 "Momof3" | 2008-09-06 |
| - Reviewed By dawnbreaker5 |
| My family started watching BSG on DVD last year, after having a friend recommend it. We are all hooked! Good acting, terrific special effects, intriguing storylines. Great fun for sci-fi fans. |
| |
 "a frackin' good show" | 2008-08-31 |
| - Reviewed By kaioatey |
An interesting take on Sci-Fi, is BSG. At it's core are ultra-conservative values and a fascination with the military. Buddy camaraderie, loyalty, family, military hierarchy, patriotism are endorsed and revered. Abortion is banned. The exiled humans follow an unabashedly fundamentalist Biblical plan ("scripture") which turns out to be literally (!) true. There is the talk of 12 human tribes which are trying to find Earth (ie, "Zion")! On the other hand, intellectuals and scientists are demonized (cowardly, crazy and traitorous), as are unions and civil society advocates (power-hungry ex-terrorists) and any mental-emotional sophistication (likely to be manipulation by Cylon enemies). In other words, the show could have been (and perhaps was) written by a Cheney surrogate in some military Psy Ops room or another. if so, the creators should get medals for it.
Because the show works. The drama and its protagonists suck me right in every single time. Great writing, directing, excellent acting, great selection of actors which, surprisingly for a 'fundamentalist' show, feature women in key combat roles. That was an excellent call; the Lt. Starbuck character in particular mixes weirdness, macho posturing and femaleness in a weirdly unique and unflinchingly consistent way. So one roots for Galactica and her crew and is happy and relieved every time they blast their way through the Cylon lines.
I like the raunchiness of the language (what the frack!) and the graphic nature of confrontations at physical, psychological and cultural levels. the director certainly does not spare viewers' sensibilities and sometimes this can be a good thing.
|
| |
| "Starts off BAD, finishes Good." | 2008-07-26 |
| - Reviewed By User: A1M5B1THX1RKME |
| The 2.5 series starts off horrible. The first two episodes were so bad I almost stopped watching the series thinking that it "jumped the shark". However I hung in there and by the end of the 3 discs you are delivered into a whole new outlook on the series. So far this set was the weakest out of all the others, but with that being said this series is better than 99.99% of all the stuff on TV even at its worst. So you should buy it and enjoy. |
| |
| "Brilliance in Manifest" | 2008-06-14 |
| - Reviewed By User: A346UZZQ89T2LY |
Science-fiction has never reached this level of perfection until now. Acting, writing, production values, all climaxing to the absolute panicle in television viewing. If you do not have this complete series in your collection you will forever regret it. |
| |
| "The best of the series so far" | 2008-05-19 |
| - Reviewed By User: ASY00C8LVDJXQ |
| THe development of the plot in this part of season 2 cannot be missed. If you miss this, you won't understand season 3. The story of the Pegasus and the lead-in to BSG Razor is here. Unbelievable! |
| |
| "BSG seasons 1 thru 3 - good warm up for the FINAL season ..." | 2008-04-12 |
| - Reviewed By kre8iv1 |
I've seen each and every episode on the Sci-Fi channel, plus the extras online. I bought seasons 1 thru 3, plus the "Razor" and the "Miniseries".
WOW! Can't leave the couch! Watching this series WITHOUT commercials is a true gift! Already into the 4th (and final) season, and can't wait for the DVD set!!!!
BTW - did you know that BSG won a "Peabody" award for their writing? W2G BSG!!!!
If you're a sci fi fan, then WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?
If you're NOT a sci-fi fan, then GET ON THE BANDWAGON and watch the BEST dramatic (sci-fi) series EVER on TV.
I kid you NOT. This show ROCKS!!!! |
| |
| "Battlestar Galactica Season 2.5" | 2008-04-09 |
| - Reviewed By biglman52 |
| My daughter gave me season 1 as a present, so I got hooked. Season 2 and 2.5 simply make this one of the best T.V. Series ever. One does have to see the series from its inception to fully appreciate season 2.5-with that said, season 2.5 has all of the action, drama, and compelling interplay that make this show a hit. In these episodes, Galactica encounters another battlestar that survived the cyclon attack. The commander, Admiral Kane and her crew behave in contradistinction to the dignity of the galactica crew; indeed, Kane is characterized as ruthless, rigid, and inflexible regarding the cylons, and her plans for survival of the crew and humanity. Her performance and the characterization of her crew make for riveting television. In short-anyone who has not seen this series should run to Amazon or a nearby store and order the series-you will have no regrets!!! |
| |
| "What the Frak is Battlestar Galactica?" | 2008-04-04 |
| - Reviewed By -booklover- |
Developed by sci-fi veteran, Ronald D. Moore, not only is Battlestar Galactica the best show on television these days, it is television at its frakin' best. The sci-fi epic chronicles the journey of the last surviving humans from the Twelve Colonies of Kobol after the nuclear annihilation of their home planet (Caprica) by the Cylons (an alien Empire of machines intent on destroying the "inferior" human race) in their search for a new home (the mythical and long-lost thirteenth colony, Earth). The survivors (approximately 50,000 in all) are led by President Laura Roslin (Mary McDonnell) and Commander William Adama (Edward James Olmos) in a fleet of ships with the Battlestar Galactica, a old submarine-like battleship ("The Bucket"), at the Fleet's command. Season Two of BSG opens with the Cylons (now evolved into human form) still in relentless pursuit of the Galactica and its "ragtag fleet" of survivors as Commander William Adama recovers from his injuries, and ends with a cliffhanger involving an unexpected message. Sharon's pregnancy becomes the central story, while a rebellious peace faction threatens Roslin's presidency.
THE HISTORY OF BSG: Battlestar Galactica is a "re-imagining" of 1978 television series. In 2003, a four-hour Sci Fi Channel Miniseries became the pilot of the 2004 television series, which premiered on Sky One in the UK and Ireland in 2004, and then on the Sci Fi Channel in the U.S. in 2005. Season One seamlessly picks up where the Miniseries ended, and based on the success of the 13-episodes of Season One, the Sci-Fi Channel ordered a full 20-episode second season in 2005. The fourth (and final) season of BSG will begin on April 4, 2008.
THE THREE-PART STRUCTURE OF BSG. BSG involves three equally-fascinating, intertwined storylines: (1) the Colonial survivors' quest for Earth; (2) the possible psychosis of Dr. Gaius Baltar (James Callis), whose every thought and interraction is closely scrutinized by a beautiful Cylon incarnation (Tricia Helfer) (one wonders, is she real or Baltar's fantasy?), and (3) the Caprican Resistance efforts of crash-landed pilots Helo (Tahmoh Penikett), Boomer (Grace Park), and others. Ultimately, BSG is a lesson in the value of human love.
THE APPEAL OF BSG: BSG transcends the sci-fi genre, which is what makes it so appealing to both young and old, male and female viewers, alike. Critics have referred to the show as a "space opera." It is an intelligent drama that confronts cutting-edge issues, set in Deep Space. In that respect, BSG is a departure from other science fiction shows like Star Trek. In BSG, traditional male roles have been reversed. Military leaders such as President Laura Roslin and unconventional Viper fighter pilots such Starbuck (Katee Sackhoff) and Boomer are played by actresses. The alien Cylons have evolved out of "flawed" humanity. Most of the show's human characters struggle with personal issues: dysfunctional relationships, alcoholism, smoking, and a variety of possible mental illnesses. Cylon blood is resistant to human disease. The show resonates with post-9/11 moral and ethical issues: terrorism, sleeper cells, suicide bombers, the torture of prisoners, the erosion of civil liberties, and conflicting religious beliefs.
BSG SEASON 2.5 DVD: BSG Season 2.5 includes the last 10 episodes (201-210) of Season Two:
211 Resurrection Ship, Part 1
212 Resurrection Ship, Part 2
213 Epiphanies
214 Black Market
215 Scar
216 Sacrifice
217 The Captain's Hand
218 Downloaded
219 Lay Down Your Burdens, Part 1
220 Lay Down Your Burdens, Part 2
SHOULD YOU BUY THIS DVD SET? There is one very good reason to buy this set. In addition to the 10 episodes, this set has an extended version of the last episode of season 2.0, "Pegasus." But, they also say patience is a virtue. I recommend waiting for the release of the Miniseries/Seasons 1-4 box set, if you can.
