1 An answer to Firestar's question
To answer Firestar's question, yes there were some more episodes. The series that followed was Galactica 1980 in which they made it to earth. That series only had about eight episodes before it was cancelled. I can remember seeing it when I was ten years old (God, I just dated myself..ugh!) The original series only lasted one season before it was cancelled, so this is the complete season of Battlestar Galactica.
2 Good, but this cannot be the complete series...
Like all of you guys (and gals), I have watched Battlestar Galactica all those years ago. The eleven episodes listed are not the "complete" series...maybe the complete first season, but I definitely remember one or two other ones that were left out.
One is when the Galactica finally reaches Earth and Boxey (the grown-up Boxey)and another guy (can't remember his name) make contact with a mathematician from Earth and leave a bunch of children from Galactica behind on Earth when they have to flee because the Cylons were too close to them. This particular plot was maybe two or three episodes.
Another one was when Starbuck crash-lands on a planet, meets up with a pregnant woman, befriends a Cylon he repaired. Starbuck helps the woman deliver her child and with the help of his new Cylon friend repairs his damaged viper and sends the woman and the child to the Galactica. Apparently Starbuck and the Cylon face other cylons and Starbuck's Cylon friend dies in the confrontation.
I don't remember the names of these episodes, but I do remember seeing them...maybe some of you guys do to...??
3 A must for science fiction lovers.
I watched Battlestar Galactica as a young man and had to get it.
My son and I are watching these together , yea there are a bit cheesy at times, but we both still find them enjoyable. Reviewed by me ray
4 Looking back at an old series...
Besides the fun special effects, the cool characters, the weird plots, the Cylons with their neat lines and the great actors this set also has hours of deleted scenes, a interview with Glen Larson, a 45 minute documentary, featurettes, audio commentary for the first pilot episodes with Richard Hatch, Dirk Benedict and Herbert Jefferson, Jr. It's like one big flash-back to when I was a kid.
I also noticed, besides such great actors as Fred Astaire, Edward Mulhare and Lorne Greene, such future TV stars as John DeLancie (Q from Star Trek)and TV/Movie stars as Ed Begley Jr.
Forget the questions about how fast the ships went and did the science make any sense. I want to know where Starbuck got all those cigars and why did the humans let themselves get their butts kicked by a bunch of tin-cans who couldn't even shoot straight?
5 THIS IS THE COMPLETE SERIES!!!!!!!!!!
For all the people who keep saying this is incomplete need to look closer. All of what they call the 24 episodes are here complete and uncut no more no less. The other episodes people keep refering to as the missing 10 episodes ARE NOT Battlestar Galactica they are an inferior second TV series released in 1980 called Galactica 1980 (episode 10 featured Starbuck). If Galactica 1980 had went on for years and years other seasons would been called Galactica 1981, Galactica 1982 and so on. It takes place 30 years later with a new cast except for Adama. The title of Galactica 1980 refers to the year in which they found earth (presant day 1980) earth was not advanced enough to help against the cylons.
Please stop saying this crap show is part of the great Battlestar Galactica. Galactica 1980 was crap and nothing more.
6 Response to Missing?
Nice DVD set - espcially the alternate and cut scences - wish there were some more. In response to the questions from missing - these are all the episodes - 4 were 2 hour TV episodes with the Saga story at 3 hours. The Apollo 11 scenes you are thinking of occured in the last episode - "Lost Planet of the Gods". The episodes on when they finally reached earth were from the 2nd season when they got rid of everyone and named it Galactica 1980 and brought in Barry Van Dyke and Kent McCord. Sci-fi just had a bunch of its episodes on and they are as bad now as they were then. The Starbuck episode you are referring to was in Galactica 1980 when he made a guest appearance. I believe it was the last episode of that short-lived season - they were trying to explain where "Dr. Z" came from. Hope that helps.
7 Missing ?
OK, maybe I'm not remembering the episodes clearly, but weren't there lots more than just the 17 listed here in another review? We had most of these on VHS when I was a kid and I remember some plots that I don't see covered here. What episode is the one with Boomer receiving transmissions from Apollo 11? Where are the episodes from when they finally reach Earth? Where is the one where Starbuck rebuilds a Cylon in a kind of "enemy mine" stranded on a desert planet episode. Please correct me if I'm high.
8 Oh the classic series. I love it!
I just bought this and love it. I watched the series as a kid. The series is a little repetitive, and has a few episodes that seem out of place, or un-related to the show in general. Over all I think it's a great piece of TV SCI-FI History!
9 GREAT SHOW FOR FANS
THIS IS A GREAT DVD SET FOR FANS OF THE ORIGINAL GALACTICA. THE NEGATIVE REVIEWER WHO STATES THAT "MEL BLANK" PLAYED A ROBOT ON GALACTICA IS HIGHLY INCORRECT. NOT SO. THOSE WHO KNOW AND LOVE *THIS* SERIES SHOULD ENJOY THIS GREAT DVD SET. I LOVE IT.
10 Great, but Missing Key Scenes
The collection is excellent, even to the point of making the music stereo! However, I saw the show's opener in 1978, which was a 2-hour TV movie. There was more to it than survives in this package, most especially the scenes on the colony worlds as the celebrations were prepared. I do hope that someone comes along to restore all of the lost footage.
11 Long Live The Original Galactica!!
Coming hot on the heels of the theatrical success of Star Wars, ABC gave us what amounted to a space Western. It may look dated now and the acting may not be the best in the world, but those of us who watched it never missed an episode. Why? Because it was enjoyable and if you were a sci-fi fan...well, there wasn't that much to choose from.
Now let's compare the original series with the 2005 version - it's a lot like comparing apples and oranges. Lorne Greene made a perfect Adama....Edward James Olmos just doesn't cut it. The Cylons in their original polyester/metallic outfits were much more believable than the current version which has them assuming human form and on and on.
If you're looking for an enjoyable romp through vintage 1970's sci-fi, you owe it to yourself to get the orginal Galactica. Forget the remake.
And now, if only Universal would see fit to release the spin-off, Galactica 1980, the package would be perfect.
12 Booooorrrrring
I'll probably get beat up for this but Battlestar Galactica was a waste of television airtime and it's even a bigger waste of a perfectly good dvd disc. The performances are lackluster probably because everyone was just there to make a buck. The stories were silly and the dialogue is even sillier. Even Mel Blank (the voice of the robot) couldn't help this sorry piece of trash. Don't waste your money here. You're better off watching Lost in Space or Star Trek.
13 an answer to your excellent question...
A great question about the deleted scenes was asked by lexta. I'm no Battlestar Galactica expert (I'm just a guy who enjoys the show and this set) but I do know that Lost Planet of the Gods was filmed to be a tele-film first but aired as a two part episode instead. The two part episode version is a few scenes shorter than the tele-movie version (I guess because credits had to be added to make it two episodes) and so the slightly shorter two part version was how the episode was first broadcast and seen by many fans. Many fans wanted the episodes just the way they were first shown and that's what the DVD set provides. Those scenes that were cut from Lost Planet when it became the two part episode first shown on network TV are now on the DVD as deleted scenes. The tele-movie version of Lost Planet was shown on TV later and it included those scenes so that's why some fans remember them. This set was designed to keep things as close to the way they were first presented and how many fans first saw them. So they didn't cut scenes for this set and this is NOT like Lucas' reworking of Star Wars. This version is the Lost Planet of the Gods that was first watched by fans plus the cut scenes and other scenes and bloopers and more. I think that's very cool becuase the set stays true to what was first aired, and loved by many fans, and gives us the extra scenes too. They tried to please all the fans and stay true to the episodes as first shown. I appreciate that.
Hope this helps clear things up. I have many DVDs and many are not this well done. This is amazing! I'm only a casual Battlestar fan but I admit it's damned impressive. I believe it's a five star DVD set.
14 Enjoyable, but.. deleted scenes?
I'm a BG fan since it first broadcast and I'm enjoying the DVDs which I received as a gift. But I'm wondering... I thought the "Deleted scenes" would be outtakes and things that were never seen on TV. I don't normally watch such things on DVDs. But I decided to watch the "Deleted scenes" from "War of the Gods" and there seemed to be quite a few "deleted scenes" that I remembered. That is to say, it seems to me that some of the "Deleted scenes" were in the original broadcast but were removed from the DVD version of the episode and relegated to the "Deleted scenes" section.
Case in point: In War of the Gods where the Council of 12 is ready to elect Iblis as president of the council and Adama asks for more time, I distinctly remember the conversation about not wanting to offend Iblis by taking too long and also when one of the council members responds, "I for one find Adam's words true and reasonable." That was in the deleted scenes and I remember it from the original TV version but for some reason it wasn't in the DVD version of the episode. And in the original TV version I remember them finding the lost pilots on the surface of the planet without fuel at the end of the program--and that fact is seen in the "Deleted scenes"--but is nowhere to be seen if you just watch the "War of The Gods" episodes on the DVD.
Am I smoking something, or did they actually delete scenes from the original TV programs before they put them on the DVDs and relegate them to the "deleted scenes?" If so, I'm disappointed. I wanted to see the episodes just as I saw them in 1978 and if they deleted scenes from the original episodes when transferring them to DVD then this seems to be in line with George Lucas mangling the original versions of Star Wars after the fact and it should be mentioned.
I don't know which is worse: George Lucas adding stuff to the original Star Wars that wasn't there before or someone *removing* scenes from original Battlestar episodes...
15 Galactica 1980 was a spin off series
This is in reply to the "Has EVERYONE forgot this???" post.
The series in which they discovered Earth was not a second season but a spinoff series. (I don't think any of the characters were the same, but I could be wrong.) Personally, I'm glad it is NOT included, as I could not bring myself to watch more than two episodes when it actually was on TV.
16 Two thumbs WAY UP!
Sometimes television shows from our youth don't hold up well over time. You watch them as adults and say "how could I have watched this rubbish?". Not Battlestar Gallactica! I enjoyed watching the show now maybe even more than I did as a wee lad back in the late 70's.
In my opinion, great casting, great cast chemistry, good stories (except "Greeting from Earth - that episode was the epitome of BAD SCI-FI), tons of action and superb special effects that hold up today. In short, Battlestar Galactica is a fun show to watch.
POSITIVES:
1)Great transfer -The video clarity was excellent. Got to give them credit for the 5.1 Dolby Digital mix also. AWESOME. Battlestar Galactica has never looked or sounded better.
2) You get to see legends such as Lorne Greene, Fred Astaire and Lloyd Bridges and Dirk Benedict (just kidding).
3) John Colicos as Baltar. That guy is a riot. Great character actor (up there with Donald Pleasance and the under-appreciated Jack Colvin).
4) Extra Features and deleted scenes - really give you an idea of what goes into to making a television show. There were tons of deleted, untruncated and alternate takes.
5) The three amigos - Apollo, Starbuck and Boomer. You can't beat that! Their commentary on the pilot movie was COOL.
6) You see a lot of familar faces: for example Jane Seymour, Rick "Jessie's Girl" Springfield, Ed Begley jr., Larry Manetti (Rick from Magnum P.I.)
Negatives:
1)The network BLEW IT when they cancelled the show. It had at least ONE solid season left. What a screw up.
2) That network REALLY blew it when they cheaped out on that lame comeback Galactica 80. There was no way that show was going to make it without Richard Hatch and Dirk Benedict. Remember what happened when Bo & Luke were replaced by Coy and Vance on the Dukes of Hazzard? Heads should have rolled.......
