Title: Battlestar Galactica (TV mini series)

Year Released/Rating: 2003

Starring: Edward James Olmos, Mary McDonnell, Katee Sackhoff

Genre: Science fiction

Star Rating: 5/5 stars

Where I Got It: On the server

Trivia:

The hand held camera shot of Secretary Roslin being sworn in as the new President of the Twelve Colonies is a direct reference to the historic photograph of Vice President Lyndon Johnson taking the oath of office aboard Air Force 1 following the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.
Commander Adama's final speech to his crew (including his repeated use of the phrase "So say we all!" to rally them to action) was largely improvised by Edward James Olmos.
Ragnar Anchorage, the hidden supply dump, is named for Ragnarok, the Norse legend of the final battle at the end of the world.
The humans live on 12 planets and moons known as "The Colonies of Kobol", whose names are taken from Zodiac signs. During Season Two, Laura Roslin mentions that the Zodiac signs are the "ancient" names of the colonies: Aerelon, Tauron, Gemenon, Canceron, Leonis, Virgon, Libron, Scorpia, Sagittaron, Caprica, Aquaria and Picon. At the end of the miniseries, Cmdr. Adama mentions a 13th colony called Earth. These references were influenced by the religious beliefs of series creator Glen Larson: The Twelve Tribes of Israel, the 13th is a group of Israelites who migrated to North America. "Kobol" is a misspelling of "Kolob," according to Latter-day Saints, is a place near the throne of God.
Tricia Helfer based her performance on Daryl Hannah's Priss in Blade Runner. Edward James Olmos, who co-starred in the film, gave her a copy to watch.

Summary: A re-imagining of the original series in which a "rag-tag fugitive fleet" of the last remnants of mankind flees pursuing robots while simultaneously searching for their true home, Earth.

Review: J has been bugging me about watching this series for years now (we don't speak of the ending...). So, we decided to start with the mini series tonight. Man, what a ride! It was nonstop from beginning to end. An amazing storyline, amazing space battles, amazing characters. I loved every minute of it and couldn't wait to keep watching. This is such a great show.

Best Bits:

Laura Roslin: I don't know why I have to keep telling you this, but the war is over. Adama: It hasn't begun yet.
[first spoken lines in the show] Number Six: Are you alive? Boxey's Father: Yes. Number Six: Prove it.
Baltar: So now you're telling me, um, now you're telling me you're a machine? Number Six: I'm a woman. Baltar: You're a machine. You're a synthetic woman, a robot. Number Six: I've said it three times now. Baltar: Well, forgive me, I'm having the tiniest little bit of trouble believing that because the last time anybody saw the Cylons they looked more like walking chrome toasters. Number Six: Those models are still around. They have their uses.
[looting the display Viper Mk.2s from the museum for combat duty] Starbuck: You sure they'll fly? Tyrol: Well, the reactor's still hot, so all we have to do is pull the rad buffers from the engine, refuel it, load the ordnance, and you're ready to go. The biggest problem is getting them over to the port launch bay. Starbuck: Why can't we use the starboard launch? Tyrol: It's a gift shop now. Starbuck: Frak me.
Apollo: [both of their Vipers are attached together while trying to land on the Galactica] We're coming in a little hot, don't you think? Starbuck: [lying] No, not really.