Joss Whedon Movies
Screenwriter Joss Whedon earned fame and industry standing as the writer, director, and producer of the popular WB series Buffy the Vampire Slayer, which he based on his 1992 film of the same name. A third-generation television writer (both his father and grandfather wrote for the medium), Whedon grew up in Manhattan and spent his high school years at an all-boys school in England. Following higher education at Connecticut's Wesleyan University, he spent a year mired in creative and career frustration, an ordeal that ended when he was hired as a writer for the sitcom Roseanne.Whedon stayed with the show for a year, quitting when he sold his first film script. The resulting movie, Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992), was a disappointment, and Whedon subsequently found work writing (often in an uncredited capacity) for a number of high-profile films, including the lavishly praised and hugely popular Toy Story (1995). In 1997, Whedon resurrected his story of a teenaged vampire-slaying valley girl, creating the much more popular TV version; within a short time, the series was hailed as one of the best on television, and it had accumulated a large and loyal fan base. That same year, Whedon wrote the script for Alien Resurrection. In 1999, as a measure of Buffy's success, Whedon created Angel, a spin-off of his original show. Like Buffy, it soon boasted a loyal fan base, as well as largely favorable reviews. The next year, he co-wrote the script for the animated sci-fi adventure Titan A.E. He was also nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series for the almost entirely silent Buffy episode "Hush," a considerable achievement given the show's supernatural/fantasy bent and the fact that it did not air on a major network.
In 2002, Whedon created yet another TV series, this time a "sci-fi Western" called Firefly. The showed was short-lived, lasting only 12 episodes before being canceled (three more episodes were unaired but eventually released on DVD). The next year saw the final season of Whedon's much-loved Buffy, which had lasted seven seasons, with Angel quick to follow suit. Though fans rallied to keep the series on the air, Angel was canceled in 2004 after five seasons. With fans mourning the end of the "Buffy-verse" and amidst rampant speculation of more spin-offs, Whedon surprisingly announced that his next project would be a movie version of his failed television show Firefly. He quickly had a script ready, and the film, entitled Serenity (after the spaceship from the series), went into production that same year and was released in 2005. ~ Rebecca Flint Marx, All Movie Guide
Cloverfield writer Drew Goddard takes a seat in the director's chair for the first time with this secretive Joss Whedon-produced MGM picture. Richard Jenkins and Bradley Whitford head up the ensemble cast, which also includes Kristen Connolly, Chris Hemsworth, Anna Hutchison, Fran Kranz, and Jesse Williams ~ Jeremy Wheeler, All Movie Guide
- 2009
Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Firefly creator Joss Whedon crafts this science-fiction-themed television series concerning a highly illegal, underground organization known as the Dollhouse that caters to the wealthy, powerful, and connected by leasing out "Actives," people whose personalities have been wiped clean so they can serve whatever purpose the client demands. Echo (Eliza Dushku) is an Active. She doesn't just perform the role that she has been hired to play, but actually becomes it, since she knows no other life than the one she is living in at the moment. Actives can become whatever the client wants or needs -- a lover, a best friend, a corporate negotiator, or even an assassin. Echo and fellow Actives such as Sierra (Dichen Lachman) receive their assignments from Adelle Dewitt (Olivia Williams), one of the leaders of the Dollhouse. Upon completion of her mission, Echo always returns to the Dollhouse to have her thoughts, feelings, experiences, and knowledge erased by genius programmer Topher Brink (Fran Kranz), while her handler, Boyd Langton (Hary Lennix), supervises the process. But the powers that be have caught wind of the Dollhouse, and with every tip he receives from Russian informant Lubov (Enver Gjokaj) FBI Agent Paul Ballard (Tahmoh Penikett) moves one step closer to the truth. But now, as Echo stops forgetting and her memories gradually begin to return, she becomes determined to solve the mystery of her secret-shrouded past. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
Neil Patrick Harris (How I Met Your Mother) stars as Billy, A.K.A. Dr. Horrible, a budding super-villain whose plans for world domination continually go awry. His two goals: getting accepted into the Evil League of Evil, and working up the guts to speak to his laundromat crush Penny, played by Felicia Day (The Guild). The only thing standing in his way is Captain Hammer, Billy's superhero arch-nemesis played by Nathan Fillion (Firefly). With one big score, Billy could get into the E.L.E. and earn the respect of Penny, but only if he can keep her away from the dashing Captain Hammer...
