December 11, 2003
Battlestar Galactica (2003)
[4 - Good]
Defying the odds and expectations the SciFi channel miniseries resurrection of the 1970s cheesy soap opera in space "Battlestar Galactica" (1978) turned out to be good. quite good. The new series enjoys the benefit of some fine acting from the leads Edward James Olmos (Blade Runner (1982), "Miami Vice" (1984), Stand and Deliver (1988)) as commander Adama and Mary McDonnell (Dances with Wolves (1990), Sneakers (1992), Donnie Darko (2001)) as Laura Roslin, as well as top notch provocative writing from Ronald Moore ("Star Trek: The Next Generation" (1987), "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" (1993), Star Trek: Generations (1994), "Roswell" (1999)). The story line of the four hour special is a bit confusing for those of us who knew the original TV series. At times they seemed to make references to the events from the one-season 70s show (such as comparing a new Cylon warrior to an older model taken from the original), yet the storyline of the four hour mini-series was really a re-telling of the story from the original. The confusion and disparity can be easily excused though as the mini-series is very engaging by itself.
The storyline is definitely dark; Moore did not shy away from exploring the tourmoil and grief felt by the characters from the destruction of their home planets in the first hour of the show. There is one scene where Secretary of Education Roslin has to face a little girl who innocently tells her how happy she is that she will soon be with her mom and dad not comprehending that her parent's home city had been hit by a nuclear bomb that was very powerful and effective. The point is driven home later in the show when Roslin has to make the decision to abandon that little girl as well as 50,000 other civilians to certain death in a trade to save the lives of the other surviving colonists.
The recasting of original characters has created a stir among fans of the original series. I myself balked when I heard that the hotshot star fighter Starbuck was going to be recast as a female character, but honestly Katee Sackhoff's version of the wild and womanizing top gun was one of the things that worked for me. It probably helped that Katee reminded me in many ways of my friend Amy, one of the women I know that I most admire. I do wish that they had kept more of the original Starbuck personality. I don't think any of the people I watched the show with would have had any problem seeing Katee chase some skirt, I actually think we all would have prepared it that way.
While the four-hour mini-series is worth watching in and of itself, it clearly was set up to try and build interest in a new series. A bit of net hunting found a statment producer David Eick made back in May on where the show will go from here:
The intention, from the very beginning, was to create a large-scale, four-hour PILOT to launch a new Battlestar Galactica television series. I am thrilled at what we're accomplishing, pleasantly shocked at how well many things have already come together, and beyond proud of the job Michael Rymer is doing with the cast and everything I've seen so far. I think the miniseries will stand on its own as a thrilling piece of entertainment and a worthy addition to the Battlestar Galactica canon. However, to be completely honest, if this isn't launched into a weekly series, I'd be disappointed. A series is - and always was - the central goal.
Well, here is hoping they get the ratings to keep the show going.
Provacative? Damn straight with that picture of model 6 you got up there!
I do wonder how well an actual series would work. Apparently they know at least three of the new models of cylons. I guess that gives them 9 opportunities for surprise, including the one we as audiences know that they don't.
Did anyone note some borrowing from the movie Screamers with the idea? I don't know if you ever saw screamers, but for what it is, sci-fi horror, it's not bad.
Besides being a built melo-dramatic, the first series also carried some heavy Mormon mythologizing. I don't know if you realize that. Read this:
http://www.proaxis.com/~sherlockfam/art5.html
I wonder how much of the original series' religious nature will stay and how much can stay. The original was probably too religious at times and helped it come across very cheesy and dated at times. I think there's merit in using such mythologizing -- Mormonism is ripe for it -- but it seems more subtlety is in order. In this new one, so far, it seems like a backdrop, which is also a good option.
Posted by: Nick on December 11, 2003 11:11 PMIt was OK not great but I have a fondness for the original.
Posted by: Mr. C on December 29, 2003 12:19 PMAccording to SyFy Portal the possible continuation of Battlestar Galactica as a series is still under discussion.
I am a big fan of the original, but I do like how they tried to add a bit more depth so I can't wait to see more of the mini series and hope it takes off.
Posted by: Mr. Cat on January 18, 2004 08:16 PMAn update at SyFy Portal states that Galactica has people working in Vancouver (BC) on the proposed series. The continuation of the story as a regular series seems more likely.
