Mini Series Reviews

[jjrakman]

http://filmforce.ign.com/articles/444/444434p1.html

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/television/article/0,1299,DRMN_25_2476984,00.html

http://www.sltrib.com/2003/Dec/12052003/friday/117217.asp

http://www.ohio.com/mld/beaconjournal/living/7410239.htm

http://www.timesdispatch.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RTD%2FMGArticle%2FRTD_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1031772460352&path=!flair&s=1045855936229

http://www.nj.com/entertainment/ledger/index.ssf?/base/entertainment-0/107069234136590.xml

http://www.abqtrib.com/archives/diversions03/120603_diversions_tvqueen.shtml

[Doctor Salik]

These reviews speak for themselves.
I can't wait to see the show myself but on the other hand... I can wait a long time.:)

[Dark_Man]

Well I'm disapionted that a few of these ppl bashed the old series but at least there honest. The one glareing point made by all of them is that reguardless or how this show stacks up next to the old series and reguardless of us the fans gripes about how they have slaughtered the old series the new mini just plain sux.

At this point I just have to wonder is this the death bed of the whole Galactica series or will it revitalize it somehow so that someone can come up and do it right?

who knows... the one thing I do enjoy knowing is that with all these bad reviews etc Moore's ver of BSG will never see a series. Frankly I wonder if anyone will ever given him work agian... Shrug we can only hope so.

[jeditemple]

I don't think Moore's "Carnivale" is doing too well either. It's gotten decent reviews, but I found it to be lackluster and sorta lame.

We'll have to likely wait a while before anything "Galactica" comes around again. Ron Moore and Sci-Fi have damaged the Battlestar Galactica "brand" and it will take some time for that to heal.

[Doctor Salik]

That's exactly what I am asking myself.
Are these the ashes from which a new Phoenix will rise? Or will this be the smoldering ruins of what could have been? At least I still got the DVD set of the original.

[jeditemple]

It's just like the "Planet of the Apes" fiasco. POTA had grown a huge fan-base over the last 30 years and was ripe for a re-emergence. The interest was there, the money became available, and it was falling very close to the 30th anniversary. It could have been huge, but for one problem: Tim Burton...the man who ruined POTA with his "re-imagining."

The 2001 re-make was mediocre and didn't usher in a new series like Fox thought it would. The first movie left us with a cliffhanger...to a sequel that will unlikely ever be made. The POTA franchise is dead for now.

Look at the similarities with this and Battlestar Galactica. We, as the fanbase of the original BSG must never let this happen to our beloved show. We have got to keep it alive. :thumbsup:

[malachi42]

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr/reviews/review_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=2047027
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/12/08/arts/television/08MART.html?ex=1071464400&en=42a8d6cb5d05c8f3&ei=5062&partner=GOOGLE
http://www.lacitybeat.com/article.php?id=436&IssueNum=25

[jeditemple]

Originally posted by malachi42
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr/reviews/review_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=2047027
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/12/08/arts/television/08MART.html?ex=1071464400&en=42a8d6cb5d05c8f3&ei=5062&partner=GOOGLE
http://www.lacitybeat.com/article.php?id=436&IssueNum=25

Wow, good work. You must have spent hours looking for the only 3 positive reviews. And you managed to make that your very first post...how interesting.

:mad:

[BST]

It's ok, jeditemple, the REAL truth will be out on Wednesday...i.e., ratings.

[dec5]

There is always SG1.....

[Apollo]

The ign review said it all for me! What a waste of time effort and money!!

[skippercollecto]

I find articles on numerous topics in a slightly different manner than the rest of you do. I am able to access the website of the Cincinnati Public Library system using my library card number. The library's database has a search engine connected to dozens of daily newspapers around the world. Unfortunately, you don't get direct links to the actual newspaper websites; just the text of articles which are very difficult to cut and paste, so I can't show you them here.
Unfortunately, the reviews that I located were mostly positive--the ones in the New York Times, the LA Times and the Boston Globe. Meanwhile, the brief mention of the new series in the local Cincinnati Enquirer liked the miniseries as compared to the original.
As for me, I lasted the first 20 minutes, until the first commercial. I had made a point not to read too much about the miniseries, and no one warned me that the female Cylon was going to break the baby's neck. The scene made me sick to my stomach and I decided I'd had enough. Fortunately, Everwood was still on WB so I switched over to that. When Everwood ended I read a book for the rest of the evening.
Mary

[Doctor Salik]

Well, now there are some positive reviews that SciFi can quote...
About "Planet of the Apes": Burton is a fine director if left to his own devices. But he killed POTA.