- Starring:
- Neil Patrick Harris, Nathan Fillion, (more)
- 2007
Michael is invited to be a guest speaker at Ryan's business school. Back at the office, Dwight goes batty trying to catch a bat and Pam invites her colleagues to her first art exhibit. ~ Dean Maurer, All Movie Guide
A band of renegades on the run in outer space get in more hot water than they anticipated in this sci-fi action-adventure adapted from the television series Firefly. In the 26th century, the galaxy has been colonized by a military force known as the Alliance, but its leadership has not gone unquestioned. The Alliance was once challenged by a league of rebels known as the Independents, but the Alliance emerged victorious after a brutal civil war, with the surviving Independents scattering around the galaxy. Also wandering the edges of the galaxy are the Reavers, who have won few allies due to their violent behavior and habit of ripping apart their enemies and eating them before they're dead. Capt. Malcolm "Mal" Reynolds (Nathan Fillion), who fought as an Independent in the galactic war, is the head of Serenity, a rogue frieghter ship whose crew includes Mal's first mate, Zoe (Gina Torres), who fought alongside him in the war, her husband, hotshot pilot Wash (Alan Tudyk), sunny but dependable mechanic Kaylee (Jewel Staite), and hard-nosed gunman Jayne (Adam Baldwin). The crew of Serenity wander the galaxy, taking on whatever work they can get, from criminal activities like smuggling and stealing to legitimately offering transport to travelers. Passengers aboard Serenity include professional "companion" Inara (Morena Baccarin) and holy man Shepherd Book (Ron Glass), but the real trouble aboard the ship comes with the arrival of Simon (Sean Maher) and his teenage sister, River Tam (Summer Glau). In time, the crew discovers that River has remarkable psychic powers and was being held captive by Alliance forces until Simon came to her rescue. Now the Alliance is hot on the heels of Serenity and its passengers, with The Operative (Chiwetel Ejiofor), a sinister Alliance tracker, leading the chase. Serenity was written and directed by Joss Whedon (in his directorial debut), creator of Firefly, which only lasted 11 weeks on the air but gained a powerful cult following who rallied to get the show released on DVD after its cancellation, leading to impressive home-video sales and and an eventual motion picture deal. A couple of months prior to Serenity's theatrical release, reruns of Firefly were picked up by the Sci-Fi channel, adding even more fans to its cult following. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Nathan Fillion, Gina Torres, (more)
- 2003
Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) interrupts her tender reunion with Angel (David Boreanaz) long enough to dispatch Caleb (Nathan Fillion) quite violently once and for all. Afterward, Angel says he can smell Spike (James Marsters) on Buffy. The Slayer admits that Spike now has a soul and is "in her heart," but she professes no desire for a relationship with either of her undead suitors. Instead, she wants to discover the person she's destined to become -- if, that is, she makes it through the impending conflict. To that end, Angel hands over a magical champion's amulet to be used against The First, then heads back to L.A. to form a second line of defense. Back at home, Spike is apoplectic with jealousy about Angel's return, but he accepts the amulet and shares another chaste, tender night with Buffy. A visit from The First, however, interrupts the Slayer's sleep -- and gives her a brilliant idea about how to defeat her nemesis. The Scoobies, the slayers-in-waiting, Faith (Eliza Dushku) and Buffy head to Sunnydale High to open the Seal of Danzalthar and wage war on The First's Turok-Han army. As Buffy and the slayerettes stream through the Seal, Willow (Alyson Hannigan) and Kennedy (Iyari Limon) complete a powerful spell to release the immense energy inside the Scythe and "call" every potential slayer in the world at the same time. Their potential now realized, the junior slayers join Buffy and Faith in kicking some serious Turok-Han butt. Injured in battle, Buffy once again receives a visit from The First, but the being's triumph is short-lived. Spike's amulet suddenly kicks in, punching a hole through the Hellmouth and turning Spike into a sort of magical magnifying glass for the sunlight that shines through. The Turok-Han army goes up in smoke and the entire town of Sunnydale begins to collapse into the Hellmouth. As the slayer brigade flees, Buffy professes her love for Spike even as his shining body begins to