foghorn_clj
Disclaimer: The only reason I started watching this series was to stop my friend from constantly badgering me to watch it. Oh I wished I hadn't listened to her and instead listened to my gut.Like I said the miniseries and season 1 were pretty good (except for them dumping 2 characters on another planet as a sub plot (and those characters achieving nothing for 10 episodes or so) & developing other minor characters I didn't give a crap about).And then season 2 happened and I lost my patience. The cyclons having "a plan" but none of this plan being revealed in any form of a timely manner. Gius' continuing hallucination spouting nonsensical fluff about destiny which turned from intriguing to annoying. The unnecessary focus on politics and other random nonsense which in no way added to the plot. And I could just see that it was going to move more towards this whole spiritual-god- religious path storyline of which I have ZERO interest.The only storyline I actually cared about was the romance between Kara and Lee but sitting through all the other crap wasn't worth finding out what happened between these two.Bottom line, I was bored out of my mind. In fact I fell asleep multiple times watching this.It's not sci-fi. It's a dramatic, soap opera which happens to take place in space.Recommendation: Don't walk, run in other direction. Don't waste your time. Put in an episode of Star Trek and go to your sci fi happy place.
MisterWhiplash
What a way to start off a reboot! Well, technically, this is what the 21st century Battlestar Galactica show was, taking off from the original series/movie from the 1970s, and this time it's got a lot more money, better actors, and less of the stigma of what the original had (a rip-off of Star Wars to a large extent). With this series, the writers Ronald Moore and Glen Larson start a-new, with the focus on what it's like when, basically, humanity can be almost wiped out in a matter of hours, and what the humans will do when up against their own creation- the Cylons- who are robots that have been able to become human in form. Well, twelve of them at any rate.While I can't speak for the actual television series that followed, with this mini-series, which could be viewed possibly as its own epic feature with more than a few things left open for continuation, there's no time for anything very amusing. It's a very dark kind of story, where hope appears to be lost in the face of not just the massive loss of life on the humans' planet, Caprica, but how one person, a so-called 'Genius' Gaius Baltar (well-played in conflict by James Callis) can have his mind overrun but one of these Cylons (a for all intents and purposes Goddess in stature, Tricia Helfer). What's most frightening is the simplicity of how everything is wiped out so quickly, how it sort of captures everyone- i.e. the military personnel on the Galactica- off guard, not least of which the Commander Adama (Edward James Olmos) who is on his way to retire and is put back in the leaders' seat. Funny how that works out in these stories.This is writing that is dedicated to conflict and character, making sure due time is given to the personalities, such as Starbuck's anti-authoritarian kick-ass pilot or the problems that arise early on for Adama's son, who is a Captain and a hell of a pilot as well (also a deceased brother, but I digress). It helps too that we are never sure where the Cylons are coming from, how they're able to knock out all of the transmissions and such, excel for the Baltar part of the equation. They're a threat that can come from anywhere at any time, unrelenting and without any call to reason (a little like the aliens in Independence Day, only here not given a shred of anything to see as what they are except as steel-robots or the alluring #6). And all the while other issues come up - survival versus military might, religious preoccupations, the place for love in all of this, and trust.For some who are hardcore into science fiction stories and media, this might not all be news. What's remarkable is the execution of the action and details. Here and there one almost feels like it could be a cold mood, or just so dark and grim that there's so little room for any warmth. At least, at this point in the story. Where other science fiction or space tales wait for the middle act to get really dark (i.e. Empire Strikes Back), this plunges head in, so that by the end, when things are just at best stable, we know things will get even more interesting. On its own terms its thrilling and shocking, heart-rending and moving, and on occasion amusing (mostly in the warped interactions between the Englishman and the Cylon), and that it also leaves the viewer shouting "ENCORE!" is a big plus. Not to mention above average special effects (compared to something like old Joss Whedon shows, or even Star Trek Generations, the space scenes are nearly cinema quality with the CGI), and a peculiar but awesome musical score with drums in battle and melody in the somber moments.After this, you'll either go on or you don't to the rest of the series. At the least, and forgive the analogy, you'd have to be Cylon to not get something out of the three hours of entertainment and drama.
michael-blackman
I saw the original back when it was released in Australia at out local cinema (Bundaberg) in 79 or 1980(?) and loved that and the TV series even if the centurions heads wobble when they talk. Funny stuff! But the re-imagined series just blows my socks off. I like it so much I have bought the DVD's so I can watch them whenever. The casting is superb, the acting is sublime, the writing is sensational, the directors do brilliant work and as far as I am concerned the story line/plot remains basically true to the basic original concept with the obvious perfectly acceptable exceptions here and there. There is not one thing about the new series I can fault. IT ROCKS!! I also completely love the fact that they have changed some of the original male characters to be female. IT'S PER-R-R-R-FECTION with a capital P. I hope there will be many spin off stories. Keep it coming BSG creators!
magicwalnuts
As a huge fan of the show from the second this miniseries aired I may be a bit biased, but regardless this release has incredible merits.There are two aspects of BSG II that really pull you in, first and foremost, and one of the reasons the series is so incredibly excellent are the characters and their interactions. They are just so darn believable, from the alcoholic second in command to a dying school teacher turned president of humanity.The second, and the reason why standing alone this is an excellent piece of cinema is the grim atmosphere that is so realistically displayed. The sense of horror and helplessness is almost palpable as you witness the genocide of a race.As I write this BSG has aired all the way up to season 4.5. Combined with the series BSG is shaping up to be one of the greatest science fiction epics of all time.
