View Full Version : Battlestar Galactica 2003 - no spoilers, don't worry
PointyHairedJedi
12-06-2004, 11:07 PM
Well, we're at the halfway point of season one here in the UK and I have to say I'm incredibly impressed by this show. I was expecting more action than we've been getting, but that doesn't really matter, because really this one is all about the characters. I was also initially skeptical, because I generally am about remakes of shows, but they've taken the concept and really gone off in quite a different direction than the original - instead of the somewhat cheesy melodrama (which was admittedly fun) of the original, we now have gritty realism, something that feels like it might actually be happening, which I don't think is something you could really say of BSG78. You can really believe that the fleet of survivors is the last of their race, fleeing from a ruthless enemy whose intentions we don't even really know! The short, twelve episode seaon that the producers have gone for also helps things, I think - we're presented with a very tightly scripted arc, with very little in the way of what might be termed "filler". So far there has only been one episode that hasn't pertained directly to the central story (the one starring Richard Hatch, interestingly, so make of that what you will). There are many many unanswered questions so far, and little in the way of explantion, but it's been done in a way that doesn't irritate, but rather keeps you on the edge of your seat, waiting to see whats going to happen next. In short I think it's the best SF on TV at the moment, and probably will be for a while to come.
Anyone planning to watch this when it airs on Jan 14th in the US?
Gatac
12-07-2004, 08:04 AM
Been following the show via BitTorrent. Also like it very much, though I'm a bit undecided about the human-looking Cylon plot - though it has, admittedly, been put to good use.
Gatac
Andy Taylor
12-07-2004, 02:46 PM
Ooh, ooh, I've been watching this too! I mean really I wanted to post so I could see the shiny new flag under my name, but yeah the show pretty much rules. Apart from last night when I was stuck on the phone, I've been glued to the screen week in week out. They've got some great acting on the show, and I always get tense throughout the episode I'm watching (though that's probably more me).
I think you're enjoyment of the show may ride on whether you saw and loved the original. As cheesy remakes go, this isn't on of them. :D
PointyHairedJedi
12-07-2004, 06:46 PM
Well, I like the original well enough, but I don't think anyone can deny that it lacked a certain drama - mostly in was just fun entertainment. Also it's good to see you around, AT.
Been following the show via BitTorrent. Also like it very much, though I'm a bit undecided about the human-looking Cylon plot - though it has, admittedly, been put to good use.
Well, I'm starting to think that that particular plot thread is going to go somewhere quite different than it first seemed, especially after watching "Flesh and Bone". There is a lot more going on behind the scenes with the Cylons than we're being shown, though there are enough little hints being dropped - what they are hinting at though is really anyone's guess (though like I said I have my own theory).
PointyHairedJedi
01-21-2005, 10:54 PM
Did anyone here happen to watch this in the US on the 14th?
We're almost at the second part of the finale in the UK, and it is possibly one of the best I've ever seen. Thw writing on this show is incredible, and the other aspects don't disappoint either. It's not perfect, to be sure, but it is more than the equal of Farscape, Firefly or DS9. And it looks likely that there will be a season two to look forward too as well. Here's hoping!
PointyHairedJedi
02-06-2005, 01:02 PM
*Kicks thread back to the top of the page*
So, who's been watching this thing then?
We're watching as it airs in the U.S., and hubby and I have already let three separate pizzas cool and congeal because we're so riveted to the set, mouths hanging open, that we can't look away long enough to remember to eat. Amazing. Just amazing. (Other than Six making Baltar multi-task, which is seriously getting on my nerves.)
I've mentioned it in a couple of other threads, but you better frakkin' believe I'm watching it. It's far and beyond the best Sci-Fi series I've ever encountered -- though I'm the first to admit I've got a rather limited range of experience. I absolutely love it. I tried to be patient with Space, but Sci-Fi in the U.S. is a week ahead of us, and I've finally caved to pulling the SkyOne eps off BitTorrent because I just can't wait for them to air.
