Serenity / Firefly

So there once was this canceled TV series named Firefly from out of the ashes was formed the dream of a major motion picture. Put together for 40 million plus a mere wiff of an advertising budget, it didn't make the money back in theatres however through DVD sales and word-of-mouth it has been a success after all. There is an important reason for this happening.

Of the sci-fi I can think of off hand, Firefly is the most realistic experience you will find. The characters are more complex and deep than any shown in sci-fi film to date and the television series is a jewel in the rough. The few blessed to see the series air were amoung the blessed while it has become a DVD sensation and ranked extremely high (sometimes #1 in fact) on Amazon and other online sales outlets. This series will leave you wanting more. You will be heartbroken to know that our Big Damn Heros will not be back for more cowboy-in-the-sky antics. It is an almost depression as you near the end of this series and realize there is no more to be seen...many put off watching the last couple episodes because they realize there will never again be a first time.

I realize this might come from out of left field but every year about this time (around series / movie creator Joss Whedon's B-day in fact) thousands of "Browncoats" come together to mark this time with a celebration of sorts and by such we raise funds for a good cause, namely, "Equality Now," through re-watching our beloved BDH on the BDScreen. "Serenity" that much loved yet little known golden dream of a movie that it is, is brought back to the silver screen by us at various "Charity Screenings" throughout the U.S. These screenings have ticket prices higher than your average movie but then again how many films return EVERY SINGLE YEAR to the big screen? How many have a following strong enough to get their film put up there to be seen again and agani just because we can? Few if any.

"We have done the impossible and that makes us mighty." I am not exactly a closet browncoat because anyone that knows me knows I peddle the episodes around. The first one is free you see, the next ones you'll have to go out and buy your own copy of the series. It is real cheap now and many times you can find them for around twenty bucks. A browncoats first set (yes you heard that right many buy more than one set) is always special and rarey if ever is lent out.

The problem then is getting them hooked initially. I suggest a backup set or a "lend set" as it were. I know you wanna watch it. Common, it is just so good. Heh. Well, if you haven't yet been exposed to what should have been the replacement for the failure of the Star Trek franchise and the ending of the Star Wars movies then you owe it to yourself and yours to run out and find the series and then watch the movie, and I want to stress the order, the series first then the movie because the movie is a sorta "wrap up what we didn't get to tell in the series." It will mean thousands of time more to you if you know the series and then watch the film. Otherwise it will still be a good film but you will not have the emotional ties to the characters or understand the hidden nuiances that exist.

Until next time, as the screening is tonight and I have a few more things to get done before I go.

"Looks like we arrived just in time, so what does that make us?"
"Big Damn Heros, Sir,"

Exactly!

J. B. A.
McGyver