The direct-to-DVD “Battlestar Galactica: The Plan” promises to explore the “Battlestar Galactica” series from the Cylon point of view. While it’s interesting in places, ultimately it’s not likely to bring anyone new to the franchise.

In “Battlestar Galactica,” the 50,000 human survivors of an attempted genocide search space for their mythical home planet, Earth. They are pursued by Cylons, the mechanical life forms who attempted to wipe out humanity.

Edward James Olmos, who played Admiral Adama in “Battlestar,” directed “The Plan,” which merges existing footage from the series with new footage, primarily exploring the motivation of Cylon Number One (Dean Stockwell). Two versions of Number One, aka John Cavil, have very different experiences after the attack on the humans, leading them to different conclusions on the effectiveness of their plan.

If you’re hoping for vast revelations about the Cylon plan, you’ll likely be disappointed. There’s not much in the way of insight beyond what viewers got in “Battlestar Galactica” proper, and one character intimates that the plan is, in fact, not a plan.

The destruction of Caprica is shown here in much greater detail than in the original series.

Ultimately, “The Plan” requires too much foreknowledge to be a good entry point yet uses too much recycled material to be of interest to all but serious “Battlestar” watchers.

It’s good but not great, and the four seasons of “Battlestar Galactica” set the bar high.

— Matthew Price
From Friday’s The Oklahoman

The direct-to-DVD “Battlestar Galactica: The Plan” comes to DVD and Blu-ray today, exploring the events of the series from the Cylons’ point-of-view.

It’s also a little racier than the cable series, as there are no particular restrictions on the direct-to-DVD release. (It’s still no racier than an R-rated film, however.)

Tying into the film’s release, UGO is offering fans a chance to win “Dinner with the Admiral.”  The winner will receive a trip for two to Los Angeles for dinner with Edward James Olmos.

At the site’s Battlestar Contest, fans can fill  out a “Viper Pilot Application” form consisting of 10 questions.  According to a news release, entries will be judged on the following criteria: 1) Knowledge of Battlestar Galactica TV series as displayed in the answers; 2) Creativity in formulation of answers; and 3) Clarity of thought in presentation of answers.

- Matt Price

“Battlestar Galactica” stars Tricia Helfer and Grace Park tell Maxim that the upcoming “Battlestar Galactica: The Plan,” coming to DVD on Oct. 27, will be a little sexier than previous BSG.  From Maxim:

Tricia Helfer: There will certainly be a lot more explicit action on the DVD. And I refuse to have a body double, so you will see a little bit of skin from me as the Six character. There’s also a new character you’ll see in some very intense sex scenes.

Grace Park: Yeah, there’s going to be a T & A version. Though maybe I should say T, C & A, because it’s not just girls this time…

More pictures after the cut.

According to HitFix, Superman Returns director Bryan Singer may produce and could even direct a feature film version of Battlestar Galactica.  The deal Universal signed in February this year with Glen Larson was for a new version of the property.

Singer had been in line to bring a sequel to the original Battlestar Galactica to TV in 2001.   This series was derailed in the aftermath of 9/11.

At Comic-Con 2008, “X-Men” producer Tom DeSanto talked about Singer’s plans for the property before it was shut down:

DeSanto correlated the “Battlestar Galactica” story to the Biblical Exodus of the Jews.  The sequel would have followed that story.

“What if the Jews had stopped at Mt. Sinai and built Las Vegas?” he said.

The story was set 20 years after the events of the original series, when the remaining humans voted to build a new society and stop the search for Earth.  They became unprepared for the Cylons, who eventually found them.

“9-11 paralleled our story very much,” he said. “Cylons came back with a fury.”

See the entire article from Comic-Con 2008 here.

If Singer is again attached, would he follow a similar storyline?  It’ll be interesting to see what develops with “Battlestar Galactica.”

- Matt Price

The new film version would have no connection to the Sci Fi television series, which is nearing an end.  It would feature characters like Adama, Starbuck and Baltar, according to the Hollywood Reporter, but would be a new version.

Of course, “Battlestar Galactica” has had false starts, before, as well: Bryan Singer’s version very nearly made it to television in 2001, as I wrote about here.

