Battlestar Galactica: Razor (2007) (TV)

User Rating:

7.8/10   

Director:

Félix Enríquez Alcalá

Writers:

Ronald D. Moore (developer)
Michael Taylor (written by)

Release Date:

24 November 2007 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Drama | Fantasy | Sci-Fi | Thriller | War

Plot:

A two-hour Battlestar Galactica special that tells the story of the Battlestar Pegasus several months prior to it finding the Galactica. |

Plot Keywords:

Man In Uniform | Cylon | Woman In Uniform | Lesbian Kiss | Lesbian

Awards:

1 win & 2 nominations

Cast

Edward James Olmos	...	Admiral William Adama
Mary McDonnell	...	President Laura Roslin
Katee Sackhoff	...	Captain Kara 'Starbuck' Thrace
Jamie Bamber	...	Captain Lee 'Apollo' Adama
James Callis	...	Dr. Gaius Baltar
Tricia Helfer	...	Number Six / Gina Inviere
Grace Park	...	Lt. Sharon Valerii
Michael Hogan	...	Colonel Saul Tigh
Aaron Douglas	...	Chief Galen Tyrol (credit only)
Tahmoh Penikett	...	Lt. Karl 'Helo' Agathon (credit only)
Alessandro Juliani	...	Lt. Felix Gaeta (credit only)
Michael Trucco	...	Samuel Anders (credit only)
Kandyse McClure	...	Petty Officer Anastasia Dualla (credit only)
Michelle Forbes	...	Admiral Helena Cain
Graham Beckel	...	Colonel Jack Fisk

Also Known As:

Razor (USA) (short title)
Untitled Battlestar Galactica TV Special (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

88 min (original television version) | 104 min (extended dvd edition)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Canada:14+ (TV rating) | Singapore:NC-16 | Australia:MA | New Zealand:R13

Filming Locations:

Vancouver Film Studios, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Company:

David Eick Productions

Trivia:

Prior to airing on TV, Razor was shown in theaters in selected cities to pre-registered fans.

Goofs:

Continuity: During the Recon Mission Starbuck's and Showboat's vipers continually change CGI design in each shot between the original viper 7 CGI design and the Design first scene in "Maelstorm", and end in the Flightpod shot as different designs to each other.

Quotes:

[from trailer]
Admiral Helena Cain: [pointing her sidearm at her XO] Are you refusing to carry out my orders?

Movie Connections:

References Aliens (1986)

Disappointing

Fans of the show might just barely get their times worth - you get to see some of the characters occasionally doing what got us to like them after all - but not an inch more. For an unsuspecting viewer however this must be utterly disappointing - tacky lines in a story that is rather ridiculous and very badly cut. The feature uses flashbacks a lot, which is not of course bad in itself. The way executed here, with phony dialogues setting them up, or not serving any purpose for the storytelling, leaves a very stale taste.

The acting is not quite so bad. The regular cast delivers their usual performances; the support, especially Michelle Forbes as Admiral Cain and Stephanie Chaves-Jacobsen as Kendra Shaw is doing rather fine.

The writing ... well, let's just say if you know the series, there won't be any surprises in the way the story is told. For anyone who does not know the series - don't bother. There are loads of unresolved plot bits (and not the good kind that should leave you thinking or whatever) and nearly no one you can sympathize with or take an interest in. One last note on the story itself: If this is the kind of writing and story we can expect from BSGs 4th and last season (and the third season unfortunately seems to point towards that conclusion, too), people will not bother watching. I know I won't.