news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/6517155.stm


Serenity named top sci-fi movie

Space thriller Serenity has beaten Star Wars to the title of best sci-fi movie in an SFX magazine poll of 3,000 fans.

The futuristic release from 2005 was based on the short-lived TV series Firefly. Both were the work of Buffy the Vampire Slayer creator Joss Whedon.

Star Wars - which Whedon has conceded had "an enormous influence" on Serenity - came second in the survey.

Blade Runner was third, followed by Planet of the Apes, The Matrix, Alien and Forbidden Planet.

Serenity is about the crew of a space ship of the same name, and at the time of its release, Whedon declared it was a way of showcasing the "gritty" side of the genre.


TOP SCI-FI MOVIES

1. Serenity
2. Star Wars (pictured)
3. Blade Runner
4. Planet of the Apes
5. The Matrix
6. Alien
7. Forbidden Planet
8. 2001: A Space Odyssey
9. The Terminator
10. Back to the Future

Source: SFX magazine

"There's something in science fiction, which I love very much, that I've missed of late - which is a sort of grittiness, the reality of what it must be like to be up in a small community or a small ship," Whedon told the BBC in 2005.

"I had a perfectly disparate set of elements.

"I had people who were actual size in a story that was larger than life, and I think when you put those two elements together you get the most exciting kind of film-making."

SFX editor Dave Bradley said it was a "massive surprise" to see Serenity beating Star Wars.

"The TV show may have been cancelled, yet the Serenity universe clearly struck a chord with fans, thanks to its likeable characters, witty dialogue and amazing special effects."

Very cool.....kinda helps if you have seen Firefly first, though.

Quoted: Very cool.....kinda helps if you have seen Firefly first, though.

and firefly has that hot healthy red head in it.

Quoted: Very cool.....kinda helps if you have seen Firefly first, though.

Never watched the series, but enjoyed the movie nonetheless.

Sweet. I like Star Wars, too, but could never really get too into it due to the silly Force crap. I prefer straight up science fiction--not fantasy.

I'm glad Star Wars is #2; sort of a 'protest vote' against Lucas for having Greedo shoot first.

14 perfect episodes of Firefly, and a fantastic movie to wrap them up. Can't beat that...

Quoted: I'm glad Star Wars is #2; sort of a 'protest vote' against Lucas for having Greedo shoot first.

+1!

I'd like a 5-way with all the women of Serenity.

That's my contribution to the discussion.

Quoted: I'd like a 5-way with all the women of Serenity. That's my contribution to the discussion.

I must say that I liked Serenity and Firefly (the series) alittle bit more the Starwars.  Nothing but love for both just more love to one.

"Ain't you ever heard of the chain of command? It's what I beat you with if you don't listen to me!"

Serenity was a good movie, but it is hardly the best Sci Fi movie of all time.

The credibility of that list took a nose-dive when "Back to the Future" was on it, even if it was last.

Quoted: Serenity was a good movie, but it is hardly the best Sci Fi movie of all time.

+1000000

No way is Serenity better than Alien.

Quoted: "Ain't you ever heard of the chain of command? It's what I beat you with if you don't listen to me!"

The quotes in the tv series are priceless.

Miranda!

Quoted: I'm glad Star Wars is #2; sort of a 'protest vote' against Lucas for having Greedo shoot first.

Wha..?

Where's "The 5th Element" in that list?!?!?!

Somewhere there was a dork "Firemission" to get Serenity to #1.

I LOVED the series BTW- but the movie was OK but I found it lacking slightly.

No way does it top Star Wars or Empire...!

Certainly not the best. But good.

Wait 5 years and see how Serenity stacks up with the other 'old' movies then.  I enjoyed the series and the movie was OK, but definitely not #1.  Sorry.

Quoted: Serenity was a good movie, but it is hardly the best Sci Fi movie of all time.

Yeah, it's a fan poll so take it with a grain of salt.

Quoted: The credibility of that list took a nose-dive when "Back to the Future" was on it, even if it was last.

I entirely disagree. BTTF should have been in the top 5.

