|
Battlestar Galactica: Season 2.5 (Episodes 11-20) | 
 enlarge | Actors: Edward James Olmos, Mary Mcdonnell
Studio: Sci-Fi Channel, The
Category: DVD
List Price: $49.98
Buy New: $27.95
You Save: $22.03 (44%)
New (55) Used (23) Collectible (1) from $24.23
Rating:  226 reviews
Sales Rank: 1874
Format: Ac-3, Box Set, Color, Dolby, Dvd-video, Subtitled, Widescreen, Ntsc
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled)
Region: 1
Discs: 3
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
Number Of Discs: 3
Running Time: 521 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.6
Dimensions (in): 7.6 x 5.4 x 0.9
MPN: MCAD29833D
UPC: 025192983320
EAN: 0025192983320
ASIN: B000GFLEAO
Theatrical Release Date: January 14, 2005
Release Date: September 19, 2006
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: Factory sealed. Satisfaction guaranteed.
| |
| Similar Items:
|
| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
Studio: Uni Dist Corp. (mca) Release Date: 09/19/2006 Rating: Nr
Amazon.com
Battlestar Galactica's season 2.5 (i.e., the final 10 episodes of the second season, plus an extended version of episode 10) picks up where season 2.0 (the first 10 episodes) left off: Galactica's giddy reunion with the Pegasus had taken a sour turn when Admiral Cain (Michelle Forbes) went back on her word to Commander Adama (Edward James Olmos) and decided to integrate the crews, moving Apollo (Jamie Bamber) and Starbuck (Katee Sackhoff) to Pegasus. The animosity, combined with an attack on Sharon (Grace Park), threatens to derail a golden opportunity for the fleet to strike the Cylons where they'll hurt, and stay hurt--their resurrection ship. In many ways, Sharon is the central character. The attack lands Helo (Tahmoh Penikett) and the Chief (Aaron Douglas) in hot water; her impending baby remains the subject of heated debate among president Laura Roslin (Mary McDonnell), Commander Adama, and others; and a rebellious movement determined to force Galactica to give up the Cylon ends up threatening both Apollo and Starbuck and putting further strain on their already-shaky relationship. Dr. Baltar (James Callis) becomes even more intertwined with the Cylons when he discovers another version of Number Six (Tricia Helfer) on the Pegasus, but is also in line to take over the presidency as Roslin's cancer reaches a critical stage. Battlestar Galactica's inexorable dramatic arc sagged in a couple episodes during this run, but the terrific two-part season finale involving a presidential election, a glimmer of hope for humanity, and some unexpected turns of events makes for a thrilling springboard to season 3. Battlestar is often called the best sci-fi show on television, but that seems like damning it with faint praise; it's the best drama on television. In addition to the 10 episodes, the three-DVD set has an extended version of the last episode of season 2.0, "Pegasus"; the extra 15 minutes include a longer conversation in which Cain reveals her plans to Adama. That episode has a commentary track by executive producers Ronald D. Moore and David Eick, Moore's podcast commentaries are on every other episode, Eick's "video blogs" serve as casual featurettes on series production, and there are numerous deleted scenes. --David Horiuchi
|
| Customer Reviews: Read 221 more reviews...
 Momof3 September 6, 2008
M. M. McNaughton
My family started watching BSG on DVD last year, after having a friend recommend it. We are all hooked! Good acting, terrific special effects, intriguing storylines. Great fun for sci-fi fans.
 a frackin' good show August 31, 2008
kaioatey (Awatovi, AZ)
An interesting take on Sci-Fi, is BSG. At it's core are ultra-conservative values and a fascination with the military. Buddy camaraderie, loyalty, family, military hierarchy, patriotism are endorsed and revered. Abortion is banned. The exiled humans follow their "scripture", an unabashedly fundamentalist Biblical plan which turns out to be literally true (!). Having their Scripture, humans can safely eschew mystical experience which is something that the "Cylons" have a mono-poly on. Let us also not forget that the plot is based on 12 human colonies trying to find Earth (ie, "Zion")!
On the other hand, intellectuals and scientists are demonized (cowardly, crazy and traitorous), as are unions and civil society advocates (power-hungry ex-terrorists) and any mental-emotional sophistication (likely to be manipulation by Cylon enemies). In other words, the show could have been (and perhaps was) written by a Dobson-Cheney surrogate in some military Psy Ops room or another. if so, the creators should get medals for it.
Because the show works. The drama and its protagonists suck me right in every single time. Great writing, directing, excellent acting, great selection of actors which, surprisingly for a 'fundamentalist' show, feature women in key combat roles. That was an excellent call; the Lt. Starbuck character in particular mixes macho posturing and femaleness in a weirdly unique and unflinchingly consistent way. So one roots for Galactica and her crew and is happy and relieved every time they blast their way through Cylon lines.
the director certainly does not spare viewers' sensibilities. The language is raunchy (what the frack!), violence is depicted graphically with no details spared, the creators of the show revel in all kinds of abuse and torture; the graphic nature of confrontations at physical, psychological and cultural levels is imo quite effective. BSG and its cousin Stargate represent polar opposites to the philosophical sophistication and enlightening aspirations of shows such as Star Trek or early Star Wars; they're the Sci-Fi equivalent of redneck pulp that catalyzes people's inherent fear of the "Other" rather than teaching them to be better, more 'enlightened', humans. Of what use is personal growth and happiness if there is a terrorist hiding under every rock? Unfortunately this is the kind of pulp i like. Just as unfortunately, i am not alone.