Overall, this is an AWESOME DVD set and I highly recommend it if you were a fan of the show or a fan of science fiction.
17 great DVD set
I recieved this set for Christmas and could not be happier. Every episode is here and there are great extras including wonderful commentary on the first episode. I'm having a fantastic time watching this series again!
18 This IS the complete Battlestar Galactica
For those of you who seem to be completely confused, this is the complete ORIGINAL series of Battlestar Galactica. You can find this info elsewhere, but the fact of the matter is this: Battlestar Galactica aired for one season, and then was abruptly cancelled, with no final episode (they thought they were coming back for season 2). Then, after NBC was inundated with requests to bring the show back, they did a short season of a spin off called Galactica 80. In this series, the network insisted on bringing the cost of the show way down, so the show was set on earth in present day, by having the Galactica finally reach us, in the year 1980. Also, most of the original cast (save for Lorne Greene, and in only one episode, Dirk Benedict) were not included. Boxey's character was now a grown up played by Barry Van Dyke. But, the creativity of that show was so low, that most BG fans have washed their hands of it (much like the way Star Wars fans want to forget the SW Holiday Special).
As for what is included in this set: it is amazing. The entire first and only season of Battlestar Galactica is included, with commentary on the original pilot episode by cast members Dirk Benedict, Richard Hatch and Herbert Jefferson, Jr., and it sounds like they had a blast recording it. Unfortunately, we may never see them reprise those roles again, but at least we can now view the show in it's original glory. The picture and sound quality are excellent, and the mini documentaries included are very complete. Each episode even includes a blooper real and discarded and unfinished scenes. So, for all of you old enough to remember it, this is a great collection, and well worth the money. And for all of you too young to remember it, check this out. This show was far ahead of it's time, even with all the behind the scenes bickering that eventually led to the shows downfall.
19 wow!
i just got around to getting this and let me tell you: THIS SET IS SWEET! nice job! kudos to all who were involved in putting this together.
20 Has it finally usurped Star Wars?
When I was a kid I looked forward to each new episode of Battlestar Galactica. I was introduced to sci-fi in the theaters with Star Wars and BG filled the void until Empire was released. At least that is what it seemed at the time - I could not get enough of this new/alternate world. Yet, as I grew up I recalled the series fondly.
When the series was released on DVD I was excited to see how my childhood memories stacked up to my more "enlightened" tastes. I was not disappointed. Sure, there are the bad hairdos, the funky outfits (the gay roller-derby Triad garb?), sometimes cheesy acting, and contrived attempt to fit this into some western ideology. On the other hand, one sees relatively early work of Jane Seymour, approachable characters, and lots of decent sci-fi special effects (yes, they do hold up after time). With the deterioration of Star Wars (with the prequels), Battlestar once again fills my yearning for more of the sci-fi fantasy.
Do I have complaints? Yes. The price is high, especially when one considers that the six discs of material could have been put onto four - at least given the paradigm of using both sides. I think that the series should have sold for half the price.
Another complaint is the lack of special features. Perhaps the Ceylon-head package contained additional material, but the standard version is sparse. Read my previous thoughts here - I want more.
On the other hand, I was willing to spend the money on the set and would do it again. Sure, nostalgia played a big part, but placing the series against its contemporary competition shows that BG was a winner. If you are contemplating whether to buy it, rent it first. I think that you will be hooked before you hit disc 3.
21 This is complete!
This is the complete Battlestar Galactic series. Galactica 80 was a different show and those episodes are not included in this set.
22 Not a complete series
Missing the episodes where Galactica finally reaches Earth. I was waiting for those and then after the "Hand of God" it just ends. Bohoo!
23 Wandering in the deserts of space
'There are those who believe
that life here began out there...'
Thus begins the tale of Battlestar Galactica, full of meaning and hope and mystical importance, spoken with the majestic voice of Patrick Macnee (best known from The Avengers).
Okay, enough theology for the moment.
Or, maybe not. The first episode, a movie-length introduction to the series, along with the first several episodes, definitely has theological undercurrents. It is the fight between good and evil. It is a wandering in the desert (of space) looking for the promised land. It is about hope and humanity, sensitivity and courage.
And, as a 12 year old (when I first saw it) I of course understood none of this. I merely loved the special effects in my own home (as opposed to the Star Wars which required payment at the movie theatre), the characters and the technology. I was amazed that every computer on the bridge set of the Galactica actually worked.
Today I'm amazed that the computer on which I'm typing this review has more power than all those computers combined!
The story is basic. Ambush in space because of a monumental betrayal by a sinister bad guy who is in turn double-crossed (Baltar), a quickly-organised escape from the evil mechanical Cylons (who both symbolise the terrors of technology as well as of autocratic rule--remember the Cold War?), a daring journey, and finally a hope. Unfortunately the series became a wandering in the desert with little hope for reaching the promised land, and in television-series timelines and lifelines, this just wasn't acceptable.
In video form, the entire series was not available. It was frustrating that not all of them are available, as watching them in sequence left some gaps. However, there are enough dedicated fans who would purchase these (as is evidenced by the amount of BG 'junk' being auctioned at ebay and other such places) that the DVD generation has made all of the episodes available. This includes the complete set of Battlestar Galactica (please note that Galactica: 1980 is a different, if related, series).
The series was fated only to last one year, due to high costs (a million an episode may be a standard 'ER' actor's salary, but back then it was big bucks even in Hollywood), a slumping viewership (which in retrospect was never as small as reported), and an overall lack of direction (not just that of the fleet). The journey was just taking too long for the era of instant gratification.
The first episode is a three-hour extravanganza. The whole premise is set up here, and the rest of the episodes look back to this set-up. The acting is fairly basic, occasionally rising above a level playing field (particularly Lorne Greene, the leading figure as Commander Adama), but the audience was supposed to be so 'wowed' by the special effects and sets that they wouldn't notice the slightly-above-average acting. For the time, the effects were great; some scenes still hold up well.
The plot of this film goes from the destruction of the colonies, through the assembly of the 'rag-tag, fugitive fleet' to a final battle with some Cylon Death Stars, leaving an open-ended but hopeful conclusion between Apollo (Richard Hatch) and Starbuck (Dirk Benedict in pre- A-Team days).
Outstanding episodes of the series include Living Legends (guest starring Lloyd Bridges), the Man with Nine Lives (with Fred Astair), the War of the Gods (with Patrick Macnee out of the shadows of Imperious Leader) and the three-episode arc when the Galactica encounters a planet named Terra, which is very earth-like in appearance.
There are documentary/interview segments worthwhile, including Dirk Benedict, Glen Larson (the creator/producer) and long-term fan and advocate/star, Richard Hatch. There is also a trailer for the new Sci-Fi soon-to-be released series.
24 there will be a Cylon head beneath my Xmas tree...
I've been enjoying my friend's DVDs so when my husband asked me what I wanted for Christmas I asked for this set too. Christmas can't come soon enough. There are great Dvd extras, beautiful booklet, and I love the big plastic Cylon head package. It's wonderful seeing and hearing the original cast share their memories with viewers. A must for fans.
25 OK... I'm Confused
Did I miss something? Isn't this already released? I mean, I've owned it for months, so... what's going on?
Oh, and yeah, I like it a lot. The 3 star rating I gave it factors in my distaste for the double-sided disc format of the set. The show is great fun and has a few really outstanding episodes, particularly the story arc of the last few.
26 Still a good series after all these years
This still a good series after all these years. It includes the movie plus all of the series shows. Some of my favorite episodes are The Livin Legend...where the Battlestar Pegasus is discovered to have survived and ends up battling two cylon base stars only to be never seen again. Great battle seen. It's too bad something like this wasn't left for the end of the series but it went off the air..Galactica does battle one basestar on the last episode but nothing really resolved. Galactica 1980 came on later but wasn't quite as good as the original series and once again no final battle with the Cylons or settlement. Despite that there some excellent shows here like The Gun On Ice Planet Zero and others.
27 sensational DVD set
I'm amazed by how impressive this DVD set is and the series seems even better now that I'm older. THANKS FOR PUTTING THIS OUT AND GIVING GALACTICA FANS SUCH A FUN DVD SET!
28 Classic Sci-Fi that stands the test of time
My wife and I watched the opening stories for this complete series a couple of nights ago. My first thought was: yeah I remember this as a kid. My second thought was: Wow - this is actually really great stuff. Even today, the special effects hold up, the story carries weight, and everything hangs together. Sure, there's lot's of eighties haircuts, and some of the characters are just a little cliched, but this series remains highly enjoyable to watch. You have to wonder what the networks are going to do, now that all they produce are reality show after reality show. Who's going to want to watch those in twenty years time? Other that is, than to completely laugh at them.
By the way, if you have a multi-region DVD player that can play PAL DVD's, go and buy the UK Boxset from amazon.co.uk. In the UK, it's 18pounds - which is about 35 dollars. Here, it's over a hundred - and we're getting totally ripped off.
29 Even better than I remembered
This set ignited my interset in Galactica all over again! Watching this show again after so many years was eye opening. There was even more richness to this series than I remembered from watching it as a kid. To those who are asking about the final episodes: Hand of God is the final episode and a very good one though it's sad that the show ended so early. It was one of the most exspensive shows of it's time. This series was followed by a low budget show that was aimed strictly at young children and called Galactica 80. That show took place on Earth to save costs and featured kids from the Galactica playing baseball and camping. It was not unlike the Star Wars holiday special or Ewok TV movies in that it was more of a 'Saturday Morning' version of Galactica and really lacked the charm, mystery, and most of the beloved characters of the original Galactica. I watched Galactica 80 as a kid and took it for what it was and I'm still very glad it's not in this set. Check Ebay for Galactica 80. You may also wish to try the Galactica books of Richard Hatch (the hardback editions are flawed but I think the improved paperbacks are entertaining).
30 The last episode left?
This is really the best series of sci-fi I have ever seen, and I really recommend it, just there is one point left in this "The Complete Epic Series" that made me felt very dissapointed, so the four stars. Did not the original series end when Galactica found Earth? Is there an episode left? Are you going to sell it apart?
31 Excellent Show, Sad Dvds
This is an unbelievable set! EVER episode made etc. I find it breathtaking to own the series that sparked something in me at a young age when I saw this back in the day following star wars. Not much else to say about the show, you either remember it and LOVE it or HATE it or dont know about it.
On to the dvd specs themself. Not too great! The picture is grainy and has LOTS of defects in the film itself which means it was a bad master. The dvd quality here isnt great. The show looks like it was recorded from a vhs copy. However, being a HUGE fan of the show I can overlook this but am disappointed. For this reason I knock it down one star. Very sad in this day and age when a company is just either too cheap to restore something as classic as this or just have a bad master that is deteriorating like the Original Star wars did, Lucas just caught it in time this one looks very tarnished and beat up.
If a fan of this show its a MUST own if a casual fan dont waste your time or money. But for the price paid the picture should have been digitally remastered.
32 Campy but charming, with great characters and cast
I was 5 years old and in kindergarten when Battlestar Galactica premiered. It was my favorite show. When I saw it again in my teenage years, I thought it was awful, absolutely dreadful. In my early twenties I saw it again, with an even different viewpoint: campy, corny, but with a lot of good qualities as well.