Quoted: Sweet. I like Star Wars, too, but could never really get too into it due to the silly Force crap. I prefer straight up science fiction--not fantasy.

Actually, I felt that the entire series took a nose dive once they tried explaining the "Force" using pseudo-science.  The Force was a religious thing in the original movies and it was part of what made the original three movies so superior to episodes 1, 2, and 3.

I honestly have no clue why people like that movie so much, I thought it was decent but damn it wasn't nearly as good as everyone makes it out to be.

Quoted: Quoted: Serenity was a good movie, but it is hardly the best Sci Fi movie of all time. Yeah, it's a fan poll so take it with a grain of salt.

Yeah, I mean they should have had professionals doing it...

Really, wtf?

And what's all this talk about Han & greedo?  Are you really going to make me go back & watch or can someone just tell me wtf they're talking about?

We should all know by now how easy polls can be hammered.

I find it hard to believe that BTTF made the list, but Pitch Black and Event Horizon didn't.

Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Serenity was a good movie, but it is hardly the best Sci Fi movie of all time. Yeah, it's a fan poll so take it with a grain of salt. Yeah, I mean they should have had professionals doing it... Really, wtf? And what's all this talk about Han & greedo?  Are you really going to make me go back & watch or can someone just tell me wtf they're talking about?

In the original edition of the movie, Han shoots Greedo under the table in an act of pragmatic self defense.

Lucas didn't like that.  His left wing sensitivities convinced him to edit the scene and make it look like Greedo shot first and somehow missed, and that Han shot second.  This edit came accross lame, of course, so then Lucas did another edition where they basically shoot at the same time.

True fans of the original trilogy responded with the slogan, "Han shot first," as a way of telling Lucas that his revisions suck donkey balls.

Quoted: I'd like a 5-way with all the women of Serenity. That's my contribution to the discussion.

4 at once?  Kinda hard to devote the proper attention to each they deserve........  


Ditto re the fan polls being subject to being hammered by hardcore fans.  But given the choice between watching Star Wars (ep IV: A New Hope) or Serenity, there's no contest.  Star Wars may be my first love scifi wise but Lucas sucks at dialog & his Ministry Of Truth revisions (Greedo shoots first? WTF!!!) & the suckage of the prequels (Jar Jar!!, midiclorians???) are proof positive he has lost it.  

I missed the series on TV but got caught up with it via Netflix. Great movie, great series! Someone SERIOUSLY fubar'd when they cancelled that series.

Quoted: Serenity was a good movie, but it is hardly the best Sci Fi movie of all time.

I agree, and I've been a Browncoat since day 1. I don't think it should be in the top 5.

I would of put Blade Runner first.

Quoted: Serenity was a good movie, but it is hardly the best Sci Fi movie of all time.

Agreed, not even close.

I half expected to see Blade 2 on there.  I mean, why not. If you think Serenity is the best SF of all time who knows what sort of other stupid ideas you might have.

Obligatory celebrity photo...





By the way, the flash in this photo makes Alan Tudyk look like a junkie, but I assure you in person he looked very healthy, and was a super-friendly guy.  He seemed genuinely surprised that I wanted my photo taken with him, and shook my hand afterwards.

Also, everyone in this thread who claims Serenity is not the best scifi movie around has been submitted to the DHS Terrorist Watch List.  Just so you know.  

Quoted: Obligatory celebrity photo... www.hunt101.com/img/484413.JPG By the way, the flash in this photo makes Alan Tudyk look like a junkie, but I assure you in person he looked very healthy, and was a super-friendly guy.  He seemed genuinely surprised that I wanted my photo taken with him, and shook my hand afterwards. Also, everyone in this thread who claims Serenity is not the best scifi movie around has been submitted to the DHS Terrorist Watch List.  Just so you know.

So sorry about your face and everything. Micro black holes are nothing to laugh about.

(edit: That's really cool!)

Quoted: Quoted: Serenity was a good movie, but it is hardly the best Sci Fi movie of all time. +1000000 No way is Serenity better than Alien.

I agree.

I hope this motivates Joss Wheadon to make either another movie or try to bring the series back.

