Firefly

Special runs for 2 fantasy films

"Batman Begins" will open a five-week run at the Charlotte Observer IMAX Dome Theater Saturday, reshaping Discovery Place’s movie programming.

And "Serenity," a cult favorite adapted from the TV show "Firefly," comes to the Park Terrace for one screening Friday to raise money for "Equality Now."

"Batman Begins" is the first conventional feature from a major Hollywood studio to run at Discovery Place, which has mostly restricted itself to science-related films.

The museum has agreed to work with Warner Bros., the only studio regularly releasing movies in the large-screen IMAX format, to run "Batman Begins" through July 30. (If you see the Batman emblem shining on the side of The Charlotte Observer building Thursday and Friday, you’ll know why: It’s a promotion.)

Dee Grano, the museum’s interim marketing director, says Discovery Place intends to keep one Hollywood picture in its rotation, in addition to at least one traditional IMAX film. "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" will follow "Batman," and "Superman Returns" may play this fall. At present, the museum will not schedule titles until their regular theatrical runs have ended.

"Batman Begins" tickets will be more expensive than the usual IMAX fare: $11 for ages 14 to 59, $9 for ages 60 and up or 2 to 13, and free for children under 2. Details: 704-372- 6261, ext. 300, or www.discoveryplace.org.

Finding `Serenity’

The Joss Whedon drama will be part of a global fundraiser in 43 cities throughout Australia, New Zealand, England, Canada and the United States.

The Charlotte show will run at 7:30 p.m. at the Park Terrace, 4289 Park Road (in Park Road Shopping Center). Tickets are $10 in advance (60-cents service fee per ticket applies to Paypal payments) and $12 at the door. The Record Exchange in the Park Road Shopping Center also will sell tickets with a $1 service fee.

Each advance ticket purchase receives an entry for a door-prize drawing, including a "Serenity" DVD, a DVD of the "Firefly" series, movie passes to the Park Terrace and a "Serenity" poster.

The screening will benefit Equality Now, which was founded in 1992 to protect the rights of women. It documents discrimination and mobilizes international action to stop abuses, including rape, domestic violence, trafficking of women, and the denial of equal access to economic opportunity and political participation. Details: www.cantstoptheserenity.com.