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Last updated: 25 Jul 2026 at 09:25 UTC

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Review of by Michael T — 18 Jul 2013

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To enjoy this movie, you really have to be familiar with the short-lived FOX network Sci-Fi TV series Firefly that Joss Whedon created. For fans of the series, this ties up some loose ends and it was great to see the cast and crew together.

Those who are unfamiliar with the series might get lost though Whedon does try to make the film stand-alone. The ensemble cast from the series returns led by Nathan Fillion as the good-looking rogue Captain Malcolm "Mal" Reynolds, a real "space cowboy" if you will.

But the star of the film is Summer Glau who's waifish River Tam turns out to have more than just psychic powers, she starts channelling Buffy Summers (Whedon made his name on Buffy The Vampire Slayer) in two exciting fight sequences.

The Alliance could program River as an assassin but that still doesn't explain how 90-pound River can hold her own against 200-pound heavies (Buffy at least had a supernatural source of her strength).

Oh well. It was more entertaining that any of the prequel trilogy of Star Wars films that Lucas was wrapping up when this came out. The hinted at but rarely seen Reavers play a pretty major role in this film.

Comic book artist Berni Wrightson helped design their look.

This review of Serenity (2005) was written by on 18 Jul 2013.

Serenity has generally received very positive reviews.

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