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Spheric Harlot · Dec 11, 2003, 07:42 AM

Originally posted by Eriamjh:
Gattlestar Balactica?

The MAD version (which I still have somewhere) was called "Cattlecar Galactica".

-s*

G Barnett · Dec 11, 2003, 07:52 AM

Odd how nobody has pointed out the one thing that really, really made this show stand out from most other sci-fi out there, at least for me. I can sum it up in two words: Newtonian Physics.

This is the first show I've seen where the battles in space actually attempt --and make a very good go at it-- to portray zero-g, zero-atmosphere combat. All the little details -- from the directional thrusters, to the quick backflips, to letting inertia do the work for you-- impressed the hell out of me. I'm so glad they didn't go for Star Wars-like graceful swooping for the combat sequences.

G Barnett

starman · Dec 11, 2003, 07:53 AM

The best representation of physics won't hide the sh*tty script.

Mike

KeyLimePi · Dec 11, 2003, 08:50 AM

I dunno. IMHO the writing wasn't all that bad. As far as the whole 'man vs. machine' genre goes, this series was waaaaay better than Terminator 3.

cjrivera · Dec 11, 2003, 02:24 PM

Originally posted by Spheric Harlot:
The MAD version (which I still have somewhere) was called "Cattlecar Galactica".

-s*

I remember that! I also remember being outraged (well as outraged as a grade schooler could be) since I was such a big fan.

tonton · Dec 12, 2003, 12:35 AM

Originally posted by G Barnett:
Odd how nobody has pointed out the one thing that really, really made this show stand out from most other sci-fi out there, at least for me. I can sum it up in two words: Newtonian Physics.

Yeah. Riiight. Which would explain the sound effects

.

At least Firefly got that one right.

ThinkInsane · Dec 12, 2003, 02:31 AM

Originally posted by G Barnett:
Odd how nobody has pointed out the one thing that really, really made this show stand out from most other sci-fi out there, at least for me. I can sum it up in two words: Newtonian Physics.

This is the first show I've seen where the battles in space actually attempt --and make a very good go at it-- to portray zero-g, zero-atmosphere combat. All the little details -- from the directional thrusters, to the quick backflips, to letting inertia do the work for you-- impressed the hell out of me. I'm so glad they didn't go for Star Wars-like graceful swooping for the combat sequences.

G Barnett

Actually, Space: Above and Beyond did a pretty good job with that too. I wish they had brought that show back.

"Remember, in space, no one can hear you scream. Unless it's the battle cry of a United States Marine Corps Space Aviator!"

I liked that show.

Anyway, I didn't think BG was all that bad. I agree with some of the criticism posted, the story was weak, I didn't like the way they changed so much from the original story, and the characters weren't all that endearing. I did enjoy it none the less, strictly from a 'bubble gum for your brain' way. It killed a few hours, and it did have some neat stuff in it.

I liked how the officer that was sent to the space station in the beginning had the schematics for the cylon centurions from the original show (I believe they even showed one in the museum) and I liked how they included the original Vipers, although I wasn't crazy about the idea of those being the savior against the cylon power-killing deal. I would have preferred that they just did a cameo type thing with Adama's old ship. Plus the new centurions and Vipers looked pretty cool, imho.

Gankdawg · Dec 12, 2003, 09:39 AM

Thought it was okay. But after 4 hours, I'm invested in it now so I will watch if/when it becomes a series.

starman · Dec 12, 2003, 11:18 PM

Well, Sci-Fi's not picking it up as a series.

Praise the Lords of Kobol!

Mike

digimage · Dec 12, 2003, 11:51 PM

Originally posted by starman:
Well, Sci-Fi's not picking it up as a series.

Praise the Lords of Kobol!

Mike

How do you know that?
Linkage?

cjrivera · Aug 24, 2004, 09:56 PM

Originally posted by starman:
Well, Sci-Fi's not picking it up as a series.

Praise the Lords of Kobol!

Mike

Looks like they did pick it up.

Coming in January (according to the commercial I just saw.)

link added: http://www.scifi.com/battlestar/

Eriamjh · Aug 24, 2004, 10:36 PM

Back from the dead...

The thread and the series.

