Most stories don’t need a modern reboot, at least not in the manner that Hollywood has been constantly remaking any semi-notable IP the last several years. But I’m partway through the fourth season of SyFy’s 2003-2009 reboot of Battlestar Galactica, and I’m thoroughly impressed with what they made. I don’t feel the need to go watch the original 1978 series, but I’m very happy with what they made for modern audiences. Of course, that story ended, and a few spin-offs not withstanding, its story has come to a close. Guess it’s time to reboot it again! Read more…
At last weekend’s WonderCon in Anaheim, fans were treated to a short trailer for Battlestar Galactica: Blood & Chrome — a proposed prequel to the recent series, taking place during the first Cylon war. A 90 minute pilot had been filmed with the intent of pitching the series to Syfy, but just yesterday the network announced they would be passing on the series. Although it won’t air on a regular basis, Syfy’s Mark Stern did confirm that they intend to air the 90 pilot as a TV movie at a later date, with the rest of the series produced as webisodes. At least a webseries is better than no series, but I can’t imagine what kind of budget cuts they’ll have to make as a result.
Ever wonder how twelve habitable planets could exist in the same solar system? So did Jane Espenson, showrunner for Caprica, the Battlestar Galactica prequel series. So she and science advisor Kevin Grazier went to work on a star map where it would all fit. In the end, they settled on a double-double-binary star system, giving each planet a home with a few other local planets to keep them company while still falling under the “solar system” category. Also on the map (above, click to embiggen): lore tidbits for each planet, some information on the spacefaring history of the Kobol colonists, even what colonies support universal health care. No, really. Check it out. Read more…
Following on the heels of the dubiously successful Caprica, SyFy has greenlit another Battlestar Galactica prequel, this one titled Blood and Chrome. The series is set to explore the career of William Adama as a Viper pilot in the first Cylon War. While we’re pretty excited for more BSG, or at least more kind-of-BSG, experts have indicated that we may be running out of Adama family background to mine in television shows. Read more…
Yes I know that everyone thinks the new Galactica (which isn’t so new at this point!) is so much cooler than the old series. But you see what I liked about the original series was that it wasn’t cool — the point of the show that it was deeper (in a bad mystical sort of way) and more geeky than Star Wars. A good example of this were the Cylons — unlike Stormtroopers who were idiots in armor, the Cylons were sort of kinder more gentle version of the Daleks if you think about it. And the above Battlestar Galactica Little Frakkin’ Toasters Classic Cylon sort of sums up that spirit nicely.
I think what I like about the design of the new Galactica is that the exterior reminds me much more of Blade Runner than Star Wars. This Battlestar Galactica Model Kit won’t be out until September, but given the nice detailing on it I think it’d be worth the wait as it features moveable hanger bays and is huge (over 14 inches long). Read more…
The late 70s wasn’t the best of time for the comic book biz so Marvel took a look at Dynamite magazine and Starlog magazine and created their own youth culture magazine called Pizzazz. The magazine was an amazing mirror of pop culture during the disco era of 1977 until 1979 and lasted a total of 16 issues. The inside of the publication featured articles on popular films, a Star Wars comic and even a one pager by Harvey Kurtzman. Read more…
We’ll probably never have the opportunity to travel back in time to visit the sets of our favorite Sci-Fi movies and TV shows. However, thanks fanboys like Industrial Light and Magic’s Bill George — who, by the way, has a number of major film credits that including six Star Trek and two Star Wars films — many of the ships and models from those classic series have finally found a home of sorts. George has spent the last several years building a website, the Sci-Fi Airshow, which preserves many of the vehicles and ships designed over the years using a combination of digital photography and photoshop. In addition to some fantastic images, he provides semi-fictional accounts of the whereabouts of each ship since their Hollywood debut. Some of the ships to have been featured include Battlestar Galactica’s Viper and transport shuttle, and 2001: A Space Odyssey’s Orion space plane. Check out the his site for more information, and if you’d like, you can follow his group on Facebook. Read more…
I’m actually surprised how attractive this Cylon Centurion Replica Target Poster looks, it almost makes you feel bad for the cybernetic warriors. My bet is that most fanboys won’t use actual ammo to harm a collectable, however a within an office environment a nerf gun might be the ideal weapon for training purposes. Read more…
Galactica to me was always a Diet Coke to a Star Wars chocolate shake. Not only was it a bad rip off, but it wasn’t even in the same category. But like a chubby kid with a sweet tooth for sci fi I drank it by the gallon back in the day and watched every damn episode. But even with a sweet tooth you hit a limit and for me that was the travesty called Galactica: 1980. Now those fancy producers who reimagined Galactica knew this; so they beat every bit of cheese out of the show they could find. Suddenly Galactica seemed to have more in common with Blade Runner. But like a dork trying to act cool, sooner or later the inner lame will manifest — and I’m proud to announce that with issue #2 of the Galactica: 1980 the franchise has jumped the shark for good: Read more…
The design for these rings date back to the good old days when Cylons looked like real Cylons! The coolest thing about the old school Cylons was that single glowing eye that darted back and forth and these Centurion rings pick up on that in a nice way (although i wish there was some sort of way that they could have animated it. Read more…
Temple7e has made my fanboy heart happy again with these wonderful Battlestar Galactica Kokeshi dolls! For those not in the know Kokeshi are traditional Japanese wooden dolls, however in this case artist Craig Galentine has updated the themes of the dolls with a sci fi touch: Read more…
My one main objection to the re-imagined Battlestar Galactica series was that it always seemed to take itself a bit too seriously: Well these two ever so cute Galactica figures solve that little problem. Shown above is Little Frakkin Colonials Starbuck and what I love about her cartoony design is that she looks like she might be at home in an anime series! Shown below is Little Frakkin Toasters Cylon Centurion which looks almost like a designer urban toy: Read more…
I for one didn’t mind the original Battlestar Galactica series, there was s little sci fi on television (and so few choices in retrospect) that a fanboy had to be grateful for what he got. In fact looking back at it there was a high level of craftsmanship given that Galactica was a TV show and not a film. The Cylons are a good example of this: They’re clearly lifted from the Star Wars stormtroopers, but there’s been enough added to make it different. Even the red light swaying back and forth is a nice little touch, they could have just have easily skipped that given the budget. Read more…
Battlestar Galactica: The Face of the Enemy is a ten part online webisode series that has gone live today. Episode #1 The Face of the Enemy is currently playing, and new episode will appear every few days until January 10th.
