The iconic late 1970s science fiction television series, Battlestar Galactica and its spinoff Galactica 1980 arrive on Blu-ray, remastered and mostly restored in both a Definitive and Remastered collection box set. The Definitive set presents the series in both its original broadcast aspect ratio and a recomposed 16:9 widescreen.
Studio: Universal
Distributed By: N/A
Video Resolution and Encode: 1080P/AVC, 1080P/VC-1
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1, 1.78:1, 1.85:1
Audio: English 2.0 DTS-HDMA, English 5.1 DTS-HDMA, Spanish 5.1 DTS, French 5.1 DTS, Other
Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish, French
Rating: Not Rated, PG
Run Time: 29 Hr. 26 Min.
Package Includes: Blu-ray
Multi-disc Blu-ray keepcases housed in a carboard shellDisc Type: BD50 (dual layer)
Region: A, ABC
Release Date: 05/12/2015
MSRP: $149.98
The Production Rating: 3.5/5
After a letter-writing campaign by fans outraged over the cancellation, ABC and Universal approached Larson about possibly rebooting the series, but at a reduced budget. The result was Galactica 1980, moving the storyline ahead 30 years with Adama finally finding Earth. But this reboot was quite different from the original series, set in modern-day Los Angeles with the crew trying to help the inhabitants of Earth improve their technology to a level where they an defend themselves against the Cylons. The only cast members to return were Adama (again played by a now-bearded Lorne Greene) and Colonel Boomer (Herbert Jefferson, Jr.). Boxey is now all grown up, going by the name of Captain Troy, and played by Kent McCord (Adam-12), and has a sidekick, Lt. Dillon (Barry Van Dyke). Troy and Dillon meet TV journalist Jamie Hamilton (Robyn Douglas), who joins them on many of their adventures. Galactica 1980 is a much cheesier series than its predecessor, with way too many fish out of water jokes and a more streamlined effects budget that, in the first episode, uses effects shots from Earthquake as the backplates for the Cylons attack on Los Angeles. The series debuted on ABC as a replacement in January of 1980, and was cancelled before the eleventh episode was completed, with only ten episodes officially in the can and aired. The widescreen edition is spread over two discs, while the full frame (which again appears to be the international release) is spread over three discs.
Rounding out the Definitive Collection is the edited theatrical version of the pilot episode, previously released on Blu-ray in 2013.
Battlestar Galactica: The Original Series - Widescreen
Disc One:
Saga of a Star World
Lost Planet of the Gods, Part 1
Lost Planet of the Gods, Part 2
Disc Two:
The Lost Warrior
The Long Patrol
The Gun on Ice Planet Zero, Part 1
The Gun on Ice Planet Zero, Part 2
Disc Three:
The Magnificent Warriors
The Young Lords
The Living Legend, Part 1
The Living Legend, Part 2
Disc Four:
Fire in Space
War of the Gods, Part 1
War of the Gods, Part 2
The Man with Nine Lives
Disc Five:
Murder on the Rising Star
Greetings From Earth (Parts 1 & 2)
Baltar’s Escape
Disc Six:
Experiment in Terra
Take the Celestra
The Hand of God
Battlestar Galactica: The Original Series - Full Frame
Disc One:
Saga of a Star World
Lost Planet of the Gods, Part 1
Lost Planet of the Gods, Part 2
Disc Two:
The Lost Warrior
The Long Patrol
The Gun on Ice Planet Zero, Part 1
The Gun on Ice Planet Zero, Part 2
Disc Three:
The Magnificent Warriors
The Young Lords
The Living Legend, Part 1
The Living Legend, Part 2
Disc Four:
Fire in Space
War of the Gods, Part 1
War of the Gods, Part 2
The Man with Nine Lives
Disc Five:
Murder on the Rising Star
Greetings From Earth (Parts 1 & 2)
Baltar’s Escape
Disc Six:
Experiment in Terra
Take the Celestra
The Hand of God
Galactica 1980 - Widescreen
Disc One:
Galactica Discovers Earth, Part I
Galactica Discovers Earth, Part II
Galactica Discovers Earth, Part III
The Super Scouts, Part I
The Super Scouts, Part II
Disc Two:
Spaceball
The Night the Cylons Landed, Part I
The Night the Cylons Landed, Part II
Space Croppers
The Return of Starbuck
Galactica 1980 - Full Frame
Disc One:
Galactica Discovers Earth, Part I
Galactica Discovers Earth, Part II
Galactica Discovers Earth, Part III
Disc Two:
The Super Scouts, Part I
The Super Scouts, Part II
Spaceball
The Night the Cylons Landed, Part I
Disc Three:
The Night the Cylons Landed, Part II
Space Croppers
The Return of Starbuck
Battlestar Galactica - 35th Anniversary Edition
Video Rating: 3.5/5 3D Rating: NA
As I stated above, the Definitive edition also includes the episodes in their original 1.33:1 aspect ratio, which Universal is referring to as Full Frame. These were likely the starting point for the widescreen recomps, as the amount of scratch and blemish removal and image restoration is identical here. Where these “full frame” versions differ is in the color grading and timing. Colors are consistent, but they are more accurate, particularly in the flesh tones of the actors. Detail is a bit sharper, likely because the image has not been enlarged to fill the width of a 16:9 HD display. Contrast is more acceptable, as well, with less evidence of crushed blacks and better detail in darker sequences.
