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View Full Version : Where I stand on the mini/continuation issue.


Bug-Eyed Earl
July 24th, 2003, 10:02 PM
I don't really participate in the talk that is the main focus of this site, since I've been waiting for a chance to explain my position completely. So here you go:

Timeline of my involvement with BG:

1. I hear about the controversy over Moore's miniseries. My first actual exposure to it was a positive review of the script over at Aint It Cool News.

2. I found the script somewhere. I am actually of the mind of Two-Brained Cylon. His review pretty much sums up my feelings, so I'll skip that part here.

3. I found places where the fanbase congregated. I actually found the boycott list here, and I sent off an email to the admins, saying I disapproved of the idea (I was very much affected by a teacher of mine in high school who was very involved in human rights; he was boycotting companies involved in human rights violations, such as Disney, who make much of their merchandise in third-world sweatshops), seeing it as too frivolous a use of a powerful way to make your voice heard, and whatnot. Then I realized I need to get the pole out of my ass. I still plunked down money to see "Finding Nemo," so here I am NOT following what I consider to be a more worthy effort. So I decided not to be a hypocrite, and I apologize to the admins who read my letter (and Jjrakmnan, who I sent a copy of the letter via PM at imdb).

4.I saw "Saga of a Star World,"- didn't like it that much at first. But it grew on me, thanks to the performances and the cool Cylons. Dirk is the man.

But out of curiosity, I will watch the mini, mainly to see how EJO does as an authority figure (somehting I never would have pegged him as playing). I think he was honestly saying that he likes the mini he is in, but that the major fans won't. And I don't old anything else against the actors, since that's what I would want to do if writing didn't pan out (or I could do both, like one of my idols, Sam Shepard), and I can understand their position, especially since most probably had no idea about the fan community. But I have finally come to the conclusion that I too would prefer a continuation.

I have no hostility to Ron Moore. When he says that he felt what he wrote is the only version of BG he could make, I belive him. Which is why I think he should have respectfully turned down the project. I also think that all the talk of "Has Ron Moore ever done anything original" needs to be addressed- there are many, MANY writers who toil away on other shows, and never aspire to create their own shows, or can't get it off the ground. Using the same logic of Moore having never made any show of his own inadvertently insults many talented writers who are either happy with their station writing for others or who simply haven't had any luck getting their own projects off the ground. I think there are other places you can go if you want to vent about him. He looks like the physical embodiment of nerdiness, so there's a start. :D The guy should have spent a few days aboard an aircraft carrier to get a sense of actual military discipline.

Hammer, on the other hand.... Let me put it this way. I like to write. I would like someday to make television programming and motion pictures. But I wouldn't touch the Sci-Fi Channel with a ten foot pole while Hammer's in charge. I like Scare tactics from the point of view of a writer who wants to see how real people would react to the situations that are faked. But it belongs more on TNN (or Spike TV). F*CK JOHN EDWARD!

Other than Hammer, I have no hostility towards anyone involved. I just sigh, shake my head, and wonder what might have been. I feel for you guys, I really do.

I hope I don't piss anyone off. As an aspiring actor/writer, I Think I have a unique position on the whole thing.

jjrakman
July 24th, 2003, 10:19 PM
Well, I saw BSG when I was 6 years old. It was a great story, whose reruns I watched all throughout my childhood. It was a story a 6year old could watch, with heros. someone for a young lad to look up to.

What do we have in this new mini? A slutty female cyborg who gives hand jobs to the villain, a sluttly cylon cyborg who crushes the skull of an infant child, an Apollo who disrespects his father, an Adama who blames the victims for the cylon attack, a military officer who is a drunk.

Now I don't have any children myself. But I do have plenty of nices and nephews. And damnit, I don't want my 6 year old relatives exposed to this sort of deviancy under the guise of what should IMHO remain a child friendly family show.

Don't get me wrong,I have nothing against violence and sexual content in entertainment as a whole. I believe firmly in freedom of speech and artistic expression. But this formerly child friendly franchise is not the place for adult themes. It's simply inappropriate.

So no, I don't think it oversteps the boundaries of a boycott. In fact I think it is aptly suited for it.

When he says that he felt what he wrote is the only version of BG he could make, I belive him.

I have to respectfully disagree. If this man truly had the artistic integrity he likes to portray himself as having, he would have saved all of his wild "re-invention of the Sci Fi TV series" ideas for his own original production. To succeed or fail based on the merits of it's own ideas. He didn't. Instead he saw this as an opportunity to put out his ideas without any of the risk. Now he can hide behind the protective wall of the BSG name. If it succeeds, he'll be able to collect the accolades of his peers, if it fails he'll say that there wasn't much interest in BSG to begin with. I see him as an artistic coward and opportunist.

