28
May/13

AN EVENING WITH JOSS WHEDON: SERENITY

28
May/13
Joss Whedon continues FIREFLY series with feature film that reunites cast for one last adventure

Joss Whedon continues FIREFLY series with feature film that reunites cast for one last adventure

SERENITY (Joss Whedon, 2005)
BAMcinématek, BAM Rose Cinemas
30 Lafayette Ave. between Ashland Pl. & St. Felix St.
Thursday, May 30, 9:50 (preceded by Much Ado About Nothing at 7:00)
718-636-4100
www.bam.org
www.serenitymovie.com

We were huge fans of Joss Whedon’s Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel, so it was with much disappointment that we watched his 2002 TV show, Firefly, come and go so quickly. But the diehard fans, known as Browncoats, wanted more than the Fox network gave them, so Whedon delivered this exciting feature-length film for Universal, reuniting the cast, including Nathan Fillion as Mal, Gina Torres as Zoe, Alan Tudyk as Wash, Morena Baccarin as Inara, Adam Baldwin as Jayne, Jewel Staite as Kaylee, Sean Maher as Simon, Summer Glau as River, and Ron Glass (yes, the guy from Barney Miller) as Shepherd. The bad guy this time around is known simply as the Operative (Chiwetel Ejiofor), a cold-blooded killing machine out to destroy River, who has very dangerous special powers that the Alliance wants silenced. Also getting in the crew’s way are the Reavers, vile creatures who prefer to eat their prey alive. While the Browncoats should be thrilled with the film, so should newbies to this world, as Whedon has managed to make Serenity an involving stand-alone space Western that sci-fi fans can enjoy without knowing anything about Firefly. But after you see this thoroughly enjoyable flick, you’re likely to rush to catch up on everything you missed. Serenity is screening at BAM on May 30 at 9:50, preceded at 7:00 by Whedon’s new movie, a modern take on the Bard’s Much Ado About Nothing, as part of the BAMCinématek program “An Evening with Joss Whedon,” with Whedon taking part in a Q&A following the first film and introducing the second; although both events are sold out, there will be a standby line for any tickets that might become available.