TVSquad

Is Sci-Fi going to spend "Battlestar Galatica" money on special effects?

Or are they going to spend "movie of the week" money on special effects?

That will determine if I watch it or not.

(That and a decent plot.)

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BSG gets canceled an only a 20 episodes season, (not including the movie) but this gets 22 episodes it's first season? Bullshit!

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Did this really get a 22 episode first season? If so, that is insane, similar to how insane it was the Painkiller Jane got a 22 episode first season. And I actually kind of like Painkiller Jane, unlike most comments I read from viewers. But there is no way in hell it deserved a 22 episode season before it had proven itself. At least Painkiller Jane had a tv movie that had done well, that gave Scifi some slim confidence that the series would (although changing the main character would seem to hurt the chances of the movie's success from being assuredly transferred to the series). But Flash Gordon has all unproven actors (I mean, really, really unproven), except for the lead, and he has never carried a series before. I can certainly see them extending the series run to 20+ if the first couple episodes do well in the ratings and with the critics, but giving it a guaranteed 22 episodes from the start makes no sense.

You can say one thing about Scifi though, (all cable really), they don't pull a show they've committed to. So even if there end up being only a couple Flash Gordon fans out there, they will get to see the end of the first season, at least.

Isn't it a little late to be still finalizing effects if the premiere is in less than two weeks?

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BSG has about 20 episodes left in it in terms of its own narrative.

Flash Gordon is at the beginning.

So, yes, it makes sense to me. I can't wait to see it.

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Thank you Sean. As much as I love BSG, I agree there isn't much real story left past this last season. Most people who are crying out the injustice of it compared to this don't get that.

Also, BSG is no ratings grabber. Yes it is critically acclaimed and one of the best produced shows on TV but it does not pull huge numbers. Sure it pulls great numbers for SciFi, but they are looking for something that can pull more. By ordering full runs of these new shows, they can hope to pull some bigger numbers.

And David, Galactica DID NOT GET CANCELLED. How exactly did you equate that? RDM went into this final season with the concept of finishing the story.

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The ads that Sci-Fi is running for this look terrible. Eric Johnson was a mistake. He was horrible on Smallville and is really too young looking to play Flash. In the ad I saw he is completely stone faced, in what looks like an emotional scene. Also Ming isn't Chinese. This is to politically correct.

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Well Kevinc, this is a re-imagination so Ming's ethnicity can be made anything they want. Who cares if it was changed to be PC or not.

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Actually Akbar Fazil, who says he would ignore me and never does, BSG DID GET CANCELED, you would know that if you were following the news from Comic Con. Richard Hatch explained it all saying Moore wanted to end the show after season 5. Sci-fi would not give them two seasons, so Moore desided to "end" it. Moore will not be closing up all the loose ends because he wants to do a movie, TV spinoff, or even bring the show to a different nework. So that means Moore had the concept to finish the story? The only reason Moore hasn't spoken out is because he wants to have a good relationship with the terrible Sci-fi Channel. Richard Hatch has nothing to lose.

Sci-fi only gave BSG a 13 episode first season after the well rated miniseries. Flash Gordon and Jainkiller Jane will probably not even see a second season and neither will get the amount of buzz BSG has given to the Sci-fi Channel.

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I've gotta say, I watched this before sending it to Adam and I thought it was pretty bad. I will say it's difficult to get a decent feel for the episode when it's almost completely devoid of any special effects, though.

Even the opening scene with Flash running a "marathon" was pretty cheesily filmed. It doesn't feel real and makes one wonder why someone would be nicknamed "Flash" when what they run are marathons. Wouldn't that make more sense for a sprint runner?

I just felt bad watching this episode because I did get to meet these people a few weeks ago and they are good people, and this is what they've signed on for. I truly hope the finished product is much better than this screener or else they're in for trouble.

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David,

Hatch was WRONG about that.

MrsRon (RDM's wife) has refuted that on the scifi boards.

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Right....

Who am I going to believe, Richard Hatch who has nothing to lose and who had to learn about that somewhere, or Mrs Moore who has been wrong before and is most likely covering for her husband? Very hard to see who is most likely tellnig the truth.

Plus do you think Sci-fi will let their boards turn into "Sci-fi Channel is Shit!!!!!" topics?

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Why is the naked guy from Survivor commenting on BSG?

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To me, this isn't either-or, and it shouldn't be. Think of all of these shows in their first season as an investment. Some pay off, but most don't. By going with a 22-season pick-up instead of a 13-episode, their investment also can result in a higher-priced DVD package, plus likely more international sales as well.

Now, will it be good? I don't know, but I look forward to the result. It's likely not fair to judge it based on the unfinished product.

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What exactly would RDM have to cover for?

Try this on for size.

http://www.tvweek.com/blogs/blink/2007/07/battlestar_secrets_revealed_to.php

Quotes to pay attention to
"There are no plans to do a series of direct-to-DVD movies after "Battlestar" ends its run. While it can't be ruled out as ever happening, Moore pointed out, "At some point we're going to strike the sets, and it'd be very difficult to rebuild the Galactica on a TV movie budget."

"The decision was to end the show at the top of our game," said Moore. "That choice precludes certain other choices. [Like wrapping up every possible loose end of plot]. We'll always be able to say we could have done more."

So, who is wrong now David?

I for one believe MrsRon a hell of alot more than I do Richard Hatch.

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Also David, Hatch claimed Sci-Fi didn't want to COMMIT to more seasons. That is FAR different than canceling. So, either way, you are wrong.

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From a business sense, Sci-Fi may have made the right decision. Additional seasons past this next one MAY have watered down the show. They also may NOT have. But with David Eick pursuing Bionic Woman, and RDM pursuing whatever he's pursuing, ending BSG after Season 4 is likely the best business decision made between partners all acting in good faith.

Now, the show may have been able to sustain itself in perpetuity, but go back and watch "Woman King" and tell me how you feel again. And that's an episode that RDM himself has implied he would prefer not to have to do in the future.

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Jack,
The Richard hatch being talked about is NOt the guy from "Surivor," but the guy who originally played Apollo in the 70's.

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Pete,

Oh, I know. I was just making a bad joke. But what are the odds that two people named Richard Hatch would become famous, roughly 25 years apart? Are we due to have a Nobel prize winner in 2035 named Britney ("Not THE Britney Spears") Spears?

I watched the old show, but haven't seen the new BSG. Everyone says I need to watch it.

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Check it out, if you LIKED the show, head over to www.flashgordon.myfandoms.com and join up!

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ohhh, this show is horrible. Bad special effects, bad acting and horrible writing. Even the women aren't particularly attractive. It can't decide if it is camp or serious and by straddling the line it becomes just bad.

If you want to do serious, you have to have better writing and acting than this, if you want to do camp, you better do it over the top and have incredibly beautiful women spilling out of clothing and beefcake and villians who chew through scenery and have wild makeup and hair styles. Your hero better have a ready supply of quips at hand.

This show should only last 4 episodes - max.

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