I guess I'll have something to be disappointed in...

PB2K · Aug 25, 2004, 05:22 AM

I loved the old BG series, when there was a rerun a couple of years later it occurred to me that it had such a nasty biblical undertone to it :

A race of people fleeing for an suppressing enemy (named Lucifer and Balthasar) searching for the Promised Land.

Eriamjh · Aug 25, 2004, 07:50 AM

Originally posted by PB2K:
I loved the old BG series, when there was a rerun a couple of years later it occurred to me that it had such a nasty biblical undertone to it :

A race of people fleeing for an suppressing enemy (named Lucifer and Balthasar) searching for the Promised Land.

Lucifer and Baltar.

It had a religious undertone, not biblical.

And what do you expect from its mormon creator?

I found that the religious aspects added a deeper morality to what was happening. The show wasn't as shallow because of it. There was nothing preachy about the show. I just wish the writing was better, the science fiction a little better, and the special effects a little less repeated over and over and over (insert stock footage of cylon fighter being blown up).

finknottle · Aug 25, 2004, 08:32 AM

Originally posted by agentz:
Seeing as how there are no firm plans to show this new version in the UK at the moment, and I haven't gotten a copt down of BT yet, can someone please give me an idea what they've done to the theme please?? Pretty please?? Have they ruined it?

It has been shown on Sky Movies months ago.....

Randman · Aug 25, 2004, 09:41 AM

I only saw it once but my fave episode was the Galatica 80 episode with Starbuck and the Ceylon trapped on the planet. Not as good as Enemy Mine but it was still the best of the bunch.

PB2K · Aug 25, 2004, 11:44 AM

that certainly was the best episode.

and i think all new scifi series are a big timewaster, as they have poor actors and poor special effects. especially startrek has a tendency to fall into boring conversations and costumeparties with boring weapons (fasers suck) and morality stuffed into a 30 minute farce.

Eug Wanker · Oct 11, 2004, 09:31 PM

So I enjoyed the miniseries. I'm looking forward to the TV series. It seems a bit odd to premiere a series in Jan. though, no? Why so late?

TheBadgerHunter · Oct 11, 2004, 09:40 PM

Who told you to use the search feature?

Eug Wanker · Oct 11, 2004, 09:50 PM

Originally posted by TheBadgerHunter:
Who told you to use the search feature?

Damned if you do, damned if you don't...

Demonhood · Oct 11, 2004, 10:03 PM

24 and Alias are both premiering in January as well.
cable shows (like Battlestar, Stargate, the 4400, etc..) typically don't go by the same fall-late spring schedule as the networks.

mrtew · Oct 12, 2004, 07:01 AM

I'm really looking forward to the series. I was the BIGGEST fan of the old show when I was twelve and was dreading the new rehash seeing as how Hollywood is so messed up nowadays, but I loved the new one! The less-is-more special effects really impressed me and I thing the characters were much more real than on most any other show. They seemed to have actual personalities, not just charaters scripted into them. I've seen enough big explosions to last me the rest of my life and heard enough fake middle english accents too. I think BG2 is actually the best SF show I can recommend.

Mediaman_12 · Oct 12, 2004, 07:53 AM

Originally posted by Eug Wanker:
So I enjoyed the miniseries. I'm looking forward to the TV series. It seems a bit odd to premiere a series in Jan. though, no? Why so late?

A large ammount of the funnding for this show come from Sky TV in the Uk. So (unusually) we get it first, Starts next Monday on Sky One.

Eug Wanker · Oct 12, 2004, 09:54 AM

Originally posted by Mediaman_12:
A large ammount of the funnding for this show come from Sky TV in the Uk. So (unusually) we get it first, Starts next Monday on Sky One.

Hmmm... I wonder if maybe the airwaves are a little too crowded at the moment in North America. I wouldn't mind if it was a few weeks behind the UK, but I'm a little disappointed it's several months behind.

BTW, does anyone know if this will be in HiDef? It'd be awesome to watch this show in widescreen HD. (I get most of the major US stations in HD, as well as several in Canada too.)

agentz · Oct 12, 2004, 02:07 PM

Originally posted by Mediaman_12:
A large ammount of the funnding for this show come from Sky TV in the Uk. So (unusually) we get it first, Starts next Monday on Sky One.

