Battlestar Galactica: Season 1

BATTLESTAR GALACTICA
SEASON ONE

Released: Dec 8th 2004

MSRP Price: $59.98
Amazon Price: $41.99
Costco Price: $43.99

Complete 13 Episode Run
Format: Pan & Scan
Studio: Warner Bros.
Run Time: 12hrs 36min
Number of Discs - 5

Battlestar Galactica Rating: A
Video: A
Audio: A
Content: A
Acting: A
Bonus Features: A
Overall: A

STARS: Edward James Olmos, Mary McDonnell, Katie Sackhoff, Jamie Bamber, James Callis, Tricia Helfer, Grace Park

If you enjoyed the writing on Farscape or Babylon 5, you will enjoy what Ron Moore has done with the 70's series rebirth of "Battlestar Galactica". It's a wonderfully writtern dramatic series told with a science fiction backdrop. The acting is superb, the action kickass, and the special effects are big screen quality.

The one time producer of Star Trek's Deep Space Nine and co-creator of HBO's Carnivale has turned Galactica into my favorite show on television. I have never seen a science fiction series written so well. It is what Star Trek Enterprise was to have been as a rebirth of the franchise. The soap opera style story telling isn't anymore popular today than it was when Babylon 5 or Deep Space Nine started doing it. But it works and stories told during a war are deep, soul reaching and entertaining which allow the teller to mix action with drama in one detailed story. I was once a huge Star Trek fan and Deep Space Nine was awesome. Bablyon 5 was better, and Farscape was the best story told. Now Mr. Moore has taken a cheesey cult series and turned it into the best drama on television. So many people just don't know it.

If you enjoy the story telling of LOST, Alias, or CSI this new Battlestar Galactica franchise will rock your world. If it doesn't, I don't think you know great TV.

Universal has done a great job with the DVD boxed set. It's loaded with the 13 first season episodes, the mini-series which started it all, and over 11 hours of bonus material.

Did you know that the opening segment for the mini-series was done in one complete take? Watch it again and be amazed as the camera moves from one character to another as they move through the sets of Battlestar Galactica. One take that lasted the first ten minutes of the film. It was incredible.

Edward James Olmos created an incredible character in the 80's as the precinct Captain in Michael Mann's hit series "Miami Vice". The man makes an awesome Commander Adama, the only real familiar face in the series other than actress Mary McDonnell.

The two-hour pilot has got to be one of the best ever done for television. A mix of dramatic storytelling, acting and special effects in one package.

PACKAGING:
The outer slip pack is beautiful using the familiar foil technique with two of the main characters on the cover. The mini-cases have unique slip covers with beautiful images printed on them. However the same cannot be said for the underside. These are clear cases so you can see that the backside is nothing more than a blank white backing. It was a missed opportunity to share info between the original and the new series. The boxed sets appearance is awesome and looks exceptional next to Buck Rogers in the 25th Century and my Babylon 5 series.

VIDEO:
The digital transfer looks stellar - hell it better. The series is less than a year old. The Sci-Fi Channel isn't broadcast on most cable outlets in the best quality so it's amazing how wonderful it appears on disc. It's a movie quality transfer with sharp bright colors. There is no debris or color fading anywhere. Some sites might give the series release a lower rating in quality, but some folks can be just to damn picky. This is a television series and the transfer is hot.

AUDIO:
This is the best audio transfer for a television series that I have ever seen. Holy freakin' shit Batman! Even at low volumes that sounds are crisp and sharp. The music roars and the special effects rock. It's AWESOME!

BONUS FEATURES:
Universal Television packed it full. Fans get it all with this DVD boxed set.

A mini-series Feature Commentary with Director Michael Rymer & Executive Producers David Elck & Ronald D. Moore.
Sketches and Art
Deleted Scenes (should have been restored)k
Battlestar Galactica: The Series Lowdown
8 Behind the scenes featurettes.

SUMMARY:
Oh my God! This series kicks some series ass in the video department, the sound extreme, and even in the special effects department. Fans will love this series if they give it a chance. Fans of the original should be able to wrap their arms around this series and embrace it. Those Farscape fanatics could find a decent supplement to what they have lost. A simple person just wanting some kick ass drama will fall in love with this series too. It offers a lot to everyone.

Come and get it baby! It's HOT!!!

Battlestar Galactica Rating: A

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