On the theatrical version of the Battlestar Galactica pilot, this is the same disc released in 2012, cropped to 1.85:1, and compressed using the VC-1 codec. The image here is much softer than on the broadcast versions, possibly due to being from a different source and/or due to some digital manipulation such as edge enhancement and scrubbing, with waxy flesh tones and textures.
Audio Rating: 4/5
On the Battlestar Galactica: 35th Anniversary disc, the mono Sensurround track has been repurposed and presented in 2.1 but within a 5.1 mix. In other words, only the front left, front right, and LFE channels are utilized, leaving the center and surrounds dead quiet. The result, overall, is much flatter than the broadcast versions, but with enhanced and more predominant LFE (trying its best to emulate the Sensurround effect, but often failing unless you have multiple massive subwoofers in your theater room).
Special Features Rating: 3.5/5
Disc One:
Audio Commentary on Saga of a Star World (aka Pilot) with Actors Richard Hatch, Dirk Benedict, and Herbert Jefferson, Jr.: The three actors reminisce about shooting the pilot and working on the series.
Deleted Scenes from Saga of a Star World (480i; 34:54)
Deleted Scenes from Lost Planet of the Gods (480i; 15:02)
Disc Two:
Deleted Scenes from The Lost Warrior (480i; 3:43)
Deleted Scenes from The Long Patrol (480i; 11:29)
Deleted Scenes from The Gun on Ice Planet Zero (480i; 9:58)
Disc Three:
Deleted Scenes from The Young Lords (480i; 12:53)
Deleted Scenes from The Living Legend (480i; 12:17)
Disc Four:
Deleted Scenes from Fire in Space (480i; 8:48)
Deleted Scenes from War of the Gods (480i; 22:02)
Deleted Scenes from The Man with Nine Lives (480i; 15:11)
Disc Five:
Deleted Scenes from Murder on the Rising Star (480i; 8:53)
Deleted Scenes from Greetings from Earth (480i; 19:33)
Deleted Scenes from Baltar’s Escape (480i; 6:41)
Disc Six:
Deleted Scenes from Experiment in Terra (480i; 10:18)
Deleted Scenes from The Hand of God (480i; 16:42)
Battlestar Galactica: Remastered (1080p; 5:44): Digital Mastering Supervisor Vishal Chathle and his team discuss the challenges and some of the steps taken to create new HD masters for the series. This feature is exclusive to the Widescreen Edition.
Remembering Battlestar Galactica (480i; 44:58): Richard Hatch, Dirk Benedict, Herebert Jefferson, Jr, Anne Lockhart, Noah Hathaway, Glen A. Larson, and other members of the cast and crew reminisce over working on the series and its legacy.
Glen Larson on the Creation of Battlestar Galactica (480i; 5:47): As the title implies, Larson discusses the various aspects and mythology of the series.
Inside Battlestar Galactica: The Cylons (480i; 4:49): The cast and many of the series directors discuss working with the Cylons and the challenges they faced.
Inside Battlestar Galactica: Working with the Daggit (480i; 5:11): The cast and many of the series directors discuss working with the cimp inside the Daggit suit.
Stu Phillips: Composing the Score (480i; 5:02): The composer discusses writing the score, the various themes used in the pilot and series, and recording the score at Fox with the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra.
Overall Rating: 3.5/5
Reviewed By: Todd Erwin
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