It's one thing to make a mistake and learn from it. But to make the same mistake twice and definately not learn from it, that is just totally inexcusable!
First Galactica 1980 and now the re-imagined version on the Sci-Fi Channel.
Whoever said that history repeats itself, let alone the worst parts of it, was not kidding.
the new series is so much better than the original on so many levels it isn't even funny.
shareThe original Battlestar Galactica(the 1978-1979 version)was not intended for children. Galactica 1980 was, which was why it failed(thankfully). That short-lived spin-off disregarded everything that was in the original series. Even though the new series retains some elements of the classic, it just isn't the same as the original.
The original is the still the best and still a classic.
It isn't suppost to be the same as the original. The new battlestar galatica is suppost to be different. Why would they re-make a show the exact same way as one that was already done, and one that only lasted 1 season? The reasons why the original show was canceled is not important, whats important is it also failed, it only lasted 1 season.
The new series is very good. Time magazine, Rolling Stone, and AFI have all placed it in the top 10 TV shows. Not just cable shows but all shows. But you can't compare the two shows, they are not ment to be compared, they are ment to be different. The original lasted 1 season, the new Battlestar is going on season 3 and will continue to thrive.
The remake is garbage. Unlikeable characters, cheap effects, stupid contrived, insincere emotional drama. Blah! It's like I'm watching an afternoon soap. The new series has nothing to do with science-fiction, it's Top Gun in space. Lame, overrated and irritating. And why did Starbuck have to be a woman? Because no one can answer that one. I hate this show like poison.
shareI've actually been enjoying the "remake" (I would call it more a "reimagining"--I think it's true to the spirit of the original, but it's taken it somewhere new). I haven't seen any Season 2 episodes yet (I'm catching up on DVD), but Season 1 worked for me. I don't think it's a perfect show, but I would not agree that it isn't science fiction--it's certainly not "Top Gun in space". I'm not sure what qualifies to be SF if this doesn't?
Why shouldn't Starbuck be a woman? Or Boomer? Why should they be men? Practically the whole cast of the original was men--certainly all of the important parts. Can't we imagine a future (or alternate reality) where women are fighter pilots?
Galactica 1980 of course is absolute crap.
Actually, there were women fighters on the original series as well, and one at least was also a major character, not to mention that I, as a kid, watching this show, couldn't forget Casiopea's semi-speech about how hard it is to see the man you love going out into battle. Made you appreciate her no less than you did the men (and women) who were doing all the fighting.
I used to have a , but damnit do I want a !share
Hey, here's a thought. If you don't like the new series, change the channel. Nobody has you chained to a chair with toothpicks holding your eyes open in front of it. There are way more shows on TV that I, personally, DON'T LIKE, so guess what? I change the channel. Or better yet turn it off. I happen to really like the new BSG. Of course, there are a small handfull of parts that aren't great, but not every show is 100% outstanding in every detail. The idea that they could take a show and remake it and have become so popular now is a testment to the creative powers of the writers and producers, etc.
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Does it matter if Starbuck is a chic? She's manlier than the original
sharehe remake is garbage. Unlikeable characters, cheap effects
Cheap effects? Like recycling the same battle footage over and over like the
original. Remember that the they always blow up the cylon raider in the middle!
Actually, the original series was a huge success, the only problem with it was how much it cost. But in a way it wasn't ever really "done", because the plug was pulled out on it way too early, when its ratings were still very high, yet its costs too high as well. There were many things left to be explored in the original. I, for one, miss it. :(
I used to have a , but damnit do I want a !share
Although I have my problems with the original show, it did not fail. The reason it did not continue is because it was too expensive. That is why when they brought it back as Galactica 1980 they were on earth with limited effects shots and plenty of re-used footage from the original series.
share Bing.O.
Personally...I liked Galactica 1980. I remember going to see the pilot movie at the cinema and loved every bit of it.
Now, that being said, I do prefer the original series over Galactica 1980, of course, but as a kid (I was 8 in 1980) I was so happy to see the continuation of the original series. Hell, I didnt even realise that Starbuck and Apollo werent in the show any more because I liked it so much. Ive not seen the complete series since I was a kid, and maybe now it if I watch it it will seem really bad (much like when I bought Cant Stop The Music after seeing it as a kid only to find it was absolutely horrible). No matter what, nothing can be better than the original series.
