Battlestar Galactica 2003 - no spoilers, don't worry

[Derek]

Well, after all the rave reviews about BSG, I decided to watch it. I caught last week's episode (1x05) and this week's (1x06). And it was okay, but I'm not sold out on it like other people.

One of the things that I really don't like is the way none of the camera men can seem to hold the camera steady. It's always shaking and randomly zooming in and zooming out. I'm sure this is a deliberate effect, but its purpose and allure are lost on me.

Also, they seem to pace their episodes like Law and Order does with a cut from one scene to another without time to process, which I also don't particularly care for, but can get past a little easier.

But 1x06 was interesting. Guess I'll try to catch 1x07.

[Kira]

Originally Posted by Derek

Well, after all the rave reviews about BSG, I decided to watch it. I caught last week's episode (1x05) and this week's (1x06). And it was okay, but I'm not sold out on it like other people.

Stick with it. It takes up until the season finale to match the high calibre of the first two episodes, which were great. I've seen all 13 eps now, and although I quite enjoyed 1x05 I found 1x06 to be one of the weakest of the bunch. Still beats most sci-fi with a large stick, but BSG has done and will do far better.

They actually comment on their camera work in the features I mentioned; apparently the idea is to make it more documentary-style, to take it out of sci-fi and make it more realistic -- a general goal of the series overall. I have no problem with that, and it's an interesting take. As for the rapid action, part of that I think has to be due to the density of the plots. The second episode, "Water," was a full act too long on the first go round and had to take a lot of chopping, which would probably result in less pauses during the action. I like that it moves so quickly; it keeps you on the edge of your seat... though if you're just picking up the series, I can see how it might be a little jarring.

[Derek]

Originally Posted by Kira

They actually comment on their camera work in the features I mentioned; apparently the idea is to make it more documentary-style, to take it out of sci-fi and make it more realistic -- a general goal of the series overall.

I don't know what documentaries these people watch, but the ones I watch are much better wth their camera work even if it is sometimes jumpy. Really it is the biggest turnoff for me. I almost feel they need to put something similar to a rollercoaster advisory at the beginning of the show so people with motion sickness and pregnant women are properly warned.

But again, I'm trying to get past it and I'm still giving the next episode a go.

[richardson]

I like the jumpy camera work, especially in the space scenes. feels like you're watching through a gun camera, zooming in on points of intrest sometimes.

[PointyHairedJedi]

Well, the SFC website seems much better than Sky's, which doesn't have all that much in the way of content. There are also some unaired scenes which you can view there too I believe, but I've yet to get around to looking at those.

EDIT: About.com have more pictures than you can shake a moderately sized stick at, and apparently Gateworld have quite a few too.

[Kira]

Originally Posted by richardson

I like the jumpy camera work, especially in the space scenes. feels like you're watching through a gun camera, zooming in on points of intrest sometimes.

I really like that effect, which I now realize is possibly what Derek was talking about as opposed to the camera work in general. The jumps forward are harsh, but it's interesting, different, and a cool way to convey how small these ships (Vipers, Raptors, etc.) are in comparison to space and some of the other giant ships surrounding them. Having the camera pan the space around a massive Cylon battlestar, then catch a Raptor, double back, and zoom in abruptly is pretty cool IMO. It's how you'd look if you were there.

[PointyHairedJedi]

I've wondered wether or not that was one of the factors behind Zoic being chosen to do the VFX work in the first place - it was the trademark of their work on Firefly after all.

[psychoknight]

Originally Posted by PointyHairedJedi

^ Any particular reason why? I was never a particular fan of the look of the original so there's nothing in the new one that really bothers me in that regard.

To me it looks too sleek for a carrir. The old one looked more like a bulky warship. Anyway, that's not important, since everything else looks great, especially the Celestra.

[richardson]

nah, actually it looks rather clumsy still, at least compared to trek.


*Huggles his connie refit.*

[PointyHairedJedi]

Well, technically, the new Galactica is a refitted ship as well. It would be interesting to see another, 'new' Battlestar in season two, which is always a possibility (dare I mention the name Pegasus?)

I assume that everyone already knows that season two is going to be twenty episodes? I'm sort of ambivialent about it myself - more episodes could be a very good thing, but not if they can't put the same amount of time into making each one. It would be a pity if BSG were to become a victim of it's own success in that regard.

[Kira]

Well, I'll be frakked. "33" is now viewable online on SciFi's BSG site (click the banner at the top of the main page). The entire episode. I've never seen anything like it, but that's just cool. If you haven't watched BSG yet, go check out "33" (one of the series' best offerings to date) pronto.

[PointyHairedJedi]

Ah, I was going to mention this but I totally forgot about it. Yeah, it is kinda cool. The BBC are apparently planning to do something similar to this - they currently make radio shows available to listen to for up to a week after they were broadcast, and they might do the same with their TV programs.

The question is, will it stay up? And when will we see more epsisodes?

[Zeke]

We can steal TV for free now? The future is here! I'll definitely be watching that when I have a minute or 60.

[Kira]

We can steal TV for free legally now.

[Chancellor Valium]

IT'S A SIGN, IT'S A SI--
Oh, wait...sorry, it's my nose ops: ops:

[PointyHairedJedi]

Originally Posted by Kira

We can steal TV for free legally now.

Though it's kinda hard to steal given that it's a RealPlayer streaming file.

[Xeroc]

Originally Posted by PointyHairedJedi

Though it's kinda hard to steal given that it's a RealPlayer streaming file.

You can still do it, both by looking at the source and saving the file from a link, or checking in Temporary Internet Files.

[PointyHairedJedi]

Oh cool, I didn't know that. Does it work the same for Firefox?

[Chancellor Valium]

I don't think it works if they're streaming at 28 or 56k, though :wink:

[Xeroc]

Originally Posted by PointyHairedJedi

Oh cool, I didn't know that. Does it work the same for Firefox?

Actually, I checked again, and actually, the type of streaming their using requires a stream recorder to download and save, and most aren't free, or don't support RealPlayer.

Click here for a listing of some stream recorders.