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DVD Firefly - The Complete Series
As the 2005 theatrical release of Serenity made clear, Firefly was a science fiction concept that deserved a second chance. Devoted fans (or "Browncoats") knew it all along, and with this well-packaged DVD set, those who missed the show's original broadcasts can see what they missed. Creator Joss Whedon's ambitious science-fiction Western (Whedon's third series after Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel) was canceled after only 11 of these 14 episodes had aired on the Fox network, but history has proven that its demise was woefully premature. Whedon's generic hybrid got off to a shaky start when network executives demanded an action-packed one-hour premiere ("The Train Job"); in hindsight the intended two-hour pilot (also titled "Serenity," and oddly enough, the final episode aired) provides a better introduction to the show's concept and splendid ensemble cast. Obsessive fans can debate the quirky logic of combining spaceships with direct parallels to frontier America (it's 500 years in the future, and embattled humankind has expanded into the galaxy, where undeveloped "outer rim" planets struggle with the equivalent of Old West accommodations), but Whedon and his gifted co-writers and directors make it work, at least well enough to fashion a credible context from the incongruous culture-clashing of past, present, and future technologies, along with a polyglot language (the result of two dominant superpowers) that combines English with an abundance of Chinese slang.
What makes it work is Whedon's delightfully well-chosen cast and their nine well-developed characters--a typically Whedon-esque extended family--each providing a unique perspective on their adventures aboard Serenity, the junky but beloved "Firefly-class" starship they call home. As a veteran of the disadvantaged Independent faction's war against the all-powerful planetary Alliance (think of it as Underdogs vs. Overlords), Serenity captain Malcolm Reynolds (Nathan Fillion) leads his compact crew on a quest for survival. They're renegades with an amoral agenda, taking any job that pays well, but Firefly's complex tapestry of right and wrong (and peace vs. violence) is richer and deeper than it first appears. Tantalizing clues about Blue Sun (an insidious mega-corporation with a mysteriously evil agenda), its ties to the Alliance, and the traumatizing use of Serenity's resident stowaway (Summer Glau) as a guinea pig in the development of advanced warfare were clear indications Firefly was heading for exciting revelations that were precluded by the series' cancellation. Fortunately, the big-screen Serenity (which can be enjoyed independently of the series) ensured that Whedon's wild extraterrestrial west had not seen its final sunset. Its very existence confirms that these 14 episodes (and enjoyable bonus features) will endure as irrefutable proof Fox made a glaring mistake in canceling the series. --Jeff Shannon
About a year and a half ago, my best friend introduced me to the "Firefly" series. Since my friend is a women who it totally a sci-fi geek and I was not hardly a sci-fi fan at all, I was not eager to say yes to her repeated begging for me to watch the Firefly DVD's with her.
But I finally gave in and watched the pilot episode. ALthough I was not 'grabbed' immediately, I liked it enough to agree to watch a few more episodes. By the time we got to disc two, I found myself craving more and more of the show. I even went so far as to rent one of the DVDs from Blockbuster because me and my friend were having a hard time finding time that week to get together to watch her DVDs.
By the time I got to "Jaynestown", I was totally in love with and intrigued by ALL the characters. The raw emotion and human touch made me feel like I was with them, at the dinner table on "SErenity", laughing and joking. I had NEVER felt that way about a television show. Sure, some shows are interesting and I look forward to them, but Firefly and Serenity had gotten into my soul.
The DVD's are ones that you can watch over and over and still find them interesting. I can probably quote most of them, but still adore watching them. Also, there are no aliens or too many sci-fi effects, so that you feel like everything they are doing is plausible in the future. The hardships they face are often similar to our current world.
I cannot recommend this DVD set enough ....
At This Price, Crazy Not To........
Never got a chance to enjoy this superior take on Whedon's sci-fi future, during it's TV run.
Characters are incredibly deep, plots are riveting and effects are good enough to keep you interested. I believe this series is better on DVD as consecutive viewings of episodes really endears the crew and their plights to the viewer's heart. Fillion is simply incredible. Beyond his ridiculous good looks lurks the heart of a genuinely talented actor. He really made the role his own and added so much to what could've been a mail-in part. While Serenity has flown it's last mission, let's hope these gifted actors all get worthwhile projects in the future. What a great ensemble cast.
