Serenity

Never mind that this film shares a name with a brand of adult incontinence products. Legions of grad students and pizza delivery people have been joyously anticipating its opening day, perhaps, you might say, to a pants-wetting degree. That’s because Serenity takes up where the short-lived but beloved TV series Firefly, from Joss Whedon, left off. Fans of Whedon, who brought the world Buffy the Vampire Slayer, boast a zombie-like and academic devotion to this writer and director. While he has talked about making a Buffy movie, Serenity is the next best thing. Set in outer space, starring Nathan Fillion (from the TV series), and blessed with a movie-sized special effects budget, these two hours take the Firefly story several steps further. Dark comedy, clever dialogue, and winning characters make this film stand on its own–no TV exposure required.