The writing is fantastic and shows a respect for the intelligence of their viewers that's a rare commodity nowadays. (John Wells, I'm talking to you and your Subtitles for Dummies.) There's so much to like -- the pacing (edge of your seat), the effects (seamless and jaw-dropping), and the cast (wow). None of the characters melt into the background; they are all brought to life and seem very real and three-dimensional. They can all wordlessly and subtly convey emotion at the drop of a hat, and Edward James Olmos as Adama kicks ass in every scene he's in. It's a rare treat to see such a strong ensemble cast that even if they don't all get equal screentime you barely notice since they make the most of the scenes they have. The plot is gripping, and pulls you in to the catastrophe these people are struggling through. On the whole, it easily rivals the best of DS9 or TNG.
Thankfully, the odds are that Sci-Fi (and SkyOne) have more brains than UPN -- since "33" was the highest rated program for a first quarter on Sci-Fi, ever, we'll likely be seeing a lot more of this gem.
PointyHairedJedi
02-06-2005, 07:07 PM
^ So say we all!
Anyway, you only think you love it now. Just wait until you see the last episode... :D
Unfortunately, what finally tipped the scales and got me to download the miniseries and the first few episodes was reading a series of rave reviews on AICN... which gave away how the season ends. ("Spoilers. eh? Pfft, not like I actually watch the show...") Sigh.
Gatac
02-06-2005, 08:39 PM
Moral of the story, don't read AICN. :)
Gatac
richardson
02-07-2005, 01:56 AM
I have got to admit that with trek being shunted by the BLASTED REALITY TV! *Glares, and looks around shifty-eyed* This stuff is what will define Sci-fi. Don't worry, and don't keep all your hopes pinned on this. Trek will not stay eclipsed.
PointyHairedJedi
02-07-2005, 06:18 PM
Just looking at BSG03, it makes me wonder - what would ENT have been like if we'd have had Ron Moore working on it instead of Berman and Braga? It's an interesting thought, really.
Second season has been confirmed! (http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire2005/index.php?category=0&id=30357)
Ladies and gentlemen... I give you a network that has a brain and chooses to use it.
"PointyHairedJedi"]Just looking at BSG03, it makes me wonder - what would ENT have been like if we'd have had Ron Moore working on it instead of Berman and Braga?
1. Well-balanced cast who can portray believable, likeable, developed characters
2. Long-term arcs that are actually thought through to the end *cough*TCW*cough*
3. Uniforms for all (read: no catsuits, T'POL)
4. Not cancelled
As I posted in the Trek BBS thread about this, I'm very happy for all BSG fans. Any victory for TV sf is welcome right now.
That said, I shudder to think about RDM writing ENT. With the attitude he's had in the last few years, he needs to be as far away from Trek as possible. "Not cancelled"? Ridiculous.
I was speaking based on what I've seen of Galactica and his Trek portfolio. I'm unaware of any attitude he has toward Trek, but I didn't see anything out of the ordinary in a blog post of his on the subject of ENT's cancellation...
psychoknight
02-13-2005, 06:53 PM
Good to know its' being renewed. So far its' been great, love the new look of everything, with the odd exception of Galactica itself.
PointyHairedJedi
02-14-2005, 11:31 PM
^ Any particular reason why? I was never a particular fan of the look of the original so there's nothing in the new one that really bothers me in that regard.
By the way, if any fans of the series -- or even those who've yet to check it out -- haven't been to Sci-Fi's official site (http://www.scifi.com/battlestar/) I recommend you check it out. Among other things, they have (so far) five behind the scenes videos about seven minutes each that have a lot of interesting insights into the series, and Ron Moore's blog (http://blog.scifi.com/battlestar/) is also worth a read.
Derek
02-15-2005, 05:58 PM
Well, after all the rave reviews about BSG, I decided to watch it. I caught last week's episode (1x05) and this week's (1x06). And it was okay, but I'm not sold out on it like other people.