disintegrate. Cackling joyfully, Spike orders Buffy to save herself, and she does -- running across the tops of crumbling buildings and leaping onto the school bus that has become her army's unlikely rescue vehicle. Buffy and her allies are left to stare at the ruins of Sunnydale, mourn their losses -- including Anya (Emma Caulfield), who died protecting Andrew (Tom Lenk) from The First's bringers -- and contemplate their future in a world full of slayers. Originally broadcast May 20, 2003, on UPN, "Chosen" marked the 144th and final episode of the cult-favorite series. Although star Sarah Michelle Gellar officially pulled the plug on the show when she decided against renewing her contract, creator Joss Whedon said in interviews that he preferred to go out on top rather than allowing the series to linger past its creative peak. Fans were left with one final mystery: How would James Marsters join the cast of spin-off series Angel when his character, Spike, had died saving the world? ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide
- 2002
When Angel (David Boreanaz) decides to take the gang out to see his favorite ballet troupe, everyone gets all gussied up. Angel is shocked, however, when the performance -- and the performers -- are identical to one he remembers from over a century ago. During intermission, he and Cordelia (Charisma Carpenter) go to investigate and learn that it's a case of sorcery. The jealous Count Kurskov (Mark Harelik) has encased his unfaithful prima ballerina (Summer Glau) in a temporal loop, dooming her to perform Giselle over and over again for him. Angel and Cordy piece this together between make-out sessions; possessed by the spirit of the ballerina and her long-dead lover, they go at it like hormone-addled teenagers. This causes Angel no small discomfort thanks to his real-life romantic feelings for Cordy. Meanwhile, Wesley (Alexis Denisof) and Gunn (J. August Richards), who are both vying for the affections of Fred (Amy Acker), get caught up in a less idyllic, more violent aspect of the Count's spell. When Fred kisses the injured Gunn, it takes the wind out of Wesley, but eventually the gang reunites and defeats the count. Wesley isn't the only guy to suffer romantic disappointment: Back at the hotel, just as Angel is feeling Cordy out about her feelings for him, her old flame the Groosalugg (Mark Lutz -- see "There's No Place Like Plrtz Glrb") shows up to sweep her off her feet. Originally broadcast February 4, 2002, on the WB network, "Waiting in the Wings" marked season three, episode 13 of the supernatural comedy drama. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide
- 2002
The premiere episode of Firefly, directed by the show's creator, Joss Whedon, opens in a bar, where Mal (Nathan Fillion), the captain of the titular transport ship, is having a drink with Zoe (Gina Torres) and Jayne (Adam Baldwin). Another patron (Tom Towles) shouts out a toast in honor of Unification Day, which celebrates the Alliance's triumph over the Independents, and the end of the galaxy's civil war. Mal takes offense, picks a fight with his quips, and the three Serenity crew members end up between a cliff and an angry armed mob of Alliance sympathizers. Happily, Serenity's pilot (and Zoe's husband), Wash (Alan Tudyk), pulls the ship up behind them, and pulls them out of trouble. Back on the ship, Simon (Sean Maher) is tending to his sister, River (Summer Glau), who is having nightmares about being tortured at the Academy, but won't tell Simon what happened to her. Simon gave up his comfortable life to rescue her, and they are now fugitives. Shepherd Book (Ron Glass) questions why Mal, who doesn't need any attention from the Alliance, would risk helping the high-profile fugitives. Mal later gets work from Adelai Niska (Michael Fairman), a ruthless criminal who warns Mal that there will be trouble if Mal and his crew don't get the job done. Niska wants him to rob an Alliance train, and Mal agrees to do it without knowing what he's stealing. After a daring raid, in which the goods are lifted out from under the noses of a squad of Feds, Mal has a crisis of conscience when he learns that he's stolen medical supplies bound for a struggling mining town. "The Train Job" aired as the premiere episode because Fox was not happy with Whedon's original two-hour pilot. ~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide
- 2002
