Battlestar Galactica

To be fair, I can't imagine a new Battlestar Galactica where (with the Cylons properly established as a Matrix-esque machines destroying humanity) Boxy has a cute robot that follows him around.

Unless they retrofit Dagget so that he's made of clockwork gears and old tape drives.

Corrections:

The kid was named Boxy, the robot was named Muffit, after his real daggit, which was killed during the attack. I'm still glad they left out the robot.

Boxy was the boy. Muffit was the Daggit.

Anyway, I'm EXTREMELY suprised that so many here support and even like this new rediculous distortion of a sci fi classic. The original BSG was wonderful (well, except for the occasional half naked soccer match and the intermittant disco), truly a work of myth-writing wizardry. The remake, however, is simply blasphemous. I had a sick feeling in my stomach all through the mini series. Starbuck a girl, all references to the Cobol influence on Earth pre-history gone, Cylons created by humans instead of aliens, Cylons looking human, the list goes on and on... all terrible.

This new BSG is so far removed from the original, one must wonder why they even bothered to give it the same title. Had they called it something else (which they easily could have done, as different as it is), it might not make me so sick, but being forced to think of it as BSG only makes me notice over and over and over again all the things that are missing.

Blasphemy? I got your blasphemy right here. In one word and a number even:

Galactica 1980

What a steaming pile of television! It looked cheaply done, with lots or recycled stock footage, and WAY TOO MANY CUTE KIDS. Honestly, is the new series even worse than this? I think not.

ummmm, wonderful when I was 12 maybe I can't make it through ten minutes of it now. Everything about it is embarassingly bad.

I can't argue with you there. I didn't mention Galactica 1980 in my last post because it's one of those things I just like to pretend never actually happened. (Kind of like Star Trek Nemesis - Data's not dead, dammit!)

Anyway, if you want the reason behind why it was so bad, here it is. If memory serves, BSG was at the time the most expensive televison show in history, and the network quickly tired of funding it. The reason 1980 was full of stock footage is because there was simply no budget to shoot new footage. It was set on Earth as an excuse to no longer need to film space battles. I gotta respect them for trying to somehow keep it going in the face of network abandonment, but still I block Galactica 1980 out of my mind as much as I can.


Sorry you feel that way, Chip. I have a hard time understanding how you can say EVERYTHING was embarrasingly bad. The story line was incredibly well constructed, even if the dialog was sometimes otherwise. I think the space battles looked great, considering the state of art of special effects at the time. The modeling on the ships was superb. And how can you not have a soft spot in your heart for Lorn Greene?

When the original BSG came out, literally nothing like it had ever been done before. It was ground breaking. The same cannot be said of the new show. It looks and feels just like every other piece of mediocrity out there.

The orginal BSG was groundbreaking for tv sci-fi. No doubt about it. It just doesn't age well. When I see it now it seems as corny and dated as buck rogers... but at least that has erin gray in spandex.

I'm equally surprised that you find the new one so mediocre. I wonder if it wasn't a remake of a show that you hold dear if you'd be more open minded about it. The effects work was probably the best I've ever seen for tv sci-fi, and I love that they really drive home the horror of their plight. In the original you couldn't really empathize with how they ended up a rag-tag fleet. In the remake you see the destruction of their planet, and you hear the horrified radio calls of the ships in orbit without FTL drives, and you feel the agony of the ones who have to leave them behind. I never had an emotional connection to the original. I do with the new one. I also love that the characters are complex. Everyone has their dark side and flaws and inner and outer conflicts. I expected it to be crap and it blew me away.

I think you hit the nail on the head right there. When I look at it all I see is what's not there that was in the original story. As I said before, I'd be much happier if this new show were not called BSG. It's different enough it could easily be something else entirely.

Also had the original BSG never existed, I might have an easier time accepting this one. As it is though, I can't help but notice the flaws while any good parts there may be seem to fly right by me.


The effects are okay, but Farscape's effects blow them out of the water. As a fellow 3D artist, I'm really suprised you liked the effects so much. To me, the space battles just screamed obvious CG. Nothing looks like it has any real mass or inertia. Things don't look weathered or lived in. In short, it just doesn't look real to me. Maybe I'm too picky. I love CGI, but I hate when it looks like it's CGI.

I loved Farscape's fx work, but that style would be out of place with BSG. Farscape's fx were very stylized which fit wonderfully with the over the top somewhat cartoonish nature of the show (I loved farscape btw). BSG has a different character. There definitely was inertia in the space battles in BSG... about the only show to use it effectively since Babylon 5, but I think BSG did a better job, and I LOVE that explosions in space don't make explosion sounds! The documentary style camera in the space battles with the swoosh pans, focus lag, and impact shake was a great touch. Dunno, I thought it looked gritty and believable. YMMV

<== *Misses Farscape*


Damn you Sci-fi channel! You friggin' bastages! I still hate you!

Is it 9p yet? I can't wait any longer!!!!

Ya I loved Farscape too... ok well not so much Farscape but Gigi Edgley (Chiana) MMMM SAWEEET!

