Battlestar Galactica - Season One | 
 enlarge | Actor: Jamie Bamber
Studio: Sci-Fi Channel, The
Category: DVD
List Price: $59.98
Buy New: $38.00
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Rating:  501 reviews
Sales Rank: 495
Format: Box Set, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Dvd-video, Widescreen, Ntsc
Languages: English (Original Language), Spanish (Subtitled)
Number Of Items: 5
Running Time: 756
Discs: 5
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1
Dimensions (in): 7.6 x 5.4 x 1.5
MPN: 025192792823
ISBN: 1417054069
UPC: 025192792823
EAN: 9781417054060
ASIN: B000AJJNFE
Theatrical Release Date: January 14, 2005
Release Date: September 20, 2005
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: Season One. 5-disc set. Excellent condition.
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Product Description
Largely wiped out by a hundred years of warfare with the Cylon Empire, the few surviving humans search for the mythical thirteenth colony, Earth.
Genre: Science Fiction
Rating: NR
Release Date: 20-SEP-2005
Media Type: DVD
Amazon.com
Battlestar Galactica's Edward James Olmos wasn't kidding when he said "the series is even better than the miniseries." As developed by sci-fi TV veteran Ronald D. Moore, the "reimagined" BG is exactly what it claims to be: a drama for grown-ups in a science-fiction setting. The mature intelligence of the series is its greatest asset, from the tenuous respect between Galactica's militarily principled commander Adama (Olmos) and politically astute President Roslin (Mary McDonnell) to the barely suppressed passion between ace Viper pilot "Apollo" (a.k.a. Adama's son Lee, played by Jamie Bamber) and the brashly insubordinate Starbuck (Katee Sackhoff), whose multifaceted character is just one of many first-season highlights. Picking up where the miniseries ended (it's included here, sparing the need for separate purchase), season 1 opens with the riveting, Hugo Award-winning episode "33," in which Galactica and the "ragtag fleet" of colonial survivors begin their quest for the legendary 13th colony planet Earth, while being pursued with clockwork regularity by the Cylons, who've now occupied the colonial planet of Caprica. The fleet's hard-fought survival forms (1) the primary side of the series' three-part structure, shared with (2) the apparent psychosis of Dr. Gaius Baltar (James Callis) whose every thought and move are monitored by various incarnations of Number Six (Tricia Helfer), the seemingly omniscient Cylon ultravixen who follows a master plan somehow connected to (3) the Caprican survival ordeal of crash-landed pilots "Helo" (Tahmoh Penikett) and "Boomer" (Grace Park), whose simultaneous presence on Galactica is further evidence that 12 multicopied models of Cylons, in human form, are gathering their forces. With remarkably consistent quality, each of these 13 episodes deepens the dynamics of these fascinating characters and suspenseful situations. While BG relies on finely nuanced performances, solid direction, and satisfying personal and political drama to build its strong emotional foundation, the action/adventure elements are equally impressive, especially in "The Hand of God," a pivotal episode in which the show's dazzling visual effects get a particularly impressive showcase. Original BG series star Richard Hatch appears in two politically charged episodes (he's a better actor now, too), and with the threat of civil war among the fleet, season 1 ends with an exceptional cliffhanger that's totally unexpected while connecting the plot threads of all preceding episodes. To the credit of everyone involved, this is frackin' good television. DVD features
The fifth disc in Battlestar Galactica's season 1 set is highlighted by eight comprehensive featurettes covering all aspects of the series, from its miniseries origins to standard surveys of production design, visual effects, and particulars of plot and character. For hardcore fans and anyone interested in TV production, nine out of 13 episodes, plus the disc 1 miniseries, are accompanied by intelligent and informative commentary originally provided as BG website podcasts, mostly by series developer and writer Ronald D. Moore, who provides tantalizing clues about developments in season 2. The "Series Lowdown" is a cast-and-crew promotional program originally broadcast to attract SciFi Channel viewers who were initially reluctant to embrace a "reimagined" Battlestar Galactica. The strategy worked: First-season ratings left no doubt that the new BG was as good as--and in many ways better than--the original. --Jeff Shannon
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| Customer Reviews: Read 496 more reviews...
 Awesome show...You'll be hooked!!! July 22, 2008
Great story, writing and production. What the frak more could you wish for? Definitely some of the best written television in a while, science fiction or otherwise.
Love it or hate it July 11, 2008
I've noticed that this seems to be a polarizing series. Most of the reviews are either 5 stars or 1 star. The 5 star reviewers claim this is a perfect series, and the 1 star ppl think it's not even worth watching. I honestly think it's somewhere in between. I've finished with the first season set and I am looking forward to watching the second season. I understand why sci-fi fans won't like this series. There is a low action/battle to suspense/drama ratio. I think most ppl were expecting a redo of the old series with new actors and better special effects. I doubt the creators, simply wanted to televise a "play" of BG with new ppl. I've noticed that more than a few opponents of the show say you will like BG if you enjoy the West Wing (I assume they have a very low opinion of that show as well), and will hate it if you enjoy Star Wars/Firefly/Star Trek. Well, I am a big fan of all of those (including the West Wing), ranking Firefly at the top and then West Wing. I think the show tries to cast big net and incorporate something for everyone: Military vs. civilian, moral dilemmas, pseudo religious themes (which will really infuriate some ppl), space battles, suspense, personal demons, etc. This series is by no means perfect. The acting isn't always the best, and some characters over-act consistently. Some of the difficult decisions various characters face are over-emphasized and brought up over and over and over...There isn't as much action as i would have hoped, and it's apparent they've tried to base their action sequences/camera work off the Firefly action scenes. They've also changed Starbuck and Boomer to female characters to try and get that diversity that is inherit in Firefly's cast, but falls pretty short. I recognize all this, and still I am genuinely interested in the Cylon/Human interaction, especially between Boomer and Helo/Boomer and other Cylons on Caprica. It does seem unfair that this show could go on for so long, and Firefly gets cxld at the same time. This show is comparable in style and genre, but Firefly is better in every way from character interaction to writing to camerawork. .
