Firefly - Complete Series Review (Including Serenity)

      Let me begin by saying two things. First off, I have never been a huge fan of Joss Whedon. I saw some Buffy episodes and I wasn't a huge fan. I watched over half of the first season of Dollhouse and got bored with it. While Toy Story was an amazing movie, I felt like after that, Whedon would never again match the high quality of that film. Secondly, Fox is a horrible network that has no idea how to handle a brilliant series when it has one on its hands. The number of outstanding programs that the network has pulled off the air due to less than impressive ratings (Fox's fault for poor advertising and bad time slot placement) is nothing short of baffling.

Canceled? Are you ruttin' kidding me!?

     Having said all of that, I have to say that Joss Whedon brought us one of the most unique, intelligent and entertaining shows OF ALL TIME. Of course, Firefly being a brilliant show and all, Fox decided to brutally mishandle the episodes and cancel the series after just eleven episodes had aired. After refusing to air the two hour pilot that established the characters and some of the setting, Fox went on to broadcast the initial 11 episodes completely out of order. Why they would do this... I have no idea, but viewers were lost and confused which led to massive decline in the ratings. That was the biggest mistake Fox made with the series, but it was far from the only one. I won't get into that though and instead will get on with my review of the series.

The Series

     The two hour premier episode of Firefly was a great way to begin the series and did not feel overlong in any way. The pacing was good, the characters were established well and the universe was given an introduction and some back story. Despite being a Sci-fi program, the characters were all very grounded in reality and their choices felt natural. The blending of futuristic science fiction and western themes somehow worked not only well, but wonderfully.

Malcolm Reynolds doing what he does best

      As great as the first episode was, the series only grew stronger. With each passing episode, the characters were fleshed out, the universe expanded in both dazzling and frightening ways and the plot was given depth far beyond where I thought it could ever go. Each of the fourteen episodes is great in its own way, but there are a select few that I need to praise for being truly outstanding.

     The first of which is episode six entitled 'Our Mrs. Reynolds'. An episode that started ordinarily enough and looked to be more of a filler episode turned into an unmissable hour of television with some exciting twists. The second stellar episode was episode eight, and was the highlight of the season for me. 'Out of Gas' was a masterful episode in every aspect. The story was tight and beautifully written, the dialogue was as sharp as ever, and the seamless transitions between the present and the multiple flashbacks were marvelous. The third episode that stood out was the series finale. While it didn't give proper series closure at the end, that didn't hold this installment back from being one of the best the season had to offer. Firefly is the perfect example of a show that should have and would have been a huge hit had it been given proper treatment by the network. It did not deserve to be canceled and it truly is such a shame that it wasn't given a second chance. All I can say is that I am so thankful that Universal Pictures had enough faith in Joss Whedon to allow him to give the series closure in the form of the feature film 'Serenity'

Here are the scores I gave each episode.

Serenity - 8.6 out of 10
The Train Job - 8.8 out of 10
Bushwhacked - 9.1 out of 10
Shindig - 9.0 out of 10
Safe - 8.8 out of 10
Our Mrs. Reynolds - 9.5 out of 10
Jaynestown - 9.2 out of 10
Out of Gas - 10 out of 10
Ariel - 9.1 out of 10
War Stories - 9.3 out of 10
Trash - 8.8 out of 10
The Message - 9.0 out of 10
Heart of Gold - 8.3 out of 10
Objects in Space - 9.5 out of 10

Series Score: 9.4 out of 10

Serenity

     To be perfectly honest, I wasn't quite sure how to score this movie. As a standalone film it is fast paced, very well written and an all around great movie. But this isn't just a movie. Instead, it serves a far greater role as closure for the terrific series that came before it. When viewed as the final chapter of the story set up in Firefly, Serenity is damn near perfect. Many times when a movie spawns from a series, the characters don't seem like themselves. They seem to be written differently for the big screen than they were for television. When it comes to Serenity, nothing could be further from the truth. The full cast is back and portraying the characters we came to know and love over the brief fourteen episode run of the series. Even the dialogue and writing was just as amazing, if not better than what the series had become known for. One of the best things about this film is that they aren't running under the budget constrictions that they were on television. This meant as a viewer you were able to experience the sense of scale in the universe that Whedon had always wanted to show. If there is one complaint I have with the movie, it's that it feels a bit rushed at points. I can fully forgive that though as Joss Whedon did his very best to give closure to these characters, and a mighty fine job he did. This is how you end a series!