One of the things that I really don't like is the way none of the camera men can seem to hold the camera steady. It's always shaking and randomly zooming in and zooming out. I'm sure this is a deliberate effect, but its purpose and allure are lost on me.
Also, they seem to pace their episodes like Law and Order does with a cut from one scene to another without time to process, which I also don't particularly care for, but can get past a little easier.
But 1x06 was interesting. Guess I'll try to catch 1x07.
Well, after all the rave reviews about BSG, I decided to watch it. I caught last week's episode (1x05) and this week's (1x06). And it was okay, but I'm not sold out on it like other people.
Stick with it. It takes up until the season finale to match the high calibre of the first two episodes, which were great. I've seen all 13 eps now, and although I quite enjoyed 1x05 I found 1x06 to be one of the weakest of the bunch. Still beats most sci-fi with a large stick, but BSG has done and will do far better.
They actually comment on their camera work in the features I mentioned; apparently the idea is to make it more documentary-style, to take it out of sci-fi and make it more realistic -- a general goal of the series overall. I have no problem with that, and it's an interesting take. As for the rapid action, part of that I think has to be due to the density of the plots. The second episode, "Water," was a full act too long on the first go round and had to take a lot of chopping, which would probably result in less pauses during the action. I like that it moves so quickly; it keeps you on the edge of your seat... though if you're just picking up the series, I can see how it might be a little jarring. :)
Derek
02-16-2005, 02:08 AM
They actually comment on their camera work in the features I mentioned; apparently the idea is to make it more documentary-style, to take it out of sci-fi and make it more realistic -- a general goal of the series overall.
I don't know what documentaries these people watch, but the ones I watch are much better wth their camera work even if it is sometimes jumpy. Really it is the biggest turnoff for me. I almost feel they need to put something similar to a rollercoaster advisory at the beginning of the show so people with motion sickness and pregnant women are properly warned.
But again, I'm trying to get past it and I'm still giving the next episode a go.
richardson
02-16-2005, 09:11 PM
I like the jumpy camera work, especially in the space scenes. feels like you're watching through a gun camera, zooming in on points of intrest sometimes.
PointyHairedJedi
02-16-2005, 10:26 PM
Well, the SFC website seems much better than Sky's, which doesn't have all that much in the way of content. There are also some unaired scenes which you can view there too I believe, but I've yet to get around to looking at those.
EDIT: About.com (http://scifi.about.com/blbgpix1.htm) have more pictures than you can shake a moderately sized stick at, and apparently Gateworld have quite a few too.
I like the jumpy camera work, especially in the space scenes. feels like you're watching through a gun camera, zooming in on points of intrest sometimes.
I really like that effect, which I now realize is possibly what Derek was talking about as opposed to the camera work in general. The jumps forward are harsh, but it's interesting, different, and a cool way to convey how small these ships (Vipers, Raptors, etc.) are in comparison to space and some of the other giant ships surrounding them. Having the camera pan the space around a massive Cylon battlestar, then catch a Raptor, double back, and zoom in abruptly is pretty cool IMO. It's how you'd look if you were there.
PointyHairedJedi
02-17-2005, 11:20 PM
I've wondered wether or not that was one of the factors behind Zoic being chosen to do the VFX work in the first place - it was the trademark of their work on Firefly after all.
psychoknight
02-26-2005, 06:25 PM
^ Any particular reason why? I was never a particular fan of the look of the original so there's nothing in the new one that really bothers me in that regard.
To me it looks too sleek for a carrir. The old one looked more like a bulky warship. Anyway, that's not important, since everything else looks great, especially the Celestra.
richardson
02-26-2005, 09:38 PM
nah, actually it looks rather clumsy still, at least compared to trek.
*Huggles his connie refit.*
PointyHairedJedi
02-27-2005, 04:50 PM
Well, technically, the new Galactica is a refitted ship as well. It would be interesting to see another, 'new' Battlestar in season two, which is always a possibility (dare I mention the name Pegasus?)