After Mal (Nathan Fillion) and the crew help a backwater community fend off a vicious band of robbers, Mal takes off his dress and bonnet (long story) and there's a drunken celebration. The next morning, Serenity has to leave in a hurry to avoid an Alliance patrol boat, and Mal finds an uninvited guest aboard. Her name is Saffron (Christina Hendricks), but she introduces herself to Mal by telling him, "I'm your wife." It seems that at the party the night before, as Book (Ron Glass) helpfully explains, Mal unwittingly participated in some kind of primitive marriage ceremony with this pretty, impossibly naïve and innocent young woman. Since they can't bring her back, Mal reassures her that he won't kill her, and decides to drop her off at their next destination, Beaumont, where she can probably find work on a farm. Most of the crew are amused at Mal's predicament, with the notable exception of Inara (Morena Baccarin). Jayne (Adam Baldwin) offers to trade Mal his most beloved gun, Vera, for the blushing bride. Book warns Mal that if he takes sexual advantage of Saffron during the week-long trip to Beaumont, he'll be going to a "special Hell...reserved for child molesters and people who talk at the theater." Unfortunately for the pent-up Mal, Saffron seems determined to consummate their marriage. "Leave me at the nearest port," she tells him, "only let me have my wedding night." Unfortunately for the rest of the crew, Saffron seems to be in cahoots with some rather less pretty types who are greedily tracking Serenity. ~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Benito Martinez, Bob Fimiani, (more)
- 2002
"Serenity" was originally intended to be the two-hour pilot of Firefly, but the brain trust at FOX wasn't happy with the pace of the episode, and convinced series creator Joss Whedon to air it later in the series' run. By the time the pilot aired (as a 2-part episode on December 20, 2002), FOX had canceled the promising show. The episode opens at the turning point of the Independents' unsuccessful revolt against the Alliance, as Mal (Nathan Fillion) and Zoe (Gina Torres) survive a losing battle and see their base eradicated. Flash forward six years, and they are onboard Serenity, engaged in an illegal salvage mission, outwitting an Alliance cruiser to make their escape. When their fence on Persephone, Badger (Mark Sheppard), refuses to buy their goods as promised, they are forced to travel to the border worlds to try to sell to Patience (Bonnie Bartlett), who shot Mal the last time she dealt with him. Before leaving Persephone, Serenity picks up three paying passengers: Book (Ron Glass), a shepherd (or priest); Simon (Sean Maher), a wealthy doctor; and Dobson (Carlos Jacott), who turns out to be an undercover Alliance fed. After Dobson's treachery is discovered, the crew learns that he's after Simon, who has rescued his younger sister, River (Summer Glau), from a mysteriously malevolent Alliance academy. While Jayne (Adam Baldwin) contemplates turning on Mal for the reward money, Mal tries to make a dangerous transaction with Patience, who plans to ambush him. Meanwhile, a ship carrying the dreaded Reavers, vicious marauders who have abandoned their humanity, has targeted Serenity. "If they take the ship," Zoe tells Simon, "they'll rape us to death, eat our flesh, and sew our skins into their clothing. And if we're very, very lucky," she adds, "they'll do it in that order." ~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide
- 2002
Simon (Sean Maher) puts his foot in his mouth again, inadvertently insulting Kaylee (Jewel Staite). While visiting a sort of futuristic carnival freak show, the crew is unable to fence the Lasseter (the priceless weapon they stole in the previous episode, Trash), but they do have occasion to pick up their mail. Jayne (Adam Baldwin) gets a funny hat from his mother, while Mal (Nathan Fillion) and Zoe (Gina Torres) receive a large box, which contains a coffin, which contains a body. The body belongs to Tracey (Joss Whedon regular Jonathan M. Woodward), who fought alongside Mal and Zoe back in the day, when he was a raw recruit, and they kept him alive through the battle of Du-Khang. Back on the ship, they find that Tracey has recorded a message for them, asking them to bring his body to his family on St. Alban's. Soon, an Alliance ship tracks down Serenity. The feds demand that Mal turn over his illegal cargo. But it's not the Lasseter they want, it's Tracey's body. Simon starts to perform an autopsy to find out what the Feds are after. Much to everyone's surprise, Tracey is still alive, and the precious cargo he's carrying is a complete set of genetically engineered super-organs. As it turns out, Tracey agreed to smuggle the organs, but double-crossed his buyer when he got a better offer, then had to fake his own death in an effort to escape. While Tracey woos Kaylee, Mal tries vainly to outrun the feds, but despite Wash's flying skills, the feds have them outgunned and outmaneuvered. Book (Ron Glass) suggests a plan, which Tracey overhears and misconstrues. Believing that his old mates are turning him in, he takes a hostage. This episode, included in the DVD set, was never aired by Fox. ~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Burgi, Al Pugliese, (more)
