Serenity - Flucht in neue Welten (Serenity)
U.S.A. 2005

Opening 24 Nov 2005

Directed by: Joss Whedon
Writing credits: Joss Whedon
Principal actors: Nathan Fillion, Gina Torres, Alan Tudyk, Morena Baccarin, Adam Baldwin

In the 26th Century, one would think that the people of the world would have used their ancestors' wisdom and experience to make their environment a better place to live. While some people would strive for this utopia, others would still desire greed and power to conquer or control – often not being able to decipher who is good and who is evil. The only change, in all these past centuries, is that of outward esthetics to their world because the problems dealing with the personal, political and ethical of the ancient days still reside.

Captain Malcolm Reynolds (Nathan Fillion), and his family-like crew: second-in-command Zoe (Gina Torres); her pilot husband Wash (Alan Tudyk); the mercenary Jayne (Adam Baldwin); and the ship’s mechanic Kaylee (Jewel Staite) run an out-for-hire transport space ship, Serenity. They pull-off small crimes in order to make a living. These futuristic Robin Hood outlaws find themselves drawn to participate in the existing space war. The war is between this new world order called the Universal Alliance who want peace among the planets, against cannibal savages called the Reavers who hang out in the edges of space, who live for chaos and destruction. Going in and out of the war zones on business is hard enough, but to make matters worse, Reynolds realizes that the hitchhikers, Simon (Sean Maher) and his sister River (Summer Glau), that he took on board carry with them dark secrets which the Universal Alliance is after and now pose grave danger to their very existence. Serenity is their hope for survival, but is she up to the challenge?

This complicated outer space narrative finally accomplished its goal: to continue to solidify with its fans and hold on to the public eye. Universal studios and their special effects department have "pushed open the envelope or vault" to give the once-dying made-for-television series, firefly, become what it was meant to be – a full-feature film. Forget this made-for-television stuff because the storyline is too long and complicated for a television show with commercial interruptions without end. Instead keep the Star Wars, Trekkie, and sci-fi enthusiasts happy, not to mention returning to the theaters many times over. This could be another Rocky Horror Picture Show mania, and it could be a new beginning for the sci-fi conference attendees who will have yet another medium for conversation and dress-up. (Karen Pecota)