I assume that everyone already knows that season two is going to be twenty episodes? I'm sort of ambivialent about it myself - more episodes could be a very good thing, but not if they can't put the same amount of time into making each one. It would be a pity if BSG were to become a victim of it's own success in that regard.
Well, I'll be frakked. "33" is now viewable online on SciFi's BSG site (http://www.scifi.com/battlestar) (click the banner at the top of the main page). The entire episode. I've never seen anything like it, but that's just cool. If you haven't watched BSG yet, go check out "33" (one of the series' best offerings to date) pronto.
PointyHairedJedi
03-03-2005, 04:47 PM
Ah, I was going to mention this but I totally forgot about it. Yeah, it is kinda cool. The BBC are apparently planning to do something similar to this - they currently make radio shows available to listen to for up to a week after they were broadcast, and they might do the same with their TV programs.
The question is, will it stay up? And when will we see more epsisodes?
We can steal TV for free now? The future is here! I'll definitely be watching that when I have a minute or 60.
We can steal TV for free legally now.
Chancellor Valium
03-03-2005, 07:16 PM
IT'S A SIGN, IT'S A SI--
Oh, wait...sorry, it's my nose :oops: :oops:
PointyHairedJedi
03-04-2005, 05:28 PM
We can steal TV for free legally now.
Though it's kinda hard to steal given that it's a RealPlayer streaming file.
Xeroc
03-06-2005, 12:41 AM
We can steal TV for free legally now.
Though it's kinda hard to steal given that it's a RealPlayer streaming file.
You can still do it, both by looking at the source and saving the file from a link, or checking in Temporary Internet Files.
PointyHairedJedi
03-06-2005, 01:33 PM
Oh cool, I didn't know that. Does it work the same for Firefox?
Chancellor Valium
03-06-2005, 05:03 PM
I don't think it works if they're streaming at 28 or 56k, though :wink:
Xeroc
03-07-2005, 12:35 AM
Oh cool, I didn't know that. Does it work the same for Firefox?
Actually, I checked again, and actually, the type of streaming their using requires a stream recorder to download and save, and most aren't free, or don't support RealPlayer.
Click here for a listing of some stream recorders. (http://all-streaming-media.com/record-video-stream/record-streaming-video-windows-media.htm)
Well, honestly. If you're going to go to that much trouble to steal it, just grab it (or the entire first season, for that matter) with BitTorrent.
Ahem. Kira does not, of course, represent the official opinion of 5MV on the matter of illegal downloading.
Now pass me some of those Eve 6 mp3s.
PointyHairedJedi
03-10-2005, 04:32 PM
Well, honestly. If you're going to go to that much trouble to steal it, just grab it (or the entire first season, for that matter) with BitTorrent.
Well, I've seen it all anyway so it's pretty much moot. And plus I don't have nearly enough space for whole-season downloads, but I shall hopefully soon enough be getting a new hard-drive as the one I have seems to be perennially on the verge of croaking.
psychoknight
03-15-2005, 08:16 AM
Well, technically, the new Galactica is a refitted ship as well. It would be interesting to see another, 'new' Battlestar in season two, which is always a possibility (dare I mention the name Pegasus?)
I assume that everyone already knows that season two is going to be twenty episodes? I'm sort of ambivialent about it myself - more episodes could be a very good thing, but not if they can't put the same amount of time into making each one. It would be a pity if BSG were to become a victim of it's own success in that regard.
Pegasus would be ace, if they do it differently to the first time.
Quinalla
03-30-2005, 08:37 PM
I have been meaning to post here for awhile too. First, I wanted to let folks know that April is going to be mini-series month and the mini-series start to BSG will be showing probably multiple times that month. I missed the mini-series, so I know I will be watching it.
Anyway, starting with the first actual episode, I have been watching this show and it is enjoyable. The characters are very well done and I am suprised how much depth each of them has, especially with so many "main" characters. I am really curious where things are going. I have not seen the original series, so I don't have any comments one way or another on that. And I love how much conflict there is on the show between the characters, so many things about this show remind me of what I loved about DS9 :)
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