- 2002
The Host (Andy Hallett) narrates this episode of Angel, which was written and directed by series co-creator Joss Whedon and is structured as one long flashback recounted by the green-skinned demon to an unseen audience. Lorne's tale involves a memory spell he obtained in order to restore the amnesiac Cordelia (Charisma Carpenter) to her rightful self. Performing the ritual with her friends, Cordy does indeed remember who she is -- or at least who she was. Reverting to her snotty, teenaged Sunnydale High self, Cordy finds herself in the company of strangers: Angel (David Boreanaz), who thinks he's an 18th century Irish human; Wesley (Alexis Denisof), who has reverted to his Watcher's Academy schoolboy self; Fred (Amy Acker), who has become a pot-smoking Texas teen; and Gunn (J. August Richards), who is once again a surly young warrior of the L.A. streets. Eventually, after being appraised of the existence of demons by Gunn and Wesley, these inner children incorrectly surmise that they've been locked up together with a vampire in their midst as part of a test by the Watcher's Council (see Buffy the Vampire Slayer, "Helpless"). A comic murder-mystery ensues, but the danger turns real when Angel realizes that he really is a vampire and goes after Cordy. Connor (Vincent Kartheiser), however, comes to her rescue, and between blows, gets the chance to complain with the like-minded Angel about what a pain in the butt fathers can be. Eventually, everyone's true persona is restored -- including Cordy's. But after a momentary vision of the coming apocalypse, she tells Angel that she can't be with him right now. Reluctantly, though, she reveals that before recent events, she really was in love with him. Originally broadcast November 10, 2002, on the WB network, "Spin the Bottle" marked season four, episode six of the supernatural comedy drama. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide
- 2002
River (Summer Glau) wanders through Serenity, listening in on the thoughts of her shipmates, all of whom are harboring negative thoughts about her and her erratic behavior. She picks up a gun in the cargo bay. Mal (Nathan Fillion) is able to disarm her, but then Kaylee (Jewel Staite) feels compelled to tell them all about how she witnessed River killing three men recently (in the previous episode, "War Stories"). As River eavesdrops, the crew discuss her unique abilities (Mal [Nathan Fillion] surmises that she's a "reader" -- as in mind reader), and the threat she poses. Meanwhile, a bounty hunter, Early (former Law & Order star Richard Brooks), silently boards the ship. Early is there for River, and he seems to know an awful lot about everyone on board. As most of the crew turn in for the night, Early runs into Mal and promptly knocks him out. Then he finds Kaylee and threatens to rape her unless she tells him where River is. He puts Book (Ron Glass) out of commission. Then he finds Simon (Sean Maher), and threatens to kill him if he doesn't help find River. Simon goes along, hoping for an opportunity to get a jump on the bounty hunter. Asked why he beat up the shepherd, Early responds, "That ain't a shepherd." They search Inara's (Morena Baccarin) shuttle, and Early gives her a smack when she tries to seduce him. Finally, with Early threatening to kill Simon, River reveals herself, speaking to Early and the crew from "beyond," claiming that she's melted away because nobody wanted her there. Soon enough, Early figures out where she really is, and River offers to turn herself in if the bounty hunter leaves the rest of Serenity's crew alone. Series creator Joss Whedon wrote and directed this episode. ~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide
Created by Joss Whedon (of Buffy the Vampire Slayer), Firefly was an "outer-space Western" set some four to five centuries in the future. Nathan Fillion starred as Captain Mal Reynolds, a disillusioned interplanetary-war veteran and outlaw of the Alliance, the current ruling government. Reynolds was skipper of the transport ship Serenity, a "Firefly-class" vessel. The cast of characters included Inara (Morena Baccarin), a doctor named Simon (Sean Maher), and a mystical preacher named Book (Ron Glass). Firefly made its American network debut on September 20, 2002, on Fox; it was cancelled after only 12 episodes. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Nathan Fillion, Gina Torres, (more)