[Raymar3d]

Originally posted by dec5
There is always SG1.....

Interesting that the SG1 preview looks more like Battlestar Galactica than the mini did.

Reactions around the office this morning:

"I was very disappointed. I wasted my time staying up till midnight."

"I was watching reality TV with my girlfriend."

"It seemed like a sequel set forty years later, but they had all the same names, what's up with that?"

"I didn't see it. Didn't want to."

A Universal exec in the office: "You didn't like it?"

My answer: "No. Even though I worked on it, built a ship, I didn't like it. It was a remake that lost all the heart of the original. Now, the game is awesome. It has the original cast in their original roles."

Ken

[Raymar3d]

[i]
As for me, I lasted the first 20 minutes, until the first commercial. I had made a point not to read too much about the miniseries, and no one warned me that the female Cylon was going to break the baby's neck. The scene made me sick to my stomach and I decided I'd had enough. Fortunately, Everwood was still on WB so I switched over to that. When Everwood ended I read a book for the rest of the evening.
Mary [/B]

My wife and I felt exactly the same way. There was no call for that. My wife is pregnant at the moment as well. I felt it was just sickening.

My wife was ready for me to give her the phone so she could call Ron Moore and give him a piece of her mind. She may get the chance. I have his number.

Ken

[Doctor Salik]

Your have Ron Moore's number? Could you post it to me? I'd like to give him my Season Greetings :D

[Raymar3d]

Hello,

Sorry Dr. Salik, I don't think posting his phone number here would be appropriate, and it would also be unprofessional.

If you want to reach him, contact Universal Studios, send him a letter or something.

Ken

[Doctor Salik]

Hey, this was just a joke. I was thinking in terms of a Simpson episode and so I used this smiley: :D (You know, where Homer once phoned the president to complain about no more peanuts at Moe's bar?)
Though I would like to talk to Mr Moore directly, you are right, it would be unprofessional.

[malachi42]

I posted three positive reviews because I saw that only negative reviews were being posted. It propeeled me out of lurkdom in genuine curiosity as to whether anyone would be willing to discuss or acknowledge positive reviews by some pretty hefty sources. No I didn't take am innordinant amount of time, knowing that there had already been so many reviews posted and didn't give much weight to the Bismark Review.
Wasn't trying to be snarky, just genuinely curious as to the response.

[jjrakman]

If you can find more positive reviews, feel free to post them.

[Vonstadt]

"This remake has so much more sophistication than the original."

However the price for that sopistication is much less heart and soul.

The vision and strength of characters is just not present :/:

[thomas7g]

darth- you don't have to win the old vs new fight. Its okay if folks disagree with you.

I do prefer the old show to the new one.

I like TOS Trek as much as the next generation. And faaar more than Voyager and Enterprise. probably more than DS9. its a matter of fun over reality.

[Raymar3d]

Originally posted by Darth Marley
Did you think ST:TOS was better than any of its successors?
Did you think the 1950's Detective Comics were betters than Miller's Dark Knight Returns?
I was a young lad in '78.I watched the show and loved it.
When I see the reruns on SciFi I have to choke back the laughs.It is much worse than seeing the old Trek series.
This remake has so much more sophistication than the original.

If you don't agree, no one will ever change your mind, but for me, the original IS Battlestar Galactica, just as TOS of Star Trek had the best cast and writing (with exceptions like every show does in the writing department.)

The original Star Wars trilogy, for example, is far better on the story and acting side than the other films. I think the advantage of less technology and budget means that the story has to be stronger, the performances better, the imagination to create it more powerful.

But, to me, it's like ice cream. I never met a flavor I didn't like. I like some better than others, but I like them all.

