Serenity
To the story: "Serenity" takes place in a solar sysem of several terraformed planets and lots of moons. And there is, of course, a war going on: Between the Alliance, which basically runs things and wants everyone to be content and happy, and a group of rebels who have begun to make concerning and disturbing discoveries. As the story begins from our perspective a psychic named River Tam (Summer Glau) is rescued from Alliance types, who deal in brain washing and mind-altering experiences, by her brothr, Simon (Sean Maher). Nothing unusual in such things, until a certain relevant truth is factored in: River was exhibited for and exposed to a roomful of important Alliance parliament members: She read their minds while in their presence.
Almost before you can say 'Duck Dodgers in the 24 1/2 Century' River and Simon have joined forces with a team of freelancing rouges, renegades, and smugglers on a banged-up, rusted-out, and well-worn ship named Serenity. Malcolm (Nathan Fillion), is the captain, and the crew is made up of the pilot, Wash (Alan Tudyk), his wife, Zoe (Gina Torres), the engineer, Kaylee, (Jewel), and the tough guy, Jayne (Adam Baldwin). And just when things seem they cannot possibly get worse, they do: On their collective trail is the most feared, most competent agent of the Alliance, The Operative (Chiwetel Ejiofor).
Dare I tell more? But, of course. In the spirit of things, herein, but of course: The Alliance wants to bring joy and happiness, contentment and satisfaction to its otherwise overcrowded planetary system, and wants to do so by way of slight-of-hand otherwise known as distraction: Those who live in this system are led to believe their lives have meaning and value, purpose, and intent, when they really don't.
River, because she read the minds of so many, knows a secret about this particular process the Alliance would rather not be revealed.
This particular plot and most of the characters may strike a cord with some science fiction fans, and with good reason: It was lifted from the short-lived Fox Television series "Firefly", created by Joss Whedon, which was cancelled abruptly for reasons never quite made clear. Whedon, despite his previous success with such series as "Buffy, the Vampire Slayer", got the short end of the stick in this particular situation, but revenge is his: "Serenity" is everything the series was not allowed to be, and more: Energetic, imaginative, creative, wild,
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