Movie Score: 9.0 out of 10

What more can I say about this outstanding series and movie that I haven't already said? Well honestly I could go on for hours about how amazing Firefly and Serenity are. I wont though. Instead, I will close this review by highly recommending this show to anyone who reads this. Even if you aren't a fan of science fiction, (Other than The original Star Wars films I'm not really into sci-fi) this show is so much more than that! This is a show that everyone should watch.

Dead Like Me - Complete series review (Including movie)

    

     Bryan Fuller is a talented man with terrible luck when it comes to his television shows. He has grand concepts that he brings to the small screen to deliver something different from the standard T.V. fare. Dead Like Me was that something different but like Pushing Daisies (One of Fuller's later creations), it struggled to find the viewership necessary to keep it afloat. However, where Pushing Daisies represented television at its finest, Dead Like Me was bogged down by a few notable flaws. Don't get me wrong! - The series was often a ton of fun to watch, but was it must see television? Find out below.  

Season One 

The series begins with an enjoyable, yet overlong pilot that does a good job introducing us to the principle characters as well as giving us a taste of the tone. Georgia "George" Lass is given introduction as the shows main protagonist and narrator. this first episode plays out like a quirky dramedy, leaning more towards the comedy until the last 15 minutes. Overall it was a strong start to the series and gave us a chance to see how the show would work. Most of the episodes work as standalone shows, with very minor seasonal plot threads woven throughout. this gave the characters something fresh to do each episode, but gave the show a bit of a "case of the week" feel. Throughout the first season, George copes with her death and learns the ins and outs of reaping with the help of her reaper colleagues and reaper boss Rube. The most noticeable problem (which actually turned out to be the best thing to happen to the show) was that Rebecca Gayheart's character Betty was only on the show for 5 episodes before being awkwardly written out. This seemed like a cheap move at first, but once Laura Harris' character Daisy showed up the next episode, the fit was perfect. I also felt the show didn't feel like it belonged on Showtime, because other than the language, it felt like something that could have been done on one of the major networks. Those are small problems that I can get over, but there is one thing I cannot overlook - A clip episode in the first season. The way I see it, a show should have been on for at least 3 or 4 years before it has earned a clip show. To do one in the first season of a show that only had a 14 episode season just seems lazy and uninspired! Despite all of these flaws, the first season was still a breath of light, refreshing air and a fun watch.  

Overall Score: 7.8 out of 10

Season Two 

The second season fared much better than the first - for the most part. Right out of the gate, the show seemed more focused, better scripted, and felt like it held a better balance between drama and comedy. We already knew the characters by this point, but the second season introduced the viewer to these people in a far more three dimensional manner. They were given more unique identities and more detailed backgrounds. There are also larger arcs this season, some of which work, and others that... well, they die quickly and without warning. Let's start with the good. Rube's storyline that comes into play about halfway through the season is outstanding, and plays out in a slow, but very effective way. Also, Joy has a decent little arc at the beginning of the season that gives her character more to do that in the first year of the series. Now moving on to the not so good. There were a handful of intriguing stories that started strong and were either abandoned or closed too quickly in a way that felt extremely rushed. George's plot-line dealing with her dating a boy who's father she reaped was very engaging, but was given a terrible and unsatisfying close. Also as Eric McCormack's character Ray was brought in, things took an interesting turn for a few episodes, only to have the story closed out in a bizarre and nonsensical mess. Enough about the problems and on to what made this season an overall improvement over the first. The standalone stories were funnier, smarter and more emotionally involving, with some well done parallels running between various characters. The series finale wasn't wholly satisfying, but that's because the show-runners had no idea whether a third season was in store. It was sad to see the show canceled just as it seemed to be hitting it's stride, but it was an enjoyable ride while it lasted.  