- 2001
Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) returns home, chattering animatedly to her mother until she discovers Joyce (Kristine Sutherland) cold and apparently dead on the couch. She dials 911, makes an unsuccessful attempt at CPR, and watches, dumbfounded, as the paramedics meet with similar failure. Alone with the body, she waits until Giles (Anthony Stewart Head) arrives and comforts her, then heads to the school, where she has to break the news to a devastated and hysterical Dawn (Michelle Trachtenberg). Elsewhere, the Scoobies gather to join the Summers family. Willow (Alyson Hannigan) shares a tender kiss with Tara (Amber Benson) but later grows incensed at what she perceives as the insensitivity of Anya (Emma Caulfield). The normally snide ex-demon then tearfully reveals her ignorance of mortal vulnerabilities and her anger and confusion at the fleetingness of life. Her boyfriend, Xander (Nicholas Brendon), deals with his feelings the old-fashioned way: he puts his hand through a wall. Eventually everyone gathers at the hospital, where Dawn, needing to see her mother one last time, wanders to the morgue and is attacked by a newly risen vampire. Buffy finds her and struggles to kill the vamp through her sea of grief. In the protracted battle, the sheet falls away from Joyce's body, leaving Dawn and Buffy to face the reality of simple, human death, so different from the theatrical dustings and beheadings to which they're accustomed. Originally broadcast February 27, 2001, on the WB network, "The Body" marked episode 94 of the cult-favorite series. Written and directed by series creator Joss Whedon, this episode contains no score or incidental music besides the standard theme song. It also marks the first on-screen physical intimacy between longtime same-sex lovers Willow and Tara. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide
- 2001
With Cordelia (Charisma Carpenter) apparently in power (see "Over the Rainbow"), Angel (David Boreanaz), the Host (Andy Hallett), and the others are set free. The Deathwok Clan Mother, aka Loren's mom (Tom McCleister), expresses her hatred and shame over her wayward offspring, but cousin Landokmar (Brody Hutzler) bonds with fellow warrior Angel, even asking him to officiate at a feast. The party turns out to be the execution of kidnapped refugee slave Fred (Amy Acker). Angel refuses to participate, and they escape into the wilderness. When marauders attack, Angel transforms into a savage demon and inflicts serious injuries on both the attackers and Gunn (J. August Richards). Wesley (Alexis Denisof) surmises that on Pylea, the human and demon halves of a vampire are out of balance. Nevertheless, with Fred's help, Angel eventually transforms back to normal and retreats with the girl to her cave hideaway. Meanwhile, back at the palace, princess Cordy gets uppity and soon learns that she's merely the tool of the powerful Covenant of Trombli, a band of manipulative demon priests with ties to Wolfram & Hart. She is told she must "cumshuk," or mate, with a fearsome warrior known as the Groosalugg (Mark Lutz), but he turns out to be a handsome, earnest, and human-looking hunk. Despite her relief at Groo's appearance, Cordy gets another nasty shock from the Covenant; they remind her who's in charge by delivering the Host's head to her on a platter. Originally broadcast May 15, 2001, on the WB network, "Through the Looking Glass" marked season two, episode 21 of the supernatural comedy drama. This four-part saga continues in "There's No Place Like Plrtz Glrb." ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide
- 2001
As hell-god Glory (Clare Kramer) prepares for the precise moment when she can cut Dawn (Michelle Trachtenberg) open and unleash pan-dimensional Armageddon, Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) and the Scoobies prepare for the fight of their lives. Giles (Anthony Stewart Head) advocates killing Dawn if it will prevent the Apocalypse, arguing that she isn't even really Buffy's sister. But the Slayer vows to save both the world and Dawn, who was fashioned from Buffy's own flesh and blood as the human incarnation of the ancient key that Glory needs to open the doorway back to her own dimension. Meanwhile, facing certain death, Xander (Nicholas Brendon) proposes to girlfriend Anya (Emma Caulfield) even as enchantress Willow (Alyson Hannigan) comes up with a way restore the shattered mind of