As far as the new series...It shouldnt even be called Battlestar Galactica. OKay, so it follows the plot of the original, somewhat anyway...Butin a show about Galactica the Cylons HAVE to be large, silver or gold, with one roving eye 'voom-vooming' across a slit in its face. To me THATS a Cylon...Not some hot woman with blonde hair seducing a scientist, to me, she/it took Cassiopia's character over (at least in the sex department) more than created a Cylon character.
Im a Galactica Purist...If it was remade it shouldve been done with Larsons blessing for starters...It shouldve kept the Cylons as they were...It shouldve kept the characters as they were, but just updated them a little, and definately kept them all the gender they were meant to be...and they shouldve kept the Galactica the way it was...and it may have been good...They couldve recreated the original series (updated of course) and then continued the story of the original through Galactica 1980 (making it better though) and then continued the story...maybe had an invasion of the Earth by the Cylons etc...
But, they ruined it, so now we'll probably never know how good it really couldve, and shouldve been.
hjl
A Vicarious existence is a *beeping* waste of time.
King Kong 1976 = THE BEST.
Heh, I'm watching Galactica 1980 on Sci-Fi right now and it makes your complaint about human-looking Cylons sort of ironic, as the "1980" episode, "The Night the Cylons Landed", features human-looking Cylons. It seems that the producers of the new BSG took their inspiration for human-looking Cylons right from "Galatica 1980."
As an interesting side note, "The Night the Cylons Landed" features William Daniels who did the voice of K.I.T.T. in Knight Rider.
Also, I think the new BSG is straight up awesome.
I was a child when BSG came out in 1978 and I thought it was lame and childish. The remake on Sci-fi is entertaining and has a plot. It's more about human drama rather than lame special effects. It has motives and sub-plots. There is some actual creative writing. It's more mental than original and not just popular tripe for the masses. As far as I am concerned, I have finally found a show worthy of my time to watch.
shareThe new series is more adult- orientated although the original is still good fun to watch if you take it in the right spirit.I haven`t seen Galactica 80 in over 20 years but don`t remember being particularly impressed with it as a kid.(may buy it on dvd at a push if it`s dirt cheap!) Why the hell did they change the formula for the show as it worked fine the first time.(similar thing happened with Buck Rogers).If it isn`t broken......
I haven`t seen series 2 of the re-make(a friend said it was a bit slower) ,re-imaging or whatever you want to call it but the only aspect which doesn`t appeal is the realisation of the Cylon robots:the C.G.I. just doesn`t convince & they deliberately seem to be kept at a distance to cover the shortcomings.By all means keep the lovely blond agent & Starbuck is fine.
I hate to be this opinionated, but honestly, anyone who actually prefers the childish, poorly acted, unrealistic original over the remake clearly has no taste.
Just take a look at the original '78 pilot movie. About 2/3 into the film, they suddenly discover a planet populated by colonial humans and aliens alike and no one bats an eyelid at this. They just settle down and start playing poker. Now that's poor writing!
The new Starbuck is infinitely more likeable as a rogueish, headstrong pilot than the old one who was at best a caricature. Unlike the old show, which was just 'wagon train through the stars', the remake is a way to examine the human condition using the setting as a catalyst for it. Now that's true science fiction.
New series = Fantastic
Original = Campy
Galactica 1980 = Unwatchable (except final episode)
I (being 11 years old at the time) loved BSG but hey, I loved Lost in Space too. (not to start a new thread here but the LIS movie sucked hard)
I own the original BSG dvd's and I can't bear to watch them. (unfortunately I used to make many sentimental dvd purchases) That said, when I saw the new BSG mini-series, I was unimpressed. When a friend with good taste wouldn't stop raving about it, I decided to give it a second chance when the actual series began. I watched it with my wife (who hates the original) and found it to be quite good. Better than that, it excells the original in every way. You actually can't wait to see what happens next.
So if you hated it cause your cylons aint silver, maybe give it another chance. I'm sure glad I did.
To each their own, you can't decide that something's poor taste just because it doesn't fit your own...
