Firefly: The Complete Series [Blu-ray]

Description

Five hundred years in the future, there’s a whole new
frontier, and a crew of the Firefly-class spaceship Serenity is eager to stake
a claim on the action. They’ll take any job, legal or illegal, to keep fuel in
the tanks and food on the table. But things get a bit more complicated after
they take on a passenger wanted by the new totalitarian Alliance regime. Now
they find themselves on the run, desperate to steer clear of Alliance ships
and the flesh-eating Reavers who live on the fringes of space. As
the 2005 theatrical release of Serenity made clear, Firefly was a science
fiction concept that deserved a second chance. Devoted fans (or “Browncoats”)
knew it all along, and with this well-packaged DVD set, those who missed the
show’s original broadcasts can see what they missed. Creator Joss Whedon’s
ambitious science-fiction Western (Whedon’s third series after Buffy the
Vampire Slayer and Angel) was canceled after only 11 of these 14 episodes had
aired on the Fox network, but history has proven that its demise was woefully
premature. Whedon’s generic hybrid got off to a shaky start when network
executives demanded an action-packed one-hour premiere (“The Train Job”); in
hindsight the intended two-hour pilot (also titled “Serenity,” and oddly
enough, the final episode aired) provides a better introduction to the show’s
concept and splendid ensemble cast. Obsessive fans can debate the quirky logic
of combining spaceships with direct parallels to frontier America (it’s 500
years in the future, and embattled humankind has expanded into the galaxy,
where undeveloped “outer rim” planets struggle with the equivalent of Old West
accommodations), but Whedon and his gifted co-writers and directors make it
work, at least well enough to fashion a credible context from the incongruous
culture-clashing of past, present, and future technologies, along with a
polyglot language (the result of two dominant superpowers) that combines
English with an abundance of Chinese slang. What makes it work is Whedon’s
delightfully well-chosen cast and their nine well-developed characters–a
typically Whedon-esque extended family–each providing a unique perspective on
their adventures aboard Serenity, the junky but beloved “Firefly-class”
starship they call home. As a veteran of the disadvantaged Independent
faction’s war against the all-powerful planetary Alliance (think of it as
Underdogs vs. Overlords), Serenity captain Malcolm Reynolds (Nathan Fillion)
leads his compact crew on a quest for survival. They’re renegades with an
amoral agenda, taking any job that pays well, but Firefly’s complex tapestry
of right and wrong (and peace vs. violence) is richer and deeper than it first
appears. Tantalizing clues about Blue Sun (an insidious mega-corporation with
a mysteriously evil agenda), its ties to the Alliance, and the traumatizing
use of Serenity’s resident stowaway (Summer Glau) as a guinea pig in the
development of advanced warfare were clear indications Firefly was heading for
exciting revelations that were precluded by the series’ cancellation.
Fortunately, the big-screen Serenity (which can be enjoyed independently of
the series) ensured that Whedon’s wild extraterrestrial west had not seen its
final sunset. Its very existence confirms that these 14 episodes (and
enjoyable bonus features) will endure as irrefutable proof Fox made a glaring
mistake in canceling the series. –Jeff Shannon On the Blu-ray discs Firefly
has a picture that’s a little softer than most Blu-ray discs (especially in
the effects shots), but it is an improvement over the DVDs (even in an
upconverting DVD player or Blu-ray player), and the punchy sound (DTS HD 5.1
compared to the DVDs’ 2.0 surround) is a definite upgrade. In addition to the
original bonus features, there are a couple new ones: a 25-minute conversation
among Whedon, Nathan Fillion, Ron Glass, and Alan Tudyk in which they discuss
the series and a number of specific episodes (Fillion recalls thinking he was
getting fired after the first episode), and a new commentary track by the four
fellows on “Our Mrs. Reynolds.” And since it’s easy to get sucked into
watching multiple episodes, it’s nice to have a Play All feature on the BDs.
–David HoriuchiBeyond Firefly on Blu-ray Stargate: Continuum Blu-ray Sci-Fi
Bundle Sunshine Stills from Firefly (Click for larger image)

Features:

Product Details:

• Format: AC-3, Color, Dolby, DTS Surround Sound, Dubbed, Blu-ray, Subtitled, Widescreen, Closed-captioned
• Contributor: Gina Torres, Morena Baccarin, Adam Baldwin, Sean Maher, Joss Whedon, Summer Glau, Jewel Staite, Alan Tudyk, Ron Glass, Nathan Fillion See more
• Language: English, French, Spanish
• Number Of Discs: 3
• Runtime: 11 hours and 25 minutes
• Aspect Ratio ‏ : ‎ 1.78:1
• Is Discontinued By Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ No
• MPAA rating ‏ : ‎ NR (Not Rated)
• Product Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 0.7 x 7.5 x 5.4 inches; 4.72 Ounces
• Item model number ‏ : ‎ 24543533696
• Director ‏ : ‎ Joss Whedon
• Media Format ‏ : ‎ AC-3, Color, Dolby, DTS Surround Sound, Dubbed, Blu-ray, Subtitled, Widescreen, Closed-captioned
• Run time ‏ : ‎ 11 hours and 25 minutes
• Release date ‏ : ‎ June 17, 2014
• Actors ‏ : ‎ Nathan Fillion, Gina Torres, Alan Tudyk, Morena Baccarin, Adam Baldwin