The sci-fi movie, Serenity, opens September 30, but my husband and I have already seen a prescreening. This was one of those things the studio does, where they show the unfinished film, and studio people watch the audience like hawks for their reactions, and you have to fill out a lengthy survey afterwards answering all kinds of questions about the film, and what you liked and didn’t like about it.
I first have to say that I am a sci-fi fan. Some sci-fi. I hate the grisly alien horror stuff and refuse to see it or allow it in the house. I like the robots /computers /machines /cold logic pitted against human virtues and frailties stuff. I like that sci-fi, more than any other genre, explores the deep philosophical questions of the universe.
So back to Serenity. Even unfinished, I enjoyed it tremendously. It was light-years (ha) beyond Star Wars. It was Star Wars for grown ups. There was a moral message; it was funny, witty, poignant, action-packed, with hair-breadth escapes, and twists and turns that kept you guessing till the end. We are really looking forward to seeing it on opening day in the theater, finished, this time, LOL.
For those interested, the Sci-Fi channel (Broken link, active August 11, 2005) is replaying the original tv series the movie is based on (called Firefly (Broken link, active August 11, 2005)) on Friday nights. The characters in the movie are all the same. I like some things about the tv series and have reservations about the tv series.
I like that a major character is a pastor, and that he has a respectful role in the crew. He is not a caricature. And I like that the main characters interact like a family together; that they are heroic and flawed, like a real family. They have their strengths and faults, and they love each other for their strengths in spite of their faults, like a real family. They help each other through their trials, like a real family. And the reservations are obvious to anyone who has seen the show.
But what I like about the series is preserved in the movie. What I don’t like about the series is absent in the movie, for the most part. In my opinion, the tv series or the movie is not for children. My children, who are all grown, love the series and can’t wait for the movie to come out. They are so jealous that my husband and I were invited to a prescreening, LOL!
But as someone who was completely disappointed in the absurdly childish dialogue and plots of the recent Star Wars movies, I was very satisfied with the compassion and intelligence of Serenity.
I can't put into words why I loved the latest Star Wars movie, Revenge of the Sith, but I really did. When the jedis were being killed I had to leave and wait for my family out in the car. I was sobbing and having major anxiety. Most of it was due to my health at the time but the movie had so many spiritual….what's the right word…connections for me-it's hard to describe. Anakin's journey to the dark side just really touched me emotionally. It was devastating. I hope to be able to finish the movie someday.
By the way, I am NOT in any way, shape or form a sci-fic fan. But I have enjoyed the Star Wars films.