Okay...it only raked in about $10 million dollars this weekend, so here goes the call for all of you who like good movies, good stories and good Sci-Fi to get off your butts and RUN to the local theater where Serenity is playing. I know I haven't seen much in theaters this year, but this was a film both my wife and I were looking forward to and were not disappointed in any way, shape or form.
Anyone who has caught any of writer-director Joss Whedon's previous work knows that this man knows how to treat his audience. Unlike larger Sci-Fi franchises that play things straight (Star Trek) or don't even bother to play at all (Star Wars), this continuation of the barely watched TV series Firefly is an amazing ride from start to finish. Maybe it's because Whedon sets up the "backstory" without any prior knowlegde of the TV series or because the series was cancelled and he had nothing left to lose, but there isn't a moment in this film that feels cliched or like warmed-over sludge. There are plenty of great character moments amid an amazing Sci-Fi epic with twists, turns and surprises galore. If only George Lucas could do stuff like this in the Star Wars universe then no one would complain.
Again...see this film even if you haven't seen the TV series (you'll want to go back and watch it after this anyway). Best one I've seen in theaters so far this year.
Meanwhile, another TV series that got a second chance (and one that's starting to look very successful) adds a new chapter with the direct to DVD "feature" Family Guy Presents Stewie Griffin: The Untold Story. While this is essentially a stringing together of three episodes, they are pretty funny (why wouldn't they be?) and the raunchy, racy framing footage (a Hollywood premiere party) help boost the show out of the realm of toned down TV and into the realm of "fuck yeah" movies (well...almost, as I said it is three episodes strung together...and they will air on Tv sometime next year as three separate episodes before appearing on DVD again in Volume 4 of this show). Fart jokes, obscure pop culture references and for the first time uncensored swearing abound.
I've been a big Geena Davis fan for quite some time, so there was no doubt in my mind about at least catching the first episode of Commander-in-Chief. I just wasn't expecting to like it as I'm kind of tired of politics at this point (the "I'm right, you're wong" attitude of every politician and TV pundit finally got the best of me...they should all burn in hell). But I actually enjoyed the pilot immensely. Not really sure why yet...I'll let you know after the first three episodes have aired and I have a better feel for it.
Another movie everyone should see is Inside Deep Throat. This documentary is about more than just the making of one of the most famous (or infamous) porn films. It's about our right to free speech, to choose our what we find "entertaining" and ultimately how the film industry (specifically the porn film industry) changed because of it all.
I'm not sure if I ever reviewed Terry Gilliam's latest film The Brothers Grimm, but it was fun. Was it great? No. But even bad Terry Gilliam (which this wasn't) is better than almost anything else in the theaters. This is an intersting film, both in story and in look, and is worth seeing if you like fantasy films that will indulge your imagination.
I also finally caught The Forgotten on cable. Surprisingly, with a cast that includes Julianne Moore and Gary Sinise and starts off as an interesting psychological drama quickly devolves into a script that was most likely rejected from the recent TV remake of The Outer Limits and then stretched to 90 minutes. It is best forgotten.
Next time, more TV reviews and other stuff.
Be seeing you.
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