Monster Zero x SciFi Japan - Archive Only

I liked the original as a kid but it wasn't a major event in my life so I'm very indifferent about it now. It is more kitchy and guady than interesting to watch.

I was really surprised at how much I liked the new version. I've watched the movie and several of the episodes and find it to be pretty impressive. The series itself suffers from an overdose of "shaky cam" though and could make one motion sick after a while.

I like them both in different ways, but neither is perfect. The original is really kitchy and gaudy, something that is a big part of its charm, but also prevents it from reaching a level of high drama. The miniseries could really take advantage of the benefits of computer generated imagery and the expanded horizons of TV SF since the 70s, but seems almost "too safe" is the look and feel of it--virtually indestinguishable from other contemporary sci-fi like Farscape and Andromeda. The hairstyles and outfits are going to look every bit as dated as those in the old series in a decade or two. I would really like to see a series that captured the retro-70s disco look and Star Wars-influenced mythical flair of the original with the modern, deeper and more mature storyline aspects available to a show on the SciFi Channel.

You know I was also really hoping that the mini's visuals would pay more homage to the "dated" look of the old... taken out of context of 1978, the Galactica bridge decked out in "high-tech" late seventies computers and key boards really gives the feel of an ancient, high-tech alien society. Oh well...at least the new Galactica boasts computer readouts on old fashioned corregated print out paper.


As far as the hairstyles and fashion on the show and Cy's comments, the point is that new Galactica series is peopled and about "us", early 21st Century man as opposed to evolved 24th century idealized humankind.

I'm really surprised that Cy feels the new mini played it "too safe", what with it's adherence to semi-realistic zero G manuvers, no sound in space, and eskewing big sweeping space opera score's for a mood enhancing subtle score. I've only barely glanced at the other current Sci-Fi shows Cy mentioned though, so perhaps GALACTICA isn't as stunningly inovative as I thought.

I'm a fan of the original, and I thought the mini-series was a complete and total mess. ugh.

^^don't forget about the making of special afterwards