– Matt Price

The first half of the fourth and final season of “Battlestar Galactica” comes to DVD. Ronald D. Moore’s re-imagining of the concept has been more successful than could have been predicted, and now the show will get the opportunity to end on its own terms.

In “Battlestar Galactica,” the 50,000 human survivors of an attempted genocide continue to search space for their mythical home planet, Earth. They are pursued by the Cylons, the mechanical life forms who attempted to wipe out humanity.

In the season 3 cliffhanger, Kara “Starbuck” Thrace (Katee Sackhoff) returns, despite apparently dying earlier in season 3. As season 4 begins, she claims she’s received information that can guide the lost fleet to Earth. There are questions about her resurrection, but Commander Adama (Edward James Olmos) nevertheless gives Starbuck a ship to try to scout a route to Earth.

The Cylons, meanwhile, are in the midst of a civil war, and a splinter group of Cylons offer to work with the humans to help them find Earth.

This DVD set includes a “director’s cut” of the “Battlestar Galactica: Razor” special, which flashed back to events on the Battlestar Pegasus. Extras include behind-the-scenes videos, featurettes and snippets from Comic-Con International 2008.

- Matthew Price

SAN DIEGO — At the 30th Anniversary Battlestar Galactica panel at Comic-Con International, “X-Men” producer Tom DeSanto talked about the Battlestar Galactica that almost was — a direct sequel to the original series.  Starting in 1998, DeSanto worked with director Bryan Singer to bring a continuation of the series to television.

After some original confusion about who owned the rights, in July 2000, Singer and DeSanto pitched a $13.5 million backdoor pilot to FOX, with a series pickup contingent on the ratings.

FOX and SciFi entered into an agreement that would have allowed SciFi to broadcast letterboxed versions of the episodes a few days after they originally aired.

“We were eight weeks away from shooting when 9-11 happened,” DeSanto said.

The pilot’s plot, about kamikaze pilots crashing into buildings on the human city of New Caprica, suddenly seemed too close to home.  DeSanto and company attempted to rework it, but the schedule slipped, and Singer had to decide between “Battlestar Galactica” and “X-Men 2.”  Singer and FOX struggled with the decision, but ultimately Singer went on to helm “X-Men 2.”

DeSanto showed several effects tests for the series, which he wanted to have a World War II, 16 mm newsreel feel.

DeSanto correlated the “Battlestar Galactica” story to the biblical exodus of the Jews.  The sequel would have followed that story.

“What if the Jews had stopped at Mt. Sinai and built Las Vegas?” he said.

The story was set 20 years after the events of the original series, when the remaining humans voted to build a new society and stop the search for Earth.  They became unprepared for the Cylons, who eventually found them.

“9-11 paralleled our story very much,” he said. “Cylons came back with a fury.”

After a sneak attack on the humans, the conflict is reignited.

The final shot of the pilot would have revealed a human-Cylon hybrid — the former Apollo, played by Richard Hatch.

The storyline of the series would have showcased the conflict between Apollo and his son, now the commander of the fleet, and the battle for Apollo’s soul.

– Matt Price

– Matt Price

 

From Friday’s The Oklahoman:

In “Battlestar Galactica” season three, most of the surviving humans have settled on a planet called New Caprica, halting their search for Earth. But the Cylons, the mechanical life forms that wiped out most of humanity, have found them.

As the human colonists on New Caprica fall under Cylon occupation, Battlestar Galactica, the military flagship commanded by Adama (Edward James Olmos) retreats from the planet.

The first four episodes are incredibly dark, as the “heroes” of the series must deal with questions of morality as they are held captive by the invading Cylon force. This is brutal stuff, though it works on several levels, and attempts to raise questions by the viewers beyond the fictional narrative.

After the four opening episodes, however, the series treads water as it heads for the finale. There are occasional good episodes, but it’s much more typical television than the previous two seasons. Season Three of “Battlestar Galactica” veers from the overarching story formula of the first two seasons. Bowing to studio pressure, Ron Moore and David Eick slotted more single-episode storylines into season three. The net effect is to slow down the momentum of the series when watching it on DVD.

Things pick up again in the final three episodes, and the final episode will surprise even longtime “Galactica” watchers.

— Matthew Price