Pitch me Battlestar Galactica!

POSTED BY: Hawk
UPDATED: Tuesday, January 17, 2006 00:33
VIEWED: 15912
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YUTZ

Tuesday, September 20, 2005 5:36 PM

"Mysteries thus far: Why 33 minutes? Why are machines falling in love, getting jealous, practising religion and getting maternal urges?"

For answers to these questions and more, might I suggest the Battlestar Galactica podcast by Exec Producer Ron Moore. It's a free download from iTunes Music Store (and probably from scifi.com). They run about 45 minutes, so will give you a reason to turn off your DVD.

Glad you took the plunge.

Yutz

SPINLAND

Tuesday, September 20, 2005 5:43 PM

So, I seek opinions. I'm old enough to remember the first incarnation of this show, and to think it was cheezy and too silly to endure--so much so, in fact, that I've not found myself able to give this version even a chance. I'm hearing a lot of praise heaped on it; enough that I'm willing to pick up the mini-series on DVD and give it a try, but not enough that I'm willing to gamble on buying the whole first season.

The primary opinion I seek is this: will the mini-series be representative enough that I can base my decision to see more on it, alone? By default I hate watching television, so I'll be a pretty hard sell.

Thanks in advance.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
I don't know what your problem is, but I bet it's hard to pronounce.

HAWK

Tuesday, September 20, 2005 8:40 PM

And so the circle is complete...

The mini-series IS a fair representation of the show as a whole; it's hard to imagine there being any time at all between the filming of the mini-seris and season one- in terms of effects, scope, script, story and all around quality the two are consistent.

Plus, in a move that our man Whedon probably wouldn't approve of, season one continues pretty much directly from the mini-series, with nought but a "Previously On..." segment for newcomers.

I never saw the original series, but I keep hearing about the Limburger Factor (that's a cheese joke, for all you non-dairy fans). This showhas no such problem; the performances are very well realised and rounded out. Everything is very logical, with nothing omitted as the colony struggle to find water and other neccessities, deal with the aftermath of a genocide, politically intrigue against each other, and struggle to establish order.

I'm only four episodes into season one (plus the mini-series) and I feel confident making these assertions! I recommend you get the mini-series first and make your call from there.

http://www.greatestjournal.com/users/sparhawk/

CHANNAIN

Tuesday, September 20, 2005 9:35 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Hawk:
And so the circle is complete...

I never saw the original series, but I keep hearing about the Limburger Factor (that's a cheese joke, for all you non-dairy fans). This show has no such problem; the performances are very well realised and rounded out. Everything is very logical, with nothing omitted as the colony struggle to find water and other neccessities, deal with the aftermath of a genocide, politically intrigue against each other, and struggle to establish order.

Keep watching the new series, and you'll get a taste of what the original series could have been if it had better writers.

I loved the original too, although it suffers now, much the same way the original Star Trek does with its inclusion of 70s culture. Granted, down the road, the "oughts" culture reflected in this re-envisioning of BG will probably take its toll, but that's not what will preserve this series.

The new BG is showing the very vulneral human side of the tragedy of war and the loss of not just one homeworld but twelve. It's reflecting the sorrow and survivors guilt felt by some of us after 9/11. It's also taking the old episodes and re-working them - I've already seen "The Lost Warriors", "Planet Zero" and we're about to see the return of Commander Cain - as a woman AND an admiral, which means she outranks Adama. Now THAT's drama.

I can't wait to see what happens next!

Pesonally, I would have LOVED to seek Dirk Benedict from the original series as Caine. Now that Caine's been girlified, I'd settle for a very Starbuck-like captain or pilot of one of the ships. And I mean Starbuck as HE was, as well as SHE is, of course.

I draw...therefore I am. http://www.mnartists.org/Nora_Leverson
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HJERMSTED

Tuesday, September 20, 2005 10:04 PM

[direct reply to initial post...]

I'm quite surprised the mini-series alone wasn't enough to make you a complete Battlestar drooling fool. It sure made me into one. I find BSG to be the perfect tonic for the Firefly-less period between the BD series and the BD movie.

If you can get a hold of the BSG season one episode called "33" and watch it... that should be enough to nudge you into the realm of the devoted fan. IMHO, "33" is to Battlestar what "Hush" is to BTVS... what "Out of Gas" is to Firefly. The most surprising thing about "33" is that it is the FIRST ep after the mini-series... that's like a grandslam in the first inning!

The show, in my mind, has not lagged once since I've been watching it.

mattro

SICKDUDE

Tuesday, September 20, 2005 10:18 PM

Spinland, Yes the mini-series is 'representative'. In fact it's hard to tell which episodes were mini-series and which were season 1. And yes, the new show is worth it. I also loathed the cheesiness of the first show. When I heard they were remaking the series, I thought "Oh great, just what we need. Why can't we get serious SF?" Well, I was wrong. This new series has almost NO similarities to the original in terms of feel or such. Try it, you'll like it!

Plus, as an added bonus, the show has the aspect of just getting better and better as you go.

Hjermsted, great analogy about "33"! That's it in a nutshell.

"Don't say 'ka' until you've tried it." Daniel Jackson

AUTOBAHN

Saturday, October 29, 2005 1:39 AM

For a neat surprise, check this link...

http://www.poobala.com/battlestarandfirefly.html

TMURRIE

Saturday, October 29, 2005 1:46 AM

I saw the old battlestar galactica, but changed the channel after 30 minutes, so when I heard they were making a new one I sighed because I didn't want MORE of this show I did not enjoy.

Then I saw it.

BAM

Buy season 1, you will never regret it.

CANTTAKESKY

Saturday, October 29, 2005 2:46 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by fireflygal:
I'm a fan of the REAL Battlestar Galactica so I probably don't need to say more. Don't waste your money on the new one. I watched the mini series and couldn't watch a minute more.

I liked the original a lot as well, and didn't much care for the mini-series. But my brother got me a boxset of the new BG. I even thought about exchanging it for something else, but he said to give it a chance. Plus Entertainment Weekly put it on its Must-List, so what the frak, I sat down and watched it.

The first 3 episodes were just like the mini-series--detached, gray, and tolerable, but unengaging (at least for me). Then it picked up a little with some well written and well acted character drama. I've just seen the 6th episode of the season, and I am now looking forward to watching more.

I don't think it is nearly as good as Firefly or Dark Angel (yet), but it looks like it deserves a second chance, even for someone who didn't find the mini-series appealing.

Just my humble opinion,

Can't Take My Gorram Sky

LIGHTMEDARK

Saturday, October 29, 2005 3:26 AM

I felt kinda the same way you do. I was still iffy on it until I got a couple episodes in (33 minutes was a great episode, though). I'd go for it.

---
inch towards daylight

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