As far as the mini goes, for me, I tried to get Ron Moore to make it a prequel so as not to destroy the continuity of the original series. He and Eick did consider it, but passed on the idea. To his credit, he heard me out. I guess I was not convincing enough, nor were 16,000 plus signatures on a petition to return the original cast to action.

For me, had the show been a prequel, and not a remake, I would have had no objections to it. I did a full review at my website of the early script, and with only three minor exceptions, the script did not change, and my review stands. What I'd add to the review is that despite the FX being pretty photorealistic, the constant zooming of the camera really bothered me, and it bothered a lot of people.

It's a different beast. It's like "Lost in Space" the remake. It's different, so different, it leaves you lost. I don't like the fact that they are so like modern earth that it's generic. It might as well be earth in 200 years or so after we actually start to settle our solar system. The terminology was entirely earth based. I don't know, it just smacks of a lack of imagination to me.

Check out my review of the script at my BattlestarGalacticaNewslink if you are interested.

My 2 cents.

Ken Thomson

[Stevew]

Well put Ken. Darth needs to see Richards trailer to see what it could have been. You can't compare what was done in 78 to today
S:D

[malachi42]

How well do you know Ron moore?

[Stevew]

Who?

[malachi42]

Rymar. How well does he know RDM?

[Raymar3d]

Malachai,

I barely know him. I've conversed with him several times regarding the direction of his miniseries, and sometimes it's email or on the phone, but I don't know him, per se. He wanted to hear my opinions, I gave them to him. I respect that. He did not convert me over, though. I still like the original series, and mourn the loss of a continuation.

Ken

[Gwaihir]

Hi. I'm new here. ;)

Anyway, for me it wasn't the terminology being the same as earth that bugged me. I actually kinda liked it... made them seem more human.

What bugged me was that Starbuck - a cigar smoking, woman demoralizing, gung-ho shoot 'em up ranger was turned into a woman. Not that there is anything wrong with women, but it's just wrong for his character. Same with Boomer. In fact, all the characters - Apollo, Adama, Baltar - they were all trashed.

In the case of Old Trek vs. New Trek, it doesn't bother me because those were DIFFERENT PEOPLE and that was clear. It was not kirk recasted. If you wanted to compare apples to apples, it would be like redoing the original trek as the original trek, but casting Snoop Dog as Captain Kirk, and Madonna as Spock.

As others have said, I would have been more comfortable with the series if they labeled it as "a show set in the universe of BattleStar Galactica." I MIGHT have even accepted it had they left everything as they did, but change the character names - then you could believe that the real characters are also out there in the backround and you're just not seeing them.

It's that they recast these people so.... WRONG... that bothers me.

Like a nitpick for me. In the end, Starbuck would never have told someone he was a jerk for apologizing. Starbuck was always laid back. He would have shrugged it off. The reactions were just so different.

Anyway, i'm rambling. Nice to meet you guys. Glad to see i'm not the only one who didn't like it.

Question - did I read correctly that Richard Hatch owns this site? Does he still support the original show, then? Might there be some hope?

[thomas7g]

I thnk if they were smart, and if they went to series which I think they are going to do...

I would introduce a hot new female hotshot pilot in the first new episode named Sheba. But have her feminine, dump the cigar. Make her more like "boomer". Make her a wild maverick, but not obnoxious.

Then have a great rivalry between the two and kill starbuck off.

have "Sheba" take her place.

I really hate Katee SAckoff. She's too much a pretentious bitch. On camera and off.

[Stevew]

Get rid of her and #6. I tried to watch it again, they could cut #6 out totally, she was really annoying. The thing moved at the speed of paper and went slower when she was on. I did not like the Basestars, could not see them very well. The superbasestar was far better IMHO
S

[jeditemple]

Originally posted by Stevew
Well put Ken. Darth needs to see Richards trailer to see what it could have been. You can't compare what was done in 78 to today
S:D

Absolutely... Too many of the "pro-mini" folks bash the original series, but they obviously never saw a lot of the other garbage that was aired (both movies and T.V.). If they want to bash some 70's sci-fi, then there are plenty of deserving movies like "Star Crash," "Battle Beyond the Stars," and a plethora of other B movies.

