled enthusiasm for its subject matter that the original STAR WARS trilogy did back in their day. The plot is good, the acting good to great, and the visuals are remarkable for a film with this budget size of this one.
The plot revolves around the crew of the cargo/smuggler ship Serenity and their adventures while protecting a renegade girl psychic and her older brother who are fleeing the totalitarian government known as The Alliance who had been experimenting on River. While fleeing The Alliance, the crew of the Serenity take on a new level of risk, and are forced to decide between continuing to assist River, or turning her over to the authorities. Intermixed with the main plot are encounters with Reevers, space faring cannibals that terrorize human colonies. Eventually it is revealed that the Reevers, River, and the Alliance's interest in River are interrelated. As River is able to remember more and more of her past and the experiments she was subjected to, the truth emerges and sends the crew of the Serenity to the strangely empty colony world of Miranda which holds the key to the Alliance's undoing.
The acting is very well done, beginning with Serenity's captain, a loose-cannon, military veteran named Mal Reynolds, immediately likable in the same sort of way as Han Solo. Played by the TV staple Nathan Fillion (LOST, DR. HORRIBLE'S SING ALONG BLOG), he is a very well crafted character who is at times honorable, others ruthless, and always entertaining.
River, the psychic girl, is also very well cast. Played by Summer Glau, a relative unknown at the time (now starring in THE SARAH CONNOR CHRONICLES), she is equal parts coolly efficient assassin, teenager haunted by frightening memories, and a world-wise cynic. She is believable as all three, and captivating to watch whether wielding ad-hock weaponry ala Jason Bourne, or throwing out cleverly cryptic insults like the pregnant girl from Juno. There is an animal intensity to the way she plays River that is thrilling to watch.
The other major rolls are filled admirably with another interesting performance turned in by the film's main antagonist who goes simply by The Operative. He is clever and intelligent, defying stereotypical enforcers from totalitarian regimes. "This is a good death," he tells the man responsible for River's escape as he takes his last few breaths impaled on a sword. "There is no shame in this." He is able to convey a sort of moral depth that gives his character a level of gravitas few villains ever achieve.
While cliche is present in the film, it is kept at a minimum through two very interesting methods. The first is the use of Americanized western-style dialogue that is free from the more painful bits of sci-fi jargon. This provides the the film with a 'culture' that is distinct as well as entertaining. It's a joy listening to the dialogue, and makes the movie worth watching more than a few times since you pick up on new things you might have missed the first time through. The other thing that helps Serenity stay fresh throughout is the remarkable level of detail in the art direction. The sets in the film are just believable, be they the interior of the ship, the colony worlds where Serenity lands, or the surface of the mysterious world Miranda. There is a grittiness to the ship, the weapons, and even the hand tools that shatters any disbelief.
As in just about any film, there are the inevitable plot holes and mistakes. However these are largely irrelevant to the main story which moves along briskly, with the exception of a possibly unnecessary love interest complication for Serenity's captain. While not the most original plot line ever conceived, it is more than adequate to let the best elements of the film shine: interesting, multifaceted characters, terrifically good writing, and beautiful art design.
A fantastic sci-fi film well worth owning. 4/5 stars.
Great movie. Great Blu-ray transfer January 4, 2009
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
If you're a fan of the Firefly series, you'll love the movie. Joss Whedon actually improves upon the classic series with better special effects, deeper character development, great action scenes and a top notch science fiction plot. If you've never seen the series, I would recommend watching a few episodes before you view 'Serenity'.
The blu-ray transfer is fantastic! It looks every bit as good, if not better than it did on the big screen. I was pleased that this wasn't just a copy of the HD-DVD disc, and included features that were absent on the other format.
Specs + my review January 2, 2009
I remember when amazon listed the special features for movies. Not anymore I guess huh? Here are the specs on Serenity [Blu-ray]:
Visual Commentary: Picture in Picture of the actor/director commentary from the collectors edition dvd. Joss Whedon, Summer Glau, Nathan Fillian, Adam Baldwin, Ron Glass
2 feature commentaries: Writer/Director Joss Whedon has a track, also the Joss Whedon + Cast commentary from the Visual Commentary, only in just audio form
Picture in Picture: Watch interviews, rehearsals and behind-the-scenes footage alongside the movie.
Digital Tour of Serentiy: Examine the design and functionality of the
Firefly-class ship, through detailed schematics and in-depth videos, during scenes set inside Serenity.
Mr. Universe's Compendium: Dive deeper into the Serenity universe as you explore data on organizations, weaponry, and personnel, gathered from decrypted files and intercepted transmissions.
Deleted Scenes with Commentary by Writer/Director Joss Whedon
Outtakes (really funny unlike most)
Future History - The Story of Earth That WAs
What's In A Firefly
Re-Lighting the Firefly
Joss Whedon Introduction [seems weird if you don't know something. he made this for the special pre-screenings of the movie before it was completely finished so him refering to the fact that the film isn't finished is from that time. Odd they didn't explain this.]
Extended Scenes
Take A Walk On Serenity
A Filmmaker's Journey [my favorite of the documentaries]
The Green Clan [Focuses on the cinematographer Jack Green and his family]
Session 416 [Great fake The Alliance Acadamy interview with River Tam [Summer Glau] and it has a few sessions that shows her progression into madness]
Alliance Database: HD Feature [Can't comment on this because it won't work on my Playstation 3 Blu-ray player, all other features work great on Playstation 3's, just this one doesn't. It goes black.]
Review:
Joss Whedon did a fantastic job of making a movie that not only the fans will love, but people new to the series/movie as well. You get the characters, their personalities, backstory, everything is seemless. He doesn't knock you over the head with it. This may look like a purely action movie but it isn't. It's hillarious, heartbreaking, intense, and one hell of a ride. You care for the characters. This is a character driven movie as much as it is anything else. You'll laugh and cry. I usualy look at my watch every now and then when I'm watching a movie, but not with this one. It keeps you hooked untill it's over. Seriously recommended for fans of Firefly and newcomers alike.
-sdw
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