Yea I can't wait to see Battlestar Galactica, I grew up on the original show (That and Buck Rogers - Twiki says boody-boody-boody LOL).... and I think that Starbuck is better character as a female

Arti

I would watch the new series, but I long ago grew weary of the Sci-Fi channel's constant need to screw its audience over by idiotically cancelling series once they attain a certain level of popularity, and replacing them with cookie-cutter bullshit. The end of Farscape was the last time I've ever watched Sci-Fi, and I hope to maintain that vigil until the day SF dies.

Okay, it's clear we have a difference of taste here. I always hated Babylon 5's effects. While I appreciate that they were somewhat ground breaking in bringing CGI to TV, they have always looked incredibly fake to me. One minute you've got real people on a real set, the next you've got what looks like a video game whenever they show anything outside. It shouldn't look like a video game. It should look like the real exterior of the real interior shown by the sets. But it doesn't. The textures are too simple and too cookie-cuter, the lighting is all wrong, many of the ships do not move properly accordning to where their center of mass appears to be, and the motion paths are way too obviously paths. It doesn't look like realistic movement, which should always have some randomization in it.

You're right that the artistic style of Farscape's effects wouldn't be appropriate for BSG, but styilization is not what I was talking about. In Farscape, the CGI shots look exactly like the live action shots. It's seemless. Same color values, same lights, same camera lenses, ships look like they were constructed piece by piece on a real ship yard, not so obviously modeled all at once out of polygons and then textured.

I'm sorry, but when I watch a magician I'm always thoroughly pissed off if I can figure out how he did his tricks. Same with a TV show or movie. If I notice the FX, they are terrible FX. If it's not seemless it sucks, period.

In that same vein, I did love the short lived Firefly. The CGI was excellent and they actually attempted to use real physics (ie. No sound in space, ships faced each other from different axis instead of everyone being on the same plane like Star Trek...)

Too bad Fox pulled a Sci-fi on that one....

Chosen, the fx for B5 were done with lightwave on video toasters, lol. Cut em some slack man. I still think many of their space battles were gorgeous. I think you're just bitter that they reinvented BSG. If they bring back that stupid mechanical dog I'll scream.

I always hated B5 period. It just didn't rub me the right way.. I'll take STTNG anyday.. I also like Enterprise.. But B5 was just too our there for me...

out of all the Star Trek franchise, I liked Voyager best. An no not just cuz of the hot chicks LOL I liked the group dynamic of all the characters.

and yea I didn't like Bab5 at all, or Stargate for that matter, the movie OR the series!

I hated B5 when it was on originally. The acting is pretty bad. When scifi channel reran the whole series in sequence I started watching it and got completely sucked in to the storyline. It's the only sci-fi show I know of that had the whole story arc planned out in advance. They foreshadow things in the first season with sequence that don't appear until a couple of years later. If you get into the story and stick with it the payoffs are huge... as long as you can get past the acting and some of the dialogue.

Gotta disagree. The CGI work was definately a step up. The "documentary" style cinematography really gives you the feeling that it was shot as it happened. Its not static and staged, like most shows. Also, the little touches, like the reaction control thrusters on the Vipers really add a nice touch of realism.

As for the "weathered" argument, you have to remember that the Galactica, as well as the Vipers were destined to be museum pieces. I doubt that any self respecting museum would put junk on exhibit. They would restore the aircraft and make them look like new.

Then why is that the Saturn 5 museum piece is rotting on the ground as we speak? Science Channel ran a piece on it a few months back and it is really in sad shape, despite the fact that it's one of the most important historical space/aeronautical exhibits on the planet.

Anyway, you really think the art designers said, "You know what, since this is a museum piece let's deliberately use simple texturing and make it look fake." I find it infinitely more plausible that they simply skimped out on all the extra work it would have taken to make every ship show unique signs of wear. Besides, the Cylon ships look just as bad in the exact same way and they were supposedly in constant use.

Weathering is not all I was talking about in any case. Any large structure built by beings as small as we measily humans whether it be an automobile, a steam ship, an air plane, a space shuttle, or a starship has to built panel by panel, piece by piece. Everything on BSG, however looks like it was built all in one chunk (because it was, in the computer). Everything looks way too uniform. To me that's just a sign of lazy modeling and rediculously under-developed texturing.

Yeah, first season acting in B5 was particularly bad. But if you stick with it, the show becomes quite rewarding, well, until fifth season; I can't say I cared for it much.

I've liked what I've seen so far of the new Battlestar Galactica stuff. I take issue with the whole 'Cylons disguised as humans' thing... it's kinda tired and an obvious budget move (kinda like how all Star Trek aliens are humans with acne). The special effects are quite good, and I especially like the 'camerawork'... reminds me a lot of Firefly. It's also good to see long-range torpedo combat in space; this is probably the most 'realistic' space combat I've seen in a science-fiction TV series yet. Well, excepting the silly starfighter stuff... but what's Battlestar Galactica without silly starfighter stuff?

Oh god, Alby said 'Enterprise'. Now I have to mop up all this blood I just puked on my keyboard.

