One gripe that I haven't seen mentioned... Maybe I'm missing something, but in the movie, didn't Mal expressly tell Simon that he and River didn't count as part of the crew? I got Firefly for Christmas (saw the movie before the series) and was really surprised by the episode where Simon and River get left behind on a planet and then Mal comes back to save them. When Simon asks something along the lines of 'You don't even like me, why'd you come back for us?', Mal's response is that they're part of his crew and he takes care of his crew. Given how Mal's written, it seems like a pretty big inconsistency to have him change his views on Simon & River that much. Am I missing something? I still think both the movie and show are great regardless, but was just kind of confused by the shift.

I don't think Mal ever said that to Simon. I think your referring to the conversation between them before they took off in the hovercraft. I took what he said as if you are part of the crew you have his protection but you also have to follow his orders (River coming on the job).

I think Mal's response was to show that his head wasn't in a great place at that moment. Inara's gone. So is Book. Two people that Mal would definitely count as his crew. Now Simon & River are leaving. After 8 months, things have gone to shit. He's not a happy dude, and it's showing. Like you, I watched the movie first then the series. And it was odd, I agree, to see the inconsistency. But the above explanation is how I reconciled it in my mind.

The thing I didn't get after watching the series was Simon knowing River was a pyschic in the beginning of the movie. I got the impression from the series that Simon had no clue what the Alliance did to her and for what purpose until the later episodes. His dialogue in the flashback sequence showed different though.

No he says:

"I look after me and my own. Now that don't include you, unless I suss it does." (emphasis mine)

So Puzznic was right, it's more a "my way or the highway" type declaration, not a disownership of them as crew.

In any case, Mal can squawk up a good front, but when the chips are down, Mal takes back Simon and River on the spot when they are in trouble, even after they've officially left the ship.

Fantastic film. A coworker of mine let me borrow Firefly and Serenity to watch while working over the Christmas holiday. I was enthralled by it, and watched it entirely through one of my double shifts.

I have since taken it home and had the girlfriend go through the series. She's been loving it, and I can't wait to see her reactions to the aforementioned parts of Serenity. I've been enjoying watching it again, especially since I just watched it a couple of weeks ago.

Thanks, that makes a little more sense. I need to go back and watch the movie again, having now seen the series. In my memory, it still seems like he treated them much more like outsiders in the movie than in the show.

Also in the film, with Kaylee talking about them leaving and Mal pushing everyone away; that's basically what he's doing to Simon and River too, pushing them away. Mal can't seem to let people get too close to him easily, and maybe that was a way of dealing with it.

Mal does come into the movie in a different place than he left the series in.. times has passed and things haven't been so well. Some of this happens in the three issue comic series as well, though he seems somewhat unhappy from the beginning there too.

Well watching Firefly definitely had me more invested in the characters than the average movie watcher (my girlfriend), who simply thought it was "ok".

I also didn't see Wash's death coming and boy was I pissed. :mad:

Overall, I hope this isn't the end of the Serenity crew.

just cannot get enough of this movie.

I recently rewatched the series than watched Serenity again (first time since the theater). Wash's death hits a helluva lot harder if you have recently watched the show.

I don't know what the big deal is with this flick, now obviously it's just my opinion but for the life of me, after watching this I don't understand how anyone can bash the new Star Wars films and say that serenity is better. The "next star wars"? or "it's much better than star wars"? I don't think so.

Now don't get me wrong, the acting in star wars is nothing special but it's much worse in serenity.......much worse. What is so special about these characters and the story?? The effects were decent but nothing special and the movie as a whole was just boring as hell.

I don't know if anyone else feels the same as I do but I'm really clueless as to why this film gets so much praise. It feels like starship troopers 2......uh.....I mean 3. I was really let down by this film.

Whether you like the movie or not doesn't really matter because everyone is entitled to their opinion but if you think that the dialogue in SW Ep.3 is better than Serenity I feel bad for you. Just because you can't see what's good about Serenity doesn't mean that others can't. It's not about the effects, it's about the characters so if you don't care about the characters then you're obviously not going to like the movie.

Well, I hear where you're coming from and actually I should take something back...yes, the newer star wars films have some horrible dialouge - no argument there (and yes, it trumps serenity in that department for the most part).

But I guess what I'm really trying to get at is that in some ways, these charaters are even worse and I have no clue as to why this film is so loved when it's practically on the same plane as the newer star wars films..... in certain areas.

Man, the last thing I want to do is get into a pissing match over any of this (and I actually appreciate you being cool in your reply) so I want to say up front to all of you who like it, cool - I'm not here to slam serenity at all and my opinion as stated above (i.e. the starship troopers comparison, wondering why it gets so much praise) is just how I felt when I watched it. I'm mainly trying to figure a few things out and see where people are coming from because, well.....I'm actually interested in that sort of thing.

I guess a lot of it comes down to the huge star wars fans being seriously let down with the prequels and serenity felt like a breath of fresh air for them.

Well the majority of the people who praised the film were big fans of the series. And Serenity does a great job tying up loose ends and bringing about some decent closure to that universe.

So that might help explain part of the hype. You heard from Browncoats. :)

1. Did you watch Firefly?

2. IMO if you removed the special effects from both films (Sith & Serenity), Serenity would still come on top based on content/dialogue(alone). The same could be said for the original Star Wars and the ESB.

I saw this film for the first time on DVD, and I'll admit that it made me go and check out the series. I will say one thing though ... as a non-fan of the series, I realized that Wash was going to die about 10 seconds before he actually bought it. The "leaf on wind" dialogue and the camera placement for some reason tipped me off to expect a Sam Jackson- Deep Blue Sea moment, and I was not disappointed. It was still a bummer though ... I've always liked that actor in about everything I've seen him in.

I'm super late to this thread, but wanted to comment.

I just watched the series last weekend and the movie last night. All I can say is WOW. I can't believe I missed everything about this gem of a story until a friend just turned me on to it.

A few comments:

1. I can't believe they killed Steve the Pirate.

2. I saw some commenting that the Operative should have joined the crew. I was thinking the same thing until Mal said "If I see you again, I'll kill you" This guy killed Book and admitted to killing children to get done what he needed to. I don't think even Jayne would have done that, even if the money was right. No way he was right for Serenity, even if he mended his ways.

3. My wife loved the movie, and she hates anything violent, so go figure.

4. I can't get the theme song out of my head. that's what I get for watching all 15 episodes in a day and a half.

There's been some speculation that Book, before he was a Shepard, may have been an Operative as well. It's not like Mal has a perfect soul either. In that perspective, it was probably more personal grievance than any ideological difference that kept Mal from offering safe harbor.

I saw the movie at the theater and posted above I believe. I am working my way through the show now and only have a couple of episodes left. I'm sure the movie will seem quite different now.

Count me in on loving the theme song as well. A shame they didn't use it in the film.

My memory's starting to fade, but I think it's there, you have to listen for it.

I think it's in the end credits. And it was just an instrumental of the theme song.

But the music that is playing at the start of the film (Ch3 on the movie), when Serenity was making its entry into the planet's atmosphere, isn't the theme song from the series right? I love that music in that scene!

It's kinda in there. Jayne plays a bit of it on the guitar when they're on Haven. (Right before Book tells Mal he has to have faith)