her own lover, Tara (Amber Benson). Spike (James Marsters) and Buffy gather up weapons and share a tender moment. Then it's time to let poor, mad Tara lead the way to the patchwork tower of steel girders that Glory's other brain-drained victims have constructed as the stage for their mistress' descent back to hell. Arriving on the scene, Willow casts her spell, draining Tara's mind from Glory and back into Tara. Glory thus befuddled, Buffy throws everything she's got at the hell-goddess: serious punches, a mystical troll's hammer, and even a robot decoy. By the time Xander weighs in with a wrecking ball, Glory's had it. She reverts to the form of her human host, Ben (Charlie Weber), whom Giles quietly smothers in order to end Glory's threat. But atop the tower, despite the best efforts of Spike, one of Glory's minions manages to spill Dawn's blood and begin the convergence of hell and earth. As an interdimensional vortex begins to grow, unleashing demons in its wake, Dawn prepares to leap into the void and put an end to the destruction. But her sister stops her, announcing the she finally knows what the spirit of the First Slayer meant when she told Buffy her greatest gift was death. Because Dawn and Buffy share the same blood, Buffy too can close the portal. Promising Dawn she'll always love her, Buffy plunges into the vortex, which short-circuits -- dropping the Slayer's corpse onto the ground below. Buffy's tombstone serves as a solemn reminder: "Buffy Anne Summers...1981-2001...She saved the world. A lot." Originally broadcast May 22, 2001, on the WB network, "The Gift" marked episode 100 of the cult-favorite series. It was also the last new episode to premiere on the WB; beginning with the season six opener, "Bargaining, Part 1," the program moved to the rival UPN network for two additional seasons. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide
- 2001
As Cordy (Charisma Carpenter) and the gang continue to press on without him, Angel (David Boreanaz) joins the Host (Andy Hallett) in a mission to stop a misguided physicist named Gene Rainy (Matt Champagne) from destroying the world by stopping time in its tracks. The Host first becomes aware of the impending disaster when Gene sings a song at Caritas and the Host sees no future for him -- or anyone else. It turns out the guy has a girlfriend named Denise (Darby Stanchfield) whom he knows is about to dump him. Aided by a formula slipped to him on the sly by some Lubber demons, he intends to freeze Denise and himself in an eternal embrace when she shows up at his apartment for one final roll in the hay. Unfortunately, the Lubber demons do everything they can to expand the field of temporal paralysis to include the entire world. Despite some intensive detective work and quite a bit of hand-to-hand combat, Angel and the Host fail to prevent this dastardly event from occurring. Eventually, though, they cause time to resume its normal flow and Gene learns an important lesson about the human heart. Originally broadcast February 6, 2001, on the WB network, "Happy Anniversary" marked season two, episode 13 of the supernatural comedy drama. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide
The first Disney cartoon to be produced in the 70 mm format since The Black Cauldron (1985), this blend of traditional animation with computer-generated imagery is a straight adventure tale of the Jules Verne school, eschewing the studio's typical formula of cute critters mixed with song-and-dance routines. Michael J. Fox is the voice of Milo Thatch, a lowly museum employee and linguist in the early 20th century who's determined to continue his late grandfather's search for the lost, sunken empire of Atlantis. Bankrolled by eccentric millionaire Preston Whitmore (John Mahoney), Milo teams up with a diverse crew of mercenaries led by submarine commander Rourke (James Garner). After a sea battle with a giant denizen of the deep, the explorers locate the submerged civilization. Milo falls in love with Princess Kida (Cree Summer), the daughter of Atlantis' aged ruler (Leonard Nimoy), and must choose sides when it's revealed that some of his fellow expedition members intend to steal a mystical energy source from their hosts. Claudia Christian, Mark Hamill, David Ogden Stiers, Don Novello, and the late Jim Varney co-star. Although considered a shoo-in for a nomination in the debut year of the new Oscar category of Best Animated Feature, Atlantis: The Lost Empire faced stiff competition from other non-live-action entertainment in the summer of 2001, including Shrek, Final Fantasy, and Monsters Inc.. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michael J. Fox, James Garner, (more)