Posted by: Leopoldo on January 19, 2004 11:11 AMWell it's official. We will get a regular 13 episode Galactica TV show. Details are at: Film Roar: Battlestar Galatica Greenlit for 13 Episode Series
Posted by: Leopoldo on February 13, 2004 11:28 AM
Comes as an interesting surprise to find out there is a New Battlestar Galactica miniseries and new series in the works.
I came back to Canada January 20th from teaching English in China for the last two years. Western shows from North America are not shown in China.
I missed the Mini-series!!!
Damn!
Can I get a copy of the mini-series on DVD or VHS?
Hope someone can help me. I feel like I'm going through withdrawl.
Thanks.
Martin
wenger_martin@hotmail.com
Mini series is now available on DVD, got mine from Virgin £10.99, Thought it was an excellent remake. Enjoyed the original, loved this. Gritty, good acting and above all realistic effects, especially the vipers, not some super ship that do the impossible. Well done the writers can't wait for the series.
Posted by: Terry on March 27, 2004 06:41 AMI just searched on www.dvdpricesearch.com, www.dvdanswers.com, www.amazon.com and on www.virgin.com/uk and did not find a Galactica DVD anywhere. The best I could find was an expected release date of Oct on Amazon. Do you have any links to the copy you got?
Posted by: Leopoldo on March 27, 2004 11:02 AMThank you Terry for the email response. For all you BG fans out there, if you live in the US you can preorder the DVD from Amazon.com though there is no word of when the Region 1 DVD will be released, not even from the usually reliable DVDAnswers.com. GeekRoar readers in the UK can celebrate early though and pick your copy up at your nearest Virgin Megastore or at the Virgin online store.
Posted by: Leopoldo on March 29, 2004 06:36 AMFor starters I would like to voice that back in the days, I was a true blue Battlestar fan. I can remember back to the late 70's, staying up with my old man, watching this show. The original show was great, full of new cutting edge ideas and a flare for classic sci-fi. I feel that most sci-fi shows of today, would not have taken soil and grown into what they are today, if it was not for Battlestar Galatica.
Now we go full circle, the year is now 2004 and once again we are talking about Battlestar Galatica. This time we are looking upon this new show with a bit of new spins. Now Starbuck is not a man, that role is now being played by a woman! In the original, Boxxy's mother was brought onboard and became a member of the ships crew. Now Boxxy comes to the Galatica alone! Now there is a great high tech spin to the new show, this updated version of the Galatica can make near the speed of light transport jumps through space.
At this point I am completely happy with what I have seen with the new show so far! I liked the the Pilot episode so much, the two parter, that I had my computer invest 4.3 hours of download time, through Bearshare, to download the opener in DVD quality!
In closing I will say this, that several of my friends who had watched the opener, said that there would never be a true blue Battlestar Galatica again, the original was the best and alway will be the best. I hate to not see things in the same way as my friends, but I can not agree with their lack of proper vision. I don't think this new version was designed to go head to head with it's original couterpart. I think this is nothing more than a re-birth of Galatica, made for today's TV viewers. Back in the late 70's that generation had thier version of Galatica! Now it's 2004 and this generation now has their version to call their very own! I will not pit original VS. New, that would be unfair to both shows, safe to say that this new version will stand the test of time, I will watch it with pleasure!
I've only seen the piolet series of the new one and I never saw the original (I wasn't born in my defense) but my dad says there was a little monkey thing/creature I just wanted to know if it'll be in this one as well. oh and I think that starbucks works really well as a lady (but then i never saw the original so i can't make comparisons)
Posted by: Jo Doe on October 16, 2004 06:31 AMI've only seen the piolet series of the new one and I never saw the original (I wasn't born in my defense) but my dad says there was a little monkey thing/creature I just wanted to know if it'll be in this one as well. oh and I think that starbucks works really well as a lady (but then i never saw the original so i can't make comparisons)
Posted by: Jo Doe on October 16, 2004 06:31 AMI thought I would put my thoughts to the new Battlestar Gallatica.
ver in the UK on SkyONE we started the new series and they are as follows
33
Water
Bastille Day
Act of Contrition
All have been very good and if you havent seen them then you should.
Posted by: Zebzz on November 8, 2004 05:02 PMMartin, you'll be surprised to learn that you can get all the hot TV series on DVD in China now. I've been teaching English here for about six years. If you want to come back and are looking for a job you can visit: www.asiateacher.com
Dave
Posted by: dave kees on June 18, 2005 02:40 AM
