HTF DVD REVIEW: Battlestar Galactica Season Three - Recommended

Kevin EK · 03-17-2008, 02:43 AM

BATTLESTAR GALACTICA
SEASON THREE

Studio: Universal
Original Airing: 2006-2007
Length: 15 hours 55 mins
Genre: Science Fiction

Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1 Anamorphic
Color/B&W: Color

Audio:

English Dolby Digital 5.1

Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish
Rating: Unrated (Some Sci-Fi Violence and Bloodshed, Language, Sexuality)

Release Date: March 18, 2007

Rating:
3 ½ ½ /

:Starring: Edward James Olmos, Mary McDonnell, Katee Sackhoff, James Callis, Tricia Helfer, Jamie Bamber, Aaron Douglas, Michael Hogan, Grace Park, Tahmoh Penikett, with appearances by Mark Sheppard, Lucy Lawless and Dean Stockwell

Executive Producers: Ronald D. Moore and David Eick
Written by: Various
Directed by: Various

Battlestar Galactica: Season Three is a six disc DVD set compiling all of the episodes of the Ronald D. Moore/David Eick series’ third season, along with a battery of extras and special features. By this point in the series, the storylines have been fairly well developed and have progressed far past the point of introduction, so it may be difficult for new viewers to pick up the story here. (I would recommend watching the seasons in order, as many episodes in the third season refer back to past events from the first two years.) For viewers ready for the ride, this season is possibly the richest one yet. The story is constructed in five movements: the first completes the New Caprica storyline and gets everyone back to space, the second deals with the fallout from New Caprica and includes one standalone piece, the third brings the human and Cylon fleets to a distant algae planet that may hold a crucial clue for their search, the fourth provides the usual fleet and individual stories that tend to pop up in the second half of the season, and the final movement finds Baltar on trial and throws a lot of balls up in the air before the inevitable twist ending and cliffhanger. Not every episode succeeds, but the ones that do (the “Exodus” two parter, “The Passage”, “Maelstrom”) are not only good science fiction but also moving stories of humanity and its failings. By the end of the season, the groundwork has been laid for the coming fourth and final year, which will wrap up the multiple stories that have continued to run on the series for the past four years.

The DVD set includes all of the episodes in anamorphic format and 5.1 sound, along with Ron Moore’s podcast commentaries from the Sci-Fi Channel website and a few minutes of deleted scenes for almost every episode. Some episodes receive additional commentaries as well. The set also includes all of David Eick’s video blogs from the Sci-Fi website, with the exception of “Peabody Madness”, and adds several more that haven’t been seen before. In addition, the set also includes the complete “Resistance” webisode series shown at the Sci-Fi website in the weeks before the Season Three premiere in the fall of 2006. As a special bonus, the set also includes a much longer cut of the episode "Unfinished Business", with 25 minutes of deleted scenes that didn't make it to the aired version, along with a new commentary by Ron Moore and the editor to explain what was going on.

VIDEO QUALITY: 3/5

Battlestar Galactica: Season three is presented in an anamorphic 1.78:1 transfer that matches the harsh docudrama look of the series. The episodes present multiple visual environments, from the harsh and gritty exteriors of New Caprica to the clean, dark lines of the Base Star interior to the warmer looks of the Cylon “projections” and various characters’ dreams. Some episodes have moments of extreme graininess (particularly the early shows on New Caprica) but this is an intentional effect by Director of Photography Steve McNutt, as seen in his segment of the David Eick video blogs.

AUDIO QUALITY: 3 ½/5 ½

Battlestar Galactica: Season Three is presented in an English Dolby Digital 5.1 mix that mostly uses the front channels. There is a little atmospheric and directional use of the rear channels, particularly for gunfights or loudspeaker effects. But the rear speakers are primarily used for music. There’s a little subwoofer work here, during the bigger moments, but the smaller scale of the series limits this.

DISC BY DISC:

Rather than do a simple rating for Special Features, I think it will work better here to account for what can be found on each disc, in order. Every episode features the original Ronald D. Moore podcast as provided on the Sci-Fi website. (The Writers’ Roundtable and the bonus podcasts from the website are not included here)

DISC ONE:

Episodes-

Occupation, with deleted scenes (2:11, Non-anamorphic) and podcast commentary

Precipice, with deleted scenes (1.23, Non-anamorphic) and podcast commentary

Exodus, Pt 1, with podcast commentary

Exodus, Pt 2, with deleted scenes (5:21, Non-anamorphic) and podcast commentary

The disc also contains a SNEAK PEEKS section, containing non-anamorphic previews for the DVD releases of the TV shows Knight Rider, The A Team, Magnum PI, The Incredible Hulk, The Rockford Files, Miami Vice, Saturday Night Live, Quantum Leap, Monk and House.

