The Cylons began as humanity’s robot servants. They rebelled and evolved and now they look like us. Their plan is simple: destroy the race that enslaved them. But when their devastating attack leaves human survivors, the Cylons have to improvise. Battlestar Galactica: The Plan tells the story of two powerful Cylon leaders, working separately, and their determination to finish the task. Debuting in late 2009 after the TV series ended, Battlestar Galactica: The Plan is a two-hour movie that at first glance appears to be a prequel but actually runs concurrently to the series. It takes its title from the famous opening credits (which end with “There are many copies. And they have a plan.”), the plan being the Cylons’ extermination of the human race in the bombing of Caprica and other cities in the original miniseries. However, the survival of a hardy band of humans means the Cylons need to finish the job in a much more intimate fashion, and no. 1 (Brother Cavil, played by Dean Stockwell) gathers a meeting of “skin jobs” (not including those who hadn’t at that time learned their real identities) to figure out how to accomplish it. “Let’s get this genocide started,” he tells them, and the plan begins.
While much of the action is revisited from key moments (and reused footage) from the series, such as number 8′s (Grace Park) attempted assassination on Odama (Edward James Olmos, who also directed), and no. 1′s coordinating and reacting to those events, there are some new angles. Anders (Michael Trucco) escapes the initial nuclear attack and participates in a resistance movement against the Cylons, and no. 4, Simon (Rick Worthy), is conflicted by his mission because he’s married to a human (Lymari Nadal, Olmos’ wife). It’s interesting to see events from a different point of view and to get some more depth of thought on them, but overall it’s a bit of a disappointment for those expecting a completely new, stand-alone story along the lines of Razor. Note that the movie has spoilers for those who haven’t watched the TV series to its end, and it would probably be rated R for female and male nudity that, while not jarring in the context of Galactica‘s mature tone and themes, seems gratuitous. The DVD includes 14 minutes of deleted scenes, including a longer conversation between Ellen Tigh and Cavil, four featurettes, and a commentary track by Olmos and executive producer-writer Jane Espenson. –David Horiuchi
Buy “Battlestar Galactica: The Plan” For Only $9.90
March 26, 2006
#1
I get that sex sells. I do. And I am certainly no prude. But I am SICK TO DEATH of studios and filmmakers feeling the need to include mindlessly gratuitous sex and nudity just for the sake of making an extra buck. The nudity and sex in this film get pointlessly graphic, and for NO REASON. Overall, it does nothing to advance the story, or add to it. It’s just there. And even when it might make a legitimate plot point, the sex could easily be implied rather that forced into the faces of the viewer. We’re smart people. We are. Man and woman lying naked in bed together? They probably have a sexual relationship. Man and woman in bed start kissing? Cut away, and we are still smart enough to figure out what comes next.
But no. We just HAVE to have a scene with a topless bartender in the background. And we have to see full nudity in the showers, because as viewers, we are just not smart enough to figure out that people shower naked. Does full frontal nudity do ANYTHING to help the story along? No. They could be wrapped in towels, for crying out loud, and the film would be JUST AS GOOD.
I love Battlestar Galactica: the stories, the actors, the effects, all of it. But I lose a great deal of respect for filmmakers who feel they have to use sex and nudity to sell their films. If the story cannot stand on its own without the gratuitous use of sex and skin, then it is a story not worth putting on film to begin with. And what’s sad is that the story of The Plan is a great one.
One can only hope that the broadcast version of The Plan might one day be available on Blu ray. Am I alone in this?
March 26, 2006
#2
Boring to the point of death, adds nothing relevant to the previous story, what a disappointment !
March 26, 2006
#3
Wow! I was totally not expecting this from the BSG writers. This gives an inside look at the Cylon’s and their mind set. I wish there would have been a little more info about Starbuck, Baltar, and his Six. Love that they didn’t keep this restricted to PG, also. This is a must buy for BSG fans!!!
March 26, 2006
#4
I love BSG, mostly the first 2 seasons and the beginning of the third one. I think the last 10 episodes of season 4 were not exactly the best ever (some were very good like the rebellion ones) but I was more or less happy at the end in spite of all the problems.
I was looking forward for “The Plan”, hoping it will give us some new perspectives and answers. It did not. In fact, it even ruined a lot of good things from the first seasons. I don’t want to spoil anything but basically, “The Plan” does not tell us anything about the Cylon plan (there was none apparently) and is just a nonsensical, bad-written story about the cylons in the fleet and the Caprica resistance during the first 2 seasons. It is even in some places contradictory with what was established. But mostly, we do not learn anything new from it.
Don’t buy it and don’t watch it if you like BSG.
March 26, 2006
#5
Although it shows an interesting perspective regarding a couple points–such as that the original goal being the recovery of the Final Five, and the Four’s storyline and the discussion between Four’s widow and Chief Tyrol–I would not recommend it. It seems like only 60% new material, and the rest is like a summary documentary to show you what happened in the first 2 seasons. It’s not worth the money, and the nudity is completely pointless. Razor was also “not rated”, but it was clean. But with Edward James Olmos’ direction on Caprica and The Plan, I have to say I’m never going to buy a straight-to-DVD BSG movie again. If a movie is made for SciFi channel or for the theaters, then it might be ok. But this is not something you can watch with your family.