Serenity • The Next Reel

"You can’t stop the signal."Most people involved in making Joss Whedon’s 2005 film Serenity acknowledge that it was a near miracle that they got to make it. The TV show upon which it was based, “Firefly,” was canceled before its 14 episodes all aired and it seemed dead. Luckily, the rabid fanbase clamored loud enough and Universal saw that there may be an audience for a continuation of the story after all. Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we continue our Disease Films series with Whedon’s conclusion of his “Firefly” story, 2005’s Serenity. We talk about why the film works and what Whedon brings to the table, notably his sharp story construction and snappy dialogue. We chat about the cast, looking primarily at Serenity’s crew members and their antagonist played by Chiwetel Ejiofor. We look at the look of the film and why Jack Green’s cinematography works so well for us. We marvel at the stuntwork done by the cast, notably Summer Glau and Nathan Fillion as they handled most of their stunts to brilliant effect. We talk about the release of the film and why we think it didn’t do that well at the box office. And we take note of a fascinating milestone this film represents in the advancing world of digital film projection.It’s an amazing science fiction western noir film and is one of our faves. Definitely check it out, then tune in to this week’s show!Film SundriesWatch this film: iTunes • AmazonScript TranscriptOriginal theatrical trailerOriginal poster artworkArt of the TitleFirefly on NetflixFlickchartLetterboxdThe Great Wall of China by Franz Kafka, translation by Ian Johnston Trailers of the WeekAndy's Trailer: The Hollars — "Family comedy drama films can sometimes work for me and sometimes not. This looks like it will fall in the ‘yes’ category and I really hope so because I’d love to see John Krasinski bring more to the table as a director."Pete's Trailer: The Great Wall — "This looks like quite a spectacle. The problem is, on some level, I think I’m actually offended by it, but I can’t figure out why. I guarantee my opinion is based in some part on the dumpster fire that was Jason Bourne." The Next Reel Family of Film Shows:Cinema Scope: Bridging Genres, Subgenres, and Movements | The Film Board | Movies We Like | The Next Reel | Sitting in the DarkConnect With Us:Web | Letterboxd | Flickchart | Instagram | Bluesky | YouTube | DiscordYour Hosts: Andy | PeteMerch Store | Audible