Battlestar Galactica 2005

POSTED BY: Quicksand
UPDATED: Tuesday, January 18, 2005 18:01
VIEWED: 16979
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ZOID

Wednesday, January 12, 2005 2:32 PM

Well, 'coats:

After watching the first 2 hours of Battlestar Galactica last night, I have to say I enjoyed it immensely. I somehow managed to miss the scene with the Serenity flyby (drat), but the CG was so reminiscent of Firefly I decided to do a little further research. Of course, as has undoubtedly been pointed out before, IMDB lists Joel Ashman of ZOIC Studios as one of the digital compositors. I found more at http://www.zoicstudios.com/# , from which:

Quote:
Zoic Studios helped the Sci-Fi Channel re-imagine the original Battlestar Galactica series. We created 400+ shots, in a two night mini-series, bringing the Cylons, Vipers and Battlestars back to life. Continuing the tradition of high detail, photoreal quality set-extensions, planets and space ships, Zoic was again nominated for a 2004 Emmy Award.

(Read NVidia's article on the company at http://www.nvidia.com/object/zoic.html , and at CGWorld http://tinyurl.com/4tdrx for a complete listing of tools used by ZOIC for Firefly.)

On the whole, I'd have to say there was very little I could find wrong with the 2-hour installment. The space battles were at least very good, playing more like naval battles than Star Trek ever managed to capture (especially recent movies). Planetary bombardments were effective, though I'd have like to have seen Cylon ground troops; perhaps not enough money in the budget?

I thought the acting was good in the main roles, credible in the secondaries. Some of the minor roles were maybe a bit flawed, but whaddya want for scale? Costumes were less than perfect, which cannot help but take the viewer's mind off the play. Having said that, both these observations were likewise true of Firefly.

One major difference between BG and FF, though, is the dialogue. FF is clearly superior -- to every other show on TV -- in this regard, due to the genius of Joss Whedon. It's going to be tough for BG to come close to the depth of characterization FF had, too, but ditto the reasoning: Who else is Joss? Nothing can serve as a better example of JW's skills than this juxtaposition between Battlestar Galactica and the Firefly pilot, 'Serenity, Parts 1 & 2': The two properties are fairly similar in production qualities (BG actually looks a bit more 'expensive'), so the only deciding factor is in the creative department. Joss Whedon and Firefly take the prize, like the Colts versus the Broncos this past weekend: It's over by halftime. Peyton Manning is the Joss Whedon of football. (Ouch! ...bit my tongue!)

Having said that -- that there is only one Joss Whedon -- Battlestar Galactica was engaging and entertaining, and I plan on watching it regularly. In addition, Stargate: Atlantis looks to have had a money infusion and a production quality upgrade. Perhaps with a little less 'running around through the fringe of the woods while smoke bombs go off', I might be able to stand Colonel MacGyver better. I'll be giving that one another look this season, too.

As a final thought, SciFi may be spending more across the board on its programming. Vivendi-Universal appears to be sinking more cash into the channel, perhaps reasoning that F*x, WB and their ilk are failing to step into a fairly large ratings gap below the Big 3. With proper programming, an 'enhanced basic' cable channel might grab a large share of the advertising revenues this gap represents. Could "Firefly: Serenity 1 & 2" show this summer on SciFi?

Could Firefly the Series return to TV, sooner rather than later?

Critically,

zoid

P.S.
Starting a new thread over something else I found out about, while searching on ZOIC...
_________________________________________________

"Burn the land and boil the sea, you can't take the sky from me." The Ballad of Serenity

BROWNCOAT1

Wednesday, January 12, 2005 4:19 PM

I watched the 1st half of the mini series again last night to refresh myself as it has been a year since it aired here in the States. I remembered pretty much all of it, but there were a few small things I did not recall.

I will watch the 2nd half of the mini series tonight after "Lost".

__________________________________________

"May have been the losing side. Still not convinced it was the wrong one."

Richmond, VA & surrounding area Firefly Meet Up:
http://firefly.meetup.com/9/boards/

PIZMOBEACH

Wednesday, January 12, 2005 5:56 PM

Thanks for the article links - very interesting, I love the behind the screen, "how'd they do that?" reporting. I confess I almost shed a tear though when I read in the Computer Graphics World December, 2002 article:
"Firefly, which is scheduled for a 13-week run, is currently being considered for a second-seasonal renewal."

That guy, working electric, he never drank with us!

SNIPER

Thursday, January 13, 2005 6:35 PM

I'm excited for the series, although I don't have SciFi. I'm getting someone to tape it for me.

However, if anyone wants some major spoilers, go to SkyOne.co.uk, they got it first and have summaries of all the episodes aired in Britian thus far.

