Battlestar Galactica

Although it is a little bit of a dated script and obviously copies off of Star Wars (don't those starfighters look an awful lot like X-wings), Battlestar Gallactica is worth a watch if you're a science fiction geek. If you've seen the new version before, you'll be amazed at how different the old version really is. In the old series, action, jokes, and flirting are much more common. The new version relies on political events and characters.

Although this 1978 version of the film moves a little slowly in places, there are the fascinating space battles. The dialog between the characters and some of the comedy is a little dated, however. I would recommend it if you're a fan of this genre.

The early episodes of the short-lived series were adapted into this feature film, which tells, in capable style, of people living in the distant future. They are at war with mechanical villains called the Cylons, who renege on a supposed deal for peace. Many of the humans' military forces and colonized planets are decimated, with one Battlestar remaining: the Galactica. It's up to the intrepid Commander Adama (Lorne Greene) and his troops to relocate all the survivors - if they can find any place suitable.

Apparently axed by ABC because it was, at the time, very expensive to produce, there certainly was some potential in the character-building and world-building done here. Clearly, this series was borne out of inspiration from "Star Wars", but it's reasonably interesting and pretty entertaining on its own terms. It benefits from a highly engaging cast: Richard Hatch as Apollo, Dirk Benedict as Starbuck, Herbert Jefferson Jr. as Boomer, Maren Jensen as Athena, Tony Swartz as Jolly, Noah Hathaway as Boxey, and Terry Carter as Colonel Tigh, with a variety of familiar faces in guest star roles. Of these performers, Ray Milland was a particular favourite for this viewer because he's clearly having some fun playing a slimy opportunist.

Decent production values and action sequences help to keep "Battlestar Galactica" quite watchable, as well as a fair amount of humour (Starbuck likes to gamble, and develops an interest in an otherworldly musical act). It does get mildly precious when it creates a robotic "daggit" (or dog) on which Boxey can dote, but at least this particular character doesn't get *that* much screen time.

The Cylons are pretty cool villains, icy and remote and answering to an insidious being called The Imperious Leader (voiced by an uncredited Patrick Macnee). They do provide the right amount of menace. Producer John Dykstra continued here to utilize the same sort of special effects technology that he pioneered on "Star Wars"; the effects are variable, but effective overall.

The theme music by Stu Phillips is rousing enough to ensure a good time, and the story is, overall, enjoyable enough for this viewer to want to give the series a look.

As everybody knows, this was followed by an updated TV series (and TV movies) in the early 21st century.

Seven out of 10.

Give the people who made "Battlestar Galactica" credit, it took a lot to make what they did. The concept was good, a war between humans and "cyborgs" (although they seem more like simple robots) to survive, as the humans flee in a collected fleet trying to find the lost colonies of humanity, namely Earth.

That would have been a novel idea for a theatrical movie, and for a TV show it was outer limits. The special effects were (by 1978 standards) top notch, the set design was good, and they even tried to create a different system of measures, since I think even in Star Trek they refer to things by minutes, hours, and years.

What let the movie (and later series) down was the same limits that affected most of seventies television. Schlocky dialogue, storylines sticking on personal and relationship problems, and somebody had the bright idea to put in a kid and a robot dog to go with him. If the series had been made today, or had simply been let free to explore ideas rather than stick to the "conventions" expected of series television, it might have been great. Instead, it's hardly remembered today.

for over 20 years poeple have slammed BSG for not being as good as star wars.......excuse me? but sci fi series is. QUIT SLAMMING IT AND WATCH IT AGAIN FOR THE FIRST TIME.what you'll discover is a wonderful tale about tragedy,exodus,survival,conflict,strategy,and even romance.you'll find a group of people who are forced to draw a line in the stars and fight back when all odds are agianst them . the story is actually better than star wars. and maybe even better acted than star wars. what it fails to do is capture your immagination the way star wars did. the specail effects hold up even by todays standard. i'm going out on a limb to say that the 2 1/2 hour pilot movie is arguably the best space opera ever behind the star wars trilogy.if you love great looking space battles,good special effects, and a great story. this film is a must see.you owe it to yourself to own a copy of this movie. it is a classic treat your gonna wanna see over and over and over...and just like star wars you'll never get tired of it

As remembering 'Battlestar' from the viewpoint of a youngster in the late 70s - early 80s, I would give it a 9/10.

Viewing 'Battlestar' from the viewpoint of a near 30 male in the year 2000, I give it 7/10. (I have all 24 episodes on tape)

The special effects were near the late 70's level of "Star Wars", and that is truly saying something considering this was a made for TV movie / weekly series. Sure, the stories were uneven. However, to put that in perspective, they rode the gambit from the morality plays of Star Trek (TOS) to the character stories of Star Trek (TNG).

The backstory involved the last known group of 'humans'. After they were given a 'Pearl Harbor' job by the alien bad guys and nearly wiped out, they went in search of a long lost colony. This colony was located on a planet called 'Earth'.

This was really a revolutionary show. It took the best 'good vs evil' elements of Star Wars and combined them with the 'every show is a lesson' elements of Star Trek (TOS). If you weren't contemplating the human nature element of the story, you were involved in the characters.

Unfortunately, you were rarely concerned about both of those within the same episode. In my opinion, this is the only major flaw of the series, it was somewhat unbalanced from show to show. This is somewhat understandable from a series that was wrought with network politics and never made it past 25 episodes. Nevertheless, this is a series that would be very much enjoyed by any true sci-fi fan.

If you don't know the history of the show by now... ABC canned it, despite well above average ratings. The brass felt the show was too expensive. What could have been one of the great sci-fi TV series of all time was done after 24 episodes.

I place 'Battlestar' behind only Star Trek (TOS) as the best sci-fi TV series of all time.