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Battlestar 2003

Darrin Drader

Explorer
So the re-envisioned Battlestar Balactica is just about upon us. One week and one day and we'll get to see this reimagined miniseries that is the pilot for a possible TV series. I was there for the first one when I was 5 years old and I'm very interested in seeing the show revived in one way or another. The question is whether or not this is the right way to do it. Its a subject that I have very conflicting opinions about. On one hand, nothing was sacred. They changed everything. Apollo and Adama have issues over Zack's death, Starbuck and Boomer are female, and the cylons are either humans or CGI. I miss the old series and the old actors and I'm willing to bet that a good number of them would have been willing to sign on to a new series.

On the other hand, the new CGI cylons look way cooler than the originals and they fly some very cool looking fighters. The premise is different but also more interesting. Instead of the robots being a product of a lizardlike race that ended up wiping them out and stealing their identity, they are now a creation of man. Gone is the Egyptian theme (not so happy about this) but in its place we'll get some kick butt space battle scenes.

And then there were the problems with the original series. In one episode they were making a big deal out of how they were entering a new galaxy, and then in another episode they were making a big deal out of the difficulties of making the rest of the fleet go light speed. OK, so make up your minds - either the ship can go many thousand times the speed of light to make it to another galaxy, or it takes years to go from one star system to the next.

Then there was Satan making an appearance in the form of Count Bel Iblis. It was also in these episodes that we found out that god and his angels ride around in an enormous crystalline space ship and routinely bring characters back from the dead.

Should I even mention the horror that was Battlestar 1980?

So on one hand, I would very much like to see a continuation, but on the other hand, I would like to see the entire series done right. What do you think? Weigh in on this issue. Does the miniseries that the Scifi channel is going to show in a week look like a worthy successor, or is it just one more failed attempt to recessitate the show after killing it for the unforgivable crime of having too large of a budget? (the ratings on this show were awesome during its original run).
 

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I'm looking forward to the new show as well, and liked the documentary film on propaganda that is based on the new show.

I'm troubled by the gender-switching for some characters, and the cylons looking like humans sometimes. I liked the egyptian theme, and will miss that, but am willing to keep an open mind for their new justification for seeking earth.

Beyond that, I am pretty excited. I like the change to humans creating the cylons. It makes a lot more sense to me. I like the change in Adama - who seems more like a real military leader rather than a worried father constantly bitching about his kids and their siginficant others getting put in harms way. I like the look of the new ships (for cylons and humans). I like that we have seen no sign of that stupid, stupid robotic dog. And I like that Baltar seems like a more plausible traitor figure now, rather than the mustache-waxed cliche villian that the old one always seemed like to me.

Should be good. I hope it doesn't suck.

Of course, it will be a ton better than the 1980 version. But, that isn't saying anything. Static, color-bar signals, and emergency broadcast tests are better than the 1980 version.
 

I'm looking forward to it and will be quite willing to give it a chance. In general I think the changes sound good. I watched the Battlestar Galactica: Lowdown this morning. They kept saying how they wanted to make it a more realistic Space Opera. A realistic space opera just sounds a bit odd to me. Also they were commenting on how they tried to film it in a documentry style. So some of the camera work could be a little odd.

I'll reserve judgement until I actually see it. Granted I'll probably enjoy it since I'm fairly easy to please.
 

I'm looking forward to it. I have yet to see the documentary on it, but the idea of it being shot as one... Not so good. I'll get past that, but it'll bug me at first.

I like that the changes to the Cylons. I have no problem with Starbuck and Boomer being women, and I so think the new effects are nice.

The guy who I assume plays Baltar was in the Troy miniseries on USA. I liked him well enough in that, I think he'll be a good traitor in this one.
 
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I'm looking forward to it as well and hope it doesn't suck. I do have a few problems with the gender changes but I'm sure I'll get over it.

I will miss the Egyptian motiff(spelling?) too.

I like the change of humans creating the Cylons instead of a lizard race.

Baraendur said:
Should I even mention the horror that was Battlestar 1980?

No you should not. :mad: :p :rolleyes: :D
 

Baraendur said:
Should I even mention the horror that was Battlestar 1980?
There was no Battlestar 1980. Any rumors to the contrary all all just figments of your imagination.

Now exactly what role will the electronic dog take in this upcoming series?
 
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Galactica was the greatest thing in the world when I was little but upon seeing the show as a adult I realize just how very flawed it was. Of course I don't run around with a cardboard viper pilot helmet and a fake cigar yelling I'm Starbuck anymore either, growing up just isn't that much fun.

Anyway to the new show, I saw the "Lowdown" special and it didn't look that bad, of course it was basically made to tell people to get over their problems with the changes. All in all I'll just have to forget it has anything to do with the original and judge it on it's own merits, they really hung a albatross around it's neck by calling it Battlestar Galactica and then changing everything up. I'm am curious to see how it turns out and I am going to go into it openminded but I really can't get myself all that excited about it. Of course the thing could be presented as a musical and still come off better than Galactica 80.

edit: add one more to missing the Egyptian theme too, that was one of my favorite things about the original.
 
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jdavis said:
...Of course I don't run around with a cardboard viper pilot helmet and a fake cigar yelling I'm Starbuck anymore either.
You mean that wasn't you I saw doing that at the mall on Friday? Damn, I could have sworn it was. Especially after the guy reached the food court, took off the helmet, and stuck a container of fries on his head. :D
 

Was there ever a remake that was entirely redone to fit the new director's "vision" that didn't suck?

Nuff said.

(If you want replace the above with "Has the sci-fi channel made an original film that didn't suck?)

If that isn't enough, I just asked my magic 8-Ball the following...

"Will the new Battlestar Galactica suck?"

It's reply...

"You May Rely On It"
 


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