I'm 31 now, and even though I'd seen a few episodes on the Sci-Fi channel, watching these episodes in the boxed set was the first time since I was 5 that I really sat down and took in the series. They don't make TV shows like this anymore -- sure it's corny at times, but the characters form a sort of family, and it's a show you can sit down and watch with your own kids and not worry about the content. There's a warmth about it -- not to mention cool robot bad guys and neat spaceships (which is what appealed to me as a 5 year old).
I was excited when I learned that the Sci-Fi channel had created a new version of the show, but was ultimately disappointed by it -- even though they'd discarded all of the camp and corniness of the original, and made it more scientifically accurate, the new version also lacked the warmth, optimism, and family atmosphere (I sound like such an old man now) of the original.
At any rate, with all of its warts and imperfections, I love this series.
33 FUN!
I'm so glad I got this set! I never considered myself an "official" Battlestar Galactica fan, but I enjoy fun and imaginative entertainment so I took a chance and picked this up. I love it! The entire cast is enjoyable and there's plenty of fun stuff in this show. John Colicos' Baltar is my favorite character and he's always fantastic. He's a delightful villain and in episodes like Lost Planet of the Gods he displays an amazing sympathetic streak that makes you want to believe that he's really willing to help the good guys defeat the Cylons. It had me wondering if he was telling the truth and was really a double agent. Colicos' Baltar is mysterious, charming, tortured, funny, likable, despicable, and extremely entertaining. It's just one fun reason to pick up this DVD set and have a ball! Other great villains include Jonathan Harris and Patrick Macnee!
34 Just leave me hangin', why don'cha?!
While I grew up on such spellbinding space-opera sci-fi fare as the original Star Trek series & movies, the classic Star Wars trilogy, and the Star Blazers/Yamato anime series, I never really got into Battlestar Galactica until I borrowed a copy of this DVD box set from a fellow geek and checked `em out. Before my viewing experience I was somewhat influenced by the assertions of several uber-Trekkies that the show was nothing to write home about, and held off on watching it for fear of not being a "real" Trekkie if I took a look. But I eventually came to the realization that I didn't give a hang what a buncha pathetic loser uber-Trekkies thought, and took the plunge...
... and you know what? I'm glad I did. I found the show a highly entertaining and engaging space adventure, with a nice mix of drama, action, and references to Earth legends and mythology thrown in for good measure. And lotsa cool stuff blowin' up too, that's always a good thing. And, much like the space-opera series that preceded it, `Battlestar' had a layer of cheesiness (the chromed-up Cylons who couldn't aim all that well, and the cutesy mechanical daggit for example) with a decent degree of overacting (especially John Colicos as the traitor Baltar) that kept me from taking the show too seriously. I only wish they didn't make the sets and costumes so drab-- the dull greys, browns, and earth tones that seemed to dominate the show's spectrum was almost as bad as the antiseptic costumes and sets in `Star Trek: The Motion Picture'. Fortunately, the action, dialogue, acting, and special effects sequences of `Battlestar' were far more exciting than `Trek's first cinematic foray, thank God.
Another thing I found kinda neat was the array of guest appearances by such notable screen legends as Ray Milland (Sire Uri from the premiere episodes), Lloyd Bridges (Commander Cain from `The Living Legend), and Fred Astaire (Chameleon from `Man of Nine Lives'). Throw in star Lorne Greene and the occasional appearances by John Colicos, and you've got the ultimate sci-fi death pool dream team! Sad but true...
Then there's the special features, which include a feature-length commentary track with actors Richard "Apollo" Hatch, Dirk "Starbuck" Benedict, and Herb "Boomer" Jefferson, Jr. Their discussions and observations rarely revolve around the scene they're viewing, but rather their overall experience making the pilot. Dirk is the dominant voice, with Hatch a close second. They also tend to point out various bit-part actors that pop up throughout the show, and let ya in on a few things they did after the show and what they're up to nowadays. I didn't find this track all that interesting, but it wasn't all that dull either.
Other features include a few featurettes and a forty-five-minute-long retrospective on the show and the entertainment phenomenon it became. The retrospective covers the surviving principals' (Richard Hatch, Dirk Benedict, Noah Hathaway, et. al.) memories of making the series, their marveling at what a cult hit it became long after its apparent demise, their troubles with trying to do their lines that had been written and re-written for them minutes before they were to shoot the scene, and other interesting reminiscences and anecdotes. They also had a veritable love-fest for the late Lorne Greene (Commander Adama) and John Colicos (Baltar), which was so... *sniff*... beautiful *sob*. And of course there were the actors' lamentations about the show not being picked up for a second year, and how the final shot in the final eppie really left ya hangin'. Which it definitely did for me; after all, I'd invested quite a bit of time watching the whole show, and was almost despondent after watching the final eppie `cuz of all the storylines and loose ends that were established would never be satisfactorily resolved or tied up. Which they coulda' done with perhaps an annual TV movie or miniseries, like `Alien Nation' would do many years later. Sadly, it appears the so-called `revival' series `Galactica 1980' pretty much put the kibosh on anybody wanting to see any further forays in the 'Galactica' mythos...
The featurettes include series creator Glen A. Larson's reminiscences, composer Stu Phillips' memories of putting together the score for the series, a behind-the-scenes look at the difficulty of playing a Cylon, and the ape behind the mechanical daggit. There's also a preview of the `Galactica' video game for the X-Box and PS2, which I got bored with about five minutes in, and bailed on it. Also thrown in is a preview of the new `Battlestar Galactica' mini-series, which I've yet to see as of this writing. Judging from the trailer, this remake looks promising albeit a bit grimmer than its predecessor. Only thing is, it doesn't look like it'll be very successful in recapturing the spirit and sense of fun the original series possessed. Hopefully I'll be mistaken, but that remains to be seen...
`Late
35 wooohooo!!
this is the holy grail of fun fi folks!! ya got cylons, baltar, hatch, daggits, starbuck, vipers, ben cartwright, lucifer, scary pat mcnee, hot babes, more hot babes, some human eatin' big bug people...all in a plastic cylon head!! grab this before it's gone! 'nuff said!
36 Galactica 80 is not included, but that's okay by me!
This is the complete BATTLESTAR GALACTICA series. GALACTICA 80 was a different series. I bought this for the complete original series and I've got no complaints about it. There are two versions of this set: one comes with a cylon head shaped box, but the other one just comes in a smaller box that is shaped like a smaller box. I'm glad I got the one shaped like a cylon. Some folks would like the box shaped box. We got two boxes of all 24 hours of the original Battlestar Galactica to pick from so life is good. God Bless America and Galactica!
37 five stars
Over the past few months I have begun watching the Battlestar Galactica televison program for the first time. I was never much of a science fiction fan and had limited access to televison while growing up. I didn't see the Battlestar Galactica televison series until my husband purchased the complete series on DVD.
I became an instant fan after Saga of a Star World. I then began reading my husbands collection of Battlestar Galactica books by Richard Hatch. Both the books and the series have flaws (what doesn't?), but they also have wonderful characters, heart, imagination, and warmth. There's a special charm to Battlestar Galactica. Watching the episodes and reading the books has been five star experience for me.
38 Horrible
Another disgusting creation by this person. I assumed this would be a sci fi film but it turned out to be some sort of freakish drama set in space.
39 Has EVERYONE forgot this???
First before stating why I have given this set such a low rating, let me say the following. I am a 32 year old fan of BG since day one. Owned all of the figures, saw all of the episodes during sydication, etc. I think the episodes on these dvds along with the extra footage are THE BEST that anyone could ask for. So how can I say that and still give this set two stars you say? Here's the problems that are eating at me. First of all, I paid for what is called the "complete set of BG episodes". This is stated in MANY parts of the dvd set, the packaging, the ad on Amazon, etc. Well, this IS NOT THE COMPLETE SET! It is missing no less than 10 episodes. Yes, roughly 30% of the series! For those of you who just said "no it's not", here are the facts. There were 10 episodes made and released in 1980. Only one included Starbuck though. These episodes include when the Galactica found earth. I have the episode list, but it is too long to list here. Here's a link instead, http://www.wallpaperlinks.be/eng/epis-galactica.htm#2be/eng/epis-galactica.htm#2
You would think Glen Larson would have remembered filming these episodes before calling this the "complete set of BG episodes". Unless he was smoking a little too much of the old peace pipe. The number two reason that I am disappointed overall in the set is the packaging. By the Lords of Cobol, it's bigger than a cylon baseship! If you don't own this set and you think the picture of the cylon packaging is neat, THINK AGAIN! It is a square box with a VERY LARGE cylon plastic face GLUED to the front of the box! It DOES NOT easily fit on any shelf or display case. I would have been much happier with a simple but awesome cylon 3D sticker on the front of the box. In short, this set could have been so awesome with just two VERY minor changes. One is, actually make it a COMPLETE set, not a partial one. And two is, get rid of the massively large packaging! If that had been done, I would be giving this set 5 stars! However I must say that I VERY much enjoyed watching the old episodes again. I just wish the set was "complete".
40 Battlestar Galactica is still great fun!
I invited some friends over the very day I got this great DVD set. Some of them were fans, some of them had only watched it when they were young, and some of them were too young to remember it and had never watched an episode. After they had all had a chance to enjoy the Cylon head shaped box (great idea for a box) I put in the first disc and from that point on we all had a blast! Battlestar Galactica still entertains and does so on so many different levels. You've just gotta get this if you are a fan of the show! For a 25 year old TV show it still has plenty of entertainment value and it's more fun than a lot of shows these days!
41 Richard Hatch & Dirk Benedict fly into our tv screen again.
This DVD package is worth every cubit.
In 1978, my father had surprised me with my very own color television for my bedroom. Battlestar Galactica was the first show I saw that night. Eventually I became fond of the tv series. I had not realized it had been cancelled. I was still waiting for episodes the next Septmeber.
Very nice television DVD set. Battlestar Galactica (1978-79) only lasted for one season. Originally meant to be only a seven-hour mini-series. Why the ABC network cancelled this science-fiction series is anyone's guess. It really was a hit with people. It debuted nearly 10 years after STAR TREK (1966-69, the original cast) had been cancelled and the very first STAR WARS (1977) film was released one year earlier. The STAR TREK reunion movie, STAR TREK: THE MOTION PICTURE was released in 1979. Battlestar Galactica was about to start a whole new science-fiction revolution.
BG included a cast that we soon came to know: Lorne Green (Bonanza [1959-73], Earthquake [1974]), Richard Hatch (Best Friends [1975], Heated Vengeance [1985]), Dirk Benedict, Herbert Jefferson Jr, Maren Jensen, Tony Swartz, Noah Hathaway (The neverEnding Story [1984], Terry Carter, John Colicos, Laurette Spang, Paul Coufos (Days Of Our Lives in 1981-82), Sarah Rush and special Guest Star, Jane Seymour (Live and Let Die [1973]). Leann Hunley (Days of Our Lives in 1982-86, The Beverly Hillbillies [1993]) and Larry Manetti (Magnum PI) make appearances and The Daggit, "Muffit" too.
The spaceships were so acceptable. The sound effects were smooth and easy on the ear. Very pleasent to hear. The cyclones with the moving red eye were like nothing we had seen before, almost hypnotizing. Battlestar Galactica was originally a tv series, but the pilot episodes were edited down into a theatrically released motion picture too. This DVD version includes scenes that were cut from the theatrical version and some scenes have been restored back into the episodes.
The bubble-wrap as partition sends me. Lorne Greene still wearing his cowboy boots. Those light helments, and watching this tv series again makes me wish I still had my long hair back.