Fascinating, Character-Driven "Drama-in-space" July 7, 2008
A few caveats: I watch television shows only on DVD through netflix, and only after hearing good things about a series from several people over a long period of time. In other words, I don't watch that much of it, and never follow a show from week to week.
BSG is one of the best shows to have come my way in the last five years. But, more than a lot of shows, it's iconoclastic for its genre and tosses out a lot of tried-and-true Sci-Fi rigmarole. So, this is not traditional but well-executed science fiction. This is quite unusual but still well-executed science fiction.
So what should you expect?
First, the "exotic" feel of traditional Sci-Fi is almost entirely absent from this show. Occasionally you'll see a "centurion" (robot desiged to kill humans), a battle between space fighters, or "faster-than-light jumps" where space ships instantly move from point to point in the universe. That's about it. The plot is constructed so that humans have embraced older technology to survive against an AI rebellion (the Cylons), so you'll even see things like corded-phones. Clothing and hair cuts are also recognizably modern. The characters say "frak" instead of "f*ck" when they swear, but otherwise there is no future slang. The bottom line is that BSG puts recognizable characters in extraordinary situations and environments. They're in space; they're on the run from a human-created robot "race" called the cylons; otherwise, they could be your friends and neighbors. Their motivations are not foreign or exotic or futuristic.
This is a show about people in dire straights, trying to make a new beginning. It's also a show about morality and survival. The Cylons, it seems, do not simply want to annihilate people, but they want to "become human" in some way or another. Some of are built and programmed to look and act human - can these be killed or tortured without reservation or hesitation? A lot of BSG is about fear, accusations, "traitors," and what kinds of lines can be drawn between "us" and "them."
BSG is also quite ambitious in that it eschews from the beginning having characters who are, on the whole, likable or unlikable. Sometimes you'll admire these people, sometimes you'll be aghast at moments of poor judgment. If you want to grow consistently fond of certain characters, to trust them and believe in them, this show will frustrate you enormously. Everyone makes mistakes in this show, but they're not hopelessly flawed. It's a tough line to walk across the board. I would think it's very difficult to write characters like Commander Adama who function as a father-figure and leader to the entire ship but who (unlike "Captain Picard") sometimes just screw it up. The audience has to believe they "would" blow it occasionally. For the most part, BSG's characters seem real without seeming flagrantly inconsistent, something the fans appreciate. However, there are times when characters just don't have much to say about serious actions and consequences, and it can be hard to go along with a compounding chain of events. This is why I rate the first season four stars instead of five.
A brief example. In the first episode, the humans are running for their lives (in space) and the Cylons catch up with them every 33 minutes before the humans "jump" to another point in space. Mid-way through the episode, the commander comes up with a very basic plan to separate the fleet to try and "shake off" the cylons. It's hard to believe that this plan was not considered for the first 250 times (literally). I think sometimes the "drama" of the show downplays resourcefulness to a questionable degree. No one on BSG is much of a planner, and given the circumstances, that can be little hard to swallow.
This is also a visually breathtaking and riveting show. Wonderful colors, compositions, cinematography, etc. There is some CGI, but it never takes center stage. BSG is not built around special effects.
It's also a "serious" show, and by no means an escapist one. If you want some swashbuckling adventure in your Sci-Fi, see "Firefly" (a show that otherwise assumes that humans in space are still humans).
That's about it. Well-acted, well-written, largely plausible (with occasionally eye-brow raisers), mature, character-driven. Flawed but redeemable characters, lots of different story arcs that span several episodes. Action takes a back seat (whole episodes go by without so much as a weapon drawn or a punch thrown). If you're intrigued by this desription, this show will fascinate and absorb you. The second season is even better.
 Simply Amazing May 31, 2008
0 out of 2 found this review helpful
Not only is this the best sci-fi drama on television, but this is the best Drama... Period.
You don't have to like sci-fi to get hooked on this show, but you do have to watch it from the beginning.
brilliant May 29, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
At first, I was resistant to watching this show -- I was a fan of the original BSG as a kid, and had fond memories of drawing large pictures of vipers and raiders in huge space battles. But I watched a few episodes and quickly warmed to it. Edward James Elmos as Adama? It works. And Tricia Helfer helped me adapt as well... Turning the Cylons into the creations of the humans, albeit religious extremist beings who believe they have an edict from the "one true God", brings to mind great fiction like Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, Bladerunner/Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep, and past and current political and religious conflicts like the "war on terror". It is obvious the plot has been though out from the beginning, and it is paying off in spades now in the fourth season.
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