I agree this series/movie was better than Star Wars. What Lucas did to the original three before, during and after the prequels pretty much destroyed the entire series.

I loved Star Wars but I think my inner child is even outgrowing them.

Great show and movie, I been watching the Series again.

Whenever its on at work I put the TV on it

Quoted: Quoted: Very cool.....kinda helps if you have seen Firefly first, though. and firefly has that hot healthy red head in it.

Yosafbridge. Yolanda-Saffron-Bridgette.

"I shaved off my beard for you Devil Woman!!!!"

"She was all naked and articulate..."

"I'm going to the Special Hell..."

Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Serenity was a good movie, but it is hardly the best Sci Fi movie of all time. +1000000 No way is Serenity better than Alien. I agree.

Alien was just a haunted house story.

Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Serenity was a good movie, but it is hardly the best Sci Fi movie of all time. +1000000 No way is Serenity better than Alien. I agree. Alien was just a haunted house story.

By that logic, Serenity was just a cowboys & indians movie...

Which it was. But like Alien it was set it space. Critical difference.

Sci-fi is, by nature, a genre with a very short half-life.

When Serenity is as old as Star wars or Aliens it won't be on any top ten lists. It was good but it actually didn't have anything on the series and that's not a good thing for a film.

Cancelling Firefly was a crime against humanity.

I liked Pitch Black, that was a good flick, but Event Horizon wasn't top-ten material either.

BTTF was an excellent film, not really my usual thing but it really was well made.

Quoted: When Serenity is as old as Star wars or Aliens it won't be on any top ten lists.

Have to disagree...

20 years from now - when "Star Wars #17" and "Aliens #9" have exhausted their respective franchises - the one and only "Serenity" will still be a cult classic, simply because it will always be the last installment in a forever-incomplete Firefly series.

Unfulfillment - and the loyalty it inspires - dies hard.

I can't believe how many people saw the movie first - I made it a point to see the series before the movie and I'm glad I did.

Are there any sequels scheduled?

Quoted: Quoted: When Serenity is as old as Star wars or Aliens it won't be on any top ten lists. Have to disagree... 20 years from now - when "Star Wars #17" and "Aliens #9" have exhausted their respective franchises - the one and only "Serenity" will still be a cult classic, simply because it will always be the last installment in a forever-incomplete Firefly series. Unfulfillment - and the loyalty it inspires - dies hard.

What utter crap.

It will be forgotten.  I remember when every geek this side of Mos Eisley was wetting their pants over Babylon 5 and that is fading into the mists of time rather quickly.

"Cult following" = no lasting impact on popular culture in the long term.

Quoted: "Cult following" = no lasting impact on popular culture in the long term.

Says the guy with Shatner for an avatar!?!?!?



Dude, Star Trek was the ULTIMATE cult-sci fi success story. 3 short seasons, fans feeling cheated, and a subsequent 40 year quest to recapture it. It's the same thing, only a modern incarnation of the same phenomena.

Since it was the archtype of what Serenity is, of course you can't compare it wholly to Trek, but seeing as Serenity had such a brief and perfect debut/demise and a very good film to capture it, it'll be around the culture of sci fi for a very very long time. It's not creature/CGI shit, it's not dated or scatalogical. It's a classic story, and because it represents culture like Trek represented human exploration, it's timeless.

Quoted: Quoted: "Cult following" = no lasting impact on popular culture in the long term. Says the guy with Shatner for an avatar!?!?!? Dude, Star Trek was the ULTIMATE cult-sci fi success story. 3 short seasons, fans feeling cheated, and a subsequent 40 year quest to recapture it. It's the same thing, only a modern incarnation of the same phenomena. Since it was the archtype of what Serenity is, of course you can't compare it wholly to Trek, but seeing as Serenity had such a brief and perfect debut/demise and a very good film to capture it, it'll be around the culture of sci fi for a very very long time. It's not creature/CGI shit, it's not dated or scatalogical. It's a classic story, and because it represents culture like Trek represented human exploration, it's timeless.

The difference is that Trek was something that had not really existed before.

I can write you a list a half-mile long of shows that were based off of the Star Trek formula, including Serenity.

