Serenity

Author: Joss Whedon

Many claim that Joss Whedon's Firefly is the greatest science fiction television show of all-time. Cancelled even before a full season aired, a massive fanbase was clamoring for a feature film, and in 2005, they got their wish with Serenity. Taking the Western-in-Space aesthetic of the series, and the entire original cast, Whedon creates a story that is equal parts The Searchers, Star Wars, and The Stand. The crew battles the Operative, trying to save one of their own, and in doing so, must engage the dangerous Reavers, a hacker called Mr. Universe, and the Alliance, the major government of the 'verse. The film is equal parts heart-breaking and triumphant, though as is true of any Whedon property, all victories are laced with foreboding, all love tinged with loss. The true genius in Serenity has to be Nathan Fillion as Mal Reynolds, who somehow has to play the wise master Obi-Wan and the scallywag Han Solo at the same time, and brilliantly pulls it off. Why it's on the listA masterfully-paced action flick with smart characters and hard-hitting dialogue.