I, for one, saw the original as a kid and am seeing the new one now, as an adult, and I have to tell you, I love the original way more.
WHY? Because the new one is good, but it's not fantastic, which should be a condition for a remake that has so little to do with the original (only the superficial features remain common, the way that Apollo's name is kept, only now it's a nickname, a cover for his real "Earthlike" name, Lee). I mean, most of the plots that the new show explores were already explored in enough sci-fi movies and shows, in my opinion.
As for the original not being character driven, all I can say is - meh. You can see it that way, but I loved it precisely for the characters, for their being the "obviously" good guys, but being flawed, human and somewhat fragile at the same time. It could be subtle at times, but it was there and I loved it.
Also, I loved how the connections with real Earth culture, the way you felt they were going somewhere, because the common past was too strong a trail too lose, even in space, and I loved how what was just reality to me - Earth - became myth for them. It was a brilliant concept, if you ask me. And the general feeling wasn't as though this was happening in the future, but in a present simply removed from us by space, not by time, so that any day now, Apollo, Starbuck, Adama, Sheba and the lot could have landed right outside my door (an idea which actually came true, sort of badly, in the 1980's series). That gave me even more food to think about, and all in all, this was one show whose episodes kept running in my mind long after I'd turn the TV set off. The new series doesn't have the same effect on me, as simple as that.
I used to have a , but damnit do I want a !share
"The new series is more adult- orientated although the original is still good fun to watch if you take it in the right spirit."
By "right spirit" I assume you mean smokin a fat joint and laughing your ass off.
As for the C.G.I. Cylons in the new series, keep in mind it is on the SciFi channel. I imagine they aren't working with a huge budget.
Exactly!
sharei do like new BSG, but i can't get to grips with the colonel not being a black guy with a giant afro, starbuck being a chick, and worst of all no athena. that last one is a crime. i only recently got turned onto the new one cos a mate of mine said it reminded him alot of space above and beyond, you know, the life of a soldier as opposed to just the soldier fighting.
shareI like TOS, but love the new series. I have this odd interest in BSG 80 - it is TV's version of Plan 9 from Outer Space. I can't help but watch it even though I have more important things to do. The terrible plots, writing and acting are just unbelievable. How did this get filmed? How could anyone think it was a good idea? Most likely the bean counters had a hand in it. I noticed that SciFi doesn't list BSG, BSG 80 or Buck Rogers as some of their shows.
There are those who still believe...
The new series are more like USA in outer space. In TOS it made some sense, they were an ancient civilization related to egyptians or atlantis and you could see that in their customs and clothes. In the new version is just too much modern Earth about it, that sometimes it makes me wonder if the 13th tribe actually went to their home of origin. In the new BSG, we have cigars, scotch, pool, even Colonial 1 (Air Force One in outer space). Even weapons are too much earth-like.
shareYou're absoloutely right, remildragos.
GINO is just USA in Outer space.
They have huge starships capable of jumping faster than the speed of light, yet their technology hasn't even progressed far enough to developed energy projectile weapons for neither Starship, Viper nor Colonial Warriors, instead they still use bullets, same goes for the so-called Cylons...
They have the ability to jump faster than light, their ships have intigrated brains, they have the tech to basically live forever, yet no energy weapons either...
Ronald D. Moore destroyed BSG when he brought out this reimagined series, and if I were Glen A. Larson, I'd have my name removed from the credits as "consulting producer" I bet he's only credited for it to keep someone happy.
I can't seem him being happy with the way they completely crapped all over his original work, I didn't mind the original series with it's mormon influences, it's certainly better than dodgey camera work, that looks like it's being filmed by a drunk, the horrible CGI, the bad acting, or shoul I say, lack of any acting skills from 90% of the cast, the horrible music in the intro, the fact that evey episode has to start with "The Cylons were created by man." yeah, I'm sure people got that little fact of crap after the first couple of episodes...
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I want to preface my comments with the fact that while I do not much like the re-imaged BSG, I don't think anyone should be put down if they DO like it. Everyone has different tastes in entertainment and there is no such thing as a right opinion. For my perspective, the re-imaged BSG is unwatchable to me for several reasons.