When the disc is first put into the player, the viewer can see non-anamorphic trailers including a brief promo for Battlestar Galactica: Season Four, The Incredible Hulk: Seasons 3 and 4, Heroes: Season One on both DVD and HD-DVD, and the original HD-DVD promo from over a year ago.

DISC TWO:

Episodes-

Collaborators, with deleted scenes (3:14, Non-anamorphic) and podcast commentary

Torn, with deleted scenes (1:26, Non-anamoprhic) and podcast commentary

A Measure of Salvation, with deleted scenes (10:36, Non-anamorphic) and podcast commentary

The disc also contains:

”The Resistance” Webisodes - (26:25 total, Non-anamorphic) The complete ten-part website series is included here. The events of this story lead directly into the first episode of the third season. The photography and sound match that of the regular episodes. The story mostly follows minor characters who will become more important as things get going during the season.

David Eick’s Video Blogs - (15:38 total, Non-anamorphic) – Five video blogs from David Eick are included on this disc. Some are from the Sci-Fi website and some have not been seen before this release. I will indicate the new blogs in italics. The full list of blogs on this disc is “Testimonials”, “Who Dies?”, “Prosthetics”, “Lucy and David”, and “Introducing Bulldog”. There’s a lot of jokey material in the blogs, but there’s also some interesting material, including a look at the makeup work done on Jamie Bamber to make him appear to have gained a lot of weight for the early episodes.

DISC THREE:

Episodes-

Hero, with deleted scenes (5:38, Non-anamorphic), podcast commentary and an additional commentary with David Eick (who wrote the episode)

Unfinished Business (aired version), with podcast commentary by Ron Moore and cast members Grace Park and Tahmoh Penikett. (The disc holder says “Pnikett”!)

Unfinished Business (uncut version), with new commentary by Ron Moore
(The longer version contains 25 minutes of deleted material that had to be cut for the aired version)

The disc also contains:

David Eick’s Video Blogs - (20:53 total, Non-anamorphic) – Six video blogs from David Eick are included on this disc. I will indicate the one new blog with italics. The full list of blogs on this disc is “Characters”, “Adama on Adama”, “Episode 6 Read Through”, “On the Road”, “Steve McNutt Gets a Video Blog” and “The Soldier’s Code: Leave No Man Behind”. Three of the blogs here focus on the mid-season cliffhanger and the location shooting in Kamloops.

DISC FOUR:

Episodes-

The Passage, with deleted scenes (6:13, Non-anamorphic) and podcast commentary

The Eye of Jupiter, with deleted scenes (2:55, Non-anamorphic) and podcast commentary

Rapture, with deleted scenes (2:59, Non-anamorphic) and podcast commentary

Taking a Break from All Your Worries, with deleted scenes (3:53, Non-anamorphic) and podcast commentary

DISC FIVE:

Episodes-

The Woman King, with deleted scenes (2:18, Non-anamorphic) and podcast commentary

A Day in the Life, with deleted scenes (1:33, Non-anamorphic) and podcast commentary

Dirty Hands, with deleted scenes (2:44, Non-anamorphic) and podcast commentary

Maelstrom, with deleted scenes (8:44, Non-anamorphic) and podcast commentary

DISC SIX:

Episodes-

The Son Also Rises, with deleted scenes (2:19, Non-anamorphic), podcast commentary, and a commentary with Mark Sheppard and writer Michael Angeli

Crossroads, pt 1, with deleted scenes (2:33, Non-anamorphic), podcast commentary, and a commentary with Mark Sheppard

Crossroads, pt 2, with deleted scenes (3:26, Non-anamorphic), podcast commentary, and a commentary with Mark Sheppard. (THE DELETED SCENES INCLUDE AN ALTERNATE ENDING TO THE SEASON, WHICH IS INTERESTING ALTHOUGH IT IS NOT AS EFFECTIVE AS THE ONE THEY ACTUALLY USED)

David Eick’s Video Blogs (39:39 total, Non-anamorphic) – The final eleven of Eick’s blogs for Season Three are included here. I have indicated the two blogs new to viewers with italics. The full list of blogs is “Takin’ A Break From All Your Worries”, “On the Road pt 2”, “Some Guy Named Colin”, “Building a Better Show”, “Katee’s Scrapbook”, “Shooting”, “Mr. Eddie, If You Please”, “Oceans in the Desert”, “David Who?”, “Out of Control” and “Last Episode Blues”. There is some irony here in that the unaired blogs contain a lot of comments intended to promote the episodes, but are only being seen more than a year after those shows have been on people’s televisions.

