Log in

View Full Version : Why it doesn't deserve a chance


jjrakman
October 1st, 2003, 04:38 PM
Some of you feel bad that some of your friends have worked on this show. I can understand that and sympathize. But like I told Titon, it’s not their fault they have a Moore-Ron for a boss. But just as we shouldn’t blame them for this catastrophe, neither should we be expected to endure it.

First and foremost because this is not Battlestar Galactica in any way, shape or form. If you forget everything else, remember that. This mini-series has nothing to do with anything.

For 25 years fans have been tirelessly writing letters, sending e-mails, signing petitions, sending faxes, to anyone and everyone who would listen that we wanted a continuation of the original series with the original characters/cast and storyline. And what in their infinite wisdom do they do? They give us the exact opposite of everything we’ve been asking for, for 25 years. How many letters did you write? How much e-mail did you send? Tell me, how does it feel to be ignored, then kicked in the balls? To be told to take a flying leap, and then walked away from as though you mean nothing? And they refuse to even acknowledge that it is because of our tireless efforts that any of them have this job in the first place.

Also you have to remember here, that what we are getting with this mini is not art anymore than an advertisement for Preparation H is art. Because that is what you are getting here, an advertisement. Every time I hear RDM say how this was the best way he could figure out to tell the story, one word comes to mind: BULLSHIT. I don't believe that poppycock for one nano-second. This isn’t some story that he crafted with a desire to tell, it’s an advertisement to the Powers That Be of Hollywood, of what he believes is his talent. It’s RDM screaming, “Look at me! Look at me!” like some kind of five year old on a swing set.

If his ideas were so inventive and revolutionary as he believes then he should have had no problem pitching this schlock as it’s own show based on it’s own merits. Instead he saw an opportunity and seized it, to place his wild ideas behind the protective wall of name brand recognition. Now if the mini succeeds, he will be able to reap the rewards, and if it fails he’ll just say there wasn’t any interest in BSG and that that was the problem. The fact that he felt his ideas needed the crutch of name recognition is itself proof that his ideas cannot stand on their own merit. He is an artistic coward and opportunist. He wants to fix what he sees as wrong in science fiction today? I have the solution. He should permanently remove himself from it, thereby ensuring the success and enjoyment of science fiction for generations to come.

Then there’s Eick who by Olmos’ own words did not tell anyone signed on to the mini how the fans felt they wanted a continuation, thus basically lying by omission.

Don’t even get me started on Hammer with her phantom Internet chats and persistent spin doctoring. I have no idea how this woman sleeps at night.

No, these people do not deserve my consideration. Respect is earned, and is reciprocal. And these people certainly have not respected the fans in any way. The only thing they have extended to the fans is the middle finger by doing things however they damned well pleased, and to hell with the fans.

All that said, I don't want this statement to be misinterpreted as my taking offense at those who do watch, or who have changed their mind to watch. Hey, it's your perogative, and your six hours. But as for me, I won't put myself through the pain. I just wanted to remind people of how we've all been basically screwed.

Stray Viper
October 1st, 2003, 08:48 PM
I agree fully. There is an inherent danger, though, and I feel I must point it out. Most fans, in my observational opinion, hate the new show. But you have to admit there might be the slightest amount of interest, the most infinitely small twinge of curiosity. Some may be thinking of watching the atrocity, much like watching a train wreck or a car accident scene.

Therein lies the danger. You have to resist the urge to see it, to check out how bad it is; to experience the emotional rollercoaster out of private curiosity. If you watch it -- no matter your intentions -- you will be affirming their horrible experiment. We must resist this urge and send a statement back. If the "popcorn is in the other aisle" then I want popcorn!

To help the BG community, is there an alternative timed to coincide with the air dates? Maybe something else worthy of our watching ... maybe an online chat with Mr. Hatch or any BG veteran ... or maybe even a chat with the BG community as a whole? Is this being planned and/or discussed? If not, then let it begin here.

thomas7g
October 1st, 2003, 09:31 PM
That's a good idea stray :)

jjrakman
October 1st, 2003, 10:43 PM
That is a good idea!

But as for myself, I'm not even remotely curious. Hell, I even canceled my cable subscription because they wouldn;t take out Sci Fi. I would consider watching the mini not to be an act of a traitor or anything like that, but just an immense waste of time. I'd rather clean my toilet.

thomas7g
October 1st, 2003, 11:58 PM
But would you clean MY toilet? Cause... I'm not sure what I will be doing and well... the porcelin has that bachelor feel.... :D

Starbuck
October 2nd, 2003, 05:46 AM
I haven't even bothered watchings the trailers! The time between Thanksgiving and New Years is rather busy for me, so I may not be home when "the mini series" airs. If by some chance I am home and tune in, Stardoe on my TV screen is more than enough to get me to change the channel! :laugh:

thomas7g
October 2nd, 2003, 05:49 PM
Watch it if you want to. Don't if you don't want to.

