World Famous Comics: Battlestar Galactica (2003 Miniseries)
Battlestar Galactica (2003 Miniseries)
Starring: Edward James Olmos, Mary McDonnell, Katee Sackhoff, Jamie Bamber, James Callis Directed By: Michael Rymer Average Rating: Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1 Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated) Binding: DVD Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD, Subtitled, Widescreen, Miniseries, NTSC Label: Universal Studios Number of Items: 1 Region Code: 1 Release Date: December 28, 2004 Running Time: 180 minutes Theatrical Release Date: December 08, 2003
Product Description: Forty years after the Cylon Wars, humanity's deadliest enemies have reemerged with a vengeance. In a sudden, devastating nuclear attack, the Cylon robots - who have now taken human form - wipe out billions of people. Only a handful of Colonial forces are left to shepherd the few survivors to safety. Commander William Adama (Edward James Olmos), the highest-ranking military officer left alive, reactivates the Battlestar Galactica to once again face humanity's greatest nemeses.
Outnumbered and outarmed, Adama reluctantly concedes that the newly sworn-in President Laura Roslin (Mary McDonnell) is correct - this battle was lost before it had begun. With no choice but to flee, the ragtag fleet of survivors and humanity's only hope set out in search of the mythic 13th Colony of Kobol… a legendary planet known as Earth.
Amazon.com: Despite voluminous protest and nitpicking criticism from loyal fans of the original 1978-80 TV series, the 2003 version of Battlestar Galactica turned out surprisingly well for viewers with a tolerance for change. Originally broadcast on the Sci-Fi Channel in December 2003 and conceived by Star Trek: The Next Generation alumnus Ronald D. Moore as the pilot episode for a "reimagined" TV series, this four-hour "miniseries" reprises the basic premise of the original show while giving a major overhaul (including some changes in gender) to several characters and plot elements. Gone are the flowing robes, disco-era hairstyles, and mock-Egyptian fighter helmets, and thankfully there's not a fluffy "daggit" in sight... at least, not yet. Also missing are the "chrome toaster" Cylons, replaced by new, more formidable varieties of the invading Cylon enemy, including "Number Six" in hot red skirts and ample cleavage, who tricks the human genius Baltar into a scenario that nearly annihilates the human inhabitants of 12 colonial worlds.
Thus begins the epic battle and eventual retreat of a "ragtag fleet" of humans, searching for the mythical planet Earth under the military command of Adama (Edward James Olmos) and the political leadership of Laura Roslin (Mary McDonnell), a former secretary of education, 43rd in line of succession and rising to the occasion of her unexpected Presidency. As directed by Michael Rymer (Queen of the Damned), Moore's ambitious teleplay also includes newfangled CGI space battles (featuring "handheld" camera moves and subdued sound effects for "enhanced realism"), a dysfunctional Col. Tigh (Michael Hogan) who's provoked into action by the insubordinate Starbuck (Katee Sackhoff), and a father-son reunion steeped in familial tragedy. To fans of the original BG series, many of these changes are blasphemous, but for the most part they work--including an ominous cliffhanger ending. The remade Galactica is brimming with smart, well-drawn characters ripe with dramatic potential, and it readily qualifies as serious-minded science fiction, even as it gives BG loyalists ample fuel for lively debate. --Jeff Shannon
HOW THE HECK CAN YOU REVIEW AN PRE RELEASE??! First off - I am NOT reviewing this, NOR have I wasted my time reading the (currently 20 !!!) "Reviews" of this product.
YOU HAVEN'T SEE IT, YOU DON'T OWN IT, DON'T "REVIEW" IT UNTIL YOU HAVE IT IN YOUR HANDS! Get real. If you want to have a DISCUSSION join a FORUM, don't post here, you screw up the buying experience for the rest of us. This area is for REVIEWS, not uninformed opinions. I'm giving a 3 for neutrality.
Great opener to a wonderful series - want to address another reviewer's comment Firstly and admittedly, I don't have anything innovative to contribute to the general consensus that the reimagined Battlestar Galactica is a generally wonderful sci-fi series that well worth watching and that this Mini-Series does its job of enticing the curious viewer into wanting to watch the entire series--as it did with the SciFi Channel executives who were undecided about a long-term series commitment with this show until they saw the Mini-Series.
However, I wanted to address Beth Custer's comment (Jan 24, 2009) regarding the availability of the Mini-Series in the Season One box set. She is correct that this Mini-Series and its accompanying audio commentary is included with the first season DVD set and thus for the casual viewer, purchase of the box set renders separate acquisition of this DVD superfluous. However, for the fanatical among us who pore over every special feature and "extra", I wanted to point out that Season One DVD set omits "The Lowdown" making-of featurette, included only with this stand-alone DVD. I own both the stand-alone Mini-Series and the Season One set, of which I am glad, as I find the featurette both entertaining and informative.
A Must Buy! This show appeals to so many more people than just sci-fi followers. It has something for everyone. Start with the pilot show for season one and I can allmost guarantee you will be hooked.
Best sci fi seies ever I was a bit leery about what the new Battlestar Galactica was going to be like; after the first few episodes of the original series, it turned into "Wagon Train to Peyton Place (or 90210, or The OC, depending on your generation).
This series is anything but a soap opera. It matches "LOST" for plot twists, the effects are better than anything else on TV, and the actors (especially Edward James Olmos) are excellent. Also, the reruns are more watchable than "Star Trek". I'm buying the whole series.
Excellent, but included with Season 1 The miniseries is absolutely wonderful. A must-see if you're going to watch more of the Battlestar Galactica series. However, it is also included with the Season 1 DVD set. So, if you're buying Season 1, there's no need to buy this separately.
Anything Goes Trivia
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