Battlestar Galactica soon came back in a new tv series, Galactica 1980 starring Kent McCord (Adam-12) and Barry Van Dyke. Lorne Greene and Herb Jefferson Jr. returned. Richard Hatch and Glen A. Larson both tried for years to bring back BG in recent years. Richard Hatch made a test film Battlestar Galactica: The Second Coming (1999), originally intending to bring back original cast members. Ultimatly, the SCI-FI Channel broadcast a new mini-series, Battlestar Galactica (2003) starring Edward James Olmos and Mary McDonnell. Instead of Apollo and Starbuck being two men, it was changed to man and woman. The Canadian white and grey sets looked nothing like we were used to seeing 25 years ago. And none of the original cast members had anything to do with this project. No cameo appearances. Dispite the disappointment of loyal fans, the new "Battlestar Galactica" will become a series in 2004.
Original cast member of the original "Battlestar Galactica", Richard Hatch, has a regular role in the new "Battlestar Galactica" tv series (Sci-Fi Channel,2005-Present) as "Tom Zarek" a prisoner.
42 love this set
All the classic episodes are here! There are great interviews with the cast and creators, plenty of deleted scenes, a booklet is in there too, and the packaging is awesome. What's not to love about this set?
43 FANTASTIC SET!!
I wasn't a Glactica fan until a buddy showed me this set. The interview with Glen Larsen really opened my eyes to the mythic aspects of the show. What a great program! I also fell in love with the cast. What great people! Now I have this set and love it!
44 QUIT YOUR WHINING!!!
BATTLESTAR GALACTICA might not have been sci-fi at its best (due to financial constraints), but it deserves its place for the depth, originality, and scope it tries to bring to the small screen. No other sci-fi show before it tried to do what it did. Yes. The acting was sometimes difficult to watch, but overall it offered something for its time other shows didn't.
It gave you hope that you could present a show that clearly tapped into the success of STAR WARS without being STAR WARS (by the way, will people realize that even when this came to court because of George Lucas suing over similarities between BSG & SW the court ruled in FAVOR of BSG?). No small feat, when you realize how many shows after tried to just rip off STAR WARS without trying to craft a plot!
I've read all the whining about the 2nd season, and read how the show wasn't ever cancelled before the 2nd season went into production. Obviously these reviews were written by children who don't research what they're talking about. As a card-carrying geek from waaaaay back, I can say that the original show WAS cancelled by ABC because it was too expensive to produce (even with using stock footage, the show still was becoming a problem for ABC). Because of the fan response, ABC decided to bring the show back...and when they did, the magic was gone. The characters viewers wanted to see were gone. What made BATTLESTAR GALACTICA memorable was lost.
Sure, there were two episodes I remember that were WORTH watching through once. Yes. The one with Starbuck & the Cylon on an alien planet (the title, BTW, was "The Return of Starbuck"). There was also one wherein a Cylon crashes on Earth, trying to reach a radio station to signal the Empire they had found Earth (this is the episode where HUMAN Cylons were first seen & it was hinted that there were other models of Cylons, finally). However, as good as those two were (out of TEN episodes that were made, I might add), it doesn't warrant the horrible abomination that was GALACTICA 1980 as a part of this boxed set. I'm glad someone realized that.
GALACTICA 1980 was rush-produced, and it showed. The dialogue was even WORSE that what a few people have already complained about BATTLESTAR GALACTICA...and so was the acting. Dick Van Dyke's son may be great in DIAGNOSIS MURDER, but he's no Dirk Benedict...and that was one of the reasons why they brought back Starbuck (for a one-shot deal) in the end.
The boxed set is well worth it. But to those who don't know what they're buying in advance...quit your whining...and leave the reviews to those of us who do know.
:-)
45 Battlestar Galactica limited edition
This box set brings back alot of great memories, a must have for all fans. With so many deleted scenes, lots of extra parts. With the high price, I was lucky to get a gift card during the holidays. Some episodes needed to be cleaned up better. (One thing I did notice during a deleted scene as Starbuck was running through the viper hanger during the bloodtrail from the "BADGUYS" he hit the deck in front of the viper that "his dad" was sitting in, anyway my dvd was silent- no sound from this out take. I wonder if this is a dvd defeat on my dvd or just the way it was surpose to be). If anyone knows after watching the deleted extra scene themselves, email me at kimmycostan@yahoo.com thanks
46 Wonderful
Great series, great job on the DVD. My only gripe (petty) is that there isn't some commentary on the series episodes as well. I really enjoyed the commentary by Hatch and co. on the pilot.
47 The Finest Weekly Outer Space Sci-Fi Show Ever!
I Love, Love, LOVE this show. These DVD's are essiantial. True you see a lot of the same special effects over and over, but in some ways (definitly not all) this show surpasses even Star Wars. For instance, let me state my reasons ... 1) Beautiful women!!!! Anne Lockheart enough said!!! Carrie Fisher and Natlie Portman never really did anything for me. 2) The charcters in Battlestar Galactica seem more fleshed out and "Human" than the charcters in Star Wars. 3) The Cylons are more meancing in appearance than Storm Troopers and what cool robotic voices they have!!!
Here is My Episode Report Card "A" being the best and "F" being the worst.
Saga Of A Star World "A"
Lost Planet Of The Gods, Parts 1 and 2 "B"
The Lost Warrior "C"
The Long Patrol "C"
The Gun On Ice Planet Zero, Parts 1 and 2 "A"
The Magnificent Warriors "D"
The Young Lords "A"
The Living Legend, Parts 1 and 2 "A"
Fire In Space "D"
War Of The Gods, Parts 1 and 2 "A" (My Favorite Episode)
The Man With Nine Lives "B"
Murder On The Rising Star "A"
Greetings From Earth "B"
Baltar's Escape "A"
Experiment In Terra "F"
Take The Celestra "C"
The Hand Of God "A" (Great last episode too bad there wasn't a second season.)
48 For hardcore fans only
First of all I feel the price of this set is ridiculous. Even with the special box, this series is just not worth it. It was a decent enough show for the 70's, but thirty years later it may not hold the appeal it did when we were kids. I might consider buying this after the price has fallen a bit.
49 disappointing
I seem to remember when I was growing up a later series of battlestar galactica on TV with a totally new cast except for Lorne Greene, in it they finally reach earth...where is it?!?!
and therefore I find this set very disappointing.
50 Battlestar Galactica DVD Set
This is the ultimate collection for any Battlestar Galactica fan. It even has the final episode "Hand of God" where Apollo and Starbuck unknowingly receive a transmission from Earth. It is in the form of visual and garbled audio communications between the Apollo 11 landing on the Moon and Houston on Earth. They think it is a planted transmission by the Cylons to lure the Galactica into an ambush. The L.E.M. does look like a Cylon head when you think about it.
That was the first episode that I watched when I received this collection. I have not seen "Hand of God" in 25 years.
The box that the set came in was very easy to open: Just lift the top with the embossed Cylon head up and off and voila there are your DVDs. Anyone with any intelligence can easily figure it out.
Overall, it is very well done and presented. The DVDs fold out from the center, 3 on each folded side, 6 in all. The picture quality has been Digitally restored and the sound is in 5.1 Dolby Surround. The picture and sound quality is better than anything I saw 25 years ago when Battlestar Galactica was originally broadcast.
For how difficult it has been to get the entire series, the investment in buying this collection is a bargain.
So, when you receive your set, sit back and be truly amazed with this definitive Battlestar Galactica collection. Enjoy!!!
51 A sci-fi show with wit, soul and charm
I only remembered bits and pieces of the show from my childhood. Because I hardly remembered it, I didn't consider myself a die-hard fan of the series.
But I bought this, and to date it has been one of my favorite DVD boxed sets. I won't get into listing the episodes, actors, features, etc. (as others have done in great detail), but I will instead say this: "Battlestar Galactica" has the wit, soul and charm that is lacked by many shows of today--sci-fi or otherwise.
This boxed set has made me a die-hard fan of the show, and I now realize that this show has accomplished more in 24 episodes than many shows do in five seasons. After watching the last episode, I wished for more.
Keep in mind, this show did not get cancelled because it was bad--it was ABCs rating leader when it aired. Instead, the show was cancelled because the network thought it was too costly to produce.
Buy this boxed set--you will not be dissapointed.
52 Revisit Your Childhood with Battlestar Galactica!!!!!
As a child I was enamored with Battlestar Galactica. Having been bit by the Star Wars bug, I was sucked in to this, let's face it, Star Wars spin off.
I made sure that the BSG box set was at the top of my Christmas list for 2003. I have watched all of the episodes, and must admit how impressed I am with the quality of the transfer from film to digital. Although, I was a bit depressed with the format being full screen, and not widescreen, since I do have the pilot movie on DVD and it is widescreen. The audio seperation is impressive, since the original series was broadcasted in mono. That is one good thing about Universal Pictures, is that they always recorded the audio trax in dolby stereo, (the analog predecessor of Dolby Digital)and actually kept the individual audio trax, so that now, they could be converted to 5.1 digital sound. Although, it would have been better for them to transfer the trax to DTS sound. After all, this project was recorded well over 25 years ago.
The special features are incredible. The bloopers, and re-takes are fun to watch. I was especially touched by the featurette on the last disk, that interviews the cast 25 years after the show went off of the air.
I want to be clear about one important detail. There seems to be a bit of controversy between trekers and BSG fans concerning why BSG was cancelled and Star Trek went on to make three spin-off series and ten motion pictures. The answer is simple. Money!!! In 1977, Star Wars revolutionized cinematography. John Dykstra, who was the guru behind the special effects in Star Wars, was recruited by Glenn Larson, creator and executive producer for BSG to recreate the moive magic captured in Star Wars, and transform it to the TV screen. At a cost of one million dollars an episode, BSG is the most expensive televison series to date. Although the Neilson ratings were phenomenal, it wasn't enough to justify the million dollar price tag. This explains why stock footage was used to much, and the story lines did tend to become a little ridiculous, since the weekly story had to revolve around the limits of technology and the inability pump out brand new footage week after week. Rememeber, the technology Dykstra created to film Star Wars was the same equipment used in BSG. No CGI or Macintosh platfomrs to create lavish sets, and special effects with. Just two inch models. This process took time to perfect, since each explosion didn't want to explode the way the director envisioned it. BSG is classic story telling. Adamma, (Adam) leading a rag tag fugitive fleet( Noah, and the Ark) for a shinny planet known as earth.....(Moses leading the Hebrew's to the promised land) There is a lot of biblical character references in BSG, which is a good thing!!!!!!!
If you are not a BSG fan, then you can watch these episodes all you want and it's not going to register with you the way it registers with us.
If you are a BSG fan, then buy this box set, or hook up with someone who has it, and revisit your childhood. Trust me, it's worth it!!!!
53 One of the best shows ever...
I love this show....Had all 24 shows on vhs that I taped off a sci-fi channel marathon of the show....
And "ddsurf001" the show you are refering to is called The Return of Starbuck...Its not on the set because is was one of the Battlestar Galactica 1980 series shows..I have it on tape also, Bought it at a walmart years ago....And in that show Starbuck does not escape the planet....It goes off with him still on the planet...The one your thinking about when Boomer knows its him by wobbling, is there in the set you have.....Thats when Starbuck and Apollo fly the cyclon ship and put the transmitter in there so the rest of the fighter pilots will know its them, but it malfunctions and doesnt work.....