Subtitles are available in English and Spanish for the episodes and for the special features. Standard chapter menus are included for quick reference. The webisodes and the video blogs may be played individually or through a “PLAY ALL” button.

IN THE END...

Battlestar Galactica: Season Three continues and expands the good work already done by this series. For those unfamiliar with the show, it may be confusing to start with this set. But for those already initiated, this should be an interesting and at times exhilarating ride. This is a no-brainer purchase for fans of the show, and a great way to whet the appetite for the upcoming fourth season, now only three weeks away.

Kevin Koster
March 16 2008.

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Shawn.F · 03-17-2008, 07:01 AM

Three weeks...all I can say is it's about FRAAKIN' TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Joseph J.D · 03-17-2008, 08:24 AM

I'm definitely picking this one up tomorrow....been waiting far too long to watch this. Can't wait to have the set in my hands.

Jason_V · 03-17-2008, 08:57 AM

I wish I could justify picking this up, but I just can't. Sounds like a great release, but I have to wait for BSG in BD. I'll probably be kicking myself next week, though...

Ian C · 03-17-2008, 12:03 PM

I just recently started watching BSG. I avoided it for a long time...thinking it would be similar to the cheesy original. I'm glad I finally was convinced to watch it, because it's a truly fantastic show. I watched the entire first season via Netflix, but with Best Buy's deal currently running (all four sets for $120) I've decided to just pick it up. Glad to hear the quality doesn't drop.

I debated waiting for a Blu-Ray release, but figured it would be a lot more costly than what I'm about to pay for the regular DVDs. Plus, the lower resolution doesn't seem to detract too much from the dark and gritty feel to the show. Of course, I have yet to watch it in HD...so I might just not know what I'm missing.

Hollywoodaholic · 03-17-2008, 12:56 PM

Having watched the series as it re-airs each episode on HD NET channels after its initial Sci-Fi channel run, it's very tough to go back to watching it non-HD. And I still think Universal will have the whole show out on Blu-ray next year. It's worth holding out for, or spending more for.

That brings up the idea of a possible new thread. For those of us watching newer shows in HD (Lost, Heroes, etc.), how can you ever go back and buy non-HD versions of these shows on regular DVD? It's fine with older shows because they (for the most part) look better than we ever saw them when they originally aired. But in today's market, you don't want to go backward image-wise watching the DVD. It's a costly dilemma.

TravisR · 03-17-2008, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jason_V

Sounds like a great release, but I have to wait for BSG in BD.

I got into the show via Netflix after S3 ran and I'm just going to wait to buy it until the BR releases too. If I had been buying the DVDs from the beginning, I'd buy S3 too but I figure why start now when I know that I'll just upgrade in the next couple of years.

EDIT:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hollywoodaholic

For those of us watching newer shows in HD (Lost, Heroes, etc.), how can you ever go back and buy non-HD versions of these shows on regular DVD?

I don't really have a problem with it. If I like the show, I'll buy the best that's available. It'd be nice if that was a Blu Ray release but if it's just the DVD then so be it. BSG is a rare time when I came to the party real late so in this case, I am just going to wait for the BRs. If I have a burning desire to rewatch the show before that happens, I'll rent the discs.

Walter Kittel · 03-17-2008, 01:46 PM

I watched Season 1 on HD-DVD and recently completed Season 2 on a friend's loaner on DVD. For me, the storyline was simply too compelling to wait for an eventual HD release; which means that I will be purchasing Season 3 on DVD tomorrow.

While I wish there was an HD release pending, I believe that it will be a long time before Season 2 and later episodes are available on Bd. (I suspect that Season 1 will be re-released on Bd before later episodes ever hit Bd.)

Ian, the HD-DVD release is substantially better than the DVD release of Season 1; which makes the wait for later seasons in HD even more painful.

- Walter.

Ian C · 03-17-2008, 02:06 PM

Yeah...I noticed season 1 wasn't too great in the video department, but I just started season 2 this weekend and have noticed a substantial improvement, video-wise.

As far as the eventual HD release, I figure if there's an uber boxset with the complete series in special packaging down the road, I'll probably go for it. In the meantime, I picked up season 1 and season 2.0 yesterday, and am about to start rewatching season 1 with my son while concurrently going through 2.0 on my own (already watched half of it yesterday

). I plan to pick up seasons 2.5 and 3 this weekend...assuming I don't get through 2.0 before then.

This is the first thing I've seen in a while that I'm actually eager to go ahead and rewatch it...so I figure the SD releases will certainly get their use. If ever I pick up the HD release, I'll just pass down the SD releases to my little brother.