Do what makes you feel happiest. :D

TommyBoy70
October 3rd, 2003, 02:08 PM
Hi I just found your BSG website here. I always like the original show when I was a kid. Because I don't attend sci fi cons or comic cons I was completely unaware of the Hatch effort to bring back BSG. I wish I had been because it is a worthy project.

Now I see that a new version is coming out on sci fi network that has nothing to do with the original plot of BSG. From what I've read the suits at the networks choose ratings over content in this new BSG project.

That is quite frustrating to me and I understand your frustration as the core fans. It reminds me of how a classic sci fi movie called Roller Ball was reinvented and the result was a product that was a joke.

I for one will not be watching the new BSG because I do not belive studios should allow a potential franchise to be "reinvented" so much so that it no longer bears any connection to the original.

Hopefully it will flop so Hatch can continue to make a pitch for his version which I think would be both interesting to old fans and new fans alike.

Titon
October 4th, 2003, 08:45 AM
Welcome Tommyboy70.

Good to see new faces here at Fleets. Your opinion is always welcome here and enjoy the ride. You'll find most of the people here hold your same views on the upcoming mini.

:)

thomas7g
October 4th, 2003, 12:51 PM
Hey Tom!

Welcome to the Fleets!

If you didn't know about the Hatch Revival than you probably missed out on the Battlestar Galactica: Second Coming trailer. Its not an official Universal Trailer. Infact Universal didn't help at all. But back in the days when everyone was working hard to bring BG back, Hatch invested ALOT of his own money and took a group of very talented fans and fellow actors and created a movie trailer as a teaser for what a new show could look like.

If you can possibly see it, at a convention or something, you will love it. It is DAMN good. It always leaves the crowds cheering. :)

CommanderTaggart
October 4th, 2003, 02:12 PM
Tommyboy, welcome. If you haven't heard much about the Hatch effort, then you probably haven't heard much about the Tom DeSanto (X-Men, X-Men 2) effort to create a true BSG continuation for Fox a couple of years ago... a continuation that would have included Dirk Benedict as the one and only Starbuck. Hatch threw his support behind DeSanto, though it was unclear exactly how Hatch would have been used in the new series.

In any case, Fox pulled the plug on that project, partly because, for their (tasteless) tastes, DeSanto's show was too much like the original!

There are rumors... and they are just that, at this point, rumors... that DeSanto is talking with series creator Glen A. Larson about creating a big screen version of Battlestar Galactica that is faithful to the original. Hatch has made his public support for such a project known to fans numerous times.

The fandom is preparing to mount a two-part letter writing campaign to show our unified support for such an effort.

I invite you to check out the history of this effort by looking in on the "Gathering The Troops" thread started by Ojai22 over the "BSG Discussion" area. And I hope that we can count on your support in doing what we can to bring the real BSG back to life on the silver screen.

TommyBoy70
October 6th, 2003, 11:50 AM
thanks for the kind welcomes. I have been reading about the DeSanto's and Hatch efforts as a result of visiting this site. I wish I had known about this long before I did. It boggles my mind why a potential franchise like BSG has been left to whither. One only has to look to the Star Trek franchise to see that how succesfully a story can be both updated and remain consistent with the original product.

For my own selfish reasons I'd like to see a second coming with original actors/characters. I think it would be interesting to see the surviving 1st generation colonists as well as a generation who know of no other life than war and intergallactic space travel. Obviously the newer generation of Warriors/Colonists would appeal to a younger generation of viewers and the older characters to original fans. Lorne Green certainly was not brought on board the original series to appeal to little kids. I remember BattleStar Galactica being one of the only shows my whole family would watch together.

The interaction and friction between the two generations of colonists would be very interesting and would provide a vehicle for interesting social commentary relating to current issues we deal with today.

I think it would also be interesting to see how vulnerable the Cylons would be to counterattacks with such overextended supply lines? Cyborgs may not require food or water but other raw materials would be needed and these could not all come from Cylon. The possibilities for storiy lines are endless.

I know I'm preaching to the choir here, but I would be glad to contribute to any efforts. Hard to belive I only ended up here as a result of looking for a colonial warrior jacket for a halloween costume. Cheers!