54 One of the best shows ever...
I love this show....Had all 24 shows on vhs that I taped off a sci-fi channel marathon of the show....
And "ddsurf001" the show you are refering to is called The Return of Starbuck...Its not on the set because is was one of the Battlestar Galactica 1980 series shows..I have it on tape also, Bought it at a walmart years ago....
55 Where is this episode?
My favorite episode, when Starbuck crash-lands on a lonely planet with a single Cylon is missing... in the episode they become "friends". Other Cylons come to rescue and after a shoot out in which all the Cylons are shot Starbuck escapes in their ship. The Galactica knows it is Starbuck when Boomer shouts, "He's wobbling!" Does anyone else remember this episode or am I dreaming?
56 battlestar galactica-complete epic dvd
well this is to cooooooooooooolllllllll to have on dvd, well next to star wars too one of the two greatest movies or t.v shows to own and the greatest sci-fi to have of all time.
I don't own the set yet, but I remember it from my childhood.
I'm going to get it soon.
57 Positive Shield...Now!
BATTLESTAR GALACTICA, after all these many years, has finally been presented to us in a beautifully packaged 6 disc DVD boxed set containing all 24 hours of the short-lived 1978-79 series, including the rarely seen three hour version of the pilot episode. This set does not, however, include any entries from the horrendous follow-up series GALACTICA 1980, so you will have to look elsewhere for the highly sought after episode "The Return Of Starbuck". I have included a list of each episode included in this set, as well as having rated each installment:
Saga Of A Star World (4 ? Stars)
Lost Planet Of The Gods, Parts 1 and 2 (4 Stars)
The Lost Warrior (2 Stars)
The Long Patrol (2 ? Stars)
The Gun On Ice Planet Zero, Parts 1 and 2 (4 Stars)
The Magnificent Warriors (? Star)
The Young Lords (1 ? Stars)
The Living Legend, Parts 1 and 2 (5 Stars)
Fire In Space (1 Star)
War Of The Gods, Parts 1 and 2 (5 Stars)
The Man With Nine Lives (3 ? Stars)
Murder On The Rising Star (2 ? Stars)
Greetings From Earth, special two hour presentation (2 ? Stars)
Baltar's Escape (4 Stars)
Experiment In Terra (? Star)
Take The Celestra (2 ? Stars)
The Hand Of God (4 ? Stars)
Though starting off very strongly, the series quickly settled into an annoying habit of focusing all of its real effort on the two part episodes. While this tactic provided the absolute highlights of the series (including such memorable episodes as "The Living Legend" and "War of The Gods"), it left many of the hour long installments lacking in a major way. Nearly all of the regular hour length episodes suffer from poorly written, uninteresting scripts that are only kept alive by the character moments sprinkled throughout. Hampering the efforts further was a noticeable drop in the production quality on these episodes. The only two regular length episodes that really rise to the occasion are "Baltar's Escape" and the series finale "The Hand Of God". These two episodes are prime examples of what could have been done in future seasons had the show continued.
In addition to series regulars Lorne Greene and John Colicos, the series guest starred many other well known actors and film legends. Within, you will find the likes of Jane Seymour, Dan O'Herlihy, Roy Thinnes, Lloyd Bridges, Patrick MacNee, Fred Astaire, and Brock Peters.
I am very impressed with this boxed set as presented by Universal Studios. They have been kind enough to provide each episode with deleted, alternate, and behind the scenes footage. The only two episodes that do not sport any extras what-so-ever are "The Magnificent Warriors" and "Take The Celestra", more than likely because none now exists. There are several short documentaries to be found here as well, including an interview with series creator Glen A. Larson which I found to be very interesting and informative. He discusses his inspirations for the show, as well as the many problems encountered while making it. There is also an interview with the series' composer Stu Phillips. Other goodies are spinkled throughout the set, including a retrospective look at the work that went into developing the Cylons for the film and subsequent series, as well as how they created the 'mechanical Daggit' Muffit! There is also a very nifty photo gallery showcasing Ralph McQuarrie's beautiful pre-visualization art work for the first film that is not to be missed. Lots of rare footage abounds in this DVD set, be sure to keep your eyes open for several differing shots of the never-shown-up-close face of the Cylon Imperious Leader!
The pilot movie contains a three person commentary track provided by stars Richard Hatch (Apollo), Dirk Benedict (Starbuck), and Herbert Jefferson Jr. (Boomer). It is a very engaging discussion between the three as they joke and recall stories from the set. They are still good friends in real life and that comes through on the commentary track very nicely. This was one of the more entertaining commentaries that I have heard on DVD in some time, as well as providing lots of insight into what went on behind the scenes of the movie and series. Also not to be missed at the conclusion of the set on Disc 6 is a 45 minute long featurette called "Remembering Battlestar Galactica". It is a very interesting look back at the show in the form of brand new interviews from surviving cast members.
The episodes are very nice looking on disc now that they have been digitally remastered, looking much better than they have ever appeared before. Unfortunately, the time was not taken to try and clean up the picture of all the small scrapes and scratches. Also, the super clarity of the DVD format has managed to upstage many of the special effects created by John Dykstra. The poles that hold the models up are now rather visible in many of the spaceship shots. Oh well, that is a small price to pay to finally own this series on DVD. The sound has finally been remixed in 5.1 Dolby Digital Surround Sound, being available now for the first time ever in something other than mono. It is wonderful to finally hear this series as it was meant to be heard!
Also included in this set is a 18 page booklet featuring episode synopsis and cast information, as well as lots of cool pictures and graphics. It is a rather nice addition, but doesn't really contain too much relevant information all the same. The Cylon helmet shaped box that this set comes in is kind of neat, but takes up way too much room. This set is now being released in a normal version like other DVD box sets, so it will fit right on the counter with the rest of your collections.
Overall, this series as a whole gets 4 stars and the DVD box set put together by Universal Studios gets 5 stars.
58 Original and Still the Best - Now in One Convenient Package
First, let me say that I am an unabashed BG fan and have been since I was eight. Most people wonder why while extolling the virtues of "better" sci-fi. I counter with the fact that I like to look past the surface glitz and glammer at the substance of a show and BG had a wealth of that. When I heard there was finally going to be a boxed set, I was elated. And I was not disappointed.
This is one great set. Universal leads out with the opening episode that has many restored scenes and a great (and at times hilarious) commentary by Richard Hatch, Dirk Benedict and Herb Jefferson. The following episodes are transferred perfectly to DVD and contain a wealth of deleted scenes, some of which are pretty amazing. For instance, watching how Viper scenes were shot against timed film on a rear projection backdrop made me realize just how old school some the special effects were. No blue screen acting here! It also made me appreciate the high quality they tried to instill in each episode.
Throughout the collection are other nice mini-documentaries and short commentaries from the cast and crew. There is also a really nice photo gallery with many great shots from the production of the show. Man those models were big!
About the only drawback to the whole production is that the clarity of DVD shows some of the rough edges of this 25 year old series. Matte outlines, wire rigging and such sometimes show up clearly on the screen. George Lucas took the time to wipe that stuff out of the first three Star Wars movies. Universal should have done the same.
Even with the rough edges, this is a fantastic set and one I highly recommend to anyone who is (or was) a fan of the series.
59 One of the best DVD sets ever...
Well worth the price! If you are a fan of the show, get this set! The 15 to 20 minutes of deleted scenes and alternate takes for almost every episode makes it worth the price, never mind the 20+ hours of program. Plus, there's also a documentary that lets us catch up with many of the surviving cast members as they reminisce about the making of the show. A fan's dream!
60 Money Well Spent
This box set is absolutely great. Growing up a big Battlestar Galactica fan, I had to go out and buy this. You can catch some reruns on the Scifi cnannel, but they don't play all episodes, they only seem to play the so called more popular ones. This box set has it, including the Feature film, which basically was a three part pilot. Otherwisw all episodes are included. There are quite a few episodes that are two part episodes, making for hours of entertinment. My only complaint would have to be that the episodes don't seem to tie into one another other than the basic search for Earth. This is just the way it is. Like I said at the begining, Money well spent.
61 Free Galactica game included!
Yes, as a few reviewers have hinted, this boxed set comes with a special Battlestar Galactica game! Not a video game, but an old-fashioned non-virtual hands-on game!
The object of this game is to get the **** DVD's out of the special Cylon Death Grip box without (a) breaking them or (b) losing your cool so badly that you kick your daggit...er, dog.
Very considerate of them to include this oh-so-special game for no extra charge, wasn't it?
As far as the actual content goes, this is perhaps my all-time FAVORITE TV show. Not because of EVERY episode, because some of them were just too "seventies TV", but because of the special 30-50 percent that were WAY, WAY beyond anything that had ever been on TV! And because of the HEART the show had. The cast deserves a lot of acclaim here! These are characters easy to care about and easy to identify with. In just a few short hours, these characters become people you know, even the ones you don't necessarily know a lot about, like Boomer. You don't know all their histories, but you don't need to. The show is about second chances and escaping a doomed past.
62 Nicely done
The video is crisp and the extras are great for any fans of the series. I have to agree that the packaging is really impractical and that they could have spent a bit more time remastering the audio. It's great for the time, but sounds cheap by current standards. However, as far as boxed sets go, this is a pretty good deal. I was pleasantly surprised when I first saw that the episodes had been released on DVD rather than just on VHS, but since the 25th anniversary SciFi series came out, it makes a bit more sense.
As for the reviewers that have complained that there are episodes missing; there aren't. It's the complete 22 episodes of the original series. What's missing is the spin-off series called "Galactica 1980". It really didn't have the same feel as the original series and it ended after only 10 episodes. Flying motorcycles, the obligatory viper in the park shot and the occassional knock-over of a payphone or ATM for cash is really all that I remember from it. Oh...and the kid genius (think Wesley Crusher, but add condescending to list of annoying traits). It had some decent storylines, but it was really "Battlestar Lite".
63 Great set; but Terrible Packaging
Did anyone else have trouble getting these DVD's out of the case? I cant believe the incompetence in the packaging! I literally cracked one disc trying to free it from its holder. The people who designed this have to get a clue--there is no reason for these discs to be in so tight! Does anyone have any suggestions on how to pop them out easier?
64 Well, almost...
This was a bit disappointing. I loved the series when it was out originally and even saw the "pilot" when it came out theatrically. One of the great parts was the SOUND. How come the wonderful L.A. Philharmonic fabulous soundtrack sounds so "tinny" and bland? Plus, when it came thru the theaters in was one of the first "Surround Sound" mixes, EVER!?! I can't understand how that didn't translate to DVD. And who cares about the Cylon head box, anyway, I'd rather have ALL the episodes, not just the first season. What's up with that? I recall several dealing with their arrival at earth. Also, I recall one with Starbuck being standed with a Cylon (ala "Enemy Mine") that was quite good. The ones at earth weren't that great, but the were interesting. I gave 3 stars just because it was great in it's own time and still worth buying now.
65 No! Where is the end EARTH episodes!
I bought the entire series because I thought it would have the episodes where they find earth. I saw them as a kid but never again. Where are they. Does any one know what happened. E-mail me if you do. young1@fevr.net
66 Impressive boxed set
This is the truest, most complete Battlestar Galactica presently available. Yes, there is a "movie" version DVD that was re-released in October but it is obviously only for those who just want a taste of BSG, and not the whole meal. The movie version (as I understand it) is NOT the true TV series pilot, but it does use some of it and a smattering of stuff from at least 2 other episodes.
