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SERENITY Collector's Edition
DVD Review by David Blackwell
DETAILS: 119 minutes/ 68 minutes, two disc set, two audio commentaries, deleted and extended scenes, outtakes, 7 featurettes,
and more
STUDIO: Universal Pictures
RELEASE DATE: 8-14-2007
The review for the two disc Collector's Edition features a lot of text from my
review of the one dsic (which I reviewed on 12-31-2005). I was delighted when I watched the film again on DVD for teh two
disc CE. The review will feature comments on the new extras in addition to my original review of the oone disc extras.
FIREFLY
is a short-lived series I loved to bits and I was very sad when it was went to graveyard of cancelled shows. I perked up when
FIREFLY was reborn as the movie SERENITY. SERENITY is the type of film the last two STAR TREK films should have been like.
The story and characters connect with me. This creation of writer/director Joss Whedon is better than BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER
or ANGEL. It is the type of movie that will stand up to repeat viewings if you liked or loved SERENITY. Forget the latest
STAR WARS sequel, watch SERENITY at least once if you haven't discovered it yet.
Onto the film itself, the Reavers
are just as scary as they are in the one brief moment they appear in the pilot of the FIREFLY series (the pilot is titled
Serenity). I am sad when two of the characters from the show are killed off, but I do wish they had more screen time before
they met their fates. The brief space battle is one of the coolest ones I have ever seen, but yet it is debateable whether
Joss broke the no sounds in space rule that was in the FIREFLY series (because there is no sound in space). I do feel you
will get more out of SERENITY if you're a FIREFLY fan. If SERENITY is your introduction to the crew of SERENITY, I have to
say you should go check out the FIREFLY TV series (even if it means buying the DVD set).
SERENITY is the journey of
two characters: Captain Malcolm Reynolds (Nathon Fillion) and River Tam (Summer Glau). Mal has seen so many terrible things
when he fought against the Alliance in a Civil War years ago. His side (the Browncoats) lost the war and Mal (along with Zoe
(Gina Torres), the First mate of the transport ship Serenity) fought in the Battle of Serenity Valley. He and his crew make
a meager living doing whatever job that they pick up to survive. The crew of the ship includes Wash (Zoe's husband and pilot
of Serenity), the money hungry and gun happy Jayne (Adam Baldwin), Kaylee (the ship's engineer), and two fugitives: Dr. Simon
Tam and his fragile slightly psychotic sister River. Two former members of Serenity were Shepard Book and Inara (Moreena Baccarin)-
a Companion.
Mal must do horrible things to get the mission done and save River (and his crew) from the very dangerous
Alliance Operative that wants River even if it means killing everyone that the crew knows. River must come to terms with who
she is and what terrible secret that unraveled her mind.
The DVD sold well enough to warrant this great two disc Collector's
Edition. I wish Universal would greenlight a few direct-to-DVD sequels.
VIDEO: 2.35:1 (Anamorphic Widescreen)
Image
detail is good, but the transfer does exhibit a little aliasing.
AUDIO: English 5.1 Dolby Surround, English 5.1 DTS,
French, Spanish 2.0 DS
Extras in English 2.0 Dolby Surround.
Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish, French (all extras
except first audio commentary have subtitles option)
Dialogue is clear, but the music and sound effects are on fire
here. They have the right balance and effect for every scene in the movie. A DTS track has been added for the CE.
SPECIAL
FEATURES:
A few new extras have been included for the two disc collector's Edition. The casing for the set is neat with
better artwork than the one disc edition.
disc 1-
A total of nine deleted scenes are on the DVD (about 15 minutes
total) and I think at least some should have been left in the film (despite the reasons director Joss Whedon gives for cutting
some of them). I understand the film needed a certain pacing, but I think it could have had more meat and still worked. Many
Inara moments see the cutting room floor for example. New to the 2 disc are a few extended scenes which have some interesting
moments (the fanty and mingo extended stuff is my favorite).The outtakes show the cast know how to swear when they screw up
their lines. The Joss Whedon introduction (shown with the preview screenings) is also good.
The audio commentary for
the film with director Joss Whedon was definitely a commentary I loved listening to about twice. He provides loads of details
on the production and post-production (editing, reshoots, etc) of the film. A second audio commentary was record for the CE.
Joss Whedo joins actors Nathan Fillion, Summer Glau, Adam Baldwin, and Ron Glass for a vey entertaining audio commentary.
They feel at home with each other even if it has been three years since SERENITY was made.
Also a featurette on the
Fruitty Tooty Bar commercial(which is featured in one scene of the movie) is on disc 1.
New featurettes include:
TAKE
A WALK ON SERENITY- a lighthearted tour of the Serenity ship set. You learn of a few additions to the ship for the film.
THE
GREEN CLAN- it is all about the film's cinematographer, Jack Green.
disc 2-
FUTURE HISTORY: THE STORY OF EARTH
THAT WAS- Joss Whedon talks about the universe of SERENITY.
WHAT'S IN A FIREFLY- The elements that went into the Mule
chase and the various CGI effects of the film.
RE-LIGHTING THE FIREFLY- How the TV series FIREFLY went from cancelled
series to the movie of SERENITY.
Three new things appear on disc 2. The above featurettes were on the one disc previously.
A FILMMAKER'S JOURNEY- a behind-the-scenes look at the making of SERENITY featuretting interviews with cast and crew.
Definitely a worthwhile 20 minutes.
SESSION 416- clips of River Tam's sessions at the school where the government messed
with her. The clips were previously shown on the internet.
SCI-FI INSIDE: SERENITY- The promo fluff piece on the film
which aired on the Sci-Fi Channel.
FINAL ANALYSIS: If you loved SERENITY, the two disc CE is worth buying. If you
want to support the film more and just love the movie (or listen to it in DTS), buy the two disc CE to tell Universal you
want more SERENITY films (for DVD). You Can't stop the signal.
this DVD review is (c)9-4-2007 David Blackwell and
cannot be reprinted without permission. send all comments to lord_pragmagtic@hotmail.com
look for additional content at http://enterline-media.tripod.com and http://enterlinemedia.livejournal.com
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