BATTLESTAR GALACTICA

(May 1979, U.S.)

I am writing this post on the 1979 theatrical version of the original 1978 television series pilot episode...

If you're, say, over the age of 35 and can remember what a worldwide cultural phenomenon the original STAR WARS (1977) created, then you'll also remember that BATTLESTAR GALACTICA was television's first attempt to cash in on the new sci-fi adventure craze. The show had many of the same great special effects of the time. It was campy, cheesy and often silly. It only lasted one season. It had a cameo by a very young Rick Springfield before joining GENERAL HOSPITAL. Yet despite all that, it was popular with kids and created a cult following that continues to this day. After the show was cancelled in April 1979, Universal Pictures made one last attempt to prolong the show's life by releasing an edited theatrical version which resolved the entire story at the end of just about two hours. It was also the last film to be released in Sensurround (look it up).

Like STAR WARS, the film has the good guys, the evil enemy of the galaxy, base ships, fighter ships, lasers, explosions and the Cylon troops which are more than an obvious ripoff of the Star Wars' stormtroopers. Geez, it's no wonder 20th Century Fox sued Universal Studios (producers of the TV show) for plagiarism, copyright infringement, unfair competition, and the Lanham Act claims, claiming it had stolen thirty-four distinct ideas from STAR WARS. Like I really cared about who stole from who when I was a kid??

For someone like me, who lived, breathed and ate science fiction movies and TV throughout his childhood, owning the film BATTLESTAR GALACTICA gives me just enough of a nice taste of the great memories I have of the show without the redundancy of owning the entire TV series on DVD (that's expensive!).

Favorite line or dialogue:

Commander Adama: "Mr. President, a wall of unidentified craft is closing in on the fleet."
Baltar: "Possibly a Cylon welcoming committee?"
Adama: "Sir, might I suggest we launch a "welcoming committee" of our own?"