I say that only to help with any confusion some fans may have over whether they should purchase the movie or the series. Or whether the "movie" was something entirely different than or unavailable in the series boxed set.
As to the boxed set: it is VERY complete and includes some truly remarkable extras (for virtually every episode). It includes an amazing collector book, with amazing photos and episode listings. Then there's the fun box itself. I stress fun as that's really all it is. It's very oversized, so adding it to your DVD shelves is almost impossible unless you dedicate a larger spot solely to it. The Cylon mask also limits how well it sits on the shelf. The eyes of the Cylon are a bit disappointing given current hologram abilities - they went with some imitation refractive plastic that doesn't even simlulate a single eye blip, nevermind one that appears to move. I'm not looking for lit LEDs, but at least some kind of true illusion the Cylon had an eye, even if unmoving.
My other disappointment: the box back slip shows picture printed DVDs, this is FALSE. As the DVDs must be double sided to accomodate the amount of stuff, they are not actually printed as depicted. Shame on Universal for showing them to be.
I also am fairly impressed with the image quality, but it doesn't seem quite up to snuff with the restoration of the movie DVD or other older series/movies that are cleaned up for DVD. It's certainly above original television release quality, but not truly DVD quality. The sound however seemed quite crisp and clear.
As to the pricing of a set like this: seems a bit much compared to some full season (18-24 episodes) shows out there, but slightly less than other sci-fi series seasons. In this case I justify it more easily by the unique (if somewhat awkward) box, loads of extras, great booklet, and that this is the first ever offering of this complete television series .
I rated this as 4 stars for my overall impressions, and nostalgia the series brings back to me. I leaned towards a 3 given the price, and lasting troubles dealing with the box itself after the fun wore off - but everything else about this set stands above.
67 A great set for a great series!
I saw Battlestar Galactica when it first aired in 1978. I loved it then and I love it now. When the series was released on DVD I was estatic! If you love Battlestar Galactica, you will be too. The episodes look great. The real treat that this set offers is the oodles of extras. Much of the cut scenes are material that I never knew existed. In all, there is about 3 hours of deleated scenes. I real treasure trove for Galactica fans. But wait there is more! The first episode has a fun and informative commentary track with Richard Hatch, Dirk Benedict and Herbert Jefferson Jr! There is also a documentary and 5 featurettes. A great set that will thrill Battlestar Galactica fans for years to come. The only down side is the packaging and an unwanted addition. The giant Cylon head packaging may have seemed like a good idea on paper but it is really unweildy and hard to display on your DVD shelf. A minor quibble. The one thing that I wished they had replaced with something else is the promo for the horrible "Galactica" miniseries that aired recently on the sci fi channel. It really has no place here. I would rather they had more interviews with the original cast instead. This minor annoyance aside, this is a must own for Battlestar Galactica/Science Fiction fans. If you love Galactica, buy this set now. If someone you love is a fan of Battlestar Galactica get this set for him or her. It is the best gift you could get for them.
68 Great show, but, the picture leaves something to be desired.
Of course, I enjoyed the series when it first came out, and am glad to share this with my kids....
BUT... the image quality could be better. There are some static pops, scratches in the picture, as if they put this on dvd from a worn video tape.
Also, I like the idea of the Cylon mask for the box, but I can't store this thing anywhere!
I recommend buying the set, but don't expect a clean video transfer, and clear some shelf space for this awkward box.
69 Great show, but, the picture leaves something to be desired.
Of course, I enjoyed the series when it first came out, and am glad to share this with my kids....
BUT... the image quality could be better. There are some static pops, scratches in the picture, as if they put this on dvd from a worn video tape.
Also, I like the idea of the Cylon mask for the box, but I can't store this thing anywhere!
I recommend buying the set, but don't expect a clean video transfer, and clear some shelf space for this awkward box.
70 Great show, but, the picture leaves something to be desired.
Of course, I enjoyed the series when it first came out, and am glad to share this with my kids....
BUT... the image quality could be better. There are some static pops, scratches in the picture, as if they put this on dvd from a worn video tape.
Also, I like the idea of the Cylon mask for the box, but I can't store this thing anywhere!
I recommend buying the set, but don't expect a clean copy, and clear some shelf space.
71 Great box set!
This box set is great! The video and audio quality are excellent. The "cyclon head" box is cool, though it is not something you would keep next to your other DVD's. Fortunately the fold-out DVD book format fits in nicely on a shelf. There is also an accompanying booklet that describes each episode and air date. All in all it's a great value. My only complaint, and the reason for only 4 stars, is the DVD-housing itself. The clips that hold each DVD inside the case are so tight that you can literally crack the DVD's trying to get them out. I cracked two of them in a short period of time, and I was trying to be careful. This is a serious flaw. Fortunately, Amazon.com and their wonderful customer service promptly sent me a replacement set. Hats off to Amazon!
72 Not as good as new Galactica
The original show isn't as good as the new Galactica. It's too adventure,comedy and family oriented. Not enough sex and it's too escapist. The new show isnt as comic booky so its more real and makes everything seem like situations you might encounter at the office in a long meeting with just a few sci fi elements thrown in. The episodes in this set are too adventure driven instead of dialogue and angst driven and it doesnt move as slow. If you are a real adult watch the slower paced less adventure styled new show which is more soap opera than space opera and leave this 70's silliness alone.
73 By Your Command:Cylons Rule This Great DVD Set!!
This DVD collection is a great edition to any fan of this super sci-fi series.They are presented here shown in their entirety episode by episode and the sound quality is excellent!!and the digital remastering is outstanding.I loved this show every since it aired back in the seventies on ABC and what a great cast.Lorne Greene as Adama,Richard Hatch as Apollo,Dirk Benedict as Starbuck,sexy Maren Jensen as Athena,Laurette Spang as Cassiopeia,Herb Jefferson Jr as Boomer,Jane Seymour as Serena,Noah Hathaway as Boxey,Terry Carter as Colonel Tigh,and last and certainly not least,John Colicos as the human traitor Baltar.The Cylons was outstanding and were great as the villians.It's interesting to note that once they were reptillian beings at first,but was destroyed by their own technology and from this came a race of super machines.The Cylon Base Star was a cool ship and the Cylon Imperious Leader was Spooky.Patrick Macnee's voice as the Imperious Leader was great as well as Johnathan Harris(Dr.Zachary Smith from the Classic show Lost In Space)is super!! I fully recommend this DVD set.There are great episodes but my favorites are:
The Pilot episode
Gun On Ice PLanet Zero
The Living Legend
Lost Planet Of The Gods
Baltar's Escape.
74 Re: Cy??
The episode presumed missing, the one with starbuck and a cylon, is from GALACTICA 1980 that's why its not in the box set.
75 where's Cy??
I wouldn't call this a complete set. Does anyone remember the episode where Starbuck and the cylon are stranded on a planet, and the cylon(Cy) gives his live for Starbuck? A wonderful episode, yet it seems to have vanished!!!
76 Terrible
Possibly one of the worst television shows ever created, this series totally destroys any quality its amazing premise had with horrible plotting and dialogue, and acting that was even worse. Rightfully cancelled mid-way into its second (even worse) season, "Galactica" somehow found its own little niche audience.
Like any other series created by Glen Larson, it has a great premise, but can't get anything else right. The characters are poorly drawn, swaggering fools, and the Cylons are even worse. They're slow-moving, dullards of machines. It's a wonder even the foolish crew of the Galactica and its rag-tag fleet were able to defeat them so readily EVERY TIME they go into combat.
Avoid this set, unless you're REALLY into watching bad TV and movies. This belongs on the same shelf with movies starring the likes of Steven Seagal and Freddie Prinze Jr.
77 Distant Humans Battling Sentient Machines & Mysticism
The original 1978 sci-fi television series "Battlestar Galactica" was an epic adventure about a remnant of human refugees from a nation of twelve planets (known as the Colonies) fleeing an evil society of sentient machines known as Cylons. Prior to the exodus, the humans had originally been trying to establish a peace treaty with the Cylon Empire to end a war that had been raging for 1000 yarns (years). During which, the humans created a fleet of battlestars, which were analogous to huge naval aircraft carriers providing mobile bases in space for forces of smaller fighters (known as vipers) and their pilots. Unfortunately, on the eve of what was to be the end of the war, the Cylons unleashed a massive surprise attack upon the undefended twelve planets and the unsuspecting battlestar fleet. All but one of the members of the Council of Twelve (the human's ruling body), Commander Adama (Lorne Greene, 1915-1987) decided to take his battlestar, named Galactica, back to his home world in an attempt to defend it. Adama's son, Capt. Apollo (Richard Hatch), was one of the viper pilots assigned to the Galactica, as was his friend Lt. Starbuck (Dirk Benedict). As it was evident that the Cylons had practically extinguished all human life upon all twelve colonial planets and none of the other battlestars had survived the surprise attack, Adama made the unilateral decision for the remnants of the known human race to abandon the twelve colonial planets to find refuge with the mythical thirteenth tribe who had supposedly traveled to a mythical planet known as Earth. Along the way, the human survivors discover that a traitor had been in their midst, Count Baltar (John Colicos); and they also come across (at one point) another battlestar (the battlestar Pegasus) that had been considered destroyed from an earlier battle. From the Pegasus, the crew of Galactica acquires more personnel, including its commander's daughter, Sheba (Anne Lockhart). Other memorable characters from the series included Lt. Boomer (Herb Jefferson Jr.), Col. Tigh (Terry Carter), Athena (Maren Jensen), her son Boxey (Noah Hathaway), Cassiopeia (Laurette Spang) and the Cylon named Lucifer (Felix Silla).
Unfortunately, the original "Battlestar Galactica" series was only aired for the single 1978-1979 television season because in spite of the fact that it had a Nielsen Rating of 18, ABC cancelled it due to enormous production costs. Considerable effort and financing had been made to create the Cylons, the elaborate technological sets, and the high-quality special effects (for the time), as well as filming in various exotic locations. One of the more interesting concepts introduced in the series was the idea of a battle between good and evil between beings existing on a higher plane of existence. Sadly, this concept could not be further explored once the original series was cancelled. ABC attempted to resurrect the series in 1980 in a watered-down, less-expensive version under the name "Galactica 1980", but it was a dismal failure as only one original cast member (Lorne Greene) had returned. Only 10 lackluster episodes of "Galactica 1980" were filmed and, thankfully, are not included in this DVD boxed set of the original season.
The original episodes (24 hours total) include:
1. the 3-hour series opener "Saga of a Star World" (5+ stars, 9/17/78)
2. the two-part "Lost Planet of the Gods" (5 stars, 9/24/78 & 10/1/78)
3. "The Lost Warrior" (4 stars, 10/8/78)
4. "The Long Patrol" (4.5 stars, 10/15/78)
5. the two-part "Gun on Ice Planet Zero" (5+ stars, 10/22/78 & 10/29/78)
6. "The Magnificent Warriors" (4 stars, 11/12/78)
7. "The Young Lords" (4 stars, 11/19/78)
8. the two-part "The Living Legend" (5+ stars, 11/26/78 & 12/3/78)
9. "Fire in Space" (4.5 stars, 12/17/78)
10. the two-part "War of the Gods" (5 stars, 1/14/79 & 1/21/79)
11. "The Man with Nine Lives" (3.5 stars, 1/28/79)
12. "Murder on the Rising Star" (3 stars, 2/18/79)
13. the two-hour "Greetings from Earth" (4.5 stars, 2/25/79)
14. "Baltar's Escape" (4.5 stars, 3/11/79)
15. "Experiment in Terra" (5 stars, 3/18/79)
16. "Take the Celestra" (4 stars, 4/1/79)
17. "The Hand of God" (5 stars, 4/29/79)
Overall, I rate the original "Battlestar Galactica" series with 5 out of 5 stars. It was a very good show that should not have been cancelled at the end of its first season. Richard Hatch made several unsuccessful attempts to revive the original series, but the Sci-Fi Channel ultimately got the rights and has created a soon-to-be aired television mini-series that has been totally changed from the original story.
