Plot
Picking up several months after the TV series, we see that an Alliance operative is looking into the way that Simon freed his sister River. We see that this Operative is cold-blooded and will stop at nothing to capture River and will kill anything in his way.
Shooting across known space, we see Mal and his rag-tag crew of the Firefly class ship Serenity heading out for another job. This time,they intend on robbing a freelance security force of Alliance money. Mal also intends on bringing River, who is just slightly psychic. Her brother, Simon isn't too pleased, but they take her. Its a good thing too, because she sees the Reavers coming before anyone else does.
Reavers are twisted, mean, cannabalistic critters who just kill for no real reason. The crew narrowly escape, and Simon decides when they set down again, he and River sre gone. Mal agrees, but when they set down, business doesn't go the way Mal wants. Then River beats the hell out of the patrons in a bar, and Mal takes them back onto Serenity. They learn that something River saw on a tv screen triggered her outburst.
They get a message from Inara, a companion who used to ride with them, and they walk into a trap. Mal and the Operative spar and Mal almost doesn't make it out. They narrowly escape, and they fins out that the Operative is killing the people who has sheltered Serenity in order to flush them out. This includes the preacher Book and his colony. That's when Mal decides to take a chance and head through Reaver space to a previously hidden planet. River has said something about the planet that there is something wrong there.
They make it through, and on the planet they find that the Alliance tried to placate the populace with a chemical, and most just quit and died. But, some became Reavers. They have a video disc, and decide they need to expose this to the people. They make it past the Reavers with several on their tail. They head to Mr. Universe, an individual who has access to video communication like no one else. However, the Operative has already been there. They plan on meeting Serenity head on, but the Reavers have other plans.
Wash, the pilot, makes it down to the planet, and everyone looks safe. Then, the Reavers strike, killing Wash. The crew leaves the ship and heads for the broadcast center. They try to hold the fort against the Reavers while Mal attempts to broadcast the information on the Reavers. The Operative heads Mal off again, and they fight until Mal actually gets the upper hand and gets the show broadcast. Elsewhere, the crew is in dire straits, until River kills the Reavers single-handedly.
The Alliance soldiers are ready to kill the crew, but the Operative orders them not to. He even repairs the Serenity and sends them on their way. With Simon and River as permanent members of the crew.
My Thoughts
Now, before the movie was advertised for a fall 2005 release, I had only seen one full episode of Firefly. So, this summer, I purchased the 13 episode box set and immersed myself into the world that Joss Whedon created. Its a complex, entertaining universe with interesting characters and I fell in love with it right off the bat.
The movie was a labor of love for Whedon, and it shows. The humor of the series is still there, along with the action and adventure. Only, its way, way bigger. And better. The entire movie is a thrill ride from start to finish, and really is the best sci-fi movie I saw all year. Its too bad the box office returns did not match the excitement generated pre-release. Whedon deserved much better in terms of that after Fox mishandled the series so badly. Anyway, get this movie. You will not be sorry.