By the way, if all you have seen is Saga of a Star World, I would highly suggest you watch the rest of the episodes, which are far far better than the pilot.

Bug-Eyed Earl
July 24th, 2003, 10:35 PM
Originally posted by jjrakman

By the way, if all you have seen is Saga of a Star World, I would highly suggest you watch the rest of the episodes, which are far far better than the pilot.

I like Lloyd Bridges, so I plan to at least rent the whole show when it comes out for that reason at the very least.

You know, while we're on the subject of inappropriateness, I should point out that the script reminded me of ridiculously angsty fanfics. The kind that are much MUCH darker or more ansgsty than the source material. I find them absurd. I don't want to read a Smallville fanfic with a suicidal Clark Kent, for Gods sake.

thomas7g
July 24th, 2003, 10:37 PM
Ron Moore's problem is that he seems to lack the ability to make characters that audiences will fall in love with.

He seems to be good with creating problems for an established character to deal with dramatically. He is also good at discovering interesting depth in existing characters as they grapple with a problem. BUT the primary problem continues. His original characters are basically unlikable...or they don't touch our hearts.

I personally would have accepted a remake. But well... as I heard more and more about this I became more and more disgusted. Alot of that disgusts comes from comparing the old shows strengths with the new one. If the miniseries was completely original...then it wouldn't have garnered the hate it has generated. Though...from the plot points and impressions it has given us, it seems to be as interesting as another Wing Commander movie.

I read that script that was circling around. Some of the ways the battle occurred was interesting. But the characters were not engaging. They seemed more cliche than Moore's assessment of Starbuck. Especially the relationship between Adama and "Lee." It sounds like that really bad Riker-father relationship on StarTrek:TNG.

But the way Moore and Scifi (Hammer) has treated the fans of Galactica has been insulting. As an admin I can tell you they have incited the anger of BG fans to near meltdowns. They have created far more problems for themselves than need be.

I can't wait for the miniseries to be history so we can stop being battered by pro Hammer crap and go back to having fun. :)

Bug-Eyed Earl
July 24th, 2003, 10:40 PM
Originally posted by Warrior
Was the main focus of this site lost on you? :)

The main focus of this site is to discuss Battlestar Galactica, the original.

This remake debating stuff is but ONE of many subjects, not the focus.

Yeah, that too. I won't talk too much about BG until I see more episodes. Count Iblis sounds really cool.

I think Blockbuster has entire seasons of shows on DVD that you cna rent for the same price as a single movie. I've been meaning to check and see if they have the entire run of "From the Earth to the Moon." I'll be there on the day of the release. And you'll be seeing me hear more often after that. :D

thomas7g
July 24th, 2003, 11:21 PM
I bought the From the Earth to the Moon DVD set. It was absolutely great. The only thing I don't like is that the glue that holds the plastic dvd holders to the box is faulty. And my dvd holders slide out the bottom of the box!!! Not a good way to treat a dvd set! I had to buy a new jewel box to hold them. :D

Btw- I recommend The Living Legend and Hand of God over any other episode of BG including the pilot. Though the Lost Planet of the Gods was pretty good too, especially the chemistry between Jane Seymour and Richard Hatch.

Charybdis
July 25th, 2003, 08:11 AM
If you watch just some of the BSG episodes, watch The Living Legend, War of the Gods and Hand of God.

BST
July 25th, 2003, 03:01 PM
Originally posted by Charybdis
If you watch just some of the BSG episodes, watch The Living Legend, War of the Gods and Hand of God.

Bug-Eyed Earl,

If you get a chance to watch these three episodes, watch them in the above order, in order to keep the timeline straight. :)

shiningstar
July 26th, 2003, 09:34 AM
I agree with bug eyed earl ..........if I watch it at all
WHICH I MIGHT NOT ..........I'll be watching for OLMOS
to see how he does as an authority figure.

All in all though I'll be taping the mini so that my CHILDREN
will NOT SEE IT. Because I don't think that a SKULL BASHING
is appropiate for pre-school or even TEENAGED children.

Instead if they want to see bsg ......they'll see the original
series which especially "Living legined, war of the Gods and
YES my all time favorite ............THE HAND OF GOD". And Yes
I will watch THOSE episodes WITH THEM.