Serenity (spoiler-free)

Well.

Well.

Well.

I just got back from a screening of Serenity, and I want to jot down my first impressions, but here's the thing. It is utterly impossible to discuss the most important aspects of the film without letting spoilers out of the bag.

I can tell you that Serenity (the big-screen continuation of the abruptly-cancelled – and much-lamented by me – Firefly TV series) is not what I expected, and in that it exceeded my expectations. It is not the movie I wanted, but it is something far better than that for which I hoped. Writer/director Joss Whedon has made sweeping changes that will send shock waves through the show's fan base while remaining true to the soul of the series. Thankfully, Serenity is more than just an extra-long episode of Firefly with a bigger budget and better special effects.

This is not to say that I'm not bitter about some of the changes or even disappointed with some of the film's aspects. For Firefly fans, some of the character moments will feel rushed. For those coming in with no knowledge of the series, it may all be a bit much to absorb. But there is something for everyone and in the end it's a damn good movie whether you've seen Firefly or not. It's one of those pictures for which a giant screen, a kickin' sound system, and a giddy audience are made.

Scott and I will post a full review (likely with spoilers) sometime shortly after Scott first sees the film, and I'll probably see it again myself before then. Until then, make plans to go see Serenity this weekend. Take your non-Firefly fan friends. Joss Whedon deserves the chance to make sequels.