It was better than i was expecting. i didn’t watch the show (the pilot irritated me so i shut it off) but when i saw the preview for the movie i was intrigued. i didn’t know who she was at the time, but it was Summer Glau that pulled me in. She is absolutely awesome, and i love watching her on the 4400 and now the Sarah Connor Chronicles. i predict that her career is going to go somewhere.

WOW.

Okay, I admit I refused to watch the movie until I’d seen the entire series, which shades my opinion quite a bit, but I have to say that Firefly and Serenity bring it all back for me. I mean to say that so much sci-fi spends too much time flittering around making cools worlds and icky costumes and ridiculous special effects, and that’s all you see. In Joss Whedon’s ”’Verse,” people are people. They’re greedy, loving, lonely, funny, and exasperating. The rest of the fantasy is fully imagined but never impedes on the strength of the characters.

I think Serenity and Firefly bring back the essential elements that made the original Star Wars movies so much fun: real dialogue, developed characters, and emphasis on story.

it’s ok, i’m a leaf on the wind. watch me soar!

I really liked this movie when I saw it in the theater. At that time, I’d barely heard of Firefly and I was just interested in the movie because it sounded like sometime I would like. Therefore, I think you can understand and appreciate the movie without the series.

Last fall, a long time after having seen Serenity, I started watching Firefly on a whim. I fell in love with Firefly, the western music, the characters, Serenity, and everything else that is wonderful about the series. When we reached the end, the next step was to watch the movie again. I really liked the movie again, although I think I like the series more. Nevertheless, the movie maintains most of the elements I loved about the series, minus the western music. If you are interested at all in eventually watching the series, start with the series and watch the movie last. If you are worried you won’t have time or you won’t finish, just start with the movie. You’ll want to watch the series when you’re finished. :)

I just saw this for the second time yesterday morning at a charity screening for Serenity Now (more information at http://www.cantstoptheserenity.com/). I saw it when it first came out, and had a very visceral reaction to it: I really liked ‘Firefly’ and was sensitive to the many twists and turns in the movie. One scene in particular has gotten a lot of grief from fans, and I didn’t like it the first time either. After seeing it again, though, while I don’t really like it, I understand why it was there and why it happened, and how it was important to the movie and the story in general.

I don’t think you need to see the series before you see the movie, as they set up the characters and setting pretty well for the uninitiated. That being said, the shocking moments and funny character moments would be much more satisfying if you had seen the previous episodes. As a movie on its own, it’d be good; as a capper to the series, it’s better.

It is strange that when I first watched the series, the frequent use of country music bugged me. I noticed that they really toned it down in this and I missed it, especially the theme song.

I thought that this movie wasn’t as good as the series just because it didn’t have time for all of the great character interation. Still, it is a good movie and amazing that it was even made. If you like this movie, you should definately watch the series.

I quite enjoyed this movie, although I thought of it as more of an extra episode of Firefly than a movie. I think I would have been confused about some things if I hadn’t seen the rest of the series first. It’s definitely worth watching again at some point.

This was my favorite movie of 2005. I was fortunate to watch one of the advanced screening in Miami over the summer, and I couldn’t wait to see it again on opening night. I was also fortunate enough to be at the Serenity panel at comic-con that is highlighted on the DVD, though I haven’t been able to pick myself out of the crowd.

Not nearly as bad as I was expecting – really matches the mood and pace of the television series, minus some of the Western elements. There are even some themes here…

I was immediately hooked on “Firefly” from the first episode Fox aired. My wife and I have watched the entire series a number of times, and have hooked our friends and family on the show as well.

I wish I had not seen “Serenity.” I saw the movie as one last chance to tell another “Firefly” story, using these characters and this ‘verse that I had come to love so well. What Whedon decided to create, though, was a story that didn’t have the same feeling and spirit as his television show. This is, of course, his right; it just wasn’t what I expected or wanted.

Because I saw “Serenity” and know the changes Joss decided to make to his characters and his storyline, I can never see “Firefly” in the same hopeful and optimistic light I once did. Sadly, watching my favorite show now feels like attending a funeral.

Joss knows his gals in Kicky Boots! I just wish that the whole franchise had done well enough to allow a second full length film. But maybe this’ll give him what he needs to revisit Buffy. :)
Or Wonderwoman.

“Serenity” is the big screen, big brother to Joss Whedon’s cancelled-too-soon TV series, “Firefly.” I think its best to describe this in two sentences. One from my mouth and one from the guy behind me after we saw a press screening a few days before wide release:

Me: This is the movie, action, dialogue that George Lucas wished he could do.

Angry guy behind me: “F#@k George Lucas!!”

Walking into “Serenity” without having seen the TV series does put you at a bit of a disadvantage, but I do believe Joss did a good enough job that you managed to get what you needed to get out of it.

Definitely watch Firefly first. If you get in to that, the movie will RAWK. You won’t believe it when—SPOILER DELETED—!%$!

I’ve heard it said that Serenity is basically the next season in movie format. It’s basically true. There’s a little background in the movie, but you need the background of the show to really get it. But that’s ok. It’s a good show. And it’s only 4 disks.

Having never seen the television series I didn’t get it and was bored through the entire movie. I only went to see it because my friend was having a really day she thought it would cheer her up…and it did. So I guess my opinion is tainted.