The HD-DVD set wasn’t that remarkable, anyway. The increased resolution just makes the grain that much more apparent. The show’s just not meant to look crisp, or clean.
Honestly, I prefer the standard DVDs. But the audio upgrade may be nice.
Okay, tying all this together… my partner and I just finished a remarkable Sci-Fi Original Movie two-fer with Monster Ark (starring Renee O’Conner of Xena fame) and Blood Monkey, with F. Murray Abraham. So clearly their careers are over.
That’s why we were saddened to see ads for a Sci-Fi movie called Book of Beasts, starring… James Callis. Talk about a career strangled in the crib.
OMG I tried watching The Book of Beasts and all I can say is ugh. Callis plays Merlin, who’s apparently started aging backwards, and is called from self-imposed exile in the woods somewhere to help fight the forces of “The Arcadian”-- some dude who can summon mythical beasts from a book of lore to wreak havoc.
The aging Galahad takes the sons of Lancelot and Tristan (both named after their fathers) and the daughter of Arthur Pendragon and Guinevere, named Avlynn (who as far as I know has no textual basis in Arthurian legend) to find Merlin. Callis plays Merlin with some “gruff old man voice” that makes him sound like he has marbles in his mouth and pretty much unintelligible. The chick that plays Avlynn is Laura Harris, who’s such a generic-looking pretty blonde that you forget what you’ve seen her in, but you have the sense that you have (she’s been on TV since her mid-teens and is probably best known as Marie Warner from the second season of 24)–she looks skinny enough to be a meth addict and just doesn’t look right in the period garb nor sound right with the fake British accent.
It was all so cheesy and bad that I gave up about 25 minutes in. Callis has to find better roles (and writing) than this.
BTW, whatever happened to the renaming of the network to “Syfy”. Was it met with such universal derision that they canned that idea (please say yes)?
even odds that she turns out to be the actual villain behind everything. like in pretty much every other role i’ve seen her in.
I saw one a few weeks ago called “Beyond Loch Ness” starring a dude who I later found out played Mothman in Watchmen.
But more importantly, the main character’s crazy uncle who gets bisected early on by the Loch Ness Monsta itself was played by Donnelly Rhodes.
At the time I saw the movie I was about halfway through season 3 of Battlestar, (finished the whole season last week,) and thought it was an unusual coincidence. Apparently not so much.
Just finished this series the other night and I’ll go with the finale being as decent an end as I could have hoped for given how badly the show let the nonsensical mystical crap completely take over. I guess it could have been interesting to explore belief in a sci-fi show, but to make it all real and replace the sci-fi in a sci-fi show, especially when handled as airhead-edly and sophomorically as they did is tragic.
For me, the idea that the writers fucked up counting to 12 sort of embodies the last half of the series (with a few exceptions here and there).
edit: just wanted to add that I thought a lot of the finale was total nonsense, but so much of the show became such nonsense that there didn’t seem like much point to call it out again after it had been covered pretty well in this thread.
Quitch
1987
But let’s not forget it in our rush to hate on the final two series that the first one and a half had their weak moments. I can’t watch the first series without getting irritated every time Baltar finds out Sharon is a Cylon and… and then nothing, it’s never mentioned again.
Having recently finished the Anime Death Note as the credits stream by it lists AT LEAST fifteen people under Continuity. Sometimes I think BSG could have done with people like that.
Reldan
1988
It obviously was part of God’s plan that Baltar not do anything with that particular information. It worked out in the end.
I think this is a ridiculous sentiment. “God’s plan” clearly and cleanly explains everything that happened during the entire run. The BSG universe is logically consistent within itself since there is, in fact, a God. He has His angels. And He had a plan (even if no one else did).
I’m sorry, but blaming God for your nonsense plot just doesn’t cut it, especially when it comes to out of character decisions.
That said, I’m in the minority that actually thinks the show improved with time (discounting a few stinkers like the boxing episode and the disappointment at the end of the finale).
You totally failed a spot sarcasm roll here, Quantum :)
Zylon
1991
Until Reldan says he was being sarcastic, Poe’s Law dictates that any potential sarcasm exists in an indeterminate state.
Reldan
1992
Is it sarcasm? I firmly believe that everything I said above is true in some sense.
On one hand, they mangled the plot, character development, and continuity so horrifically to the point that the only explanation that could possibly have worked was the catch-all “Wizard did it.” However, it’s pretty clear that this is just about the lamest, easiest, and most bullshit explanation a person can use to explain anything (on par with answering the hypothetical question of “Why?” with “Because.”). Also, it doesn’t really satisfy most people*.
On the other hand, they had the balls to come out and use this explanation anyways. “Wizard did it” pretty much eliminates any complaint I can levy regarding why anyone behaved in any way or, really, why anything on the show happened at all. One could even argue that in the intro when they claim that “THEY HAVE A PLAN” that, in fact, this statement is true if you replace the assumption that the “THEY” spoken of are the Cylons with an assumption that “THEY” is referring to God and His angels. Although, granted, it’s clear the writers themselves didn’t have a plan. Fortunately, the fictional constructs of their fantasy universe obviously did, so say they all.
Some folks, when faced with the realization that they needed to do something with a mountain of shit and piss, might try to clear it away as quickly as possible. These guys decided to dump the motherload on top, planted their flag firmly on the peak, and called it art. Kudos.
*Religious people are an exception
XPav
1993
Season 4 soundtrack is out. It is good.
“The Plan” DVD is out in October. I’ll buy it, of course, but all you cynical haters will be able to call it the “patch the plot holes” movie.
No, I’ll call it the “invent completely new plot holes” movie. But then I’ll suck it up because I love the show too much to get upset over its flaws.
I think the music makes up for so goddamn much in the last couple seasons. Bear McCreary is a god amongst men.
Athryn
1996
So, for a little bittersweet coda, BSG won “show of the year” by the Television Critic’s Association, which isn’t an Emmy but in some ways is better than one.
Cormac
1997
Hey… I only recently started watching BSG, and am at the point where they escape the settlement (early season 3) and the Pegasus gets destroyed.
Initially I quite enjoyed the show, but lately its become a bit strained and I’ve started to lose interest (the 1 year time jump felt like a bit of a stunt).
I’ve gotten the impression that the last seaon wasn’t that favourably received, so was wondering if I should give up on the show now or stick with it in the hopes of some good stuff to come. Does it all make sense in the end? I have the feeling that the writers are making it up as they are going along, as opposed to everything actually having a reason for happening. Don’t want to sit through all that and not get any resolution. (also the reason I gave up on the x-files & lost, cause for me it just felt like a frustrating mess with more and more questions coming up and the pay off never really materializing)
So, do I carry on watching, or not? (No spoilers please!)
PS Is there a discussion thread for the 3rd season? Only found 1&2 and this thread.
Are you in it expecting a destination, or are you along for the ride? If the former, then you might as well give up. If you are just enjoying the ride, then by all means keep watching, but don’t be surprised when you hit some bumps along the road.
That’s probably the last good episode. Stop watching now~
Cormac
2000
Well, I was enjoying the ride, and am not necessarily expecting them to reach earth at the end. However I do expect some resolution and answers about all the questions and motivations that they keep getting put off. eg How does Baltar survive the nuclear blast at his lake house. Why he sees Six the whole time. Why the cylons seem to be herding them along…etc