If you’re a hardcore Galactica fanboy with $40k burning a hole in your pocket then here is your chance to bid a bit of the show:
Item # 348 – The Cylon Raider: “The Cylon Raider is a very large craft with a large wing span. The ship itself is made of metal, foam and wood. The ship breaks down into five pieces for easy transport. Measures 29′ long by 18’6″ wide by 4’8″ tall. Serious bidders should contact Propworx for more details or an inspection of the craft.” Read more…
The SciFi Channel just started airing a new promo for the second half of the final season of Battlestar Galactica. The beginning of the end of the series will go on the air January 16th next year.
It’s amazing when you think that the original Battlestar Galactica was just a made-for-TV-movie yet to be fair they put a ton of work into the production making sure that the mecha had that Star Wars feeling yet was unique enough. The Viper was one of the best designs of the show and now you can go old school with this model kit:
“Celebrating the 30th Anniversary of the original Battlestar Galactica, this model kit has been updated for a new generation of fans. Newly tooled details, clear parts (if you’re cool enough to cram in our own lighting circuits), and an expanded decal sheet are just some of the bonuses Revell has packed into this kit. Time to relive the good old days – when your roommates went out on “dates” and you stayed home working on a model kit. They never knew how much fun they were missing.”
On a related note here’s a vintage commercial which shows you how to properly play with your Galactica toys (hint: using the garage as a space station is a great idea):
At heart I’m still an old school Galactica fanboy — and to be honest I only watched the show back in the day because there wasn’t much of anything else on except for Star Trek re-runs from the 60s. But you lucky new school fanboys get to have all the fun:
“Cylon Centurions are just about the meanest thing in the galaxy. They cheat at cards, they frequently punch puppies, and they never, NEVER wash their hands after going to the toilet. Oh, and they have armor-piercing projectile weapons built into each arm; that’s pretty mean, too. And these New Caprica Cylons are even meaner – you can tell by their darker color scheme. The darker color separates them from their less meaner (but still pretty ornery) cousins. It also makes this one awesome ThinkGeek exclusive action figure if you’re trying to “collect them all”.”
I’ll be honest: I’m not a big fan when it comes to the new Galactica, but I did get a kick out of the old show (well until it jumped the shark with Galactica: 1980). So I got a kick out of seeing this worn looking viper from the old show:
“This eight-inch statue features the classic Mark II Viper design complete with display base and removable cockpit shield! Based on the original digital effects files taken right from the hit series, each interstellar ship is limited to 2,007 pieces and features a hand-numbered base with matching box and Certificate of Authenticity.”
Old School Fanboy Rant: Having grown up in the 70s the original Battlestar Galactica was like treasured junk food, so while you craved a high quality meal like Star Wars you were pretty darn happy to find a weekly TV show that spaceships buzzing around and things blowing up. The new series tries to make up for that “original sin” but misses the key selling point which is that Galactica was never trying to be the coolest kid on the block — what made it charming was the cheese! But if you’re a new school Galactica fanboy (or fangurl) then you’ll have to adorn your hacienda with this poster:
“The tin toasters are easy! Those damn Cylons are tricky bastards. I’m not talking about those big walking toasters with the oscillating eye, the big flying models full of gore and guns, or even the so-called “hybrids.” I’m talking about the humanoids. The religious zealots who are out to subjugate humanity in any way possible. I hate those guys.”
“The Life-size Cylon figure, as seen in the reimagined Sci-Fi series ‘Battlestar Galactica’, is manufactured exclusively by Fred Barton Productions, Inc. of Los Angeles, California, and licensed through Universal Studios. Each Cylon is hand-made using only the finest materials and overseen by the ‘Robot Man’ himself, Fred Barton.”