Starts off BAD, finishes Good. July 26, 2008
Jason A. Cross (Mile High CIty)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
The 2.5 series starts off horrible. The first two episodes were so bad I almost stopped watching the series thinking that it "jumped the shark". However I hung in there and by the end of the 3 discs you are delivered into a whole new outlook on the series. So far this set was the weakest out of all the others, but with that being said this series is better than 99.99% of all the stuff on TV even at its worst. So you should buy it and enjoy.
Brilliance in Manifest June 14, 2008
Duane Donald (State of Uncertainty)
Science-fiction has never reached this level of perfection until now. Acting, writing, production values, all climaxing to the absolute panicle in television viewing. If you do not have this complete series in your collection you will forever regret it.
Battlestar Galactica Season 2.5 May 27, 2008
Bradley Mihaljevich (New Zealand)
As I live in New Zealand, we got a full - version Season 2.0 which has the entire Season 2 episodes (both the U.S. 2.0 and U.S. 2.5 combined.) But our full 2.0 version comes without the deleted scenes of 2.5, only those of the U.S 2.0; or the first half of season 2.0 from our perspective, and only the regular, unextended version of the episode "Pegasus". So, from the New Zealand fan perspective, Battlestar Galactica 2.5 is really not essential to the casual fan; but is certainly essential to the completist or very dedicated fan who wants all original material. The release is high quality. The acting and storylines of this new Battlestar Galactica (all of its' Seasons, spinoffs and material) is always slick and tense. Early Season 2.0 saw the stabilisation of the power struggle between Commander Adama and President Roslin which began late in Season 1, and the reuniting of the scattered fleet after the shattering impact of the Cylon assasination attempt upon Commander Adama (the Season 1 cliffhanger event) and subsequent allout Cylon attack and boarding of Galactica by the Cylon fleet in the opening episodes. Season 2.5 opens with a strong and united Colonial fleet and Galactica firmly but fairly under the Adama-Roslin rule. All that changes in the opening 10 minutes of the first episode when the Battlestar Pegasus turns up. The three - part opening sees a deadly power - struggle between both Battlestars for the title of Fleet Commander and a magnificent three on two mothership confrontation between Galactica and Pegasus vs two Cylon Baseships and their ominous Resurrection Ship. The assasination of Admiral Kain by the Cylons is all that settles the internal power struggle, clearly cementing Adama as Fleet Commander. After this volatile period, the fleet settles into a comparatively quiet time from external threats, having attained the plateau of relative safety with the destruction of Resurrection, and addition of the fearsome dreadnaught, like a big bully, a second Battlestar - Pegasus to the fleet. You get the feeling that the Cylons are possibly scared to tangle with the Pegasus. The only time they do of their picking, they used a trap; luring the Pegasus away from the relative safety of the fleet and Galactica, three Baseships were involved and they had the element of surprise in the episode "The Captains' Hand". The post - Admiral Cain colonial fleet saw Season 2.5 undertake episodes about internal struggles and issues, and an everchanging leadership of Pegasus. Ultimately, Adama Snr appoints his son, Lee Adama (Apollo) who had already made it as high as "Major", as Commander of Pegasus. The final phase of the series leads into a third powerstruggle for Season 2 - a presidential election between the encumbant, Laura Roslin, and her Vice - President, Dr. Gaius Baltar. This Baltar wins on a single issue - he promises permanant settlement of the Colonial Fleet on the newly discovered planet of New Caprica. This single event fundamentally alters the shape of the series, setting up for an almost telegraphed "I told you so" cliffhanger of Season 2 of the almost inevitable Cylon discovery and full scale invasion of New Caprica. After a brief standoff with the two Battlestars, caught very much unprepared, the Battlestars and small contingent of the ships of the fleet that remained in orbit with them jump away, leaving the vast majority of ships and people helplessly caught on the surface to be humbled under Cylon invasion and control after President Baltar surrenders. These catacalysmic events critically shape early Season 3, which of course begins on the surface of New Caprica with Colnel Tigh in charge of the resistance forces, and Baltar a mere puppet ruler under Cylon control, while Adamas Snr and Jnr prepare to retake New Caprica with the two Battlestars. The consequences of this scenerio unfolding fundamentally changes the whole series post - New Caprica. This is a cliffhanger with far more far - reaching consequences then the Season 1 cliffhanger. This single event is probably the biggest series landmark next to the destruction of the colonies in the Pilot Episode; for both the Humans and Cylons alike. The deleted scenes are actually very worthwhile, containing some cool scenes - unlike most deleted scenes in films and series which are obvious as to why they were cut. The main attraction for a New Zealand or other overseas buyer is the extended version of the episode "Pegasus". While this episode sadly doesn't contain any significant new material, this version features subtly extended scenes making a less rushed feel to the interactions in certain parts of the episode. Overall, Battlestar Galactica 2.5 is really not essential to the casual fan in New Zealand, as we have the aforementioned Season 2.0 which covers most of Season 2; but is certainly essential to the completist or very dedicated New Zealand fan who wants all original material. But to any American fan it is a vital part of the series, and both neccessary and worthwhile. Season 2 has one other significant spinoff: Razor - (the untold story of Battlestar Pegasus - which is highly recommended.)
|
|
|
Copyright 2008 DVDonsale.com | |