Great, isn't it

Monday nights are going to be great for a while, Galactica at 8pm on Sky 1 and Spooks on BBC1 at 9pm, followed (after this week) by the next episode of Spooks on BBC3 at 10pm.

From what I've seen/heard of the new series it looks even better than the miniseries.

Eug Wanker · Mar 29, 2005, 10:11 PM

Originally posted by Eug Wanker:
BTW, does anyone know if this will be in HiDef? It'd be awesome to watch this show in widescreen HD. (I get most of the major US stations in HD, as well as several in Canada too.)

So I've been watching the Behind The Scenes extras on the www.SciFi.com website, and it is indeed shot in 24p HD. (Incidentally, all the extras are in QuickTime .mov format, so I made a little personal DVD of them using an iDVD '05 theme.

I wish the extras were in HD.

)

Unfortunately, none of the local stations show it in HD.

Too bad too, since I'd say Battlestar Galactica is the best science fiction show on TV today, bar none. I really hope one of the local/cable HD stations in Toronto picks it up in HD for the next season. It's irritating knowing it's a widescreen HD show, while having to watch it letterboxed on a mediocre quality standard definition cable channel.

starman · Mar 29, 2005, 10:57 PM

Originally posted by Eug Wanker:
I'd say Battlestar Galactica is the best science fiction show on TV today, bar none. [/B]

And it's competition is....what? Stargate?

Mike

Eug Wanker · Mar 29, 2005, 11:08 PM

Originally posted by starman:
And it's competition is....what? Stargate?

Mike

This is what is playing on our "Space" channel:

First Run Shows

11 Somerset
Battlestar Galactica
Beyond
Charlie Jade
Collector
Dead Zone
Electric Playground
Enterprise
Girly Ghosthunters
Reviews On The Run
Smallville
Stargate SG-1
Steve Smith Playhouse

Re-Run Shows

Adventure Inc
Andromeda
Aerospace
Angel
Alienated
Beastmaster
Buffy
Captain Star
Century City
Chronicle
Dark Angel
Earth 2
Earth Final Conflict
Farscape
Firefly
First Wave
Forever Knight
FX The Series
Ghost Stories
Jeremiah
Kingdom Hospital
Lost World
Lexx
Mutant X
My Secret Identity
The Outer Limits (CDN)
Proof Positive
Psi Factor
Relic Hunter
Robot Wars
Scanning The Movies
Seaquest
Spawn
Stargate SG-1
Starhunter
Star Trek TNG
Star Trek TOS
Star Trek Voyager
Tales From The Crypt
Tarzan The Epic Adventures
Tekwar
They Came From Outer Space
Tracker
Tripping The Rift
Ufo Under Investigation
Unexplained Mysteries
V
Witchblade

Out of all the Sci-Fi shows listed, I think only the original Star Trek tops Battlestar Galactica

starman · Mar 29, 2005, 11:50 PM

Originally posted by Eug Wanker:
This is what is playing on our "Space" channel:

First Run Shows

11 Somerset
Beyond
Charlie Jade
Collector
Electric Playground
Girly Ghosthunters
Reviews On The Run
Steve Smith Playhouse

Never heard of these. As for Enterprise, it's already dead (Jim). Dead Zone? Is that still on the air?

Mike

mrtew · Mar 30, 2005, 06:44 AM

Originally posted by Eug Wanker:
Out of all the Sci-Fi shows listed, I think only the original Star Trek tops Battlestar Galactica

I totally agree. I not only think it's the best Sci-fi show on, it's pretty much the best show on period. Other than maybe Desperate Housewives tell me one even halfway engaging show that's on TV anymore. I look forward to Battlestar every week like I did the original when I was a kid. What other show do you look forward to all week? What will I live for after the finale airs this week?

starman · Mar 30, 2005, 07:07 AM

Originally posted by mrtew:
I totally agree. I not only think it's the best Sci-fi show on, it's pretty much the best show on period. Other than maybe Desperate Housewives tell me one even halfway engaging show that's on TV anymore. I look forward to Battlestar every week like I did the original when I was a kid. What other show do you look forward to all week? What will I live for after the finale airs this week?

