Battlestar Galactica (2003)

Good start, but then it gets ruined

Good concept, poorly executed.

The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

Clever and entertaining enough to recommend even to members of the 1%

When most TV shows hit the airwaves, they struggle to make it an entire season and hope to find themselves along the way. Battlestar Galactica, however, began with this shiny miniseries, clearly establishing itself as a force to be reckoned with in the sci-fi TV ranks.For a basic plot summary, the BSG miniseries sees the Galactica spaceship set to be decommissioned after many years of service in the Cylon wars. Deemed too "outdated" for the modern era, the creaky ship is pressed into duty when the mysterious Cylons (a rebelling race of machines created by humans) suddenly return to wreak havoc on the galaxy.This is a clear example of a show that knew it would be good from the get-go. The acting is spot-on, the plot is intriguing, and the production values rival the pilot episode of LOST. It might come across as a bit egotistical, but BSG takes itself very seriously. Luckily, it has the gravitas to back it up.As far as the comparisons to the original BSG series, I can't make any, as I haven't watched a single second of it. Suffice it to say, though, that you don't have to have ANY prior knowledge to get sucked into the plot.Overall, this 3-hour miniseries sets the stage for the Sci-Fi Channel TV series, proving that shows ending in "Trek" or beginning with "Star" don't necessarily corner the market on sci-fi fare.

Cylons were created to work for the Twelve Colonies. Then they rebelled. There was a long war. Cylons were given their own world and there has been no contact for over forty years. Number Six (Tricia Helfer) is a new human form Cylon. They destroy the armistice space station and declare war on the humans. The Cylons have a tactical weapon which shuts off the modern systems of the new fleet. Battlestar Galactica is a hold out from the early days of the previous war. Commander Adama (Edward James Olmos) is about to be its last commander as the ship is to be decommissioned. Starbuck (Katee Sackhoff) is its ace fighter. Apollo (Jamie Bamber) is Adama's estranged son. When the Cylons attack, it's the only Battlestar able to fight them. Adama gathers the remaining survivors of the Twelve Colonies including Secretary of Education turned President Laura Roslin (Mary McDonnell) in search of a mythical distant home.The great thing about this 2 part back-to-back movie is that it lays out both the style and the story for the series to come. It is surefooted enough to have the dark moody style right from the start. The story changes from the original works. The actors are a terrific blend of veterans and newcomers. I remember a little of Katee Sackhoff in 'The Education of Max Bickford' but this is an amazing performance. Edward James Olmos has the gravitas. Even the new frenetic style of space battles is an improvement. It's the start of a compelling new TV show.

This three hour miniseries is absolutely stunning in so many ways I don't even know where to begin. It puts us in the middle of a world with a complex history. It, unapologetically, launches the story straight away. I like the fact it assumes we know this fictitious world. It forces you to keep paying attention, as there is a lot going on. History, plot, characters, twists and turns are all crammed into 180 minutes, but it doesn't feel bloated or rushed. If anything, it has perfect pacing. To feel this connected and this involved with a large group of characters after just three hours is quite amazing. The large group of characters contains familiar but reliable archetypes, and more complex characters. My favorite would have to be James Callis. He portrays a selfish but conflicted man, somewhat responsible for the end of humanity. He is joined by a Jiminy Cricketesque subconscious, that takes the form of a very sexy Cyclon. Lots of terminology, politics, religious and technological debates abound. If you like your TV (or even movies) dense, well rounded, beautifully scripted, and utterly engaging, please check this out. Now if you'll excuse me, I have 4 seasons to be getting on with.

I know it might ruffle a few feathers, but I have always thought that the original "Battlestar Galactica" was a terrible series. That's because it seemed to be geared mostly to small kids and was far from a thinking person's sci-fi series. This mini-series (intended as an introduction to the series that followed) is quite the opposite--with most of the kiddie writing absent and a much, much slower and darker pace--and a lot of sexual situations. Not surprisingly, this mini-series a zillion times better--and it's a series that can be enjoyed with someone older than 8 but isn't great for younger kids. However, it is not perfect and with a few changes it could have been a lot better. As I mentioned already, the pace is almost glacially slow--and could have stood an injection of energy. Also, the use of the 'unsteady-cam' really annoyed me--and practically made me motion sick watching the scenes of individuals interacting. Additionally, a few of the characters were downright annoying--with Apollo being too annoying to be at all realistic. But it is still entertaining and worth a look--but I can't see quite why so many are REALLY enthusiastic about this series. It's good but could have been a lot better with just a few tweaks.