:D

[Gundark]

Hello -

First time post in these forums and I'd like to briefly mention (after browsing the threads) that you seem to have a great community of grass roots fans here who share a common love of BSG even after all these years. I was 15 back in 78' and devoured BSG as fast as I did SW the year before. I was able to see the film release in SENSURROUND (ooooh...hi-fi sci-fi !) 5 times and recorded every episode off the telly on my (another high-tech piece of equipment coming up...) portable cassette recorder !! I still watch every episode whenever I can catch them and have to decided to make the investment in the DVD set.

Now to offer some general comments regarding the....what was that called ? Oh yes, the NEW BSG. The re-make ? The up-date ?

I must confess I missed the first half hour on the 7th, I was (honestly) reading the blurb in my TV Guide about it and mulling over the warning 'if you're a hard core fan, don't watch it, you won't like it'. Morbid curiousity drew me to the telly in the bedroom and away from the Sunday night football game. When I flicked it on, I saw a hot blond in a skin tight red dress all over a nervous guy sitting in a chair. I thought I had the wrong channel. Are we clear on that ? I THOUGHT I HAD THE WRONG CHANNEL.

My beloved tin cans in skirts who can shoot with the accuracy of Imperial Stormtroopers (ah, we won't go there) had turned into HUMAN LOOK-ALIKES ??? Hey - don't get me wrong, I'm a girl and I can easily admit when I find another girl attractive, but this is UNACCEPTABLE. And Baltar as a sniveling, sweaty little bug of a man. Ugh ! I'm sorry, but I want my bad guys to LOOK LIKE BAD GUYS !!

Boomer and Starbuck are now women ? Hmmm....no, I don't think so. Estrogen overload. And Starbuck striking a superior officer ? Over digs in a card game ? That would NEVER have happened on the Galactica ! That is NOT how warriors and officers conduct themselves and I find that totally ludicrous ! And at then end, we find out Boomer is a cylon ??? Oh, thats a plot twist alright. A twist of agony in my gut.

The space battles. Excuse me, did I say 'battle' ? I must admit I'm probably overly critical of this issue, being spoiled by Papa Lucas over the years. But the BSG ones were too quiet, too disorderly. The ships were all over the place. No 'one on one' skirmishes. And after seeing the sloppy landings the Viper pilots made on the flight deck ? Yeesh, time to go back to school, boys !

The one thing I DID like was the angst first shown in the relationship between Apollo and Adama, (despite desperately missing Richard and Lorne in those roles and confessing to Apollo being my favorite). At the end of the first 2 hours when Adama was practically shouting into the com about the cylon fighters ready to attack the shuttle that Apollo was on....that was good. Their embrace at the end jerked a tear out of me. Not to be confused with inner sobbing I was experiencing at having BSG mutilated for four hours of course. And leaving behind groups of sub-light ships, that did convey the horror of their situation and did lend some hard reality into the story, I felt. However in the future, they should learn to store prisoners on sub-light ships and put the veggie mobile on the shopping list for a hyperdrive.....Egad. Blatantly stupid, that.

The most humorous point came when my other half (who readily admits to having NO sci-fi background whatsoever) came into the room and asked me how I liked it so far. I said 'it sucks' and he said 'are you going to watch the other half ?'. And I said of course, I've got to see how it all turns out and how much more bad it can get. Which left him completely confused. Ask the man 'what is a cylon?' and he will say 'I have no idea'. Then tell him it is a kind of fruit that Obi Wan bought from his Klingon friend on the planet Krypton and he'll say 'oh okay'. So you see I'm alone in this and why I'm so glad I found this site. Misery loves company !

I could go on a bit more, but I don't want to post a novel here. I think thats the gist of it. Thanks for listening. Have a nice day.

[shiningstar]

These reviews definately speak for theirselves but if you'll
go to the scifi.com site and look up the remade battlestar
galactica site ........go to the links and look for reviews of
the REImagining. Specifically :
filmjerk.com - 12 - 28 - 02 - Battlestar Galactica

This one tells it like it is.