78 Terrific
Will make this short..
If you were a fan of the orignal show. Buy this!!
You have never seen the unedited episodes like this
since they aired in 78-79. The sound is great for
something that is 25 years old. The deleted scenes
are great to watch. This show gives me new meaning
now that I am older and I am glad I have the entire
series on DVD now. I went to the Galacticon 2003
convention and got to meet Dirk Bennedict this time
and get his autograph..Long live my heros!
79 Great DVD set, but not complete
This set is not complete since Season 2 is not included. Yes, there is a season 2. The series was not cancelled before season 2 started, but during season 2. Therefore, this is not the "Complete" set. One can hope they come out with a Season 2 boxed set.
80 By Your Command ...
BATTLESTAR GALACTICA -- from its inception -- had the potential to become far much more than it ever amounted to on television. That isn't to say that the show -- one of the highest rated premieres in the history of the medium -- doesn't have a record worth mention; it's just to say that had the series continued into a second or third season or had the series launched a series of theatrical films (an opinion I've long held), the phenomenon of GALACTICA would probably be as pronounced as STAR TREK or STAR WARS is today.
The series has been given top-shelf treatment here in this fully remastered DVD collection, and I can't imagine a missing piece to the puzzle. The DVDs contain all of the episodes -- cut into seamless productions -- along with a handful of new production featurettes ('looking back,' 'special effects,' etc.) that are very good but could have packed more punch. The commentary on the pilot episode/movie plays wonderfully, with the principal actors contributing terrific anecdotes and memories of their experiences in making the premiere. Additional, EVERY EPISODE boasts deleted scenes, alternate takes, or outtakes (some hilarious ones!), and, arguably, some of these alone make this collection 'epic' in a single definition of the word.
While some episodes clearly are clunkers strung together on a thin plot under the strict constraints of network television, one fact remains clear: the creative forces behind the show worked very, very hard at maintaining the kind of continuity other science fiction shows strive for today. They realized -- back then -- that serious fans were interested in stories that grew -- in situations that led to repercussions unanticiated -- in choices that were not always easy because they seemed 'right' so much as they were 'just.'
Relive GALACTICA, or discover it for the first time in the awesome collection.
81 Buyers beware!
I bought this set because I LOVED the show as a child. However, my boxed set included 2 disc #6's and no disc #2. When I returned it, the second boxed set also had two disc #6's and no disc #2 as well. I loved the show, but will buy this after six months to let them get their sets straight.
82 Its about time
I have waited for a long time to be able to see Battlestar Galactica in its entirety and I wasn't disappointed. The film prints and sound are fantastic. The deleted scenes are a real treat considering many contain BLOOPERS! Cast interviews are wonderful and give great insight as to what went into the series and the fun and hard work it was. The only thing I wish that they had done was put the pilot in its original 1:85 widescreen presentation. But considering that it is available separately in that format. Its ok. GET THIS BOX SET !
83 I mainly bought this DVD set for Maren Jensen.
Yes it is true. I am one of those millions who saw that TV guide picture of Maren Jensen and just got drawn to the show.
And for the first 3 episodes of Battlestar Galactica, it was just pure joy....and it looked like Maren/Athena was going to be one of the main characters of this show. But...the producers or writers started going in the opposite direction. They decided to ignore the dynamics of the Adama family and added new characters that had nothing to do with the original premise that at least drew me and many who had hoped to see more of the Adama family show and it's success....Mainly Athena for me.
Yes, Glen Larson who created and produced this show and maybe others...decided Athena and Maren...was not what he or they wanted....(Big mistake IMO.) As the season went on, it just got more frustrating...as Maren/Athena was getting less stoyline...along with the quality of the show...which went down hill after the first 3 episodes.
And the last 4 episodes only had Maren Jensen in the credits...GRRRRRRRR.
I personally struggled in deciding to buy this set....Why should I buy this DVD set if the original show gave me so much frustration??
Then I heared about the 3 hours of deleted scenes and outtakes....and I also heard that the pilot would be restored to it's original form,(Maren's two scenes that were cut when it was on cable TV, and the movie DVD.)
I finally decided to buy it...and Maren Jensen fans....the scenes are back....and more!!!!
She is as stunning as I remembered seeing her the first time...and there are many outtakes with her in it..:) Yippie!!
Also there is commentary from Richard Hatch, Dirk Benedict, and Herb Jefferson....they are great and hilarious. They really put the movie in perspective and context. They in fact say everything most fans think of the show. And I loved the great things they said about Maren...that she was really sweet in person and just as stunningly beautiful. And they also were dismayed about the fact that Glen Larson's and and maybe others, decision not to use Maren anymore in the latter part of the series.
There are many good things about this DVD. Lorne Greene and all the actors that helped make this show. And the Maren Jensen parts of this DVD set makes up for the frustrating decisions that ultimately killed this series IMO. Yes I am thankful that Glen put together this show....but I am truly dissapointed in his and who ever was responsible for taking Maren out of this series.
Yes get this DVD series if you love to see Maren Jensen. You will see it is worth the large sum of money.
And Maren if you are reading this, you still have a lot of fans waiting to see you come back to the acting field...we miss you.
I give this DVD set 4 stars instead of 5 because Maren is not in the latter part of the season......hee hee.
84 EXCELLENT
Finally, what the fans want. This is as close as the REAL fans of the series will get when Sci-Fi releases the version that is ridiculous in December. 3 hours of deleted scenes is what did it for me. Wow, does this really enhance the series! Scenes make more sense, things are more logical, its good clean fun! And the documentaries and commentary by Dirk Benedict, Richard Hatch and Herb Jefferson Jr. are great. Take it from me. I was the editor of a fanzine - THE KOBOL CHRONICLES - when I was a kid. THIS is what the fans want and is the best release of a dvd collection for a tv series I ever saw so far, including STAR TRREK, MASH, CHEERS...you name it. This one has class and style. You wont be disappointed...even by Apollo and Starbuck's hair! My advice? This is the BG to watch - not the one on Sci-Fi.
85 At last!! The original BG on DVD
An absolutely must have!! Don't bother watching the SciFi mini-series! Stick with the original. Great cast.
86 The DVD collection that Galactica fans have been waiting for
I won't try to convince those who hate this series that they should really like it. I am glad to see that there are others besides me who find Galactica tremendously entertaining. But I would offer a suggestion to those who hate the show because of the obvious lack of understanding of basic facts about outerspace and physics on the part of the show's writers: just ignore it and enjoy the truly good stuff this series offers.
Other people complained about the special effects not looking quite right. In some scenes you can see the little squares behind the fighter spacecraft where they were put into the scene. You can see the big shaft holding up the Galactica. I never remember seeing this before on the shows aired on TV. Someone did a bad job transferring this to DVD.
The deleted scenes will be interesting to Galactica fans. Some of them fill in missing plot points. It was interesting to see that there were several scenes in the first (three part) episode in which Adama planned to resign because he felt guilty about having to decide who would be allowed to come with the fleet and who would be left behind to be killed, eventually, by the Cylon.
The scenes look very 1970s. The haircuts. All the computers look like they are 25 years old. But this show has ATMOSPHERE. There has never been any adversary in science fiction history as cool as the Cylons. Nothing in Star Wars can compare to them. The musical soundtrack for the series is incredible. Has there ever been another weekly TV series made with a sound track this good? I don't think so.
I just love watching Adama, Starbuck, Apollo, and Boomer. Athena is beautiful. (I didn't remember how gorgeous she was!) The characters are great. A real treat to see them.
There was an interview with Glen Larson, a commentary sountrack only on the first three part episode, and not much else with regards to extras (besides the deleted scenes). I think that there could have been more extras added. I really would have liked to hear more from Glen Larson. I think he's still alive, so why couldn't they get him to do some commentary on some of the episodes he wrote?
Other people have complained about the size of the box. Inside the big outer box is a small inner box that holds the 6 DVDs and is the same size as other DVD containers. If you don't want to keep the big box, THROW IT OUT. It's only supposed to look cool in stores, you don't need it to enjoy the DVDs.
Some have complained that this series is too expensive. I don't understand because it's priced similarly to other DVDs. With 10 DVDs worth of material, that comes out to less than $9/DVD at the current asking price. It's one thing to maybe complain that ALL DVDs cost too much. But to say this series costs to much is to somehow say that two hours of Battlestar Galactic is worth less than two hours of something else. And to that I strongly disagree. I am throughly enjoying watching these DVDs, much more so than most more modern and more expensive/minute DVDs.
I give the series itself 5 stars, and the quality of the DVDs three stars (a horrible job with transferring this series to DVD, good job with the deleted scenes, too bad not more commentary), so it averages out to 4 stars.
Fans of the show will thorougly enjoy watching the whole series from beginning to end without commercial interruption.
87 Launch When Ready!
I tell ya, this set is a fan's dream. Not only is every original episode uncut and remastered (first time I've seet the uncut pilot in 25 years!), but it has a huge stash of deleted/alternate scenes that surpass any DVD that has ever been released! New intreviews and commentary and goodness galore ... we even get our first good look at Imperious Leader!
This is a fun, classic show that I enjoy watching with the kids. Nothing beats those Cylons, and Starbuck and Apollo are just as cool and dashing as they were all those years ago. I only wish Sci Fi channel were doing a continuation of the original show than the vile, non-family friendly remake with dopey "human" Cylons ... bleech.
88 A must for a true fan
This is of course for the Battlestar Galactica fan. Even with the extras, just having all the episodes on DVD is awesome!! Been waiting for this for some time, pre-ordered over nine months ago!!
89 A Classic on DVD
Finally one of my favorite shows has made its way to DVD. I can remember watching Battlestar Galactica reruns many years ago on saturday afternoons along with Buck Rogers and Star Trek. The cylons are some of the best cyborgs to appear in all science fiction. If you enjoy classic, nostalgic science fiction I recommend that you buy this boxed set
90 Get it while you can!!!
Having been a fan since its inception, I greatly anticipated the release of Battlestar Galactica on DVD. You always have the marathons on Sci-Fi channel but the constant commercials after every few minutes gets monotonous! I have now gone through every minute of the DVD set and must say that even after all these years I found them excellent! The picture is cleaned up and looks great! The most impressive thing for me was the noticeable improvement in the sound and music. It is not only cleaned up and digitized but it is now in stereo instead of mono. This fact alone makes a HUGE difference when putting it on a big screen with a decent sound system. The stories are the stories, either you liked them or hated them. I thought that perhaps I might find the stories a little hokey since I liked them so much as a teenager, but I was pleasantly surprised, they have seemed to survived the test of time. I guess that is the sign of a classic. Get your full set now since you never know if these DVD's will be available later, it is worth the price tag, especially when you break it down to being around $4.94 per episode (that's reasonable), and that doesn't even take into consideration all of the extra behind the scenes insights, commentaries, and deleted scenes. This is a worthy investment and a true keepsake. Thanks to all those who had a hand in its DVD release and shame on ABC who cut it after only one season many years ago, and it had the highest nielson ratings at the time, who knows how big Battlestar Galactica could have been. The real beauty of this is that now my son is starting to get into the series just like I did when I was about his age. Now that's the sign of a classic!
91 No felgercarb in this set!
If Classic Trek is the epitome of a cult sci-fi show, then Battlestar Galactica is the very essence of one. The loyalty of the fan base is amazing, and Trekkies are probably jealous on some level or other about what little stolen thunder Galactica fans may have enjoyed in 1978 and since.
As for the series, to be honest, there are some problems with it. The blatant overuse of stock footage puts an Irwin Allen spin on the proceedings (realistically, how many times can a Viper get nicked in the top tailfin by Cylon laser fire, and escape destruction?!) The shamelessly 70's hairstyles, disco dancing, and kid-friendly atmosphere have all tended to date Galactica over time. But even so, despite everything, Galactica retains a certain charm unseen in any of those new Treks we've been inundated with.
The show was always a favorite of mine, but mostly because it was a show I watched as a kid, and have not seen except in bits and pieces over the years. Of course, I had to buy it when it came out on DVD.
The episodes have been transferred to disc with good quality, and the show is as crisp and colorful as possible. The Cylon packaging for the set is interesting, but ultimately fragile and too bulky for storage. While the attempt is appreciated, the special packaging works against those of us drowning in our DVD collections.
What really strikes me after screening the series in this set is just how BIG it was. The scale of the Galactica always seems to be nicely realized, especially on the bridge, which is just packed with extras moving about in the background. Touches like that help convey the epic scale of the story as well, and the sheer vastness of space in the Galactica Universe. On top of that, look at the names of those who guest starred; Lloyd Bridges, Fred Astaire, Ray Milland, Jane Seymour, Patrick Macnee, Lew Ayres, John Hoyt, Paul fix, Edward Mulhare, Rick Springfield, Jonathan Harris, Britt Ekland, Roy Thinnes, Ray Bolger, and more.
Besides that impressive roster, we have the regulars, Lorne Green and John Colicos. It goes without saying that Green was always amazing in any role he played, but I think if there is one actor who gets forgotten, it would have to be Colicos. Colicos was always incredible, here or in any other part. Richard Hatch also delivered in every instance, while Terry Carter, Herb Jefferson Jr., and Maren Jensen hit all the right notes when in front of the camera. Supporting actors David Greenan (Omega) and Sarah Rush (Rigel) also light up the screen in their admittedly limited roles. It pains me to admit it, but even Noah Hathaway (Boxey) gives a good accounting of himself in his part.
Certainly no new Trek can compare with the sheer size and scope of Battlestar Galactica, and the almost unsung achievements of this rare offering from 1978.
By comparison, the most disappointing aspect of screening the show after so long a time is the realization that Boxey, Muffit, and Athena all inexplicably vanish from the last fifth of the series. While I always disliked Boxy and his robot dog (I did like Athena), their sudden absence is very noticeable. Also, other than the two that cameo in "Baltar's Escape", there is the very palpable lack of Cylons in the last fifth of the series. Kind of hard to flee the Cylon tyranny when there are no Cylons to flee from!
The best feature in the set by far is the almost overwhelming amount of cut scenes and alternate takes. Not only do some of these snippets help fill in a few holes and illuminate certain plot points, but you get a good feeling for the production method used on the set to make the series. In fact, it's hard to choose the most important of the cut elements. Probably the best has little or nothing to do with the plots or whatnot, but a scene in which Adama explains to Boxey the problem that the Terrans face with differences in air pressure.
Fun to see this show again after so long, plus the cuts, and the featurettes. The behind the scenes documentary covers just about everything, too. All in all, the set is a real winner, and despite the dated hairstyles and whatnot, Battlestar Galactica reminds us that Trek is not all there is to sci-fi.
92 Great DVD boxset of the classic original series!
I just finished viewing all of the content in the Battlestar Galactica DVD boxset. It took me nearly two weeks to view all of the episodes and extra features. There is an enormous amount of material to go through on this set.
The packaging is indeed unique, being a molded plastic Cylon helmet with a chrome coat on top of it. The "Red Eye" portion is a thin reflective coating similar to a lenticular sticker. The set is a little large with the helmet packaging, but that really doesn't bother me since it's interesting just to have sitting on a shelf. The set also comes with a nice collector's booklet with air dates and information about all of the episodes, photos, drawings, ship diagrams, etc. The booklet is about the size of a magazine, which is great since it wasn't some dinky little booklet.
As for the 6 DVD discs themselves, they are all Double-Sided. Universal shows Single-Sided on the advertising materials for the set, and even on the back of the boxset! That's a minor gripe, but somewhat deceiving to potential buyers. Many of the DVD's are Dual-layer on one side and Single-Layer on the opposite side to maximize the footage on a single DVD. The Menus on all 6 discs are the same, but still a nicely done motion layer sequence that runs at about 52 seconds. As for the interior package that holds all 6 DVD discs, it is a foldout package that has clear plastic disc holders with photos underneath. They are rather sturdy in their grasps on the discs, I had trouble freeing up one disc at first. On the opposite foldout side are layered photos from the series. All episodes and time lengths are also listed on the back of the inner package.
As for the episode transfers on the set, they are very clean and clear for a TV series which aired in the late 1970's. Actually they are almost too sharp and clear at times. You can sometimes see the "matte-frames" or "wires" in shots very clearly. It doesn't bother me while viewing, but it might with some viewers. At least the episodes were all untouched and not fooled around with. The sound is presented in a new Dolby Digital 5.1 mix. I didn't notice too much stereo seperation on my home theater system except in certain intense scenes. On nearly every episode there are various Deleted and Alternate scenes, and Bloopers. In total there are well over 3 hours of those additional scenes spanning the 6 discs.
There is a great 45 minute feature with all new interviews with the cast and creators. A video interview with series creator Glen Larson concerning the creation of the series is also included. To top it off, there are several mini-featurettes about the music score, Daggits, and Cylons.
I would gladly recommend this DVD set to any fan of the series. It is well worth the money and the wait to have the entire series to view at any time, and finally crystal clear in quality!
93 Good assortment of extras and tons of deleted scenes!
I grew up watching Battlestar Galactica on TV and in later syndication. Definitely a landmark show in terms of the sheer scale of the production, large and extraordinarily well-cast acting ensemble and movie-quality special effects.
True, Battlestar did reuse its effects. True, some of the early episodes did borrow from popular movies of the time.
But who can argue with any show that drove home an original idea like a search for Earth, and did so with such a compelling background story, being driven by a seemingly unstoppable enemy?
I would say, pound for pound, Battlestar had some of the best science fiction stories ever produced for television in "Living Legend", "War of the Gods" and "Lost Planet of the Gods".
Any fan of the show will be thrilled with the nearly three hours of deleted scenes, organized per episode. In addition to full-length commentary of the pilot episode by Dirk Benedict, Richard Hatch and creator-producer Glen Larson, this DVD set has a number of first-seen extras. A 45 minute documentary on the making of the series with interviews from most of the cast remembering the event 25 years later. Documentaries on the Cylons, working with the Daggit, making the music for Battlestar Galactica and a particularly compelling piece by Glen Larson on the creation of Battlestar Galactica. The accompanying book on all the individual episodes and extras does not have enough written content, but great pictures.
Overall, still a lot of fun to watch, with good 16:9 widescreen presentation (although the picture has not been touched up from the TV masters), and excellent Dolby 5.1 sound.
Good for for the nine-year-old aspiring carrier pilot in you, and great for any fan of television science fiction! I can't believe this show didn't run for another five years.
94 A better edition ...
The content of this edition is better than one would expect from a 1970's series. I have not recieved it yet, but according to the box, it only has commentaries on the original three episode pilot. One wishes that there were more commentaries. Another plus is that every episode is in stereo. Even the original release of the pilot, (in the form of the theatrical feature film), was in mono, so that's a nice plus.
My only real beef, (and it's a big one) is the completely unnecessary large boxing of this edition, (with the glowing eye Cylon mask). I feel that this collection would sell itself without this bulky extra, which would also bring down the rather high price tag for this series. As others will, I'll wait to get it at a lower price.
As many others have stated, I, as well, grew up during the 70's and as a kid thoroughly enjoyed tuning into this show, so it definitely has a large camp value. I also agree with other reviewers in that, dont look for deep, vast cosmic storylines.
Even Star Trek was commonly derivative, (that'll cheese off some trekkies), so, enjoy this for it's simple entertainment value.
On a last note, does the new Battlestar Galactica have Starbuck and Apollo as women?! (*&#@!!!)
95 a few minor gripes
I'm not going to get into praising BG, BUT I will vent about two things:
First,the packaging is an oversized collectible box with a cylon head on the cover. This box contains a six disc fold out that is actually the size of most DVD packaging. If you are somewhat anal about your DVD shelf,this box is impractical to use.
Secondly, and this is the more important thing (to me anyway)
are the discs themselves. Universal used DOUBLE SIDED DISCS!
While the back of the box indicated they used single sided discs! I personally would have rather have paid more for a set of 7 (or 8) Discs without having to worry about being careful not to touch the other side!
96 Question for anybody who has this
Can somebody please tell me which version of the pilot is included-- the standard 2:05 movie version, or the longer version originally shown on TV? Not one of the wannabe movie critics provided this information in his lengthy treatise. Thank you.
97 deleted scenes galore!!!
This is the best box set that I have seen so far! It totally blows the xtra content of most sets away. I had read a fair number of reviews before dishing out the 90 bucks but I have to say that I am totally happy with my purchase. (and the box rocks, even if it doesnt fit on the ol' DVD shelf) Buy this set and you won't be sorry!!!
98 STARBUCK!! Why did you make him a women?
I remember this show as a child as being great. I never really could follow the story at the time. Now that I have this collection I am so happy!! The series is great and the deleted scenes add to the series and explain more of the story. Starbuck is one of the greatest characters i have ever seen on television. The Sci-fi channel has a remade version of this coming out soon. Starbuck and Boomer are now female. I wont go into how bad this sounds but I hope if one day they remake Star Wars Han Solo and Luke can remain male!!!! You should of just done a next generation thing or something.
99 Loved the series, hate the quality of the set
I was so psyched when I heard BG was coming out on DVD and was at Best Buy the day it came out. However, as I started watching the series, I had problems with a few of the disks. The sound and picture would get all screwed up and would finally just stop playing. My DVD player is new so I knew it couldn't be that. So, I returned it to Best Buy and got a new copy. SAME PROBLEM!!! I was so frustrated that I finally just asked for my money back.
It's too bad because I really loved this series. I just wish Universal could have put together a better quality set.
100 FINALLY!!
FINALLY!! "Galactica" fans, rejoice! This is the version we fans have been WAITING FOR!! As a true BSG fan, I have to say that this is the version of "Galactica" I have been waiting to see since the series first debuted back in '78. The technical re-do is excellent, presenting the show as it was meant to be heard, in true stereo sound. Fine quality packaging, and excellent liner notes. Now I can finally see my favorite episodes whenever I want, without constantly checking for re-runs! Enjoy it, fans... I sure did!!