Overall Score: 8.2 out of 10 

Dead Like Me: Life After Death

This rarely happens. A movie based on a series that was canceled over 4 years beforehand, created just for the fans. This could only be a good thing right? The show was beginning to ramp up in terms of quality just as it was unfortunately cut short before it's time. Therefor, a movie that would allow fans to catch up with their favorite reapers and get some closure would be fantastic! Well, it wasn't fantastic...Hell, it wasn't even good. set 4 years after the series left off, we find the group of reapers still hard at work, only something is off. There is a odd comic book theme given to the movie, a key character is missing, and one of the actors has been replaced. This would all be acceptable, if the story wasn't drenched in mediocrity. I won't go into much detail as to give away the plot, but I will say that this plays out more like an extended episode rather than a feature film. This to me, seems like such a missed opportunity, as they were given the chance to give these characters closure. Sarah Wynter, who replaces Laura Harris as Daisy (The two played sisters in season two of Fox's 24) is absolutely horrible in the role. This is some of the worst miscasting I have ever seen and it makes an already below average film even worse. Also worth pointing out is how the writers seemed to have forgotten who the characters were, as several of them behave, well... out of character. It's really a shame how poorly this movie turned out, and that proper closure still wasn't given to the show when presented with the perfect opportunity to do so.  

Overall Score: 5.0 out of 10 

Dead Like me was a good series that is worth checking out if you are looking for something light and fun to watch. If you can get over the dead end story arcs and the "case of the week" feel I mentioned, there is a lot of enjoyment to be had with this series. Just do yourself a favor and skip the movie.  

Overall Series Score: 8.0 out of 10

Top 10 Films of 2010

For a year that began with me only being truly excited for a few films (Shutter Island, Inception and Toy Story 3), 2010 shaped up to be one of the best years for cinema in some time. for the first time in as long as I can remember, I really struggled to make my list of the ten best films to come out last year. However, after much consideration and shuffling my list is complete.

Number 10 - How to Train Your Dragon

This is as close as I have ever seen Dreamworks come to achieving a Pixar quality film. How to Train Your Dragon delivers an exciting, fun and heartfelt adventure here. The animation is top notch and the film finds the perfect balance between funny and sweet.

Score: 8.5 out of 10

Number 9 - Black Swan

Darren Aronofsky delivered one of my top five favorite films of 2009 with The Wrestler, so it was no surprise that Black Swan is another impressive film from a very talented director. I went into this movie not knowing exactly what to expect, and after about 20 minutes I was fully drawn into this very dark and disturbing story. Natalie Portman gives an excellent performance here, in a role that I never would have pictured her in. This film is great on so many levels, and the shoestring budget is never once obvious. I can't wait to see what Aronofsky has in store for us next.

Score: 8.5 out of 10

Number 8 - Let Me In 

When I read that "Let The Right One In" was being redone, I immediately passed it off as being another awful american remake that was watered down and ruined. I couldn't have been more wrong. Let Me In is one of the strongest and most faithful remakes I have ever seen, while still able to be its own movie. Chloe Moretz is fantastic here, and is establishing herself as one of the best young actresses in Hollywood. The twisted and disturbing love story here is far better than anything you will ever find in any other vampire films that were released this year.


Score: 8.7 out of 10

Number 7 - The Town

When Ben Affleck gave us Gone Baby Gone in 2007, I began to respect him as a filmmaker, but at the same time I was wary that it may have been a fluke. While The Town is not quite as close to perfection as his last effort as screenwriter/director, it is still one of the best films of 2010. This film is intense, very well acted (Especially from Jon Hamm and Rebecca Hall) and wonderfully directed.

Score: 9.0 out of 10

 Number 6 - Kick-Ass

Kick-Ass was bad-ass. That about sums up how awesome this movie was. It was the perfect balance of tongue-in-cheek humor and classic superhero fable. Aaron Johnson was great as loser turned Superhero Dave Lizewski, but for the second time in my top ten list I have to mention the amazing work by Chloe Moretz. Her portrayal of Hit Girl is outstanding and I can't even describe how awesome it was seeing her kick so much ass in this movie. The score was cool, the action was fast and bloody, and the story was familiar But fresh. This may not be my number one film of the year, but it may have been the best time I had watching any movie throughout 2010.

