Serenity

I haven't seen the series, but the film gives a pretty bad impression. The special effects evoke classic amateurish low-budget productions, trying to get the most out of the minimum. The plot is trivially simplistic, the crew of the ship, apart from the leader, is quite unlikeable, and the villain is embarrassing. Only the slightly deranged girl is worth attention, her actions make definitely worth watching Serenity on a properly large screen with decent sound, but otherwise, this mess is anything but an interesting film. (2008-10-16)

Joss Whedon is my witness that I appreciate his sense and feeling for proper (classic) sci-fi. However, I am definitely not a fan of TV series like Star Trek, Star Gate, Farscape, or Battlestar Galactica; I can enjoy sci-fi, but if I do, it's more like Ender's Game. Until I saw Serenity, I had overlooked the legendary Firefly, so while I'm not a complete expert and fan of Whedon's space opera, on the other hand, I am a fan of his comic creation and, of course, I appreciate all his significant contributions to the comic industry. Moreover, simply the collaboration with Nathan Fillion has contributed to my ability as a marginal science fiction fan to appreciate quality and well-crafted science fiction. As I said, I'm not really into classics, but Serenity is amazing! ... 70% (2014-10-30)

The film works as a standalone piece, though fans of the original series will naturally appreciate the development of certain motifs and will find it easier to follow the story. The world in which Serenity operates is distinctly different from the most famous space opera, Star Trek. It's rawer, less polished, and not as sterile. However, while Star Trek and its spin-offs are family-friendly viewing from ages 9 to 99, Serenity clearly targets teenagers, evident from the choice of characters, language, and relationships among the heroes. Joss Whedon remains a teenager at heart, writing for and understanding them. If you enjoyed Buffy or Angel, there's a good chance you'll also like Serenity. I'm almost certain that if I were 15, I would thoroughly enjoy both the film and the series. But having stumbled into middle age, I've mentally and intellectually distanced myself from Whedon's world. Despite the millions invested, the film still exudes a certain television-like quality. Overall impression: 40%. (2006-07-14)

Joss Whedon created his own sci-fi series on television that didn't work as well as he would have liked. And so, as a consolation prize, he gave himself and his fans a feature film that shows that sci-fi can still be entertaining and action-packed and, to some extent, original. Here, the characters grow on you, and you don't even have to know them from the show. (2015-01-03)

A breath-taking blockbuster and the final episode of a TV series. A story about how any one of us can be a hero, even a misfit team member. A dusty western and a monumental sci-fi. Serenity elevates the legacy of the series to an even higher level, making Malcolm the captain we all want as our boss and turning love for the ship into an undeniable mission. Firefly is unforgettable in its own right, but thanks to Serenity, it becomes immortal. (2010-10-10)