As the header says, at this price there's no reason not to own an incredible series.
A must-buy DVD series
Let me start by saying I am *not* a sci-fi fan. I can tolerate the Star Wars/Star Trek stuff, but am not crazy about it. So I was far too late in becoming a Firefly/Serenity convert.
I saw the movie Serenity long after it came out on DVD and thought it was excellent, but still dragged my feet in looking for the Firefly series on which it was based. A big mistake on my part. I got the Firefly series and was immediately smitten. This has to be one of the finest series in recent memory, and with so much unrealized potential due to its untimely cancellation.
Firefly has excellent character development and the tight scriptwriting that Joss Whedon is known for. It reminded me somewhat of the writing on the Buffy the Vampire Slayer series. It is extremely well cast, the actors are all pleasant to look at while still looking plausible in their roles, and perfoming those roles perfectly. It doesn't fail to deliver a visceral punch when conveying a whole range of emotions, whether it's humor, betrayal, or grief. This series is a great sci-fi program, but is far more than that. It creates a world that is realistic with many similarities to the present, but with enough futuristic aspects to maintain the illusion, so there is no doubt it will strike a chord with pretty much anyone who watches it.
This is a series you will put in the DVD player and just let it run. I dare you to make this DVD set last a week. It is compelling and wonderful television. Be warned, when you finish the final episode I guarantee that you will be baffled that FOX let this gem slip away.
Serenity offers perfect proof that Firefly deserved a better fate than premature TV cancellation. Joss Whedon's acclaimed sci-fi Western hybrid series was ideally suited (in Browncoats, of course) for a big-screen conversion, and this action-packed adventure allows Whedon to fill in the Firefly backstory, especially the history and mystery of the spaceship Serenity's volatile and traumatized stowaway, River Tam (Summer Glau). Her lethal skills as a programmed "weapon" makes her a coveted prize for the power-hungry planetary Alliance, represented here by an Operative (Chiwetel Ejiofor) who'll stop at nothing to retrieve River from Serenity's protective crew. We still get all the quip-filled dialogue and ass-kicking action that we've come to expect from the creator of... More Info about this DVD Actor(s): Chiwetel Ejiofor - Nathan Fillion - Gina Torres DVD Release Date: Released the 20 December 2005 Usually ships in 24 hours
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Battlestar Galactica's Edward James Olmos wasn't kidding when he said "the series is even better than the miniseries." As developed by sci-fi TV veteran Ronald D. Moore, the "reimagined" BG is exactly what it claims to be: a drama for grown-ups in a science-fiction setting. The mature intelligence of the series is its greatest asset, from the tenuous respect between Galactica's militarily principled commander Adama (Olmos) and politically astute President Roslin (Mary McDonnell) to the barely suppressed passion between ace Viper pilot "Apollo" (a.k.a. Adama's son Lee, played by Jamie Bamber) and the brashly insubordinate Starbuck (Katee Sackhoff), whose multifaceted character is just one of many first-season highlights. Picking up where the miniseries ended (it's included... More Info about this DVD DVD Release Date: Released the 20 September 2005 Usually ships in 24 hours
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The first half of Battlestar Galactica's second season left no doubts about the continuing excellence of the best science fiction TV series of 2005. Beginning with the Colonial Fleet separated, Col. Tigh (Michael Hogan) botching his temporary command, and Capt. Adama (Edward James Olmos) near death after a Cylon assassination attempt, series producer/developer Ronald D. Moore and his gifted writing staff packed more into these 10 episodes than most series manage in a full season. Maintaining its reputation as an adult drama, the series is compellingly anchored by the gravitas of Olmos and Mary McDonnell, whose role as Fleet President Laura Roslin grows more complex as she reveals her diagnosis of breast cancer and defies Adama, playing the "religious card" with her conviction that... More Info about this DVD DVD Release Date: Released the 20 December 2005 Usually ships in 24 hours
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