Firefly: The Complete Series [Blu-ray]
![Firefly: The Complete Series [Blu-ray]](/Images/B001EN71CW/medium.jpg) | Average Customer Rating: Recommend 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… Product details and pricing info |
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10 Customer Reviews Posted
- it is what it is...
- considering the source(if it's not shot in HD,it will only be as good as the source)this is the best picture you will get for this show,if you have a good set up for Blueray.you will also get better sound than the DVD.as for the show,if you have seen it and do not love it i cannot help you...now about a Buffy Blueray....
- 2008-11-16, 0 of 1 people found this review helpful, Rated:
- Better, still some grain, special effects in SD res
- Only caught the series AFTER it was canceled, and have become a browncoat, to the point that, yes, I actually do wear a brown coat I bought when Serenity came out. It's a series worth checking out. The chances you'll become that much of a nerd are very low, so don't be afraid. :)
Picture quality is high compared to the original DVDs, detailed and clearer, though since the series is fairly dark at points, there's some definite noise (looks like film grain, actually) in the black backgrounds (at least on my set, a Mitsubishi). Despite initial rumors, special effects sequences remain at 480i (upconverted) instead of being re-rendered to 1080p. That's occasionally annoying if you're looking for it, but otherwise not. Sound is greatly improved.
As others have pointed out, the set is shy on new extras, which is too bad. Enjoyed the extra commentary and the partial reunion, would have appreciated more.
Packaging seems decent for a blu-ray multipack. One review complains about the packaging, but I found it efficient and not problematic (case opens with one middle piece. Middle piece has a disc on each side, third disc is on the back of the open case. I've seen worse: some mass-DVD multipacks with two dvds overlapping each other so you have to remove one to get at the other...)
Worth the money if you have a good HD set. If you're not sure, rent the first episodes from Netflix or Blockbuster. - 2008-11-14, 3 of 3 people found this review helpful, Rated:
- Great show - Cheap packaging
- I love this show. Joss Whedon hit a major home run and Fox was too blind to see that they had a hit in the making... at least with fans of science fiction and maybe, had they been a little patient, even more.
That said, the lack of the fifth star in my rating is due to cheap packaging. I had previously bought the DVD set as I didn't know if there would be a blu-ray version (still waiting for Torchwood season 2 on blu-ray) and it is quite nice. It's a box set. Each disc has it's own sleeve with a different character on its cover and the all of these are in a box. However the blu-ray is cheap by comparison. A single standard plastic case with all of the discs sandwiched into it.
It appears to me that Fox responded to the demand for a blu-ray version of this but only gave as much as it absolutely had to. I do hope the one reviewer is wrong and that the picture quality is better than the DVD set. - 2008-11-12, 2 of 6 people found this review helpful, Rated:
- Skip The Blu-Ray version, the standard DVD set is just fine.
- Although I love the show, the Blu-Ray release stinks. They didn't improve the picture quality much at all so you might as well stick with the DVD set if you have it. They did remix the sound to DTS but it's hardly worth $60.00. Another Fox Blu-Ray failure if you ask me.
- 2008-11-12, 5 of 14 people found this review helpful, Rated:
- Nice visual and sound update, but sparse on new features.
- At first Firefly was a bittersweet experience for me that ended with much love for the show. You see I was a fan of Dark Angel and Fox in their infinite wisdom replaced my favorite sci-fi television show at the time for this "Firefly" thing. I'm still a sci-fi fan so I watched Firefly. By the end of that premier episode (which ironically wasn't the first episode... more of Fox's infinite wisdom) I realize I'm looking at an innovative and well presented program.
Firefly is a beautiful blend of old west and outer space. Sounds strange, right? Well take it from me. The concept works. It works better than it might sound outright. The reason it works is because of two things: The backdrop universe they created and the well-written stories in front of it. The back-story is rich with history and this show takes a life of its own because of it. When the program is over you really get the feel that these people in this futuristic/western society is going. Kudos to Joss for sticking strong with that continuity.
The writing for this show is nothing short of excellent and reaches the level of gifted more than once. I think what really makes the show fresh is that you can never really know what the characters will do next. You know their disposition and who they are, but just about every episode has some scene where someone does something unexpected yet still in character. After seeing tons of shows where people's actions are so predictable you wonder why you bother watching Firely gives you that extra effort.
This is not a family show in case some of you are thinking Firefly is Star Wars-esque. Every episode has elements of violence and sexual situations at one level or another. At the same time the complicated moral delimas the characters deal with can be considered a good thing for a thinking teen to watch. While Firefly isn't a "parents strongly cautioned" kind of show I would assume it a PG-13 (TV-14, whatever) if you are screening for your kids.
This Blu-Ray release of the show promises to give you full 1080p/AVC MPEG-4 video and an English DTS-HD Lossless Master Audio 5.1 Surround sound. You get three disks instead of the four in the DVD release, and I think the packaging will be at least 50% slimmer. You get the exact same features as on the DVD release with just two new features no previously released. One is the featurette "Firefly Reunion" (in HD) which is pretty much was it sounds like. A lunch discussion with Joss, Nathan Fillion, Alan Tudyk and Ron glass. The other extra is a commentary track for the episode "Our Mrs. Reynolds" with Whedon and actors Fillion, Alan and Ron (maybe Jewel Staite as well). None of the other extras will be in HD, but that's life.
If you are a sci-fi fan and missed this show you REALLY need to check this out. It's top notch storytelling with top notch effects, sets and acting. Fox has never been good with their sci-fi shows. This release trumps the original DVD release, although at a pretty hefty price tag. The video on the original DVD was excellent for standard definition. It's up you if the higher fidelity is worth the double dip if you already have the original. If you have neither it's still a toss up considering these days you can get the DVD version for a fraction of the Blu-Ray retail price. What will I do? Wait until prices fall. - 2008-11-10, 9 of 13 people found this review helpful, Rated:
