Battlestar Galactica (1978)

[Dr. Whom]

I got to see the original movie again, and boy, was it a disappointment.

Now, when I first saw it, I was an excitable 13 year old, who just wanted to see dogfights in space and things being blown up with lasers going 'pew pew'. I must admit, if that is all you expect from a movie, it delivers.

But even so, the space battles have aged badly, and the Cylons are certainly the worst shots in the universe. The rest is just plain boring, the clunky dialogue, the glacial pacing, the non-existent suspense, the ham fisted 'political satire', the desperately unfunny comic relief, and don't get me started on the robot dog. It is not a bad movie as such. It has got decent production values, and a capable cast. It is just that everything about it is so predictable and boring that even a ton of lasers going 'pew pew' can't save it.

Also in this universe, the more you sound British, the greater the chances are that you are evil or incompetent. Which makes Patrick Macnee the logical choice for the Cylon leader (and doing a great job, actually).

[Flangepart]

Hummm...ya think the Cylon's bad shooting is from the 'mass production' from a flawed blueprint? Kinda like the Stormtroopers palpatine has.

[Dr. Whom]

Perhaps the moving red light in their visors throws off their aim.

[ralfy]

FWIW, I had a similar reaction after re-watching Star Wars. It's probably because they're all meant for kids.

[FatFreddysCat]

Now, when I first saw it, I was an excitable 13 year old, who just wanted to see dogfights in space and things being blown up with lasers going 'pew pew'. I must admit, if that is all you expect from a movie, it delivers.

I was a Star Wars crazed 8 year old when the original Galactica premiered on TV so naturally robots, explosions and laser beams were all I wanted/needed from it, and it did indeed deliver! :D

...years later it's still a sentimental favorite, even though I re-visited the series on Netflix about a year ago and cringed frequently at how poorly it's aged.

[Dr. Whom]

The original Staw Wars trilogy holds up better, mainly because they are much better movies.

Also, the vision of the future in Star Wars was a fresh approach, and proved to be trendsetting. Although it has its roots in space opera, Star Wars gave us 'the used future', where everything is not shiny and new, but more grounded in tech and slightly dingy in places. This has more or less become the norm. The original Battlestar Galactica was heavy on the 50s/60s tropes of a pseudo classical robes and crystals society, but with fighter pilots and disco styling. That universe therefore feels a lot more dated.

[Archivist]

The original Staw Wars trilogy holds up better, mainly because they are much better movies.

Also, the vision of the future in Star Wars was a fresh approach, and proved to be trendsetting. Although it has its roots in space opera, Star Wars gave us 'the used future', where everything is not shiny and new, but more grounded in tech and slightly dingy in places. This has more or less become the norm. The original Battlestar Galactica was heavy on the 50s/60s tropes of a pseudo classical robes and crystals society, but with fighter pilots and disco styling. That universe therefore feels a lot more dated.

Good observations.  I had not thought of the tropes of the classical robes and crystals.

I, too, was very young when Galactica came out, and it was on the tail of the Star Wars craze that had consumed my mind.  I watched Galactica again a few years ago, and quite enjoyed it, albeit in a very excited and nostalgic kind of way.  I'll watch it again soon.

[Flangepart]

Ya know, the new BSG did look at the whole 'total holocaust' aspect of the story in an unvarnished way. Cylons walking around shooting injured humans, the cities going up in a mushroom cloud. The original never had the guts to do that.

[ER]

Also, unless I'm mistaken, wasn't Battlestar Galactica a made-for-TV movie (the pilot) re-packaged and shown in theaters?

[BoyScoutKevin]

Also, unless I'm mistaken, wasn't Battlestar Galactica a made-for-TV movie (the pilot) re-packaged and shown in theaters?

Ye-es!

[Archivist]

Also, unless I'm mistaken, wasn't Battlestar Galactica a made-for-TV movie (the pilot) re-packaged and shown in theaters?

Indeed it was!  It screened in theatres in Australia in the late 70's.