Trek is the exception, not the rule.  Moreover, Trek was nowhere near as "Cult" as Serenity was, being that it played on network television back when there were only 3 or 4 channels.  Trek's market share even in its original run was far greater than Firefly/Serenity.

Hell, Firefly might even be BETTER than Trek (I think it is overall) but it's lost in a sea of Andromedas and Babylon 5s and Star Trek Voyagers and whatever else.

To be totally honest with you, I kind of take exception to labeling "Star Trek" as "cult".  Sure, the die-hards that carried the torch from the end of TOS to ST TMP were a bit of a cult, but it was a widely-known show when it originally aired.  Not so much with Firefly/Serenity.

ETA: I don't think anything about Serenity or Firefly is "timeless" or "universal".  The overriding story arcs (the mystery behind River, the Reavers) are pretty ho-hum as science fiction goes.  They seem to have been put in place to be resolved in a season or two, and then to move on to something else.

The Firefly/Serenity phenomenon is entirely style over substance. Which is not a bad thing - it was fun as hell to watch - but it didn't go deep enough.  To compare it to the Star Wars mythos (ignoring for a moment the craptastic prequel styling and awful dialog, it still left the core story relatively intact) is apples and oranges.

Comparing it to Star Trek is far easier, as they were both highly episodic planet-of-the-week format shows.  Star Trek (esp. TNG) did a hell of a lot more moralizing, and Firefly was a hell of a lot more stupid fun.

I think where Firefly/Serenity gets hardest hit in staying power is due to its lack of, well, grittiness. You like all of the characters. Hell, despite the fact that everybody barely tolerates Jayne, all the characters really like each other, too.  They never get confronted with a real dilemma. They kick ass, take names, and are "honorable thieves".  There's nothing there to discuss or talk about it, other than how cool it is.

You know, maybe if it had a longer run, it could've have gotten into the sorts of things that really embed themselves into popular culture, you know, like real drama, it could've really stood out.  But as it stands now (and forever) it's 13 episodes and 1 movie of easily forgettable fun and action.

The difference is that Trek was something that had not really existed before. I admitted that. I can write you a list a half-mile long of shows that were based off of the Star Trek formula, including Serenity. Serenity is a civil war/western story, based in space. Almost nothing about Serenity is Trek-like. It's bleak, it's not optimistic about human nature, it has no aliens or sci-fi of any kind. It's only set in space. It's a more valid comparison to say they're alike because they both have actors in the series. Trek is the exception, not the rule.  Moreover, Trek was nowhere near as "Cult" as Serenity was, being that it played on network television back when there were only 3 or 4 channels.  Trek's market share even in its original run was far greater than Firefly/Serenity. When Firefly aired, it had 400+ channels as competition, and about 25 other sci-fi series on the air at the same time. That it even got noticed is a testament to it's genius. If anything, this bolsters my point. The movie exists because people rabidly beat the drum for the series in precisely the same way Trekkies did to resurrect their series and spawn movies. To be totally honest with you, I kind of take exception to labeling "Star Trek" as "cult".  Sure, the die-hards that carried the torch from the end of TOS to ST TMP were a bit of a cult, but it was a widely-known show when it originally aired.  Not so much with Firefly/Serenity. My adherence to calling Trekkies cultists comes from knowing quite a few in my lifetime. When I heard grown, married men arguing who would win in a fight between a Wookie and Wharf, I knew that cult was the kindest word I could ever use to describe their ilk.

I like all sci fi, but good sci fi lasts. I think Serenity will last because it's a simple story, well told without bullshit. That's rare in hollywood, period. Especially rare in sci-fi.

Quoted: Serenity is a civil war/western story, based in space. Almost nothing about Serenity is Trek-like. It's bleak, it's not optimistic about human nature, it has no aliens or sci-fi of any kind. It's only set in space. It's a more valid comparison to say they're alike because they both have actors in the series.

Principal cast is all on a ship that goes from planet to planet with a dilemma of the week wrapped up in about 40 minutes or so.

For bonus points, every planet has a theme (The Irish planet, The Desert Planet, so on so forth).

The format is very very similar, even if the attitudes and the style are not.