The show looks brilliant, and probably some of the best scifi that I've seen. It's serious, dark and exciting.

REEQUEEN

Thursday, January 13, 2005 7:11 PM

I'm really glad my son made me watch this last night. True, I was gorked out of my eyeballs on pain meds, so my judgement may have been slightly off, but I thought it was actually quite brilliant for television.

Barring Firefly and all things Joss-related, of course.

It was groovy, it made me remember the original with much more fondness than I had been fostering (and I mention why in another thread), and why I watched The A Team (Dirk Benedict). I'm glad they didn't copy the template precisely, it would've been anachronistic.

I love Mary McDonnell - loved her in Independence Day, loved her in Grand Canyon. Although she's basically playing the same character as she did in Independence Day, doesn't make me love her less.

Yeah, some of the stuff is cheesy, but that's part of why I enjoy some of the stuff.

"You mean they have the internet on computers now?" Homer

WASTEOID

Thursday, January 13, 2005 8:06 PM

I am Crying Fowl!! I watch the 3 hr. showing of the New show Battlestar Galactica, and I Cry Fowl!!!I Quickly noticed A Familiar Hand held camera work and Zoom in Space shot's and Lept to my FT and Yelled FIREFLY DID IT FIRST! ! ! ! I Know that people have to run a buisness and make a Livly Hood,That's why I don't Blame them , But if the viewer's of BSG Viewed Firefly they would say that BSG was First I would say to them Look at the copyright date 10-02 so that is ........FACE! ! ! ! !.HeLL I know the Pilot was made before The Clone War's I believe that's what I got on the Featurette on the DVD.So to Joss Whedon I salute YOU and your Bold ness in Filming the shot's off center and the so called Cheesy Zoom-in's.I Know That SERENITY the Movie will kick the Whole World into a new FRESH way of Enjoying Movie's again,and again ... The off Center Way Of enjoying MOVIES and TV Show's The WAY JOSS WHEDON intened for US the Viewing Public to Enjoy now and Forever! ! Again I Salute You!

MANOFSTEEL25

Thursday, January 13, 2005 8:29 PM

Yeah I saw BG '03 first before discovering FF on DVD. But what's odd is that in December '03 I HATED that docu-style with the effects shots. It felt like a bad gimmick, very repeptivie, same kinda lazy zoom for every freakin' space shot and it got old to me. It didn't put me in the action- granted.... BG had some real space battles and FF usually didn't- maybe the odd chase but that's it.

When I saw the same style on Firefly a mere 7 months later I LOVED it. And I don't know why exactly. Maybe it's because it seems to fit FF more... maybe it's because while it's the same docu-style it's not the same style of shot repeated everytime- they vary it up and sometimes give you a nice effects shot and other times give you a real shaky shot.

Regardless FF did it first and they did it beter. I only hope the maker sof BG '05 the series- watched FF closely and tried to do better this time around.

ZOID

Friday, January 14, 2005 12:00 AM

WaSteOid and manofsteel25:

As I pointed out above, ZOIC Studios -- who have been with Joss for years and years -- are responsible for the zoom-pulling, lens-flared, jiggle cam CGI shots. They developed these techniques for Firefly, then applied them to Battlestar Galactica when they got that gig.

If it looks similar, it's only because it's the same graphics company. And they're doing the BDM, too. Hooray for our team!

But there's really no question about who did it first, because there's no such thing as a race with only one horse...

Obviously,

zoid

P.S.
ZOIC are doing the BG series, too, I believe. I'd also heard that some of Firefly's episode directors (writers?) were going to be doing selected episodes of BG. Cujo? Joss?
_________________________________________________

"Burn the land and boil the sea, you can't take the sky from me." The Ballad of Serenity

MANOFSTEEL25

Friday, January 14, 2005 12:08 AM

Well that makes sense. Sorry I missed that posting.

Still I don't know why I didn't like it BG and thought it worked marvelous in FF.

I guess I can blame the directors.... or the fact that I don't think the style fits BG as well.

ZOID

Friday, January 14, 2005 12:23 AM

manofsteel25:

I, on the other hand, really dug the special effects for the 4-hour BG pilot, shown the past couple of nights on SciFi (with episodic weekly installments beginning this Friday at 7 CST). I especially liked the missile shots and fighter destructions. That it reminded me so much of Firefly probably increased my enjoyment; but I thought they were very good and 'realistic'. Furthermore, I found myself hoping for space battles in the BDM; supposedly there will be, according to reports.

Guess it's different strokes for different folks...

Respectfully,

zoid
_________________________________________________

"Burn the land and boil the sea, you can't take the sky from me." The Ballad of Serenity

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