- 2001
Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) and the gang find themselves singing out their feelings in this musical episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The weirdness begins when Buffy interrupts her patrol to sing about post-resurrection angst. The next day, she learns that all of Sunnydale has become a great big Broadway musical. She and her friends float out various theories, but it turns out a musical demon named Sweet (Hinton Battle) has cast a nefarious spell over the town. As the enchantment forces various unfortunates to sing and dance until they burst into flames, the main characters find themselves expressing their deepest emotions. Tara (Amber Benson) sings a tender love song to Willow (Alyson Hannigan). Xander (Nicholas Brendon) and Anya (Emma Caulfield) share a comical duet about their marriage misgivings. Spike (James Marsters) belts out a heavy metal number about his love/hate relationship with Buffy. Giles (Anthony Stewart Head) croons pensively about Buffy's need for independence. And Dawn (Michelle Trachtenberg) dances a ballet of loneliness. Dawn also accidentally reveals that Willow cast a spell of forgetfulness over Tara (see "All the Way"). Soon, Tara and Giles are harmonizing about the need to leave Willow and Buffy for their own good. Just when it seems that these tangled emotions will cause the Scoobies to combust, however, Sweet arrives to make Dawn his underworld bride. While rescuing her sister, Buffy reveals the truth she's been hiding from her friends -- when they brought her back to life, they wrenched her not from Hell, but from Heaven. The anguished Slayer then almost dances herself into fiery oblivion -- until Spike intercedes and begs her to live. Once Sweet is vanquished, the entire cast sings an uncertain song about what the future may hold. Then Spike and the Slayer sneak out and share an unexpected kiss. Originally broadcast November 6, 2001, on UPN, "Once More, With Feeling" marked episode 107 of the cult-favorite series. Several minutes longer than a typical hour-long Buffy episode, the musical had to be trimmed for subsequent airings and syndication. A cast album was also released. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide
Originally aired on AMC, this documentary focuses on one of the most horrifying series ever to be committed to celluloid -- the Alien film series. With interviews from most of the main players, including Ridley Scott, James Cameron, Sigourney Weaver, and H.R. Giger, the special goes through conception through production of all four films released from 20th Century Fox. Narrated by the Alien's first-ever onscreen victim, John Hurt, The Alien Saga gives insight into various script changes, casting choices, and the series fantastical effects through the eyes of the innovators behind them. The same production team, headed by writer/director Brent Zacky, also produced the equally exhausting horror film series documentary The Omen Legacy. ~ Jeremy Wheeler, All Movie Guide
- 2000
A vision from Cordelia (Charisma Carpenter) sends Angel (David Boreanaz) to the rescue of a pregnant woman (Justina Machado) who appears to be in danger from a nearby demon. After Angel kills the beast, however, it turns out it was actually protecting the woman from the Tribunal, a mysterious, inquisition-like mystical cabal. Despite her protests that he's already done more than enough, Angel insists on taking over as the woman's bodyguard. For help in this quest, he turns to the Host (Andy Hallett), the green-skinned, horned proprietor of Caritas, a demon sanctuary and karaoke bar. The Host has the mystical ability to read the aura and chart the destiny of anyone -- but only if they'll sing for him. One monumentally bad Barry Manilow rendition later, the Host arms Angel with enough knowledge to serve as the woman's champion in an impromptu jousting match. Meanwhile, Wolfram & Hart lawyer Lindsey McDonald (Christian Kane) helps Darla (Julie Benz) recover from her recent resurrection (see "To Shanshu in L.A."). And in a brief epilogue, Angel visits rogue slayer Faith (Eliza Dushku) in jail, where they talk about their respective paths to redemption. Originally broadcast September 26, 2000, on the WB network, "Judgement" marked season two, episode one of the supernatural comedy drama. J. August Richards, a guest star from previous episodes, joins the regular cast in this episode. And Andy Hallett, playing the important recurring character the Host, makes his first appearance. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide
