Sci Fi September # 2 – Battlestar Galactica
The last surviving humans battle the evil Cylons as they try to make it to the last remaining outpost of humanity, Earth.
The original movie, the one that spawned not one but three tv shows. The movie opens with some very distinctive theme music, perhaps one of the most recognizable sci fi themes ever.
The cast is stellar to say the least, although at the time, perhaps not so much. Richard Hatch plays Apollo with Dirk Benedict as Starbuck. Commander Adama is played by Lorne Greene. All three accomplished actors with a good supporting cast including Jane Seymour.
Made in 1978 to jump on the Star Wars band wagon, Battlestar is hokey, cheesy, and pretty lightweight compared to Luke Skywalker‘s story. The effects are par for the time but it doesn’t excuse the plot.
Of course, the most recognizable aspect of the movie are the Cylons. They are shiny robots with a moving red light for an eye, very KnightRider-ish.
The movie loads up on sentimentality with little Boxey losing his dog, Adama losing his son Zack but its hard to care when you are laughing at the overly dramatic dialog.
The first 35 minutes covers the betrayal by the Cylons, and the formation of the ‘rag tag’ fleet. If the movie had finished then, it would have been a TV pilot, and there would have been no need for anymore of the movie. But it goes on, and on.
Its hard to watch the original movie without comparing it to the recent TV remake. It is comparing apples to oranges though. One is campy, one is realistic. One is shiny, one is gritty. In every way, the remake of the show is better.
I like to think that there is a redeeming element to the original movie that makes it worth watch again but as I watch it, I find myself wondering where it might be.
