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December 5th, 2003
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New Battlestar Galactica To Suck In All-New Ways |
Filmmakers Strive For New Angles in Crappy Acting, Crappy Story, Crappy Effects
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Above: A hot, slinky, new Cylon.
Inset: An old, shiny, gay Cylon.
Only their mother can tell them apart. |
Society - The Sci-Fi Channel's upcoming remake of the 1978 series Battlestar Galactica will suck in new and innovative ways, while maintaining the original's general spirit of crappiness, filmmakers say.
"The Battlestar Galactica that many of us saw as kids was centered on the action and sci-fi elements of the story," says executive producer David Eick. "This miniseries, on the other hand, will focus on the human elements: the love affairs, the jealousy, the emotional hardships. So, instead of being hopelessly derivative of space adventure classics like Star Wars, it's hopelessly derivative of teen angst dramas like 90210. Only, with spaceships."
The casting and performances will also aim to take a new angle on the show's crappy legacy. "The first Battlestar Galactica had overzealous acting by young, ambitious performers eager to make an impression," says director Michael Rymer. "We wanted to stay away from that. So instead, this version will be dominated by bland, lifeless acting by vapid underwear models."
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| Expectations are lower today than in 1978. You come out a winner as long as you don't have some kind of furry Ewok creature. |
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Indeed, one of the central characters of the new show, a humanoid robot, or 'Cylon,' named Number Six, is played by Victoria's Secret model Tricia Helfer. "We wanted a way to draw in a new, hipper audience," Eick says. "That's when we decided to change the Cylons from robots in shiny metal armor to gorgeous blonde women. So, instead of copying the faceless, identical, evil drone thing from the Stormtroopers in Star Wars, we're copying the hot female cyborg thing from Terminator 3 and Star Trek Voyager."
Eick thinks that changing audience expectations will work to his advantage. "If you made science fiction in the late '70s, you were always standing in the intimidating shadow of classics like Star Wars and Star Trek," he says. "But today, there's a lot less pressure, now that Star Wars and Star Trek both suck donkey nuts. You come out a winner as long as you don't cast Hayden Christensen or have some kind of furry Ewok creature."
The new series will also distinguish itself through advances in filmmaking technology. "Back in 1978, they were forced to resort to sucky miniature-based bluescreen affects," Eick explains. "In the new show, we're giving you the absolute latest in sucky computer-generated effects."
Finally, many believe that the passion of the fans will help the show stand apart from its predecessor. "After the old Battlestar Galactica was cancelled, you had devoted fans clamoring to bring it back," says Rymer. "This time, they'll be clamoring to make sure it never comes back again."
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