Wonder if anyone knows that the original Battlestar Galactica was based on Mormon religious doctrine. Glenn Larsen, the exec prod, is a Mormon, "Kobol" is the name of the place where Mormons believe the Throne of God is located, the various rituals portrayed in BSG were similar in some ways to Mormon temple rituals (and by extension, Masonic rituals), the whole thing about the twelve tribes (of Israel) and a lost tribe has a Mormon spin, and there's even an episode where Apollo and Starbuck meet "angels" who tell them that as humans are now, God once was, and as God is now, humans can become. Which is one of the more "unique" or "bizarre" principles of Mormonism, depending on your point of view.

The new BSG has toned down the Mormon connection, of course, thank God and no pun intended. I'll give it a chance because EJ Olmos and Mary McDonnell are such good actors, and a couple of scenes in the miniseries were very well done (when McDonnell was sworn in as "president" for example).

That last season got gimped because of the premature cancellation courtesy of TBS. Was that the season that had B5 overrun by all the refugee psychics? hehe. That sucked. It's more like B5 overrun by theater majors hehe.

I only saw Firefly once or twice. I was immediately annoyed by the western/cowboy motif and didn't really give it a chance.

I just watched the pilot episode last night...

I must say I am pleasantly surprised. From everything I have heard of its creation, I thought BSG was really gonna suck balls... It didn’t. yes there are problems with the show; what show (especially the pilot & first season) doesn't have its share of problems? None that I am aware of. I loved the original TV series (Mr. Green was one of my favorite characters in the show).

The space physics were a big surprise as I loved B5's version of space quite a lot (more realistic; not perfect but great just the same). The same goes with the documentary style of camera work that was done with the show. I believe B5 made that very popular also if I am not mistaken. I loved the fact that the show DID pay homage to the original series with the museum (I love seeing the cylon base-star ). I absolutely LOVE the fact that Baltar's character reminds me a little bit of Dr. Smith from the first season of "Lost in Space". You KNEW Smith was evil, but to know he's part of the crew made it great cause THAT is suspense...

I just loved Baltar saying to Cassandra "I am not on anyone's side". That is Dr.Smith in a nutshell!!!

However, there are a few things I do not like about the show. The biggest is Starbuck being not only a woman, but the type of woman she portrays. In the original series, starbuck could be summed up in one word. A Scoundrel!!! That is NOT this character. This Starbuck is a wild, untamed woman who seems to be having a period every day of her life. She seriously needs to go to anger management class. The original series Starbuck was not a "angry" character, but this new one is... To me, that is NOT the essence of the Starbuck character. A scoundrel absolutely. a angry one? Nope, I don't by it............

I also agree that having "human-cylons" is a bad idea. In the short run it makes sense. To infiltrate the human population to make killing them easier. It also puts a "human" face on the "bad guys" which is needed as Baltar is not on the cylon's side as he was in the original series. In the long run though it may be a bad idea. after 2 season, I am sure I will be asking why the cylons still want to use them. Humanity in general is dead. They won. Why would they want to be what they want to destroy? They don't that much is obvious. And if its only because they still have there uses, then why is the "arm's dealer" model still around. Humanity is gone and is on the run. What purpose does he server but a reminder of what the cylons want to destroy...

I think that the show is trying to become its own series, not just a remake, which I am glad of in fact. It pays homage to the original while at the same time trying to be its own show. That’s good. I love the fact that they have even given the "political" office a character with some meat to her instead of just a bunch of 2-dimensional characters like in the original series. I can already see the potential of some good stories of Adama and her butting heads. It aught to be good drama...

And don't count Daggit out yet. I would not be surprised if they made the dog a very different type of dog which can kick ass if needed. The one in the original series was nothing more than a paper weight in my opinion. I think this Daggit is gonna be something else entirely! Can anyone say "Robo- Rin-Tin-Tin"? lol

Bottom line is this. The new show has some amazing potential, which is as much of a surprise as a relief, but they can still mess it up if there not careful. I can't wait till they have the "prison" break episode, which I know they will as they very clearly mentioned prisoners in the convoy. Now THAT was one of my favorite episodes in the original series. I hope this show does it justice.

I give the pilot a 3.5 rating on a scale of 5. It was a good start. Lets hope it can keep it up. However if I see Starbuck start having a relationship with Apollo, well I'll be out of there faster than you can say "cancellation"!!! That alone will be an insult I will NOT be able to stand! Keep those two characters out of a "lover relationship" and I will be most happy... LOL

Only time will tell if this show is gonna work or not, but in either case, its gonna be a interesting ride that’s for sure...

P.S: I HATE the fact that the Cylon ships have no Cylon's piloting them. It was one of my favorite things about the original series. They were an actual presence in the show. In this show they NEED to be also. If the "human-cylon's" are to be the cylon presence in the show, well that is just so wrong, and very lazy too boot. GIVE US FRACKIN CYLON'S!!! WE WANT CYLON'S!!! LOLOL


"Life is too short to stuff a mushroom." - Shirley Conran