Conquest of the Earth

Recently, I had the opportunity to watch this film again on video. I hadn't seen it since it popped up on TV many years ago, but I was always a fan of the Battlestar Galactica concept.

Sadly, this is not really worth watching. Essentially, it is cobbled together from a few episodes of the Battlestar Galactica II (or even III) TV series. It represents a complete departure though. Virtually all cast members from the original are gone, with the exception of Lorne Greene, reprising his role as Adama. The leads are played by Kent McCord (Adam-12) and Barry Van-Dyke (later from Diagnosis Murder). Watching these three actors, and the infrequent appearance of Robert Reed (from the Brady bunch, in one of his last roles)provides most of the interest in this film. The story is shot full of wholes, but only some of that is due to squashing of the episodes together. But really, compared to the unique and incredible concepts from which it was born, this installment is best forgotten (which appears to have been the attitude taken by Richard Hatch and the producers of the upcoming Battlestar Galactica 2000). Conquest of the Earth looked bad in 1980 - its a lot worse in 2000. Roll on the new movie.