24. If you're not watching the show, then there's something wrong with you. Except for last season which I think was the weakest, it's the best damn show on TV in a long time.

Mike

roberto blanco · 10:55 AM

i was a big fan of battlestar in the 80s when i was a kid...

hearing about a remake that featured "starbuck" as a female and "real" humans as cylons made me kind of uncertain whether i was going to like the series.

of course it is not on german televisoion (yet?), but thanks to the intarweb and bittorrent i have been able to catch the first season (i think? 12 shows or so), and i must say, this tv series is great!

everything from the handheld shots, to the storyline is brilliant, imo. i guess there aren't any new shows on sky (britain?), since i haven't seen any on the regular torrent site...

what is the state of things in the us? is it season 2 by now? or three? is it still showing?

scottiB · Mar 30, 2005, 09:08 AM

Originally posted by starman:
24. If you're not watching the show, then there's something wrong with you. Except for last season which I think was the weakest, it's the best damn show on TV in a long time.

Mike

I'd agree. Over its 3+ seasons it's been a very strong. This season rejuvenated it by introducing new characters, shedding tired ones, and bringing back the best ones in timely doses. My only nitpicks thus far: the latest ep seemed like it was marking time plot-wise and the new CTU Director's daughter subplot. Much better than the cougar and amnesia plot-lines of seasons' past.

----

Regarding the new BSG, it's tough for me to classify it as sci-fi rather than a straight drama. While it is set somewhere off-Earth and uses some science fiction technology (faster than light ability, Cylons), it really isn't that much different than a drama set in the U.S. Old West or the Dark Ages--times and places that are as foreign to a 21st century viewer as outer space.

Producers Ronald Moore and David Eick actually have the best of both worlds in their reimagination of the show: they have a built-in familiarity and nostalgia from the original series to bring in viewers (the furor over the mini-series didn't hurt) and they have a ready-made situation in the original's premise to cultivate drama and a reinterpretation of space shows. If they wanted to create a new show with these elements not called BG (and I can see where some would say that this isn't BG), it wouldn't have succeeded as quickly and might not have even been green-lit.

What makes the new BG successful are the characters and actors (James Callis as Baltar is quite good--reminds me of the strong characters in ST: DS9 like Garek) and the plots are very real (looking for water and fuel; the political structure and shortage of pilots).

Now that a second season is in the works, the religious/mythos threads are being picked-up; however, that's tricky because it can overwhelm the series (the myth arcs of X-Files/Alias, for example--and Lost has some tricky navigation in front of it) and never seem to come to solution well or satisfyingly. Also, one day the fleet must either find Earth or fail. They can't keep wagon-training forever with the Cylons slowly picking them apart.

ghporter · Mar 30, 2005, 09:45 AM

I liked the original Battlestar Galactica when it came out in 1978, but I haven't had the time to settle down and watch the new version.

I knew back then that BG was a blatant attempt to ride the coattails of Star Wars, and that they were trying hard to do it right. I thought the pseudo-Egyptian helmets were a little over the top, and of course their odd terminology ("centon?" come on! at least "feldercarb" was a useful term) stretched credibility, but again, they were trying.

There's no comparison between Star Trek (TOS) and BG. Star Trek broke new ground, challenged audiences to think, and provided commentary on then-current social issues. Remember, the first interracial kiss on TV was when Kirk kissed Uhura in "Plato's Stepchildren." Battlestar Galactica was just pretty good space opera.

selowitch · Mar 30, 2005, 11:08 AM

Was a huge fan of the cheesy original show when I was about eight or nine years old or something (was it 1978? I'm thirty-five now). The new version of BG is actually pretty good. I'm surprised, but I really like the reinvented and reimagined characters and the writing is quite solid. Worth watching.

Eug Wanker · Mar 31, 2005, 11:06 AM

OK, I'm a little confused.

Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part 1 (Episode 112) already aired, and Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part 2 (Episode 113) is the season finale? If so, then we're a week behind up here in Toronto. We won't see Part 1 until this Saturday.