First, as a mother I have two children age 5 and 7 and the new BSG is far too adult for family viewing, with too much sex and adult situations to be allowed around my kids. By comparison, the original series is mostly harmless in that regard. Thus in our house, we watch classic BSG... because I can watch it with my kids and see them just as enthralled as I was at their age.
Second, (and most importantly) the new BSG is aimed at too broad an audience to be good sci-fi for my taste. As has been mentioned, the customs, habits, and even technology used are too much like modern Earth to allow the normal disconnect found in science fiction. It's meant to appeal to young adult and early 20s viewers with topics and situations that appeal to viewers in a direct way, rather than the typical sci-fi fan. While this makes good business sense for the production company that has to bring in ratings with more viewers, it detracts from good sci-fi plots and situations that allow examination of the human condition in a disconnected fashion. That's the primary drive for sci-fi in the first place; to view situations and ideas through the lens of an outside perspective. For this sci-fi fan, the new BSG fails on that measure the vast majority of the time. The original series succeeded at this goal by making the customs, language, and habits of the colonials so different from modern life that there was a clear separation from we the viewers. The characters are from a truly alien culture to our own, but because they are still human, they still experience the same problems, issues, and struggles that face us all every day. For sci-fi to do what it's supposed to do, the characters need to be different from the viewers. The more different they are, the better the story can examine the core of what it means to be human.
As for the whole “Starbuck as a woman” issue, the original series was a pioneer in placing women in strong roles, even including combat roles that for 1978 was completely unthinkable. I remember watching BSG when I was a little girl and was enthralled that the women on the Galactica could do anything the men could do. If you were around in the 70s, you should remember what a progressive view that was back then... especially with views toward women in the military in combat roles. It was borderline radical and network censers would never have allowed it... but it was science fiction so it got a pass because “it’s all just make-believe”. The same formula allowed Star Trek to discuss Vietnam, racism, equal rights, the cold war, and a dozen other topics in an era when no other show could get away with it. What do you think the BSG episode Experiment in Terra was really about? The Galactica thinking they found Earth? No! It was about the Cold War... Eastern Alliance? ::cough:: Russia ::cough:: Apollo’s speech about the destruction of Caprica by the Cylons because they thought peace was secured? Yeah, that wasn’t a commentary on the times... it was just make-believe sci-fi... right?
As I said before, if you like the re-imaged BSG, you're perfectly entitled to and anyone would be wrong to tell you otherwise. But for this sci-fi fan, it barely qualifies as sci-fi. The original, even the campy BSG 1980, was much better at being sci-fi than the re-image. Better graphics does not a better show make... it just makes it pretty to look at. For my perspective, that's a rather shallow reason to watch a show. I'll take good plots and compelling stories over pretty pictures any day.
I'm a fan of the whole spectrum of the shows. I grew up on the original. When I see it today, I think it's fun, but campy and cheesy. I see a lot of flaws but like I like the overall premise. When G80 cameout when I was seven even I could tell it was a trainwreck compared to the original. That being said the new series rocks. I was hesitant for the same reason a lot of people were saying and didn't want to go further after seeing the mini-series. Then I gave it another chance and I'm glad I did. I rank as one of my series with the Sopranos, Breaking Bad and Mad Men. The show had complex character development and solid storyline. So when comparing the shows I don't mind the original, but I think the new series is far superior and 80 was a big mistake.
shareThe original 1978 movie and following single season TV series were very good and very popular and watching it all again some 37 years later it is still a great show as far as story and characters go. The original series had some annoying editing and a lot of re-used cuts/scenes especially in the viper battles etc. I assume to try and keep costs down as it was a considerably expensive series to produce.
Galactica 1980 would have been quite good had it been created as Larson wanted, the original cast been available and the budget sufficient. However this was not the case so a low budget, poorly cast spin-off is what resulted in the end .. for the full story see ..
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galactica_1980#Development
The 2003 mini-series and resulting TV series was brilliant in it's own right and cannot be compared to the 1978 show as they are 2 completely different shows based on a similar premise. This re-boot did so much for fans of sci-fi in that it showed the networks etc. that there was, is and always be a demand for good sci-fi action and drama..
I still prefer this to the new 'Moore' Battlestar. Whereas the original Battlestar rules!
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