Score: 9.3 out of 10

Number 5 - Toy Story 3

Who would have thought a story featuring toys that come to life when nobody is around could turn out to be one of the greatest film trilogies of all time. Toy Story 3 was a beautiful movie and the perfect end to this now 15 year old tale. I was worried that they were doing another Toy Story movie, especially since the first 2 were so amazing. I was nervous that it wouldn't fit in with the other two, and would not be near as powerful. The minute I started this film though, all my worries were gone as it felt like a proper and very justified farewell to Andy's toys. The story is as strong and even more heartwarming than the other two, and I have no problem admitting that this movie made me tear up quite a bit at one point. I don't know how Pixar does it with just about every one of their features, but I hope they can keep delivering movies like this for years to come.

Score: 9.5 out of 10

Number 4 - Inception

Inception caught my attention from the first teaser trailer I watched almost a year before its release. I had no idea what it was but I knew that I wanted to see it. As more about the movie was revealed, I grew more anticipated. I went into the movie with ridiculously high expectations, but instead of being let down, my expectations were exceeded. Christopher Nolan has crafted one of the best science fiction movies since The Matrix. Inception has a simple idea moving it forward, but as the movie progresses, things become more complex. Everything in Inception is done beautifully. The action set pieces are phenomenal, the performances are superb (especially Cillian Murphy) and the score is one of the best this year. The thing I like best about this movie is how the viewer can interpret things the way that they want to, and it isn't wrong. This is a fantastic movie that begs for multiple viewing.

Score: 9.5 out of 10 


Number 3 - True Grit 

Wow! I'm not a huge fan of Westerns, but this movie blew me away. I shouldn't be surprised, as The Coen's were responsible for my favorite film of 2007, but they have brought their A-game back once again for this movie. There are so many great things I can say about this movie, but I will keep it to a select few. The cinematography is outstanding here. Never have I been so drawn in to the setting of a period piece like with True Grit. It seems like it was filmed in the late 1800's. Nothing looks like a set, or out of place at all. I also have to mention that every single performance here was excellent, especially newcomer Hailee Steinfeld who gives a terrific debut performance. Jeff Bridges is hilarious as Rooster Cogburn and Matt Damon shines as Labeouf. The Coen's have added another AAA title to their already impressive library.

Score: 9.6 out of 10 


Number 2 - 127 Hours

127 Hours, in my opinion is Danny Boyle's best film. It is full of his unique style, but it also does something new. The majority of viewers knew the story of Aron Ralston before going into the theater and I think that is what made the movie so intense. The fact that I knew what he needed to do, and watched him try so many other things was terrifying. James Franco gives an outstanding performance that very well may be the best in his career so far; this is made even more impressive by the fact that about 80% of the movie is focused on him alone. The score is very moving, the direction is standard fare from Boyle (Amazing) and overall the film is damn near perfection.

Score: 9.8 out of 10


There really was no fair competition for the number one film of 2010. Sure, 127 Hours and True Grit were close, but my pick for best film of 2010 was clear from the moment I saw it.


Number 1 - The Social Network 

This movie is a masterpiece. David Fincher has delivered a very smart, extremely beautiful movie here, and the film deserves every bit of praise that it can get. The direction and cinematography are both incredible, and the score suits the film perfectly. There is rarely a movie where every single aspect works, but this is an example of such a movie. I remember before seeing The Social Network, hearing comparisons to Citizen Kane, and thought that was a little bit ridiculous; I can now say without a doubt in my mind that this film is in fact on the same level as Orson Welles' classic. Both leads give excellent performances that differ drastically from each other. Even Justin Timberlake is terrific here as the creator of Napster. The Social Network is not only my favorite movie this year, it also makes it into my top 10 films of all time.

Score: 10 out of 10 

Well there you have it. In a year that started out very slow, we were given some truly incredible films. As I mentioned before, I had trouble making this list, and there are a few movies that I have not seen yet that may affect this list. I still need to see The King's Speech and a few others, so keep that in mind.

Honorable Mentions:


Scott Pilgrim Vs The World 

Shutter Island 

Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows

The Fighter


Thanks for Reading,
Benjamin Garrett