Off Topic:

iDVD only has space for 12 movie clips per menu right? (The reason I ask is because I've been making an iDVD project from BSG's extras, and there are 13 episodes this season. No biggie though, since I can just add another menu.)

Secret__Police · Mar 31, 2005, 11:15 AM

Originally posted by Eug Wanker:
OK, I'm a little confused.

Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part 1 (Episode 112) already aired, and Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part 2 (Episode 113) is the season finale? If so, then we're a week behind up here in Toronto. We won't see Part 1 until this Saturday.

I wont spoil anyhting for you, but if your are the fan that I think you are.
YOU will enjoy the season finaly.
I cheated and downloaded it so I could watch it a week early.

There's no comparison between Star Trek (TOS) and BG. Star Trek broke new ground, challenged audiences to think, and provided commentary on then-current social issues. Remember, the first interracial kiss on TV was when Kirk kissed Uhura in "Plato's Stepchildren."

Eug Wanker · Mar 31, 2005, 11:27 AM

Originally posted by Secret__Police:
I wont spoil anyhting for you, but if your are the fan that I think you are.
YOU will enjoy the season finaly.

I cheated and downloaded it so I could watch it a week early.

Heh. We haven't even seen Part 1 yet. So I guess we're more than a week behind.

So I'm assuming... the UK gets it first, then the US gets it, and then we in Canada see it even later than the US.

I'm waiting for this Saturday just to see Part 1. The season finale is Part 2, and it won't air here until April 9.

meelk · Mar 31, 2005, 01:34 PM

Originally posted by starman:
And it's competition is....what? Stargate?

Mike

Both stargate shows are pretty damn good, and highly consistent.

Eug Wanker · Apr 3, 2005, 01:31 AM

Originally posted by Secret__Police:
I wont spoil anyhting for you, but if your are the fan that I think you are.
YOU will enjoy the season finaly.

Well, Episode 112 was great.

I look forward to the true finale next week.

P.S. I was surprised that basically all the stuff on the website is in QuickTime format and nothing is in WMV format.

Well, QuickTime and RealVideo... and the one complete episode posted online is only in RealVideo.

I'm also surprised to find out that 2/3rds of the cast is Canadian.

Eug Wanker · Apr 9, 2005, 09:42 PM

OK. Episode 113 was very good.

Questions:

1) When does Season 2 start in North America?

2) Any way to access NBC Universal HD in Canada? Battlestar Galactica is supposed to be in Hi-Def starting tomorrow on that channel. I checked our local NBC HD channels (524 and 529 on Rogers Cable in Toronto), and neither have it.

powerbook867 · Apr 9, 2005, 09:47 PM

Second season starts this July!! Supposedly 20 episodes!!!!

Eug Wanker · Apr 9, 2005, 09:51 PM

Originally posted by powerbook867:
Second season starts this July!! Supposedly 20 episodes!!!!

Where did you get that info? I can't seem to find it anywhere.

starman · Apr 10, 2005, 12:06 AM

Originally posted by Eug Wanker:

Where did you get that info? I can't seem to find it anywhere.

Uh, the end of the finale

Mike

Eug Wanker · May 31, 2005, 12:16 PM

-Q- · May 31, 2005, 04:56 PM

Image link is broken Eug.

And while I'm not surprised the character lives, I'm disappointed the anticipation is lessened b/c I see his name in the plot descriptions.

Mediaman_12 · May 31, 2005, 05:08 PM

Originally Posted by powerbook867

Second season starts this July!! Supposedly 20 episodes!!!!

Cool.Hope Sky TV's cash means we get it ether first or at the same time as the US

nath · May 31, 2005, 05:11 PM

awesome pic.

a bit gutted that you guys in the states are getting it first this time - why the hell can't they show them at the same time on both sides of the atlantic?!?

all this means is that i'm going to get the new eps on bittorrent, and sky can go to hell.

nath · May 31, 2005, 05:12 PM

Originally Posted by Mediaman_12

Cool.Hope Sky TV's cash means we get it ether first or at the same time as the US

afraid not. october, god damn it.

-Q- · May 31, 2005, 05:14 PM

Originally Posted by nath

afraid not. october, god damn it.

I guess I'll have to find it via BT as I did last time....