G. Merritt |
| |
 "Plot holes, plot holes everywhere" | 2008-04-01 |
| - Reviewed By goodbooks |
I was knocked out by the original miniseries and by most of season 1. The first few episodes of season 2 as they finished off most of the story arcs from season 1 were also pretty good. The rest of season 2 was disappointing. There were a couple of real clinkers (did anyone like the Cylon filming the documentary episode?) and the series got noticeably darker and the main characters became less appealing. A realistic approach, I suppose, but, hey guys, this is supposed to be entertainment. You can't expect viewers to stick with you for five years unless the main characters are more appealing than these folks turned out to be. But my real gripe with this series is the number of cavernous plot holes. Here is a list off the top of my head, starting with the most glaring and then a few others:
1. Why isn't the Pegasus (and its fighters) vulnerable to the Cylon's logic bombs? The miniseries makes a big deal over Galactica surviving only because its computers were somehow not linked together and because it relied on other antique technology. Other battlestars and fighters were destroyed in the Cylon attack because they were susceptible to logic bombs. This idea comes up again in a season 1 episode where the Galactica has to temporarily link its computers and has only about 10 minutes to perform a calculation and jump to another star system before the effects of a logic bomb destroys it. All of this is forgotten when the Pegasus appears. The story is that the Pegasus escaped the initial Cylon invasion be jumping before it was destroyed. Ok, but since then it has apparently been routinely fighting Cylon ships. Why haven't the Cylons used their logic bombs on the Pegasus? The producers could have dealt with this by telling us that the Pegasus's computers were configured like the Galatica's (although that would be a little lame because Galatica is supposed to have been unique), but apparently they couldn't be bothered. Who cares about continuity?
2. Does Gaius's Cylon detector work or not? When Gaius comes under pressure from Adama to develop a Cylon detector, he develops one with the help of Number 6, using a nuclear device given to him by Adama. Apparently it works, because it detects that Sharon is a Cylon. But then it either stops working or Gaius decides to pretend it doesn't work. Ok, but then why don't Adama and Laura Roslin pressure him to keep working on it, since everyone believes there are additional undetected Cylon agents in the fleet? Shouldn't this be a top priority or at least mentioned at some point? Related point: If the Cylon detector isn't working and Gaius has abandoned trying to perfect it, why doesn't Adama demand that Gaius return the nuclear device? Another related point: How is Gaius able to smuggle the nuclear device to the Number 6 in hiding when we have been told that the fleet has nuclear detectors?
3. Where does Starbuck get the yellow tape and the time to use it to spell out her name on the underside of the Cylon fighter? In the episode where Starbuck crashes on a planet and comes on a crashed Cylon fighter, she is shown to be out of oxygen when she finally figures out how to access the oxygen line in the fighter. But then how does she manage to get under the plane to spell out her name in yellow tape on the underside of the fighter? Is she supposed to make a large number of trips while holding her breath? Related point: We are later told that the Cylon fighters are living things. Is the one Starbuck finds dead? If so, how can it fly for her? If not, why doesn't it fly away?
4. Why don't the Cylons do a better job of guarding the Arrow of Apollo on Caprica? It becomes evident that the Cylons are well versed in the holy text describing the Arrow of Apollo and, apparently, believe in the truth of the text. So, it's hard to believe they don't know what the arrow is, and that they leave it unguarded in a museum for Starbuck to easily find. Related point: Is it believable that Starbuck and Helo would spend so much time arguing about what to do about Sharon, rather than getting back in the Cylon fighter and getting the heck out of there? Another related point: In the next episode, how do they all get out of the Tomb of Athena? The door closes on them and they are, apparently, transported to earth - or a vision of earth. How do they get out of the tomb? Another related point: After all the time and trouble to get the directions to earth, why is there so little mention of it - only one or two passing references - in subsequent episodes? Wouldn't this have been the dominant theme of conversation and shouldn't there be more discussion of how they can use the information from the Tomb of Athena to try to find earth?
5. How does the Pegasus get supplies in the time before it encounters Galactica? A big deal is made in early episodes about how pressed Galactica is for supplies and on how dependent it is on supplies from the civilian ships in the fleet. How then does Pegasus, which has no civilian fleet, get supplied? In fact, shouldn't there be some discussion of whether the fleet is actually producing food or other supplies? In an early episode, food is very short; subsequently, that problem is forgotten - or solved in a way that is not explained.
6. How can language, hairstyles, and so on be so similar to twenty-first century earth? The show occasionally bows to the idea that the episodes are supposed to be taking place in another time or universe, as with the pyramid game, clipping the corners off of documents, and the use of the word "frack." But how plausible is it that everything else is basically the same as in the current day United States? I might buy that the soldiers on the Galatica are called "marines," but that they should be nicknamed "jar heads"?
Ok, I have got a lot more, but I'm probably at (or beyond) the limits of anyone's willingness to read this.
|
| |
| "Season 2.5 keeps up the excitement" | 2008-03-24 |
| - Reviewed By bmixon |
| The end of season 2.0 left us on the brink, and season 2.5 has maintained the intensity. Highly recommended |
| |
International Available
