SCI FI PI

Starring Stephanie Chaves-Jacobsen, Edward James Olmos, Mary McDonnell, Katee Sackhoff, Jamie Bamber, James Callis, Tricia Helfer, Grace Park
Directors Félix Enríquez Alcalá, Wayne Rose
Rated MA 15+
Released Aug 20




After what seems to have been an eternity, the almost mythical Battlestar Galactica: Razor has finally been released on DVD in Australia.

Was the wait worth it?

Yes it was.

For those Battlestar Galactica fans who for some reason hadn't previously purchased it from Amazon, yes it worth whatever price local retailers are selling it for. Whilst it is a 'standalone' or 'season break' movie (fans of Babylon 5 will instantly recognise the format) it is also an integral part of the BSG canon, forming key moments for the saga that unfolds in the regular TV series.





Essentially, Razor is a flashback (depending on where you're up to, of course!) but we're going to assume you, as a SCI FI fan, are aware that the Cylons have attacked the 12 colonies after mysteriously dissapearing for decades, and that all human defences were compromised by a Cylon computer virus - except for two battlestars - the aged and non-networked Galactica, and the in-for-repairs Pegasus.

We know that Pegasus ran into Galactica during Season 2 and that life on board that ship was slightly different (to say the least). Razor lets us see why, taking us back in time to even before the Cylon attack. We see the story through the eyes of raw officer Kendra Shaw (the Aussie-accented and rather stunning Stephanie Chaves-Jacobsen) as she joins Pegasus and is immediately put to the test by the formidable Captain Helena Cain (a bullet-proof Michelle Forbes, much to the delight of ST:TNG fans).

Cain's intense self-discipline and brutal regulations create an atmosphere of all-out war on the renegade Pegasus. There is none of the touchie-feelie 'save the colonists' vibe that permeates the Galactica and its motley fleet. It is a ship created for revenge and guerilla warfare. All orders are conducted and treated under wartime conditions with the concommitant brutal (and capital) punishment.

For a show that is pretty dark already, get ready to head to black.





If you do enjoy the flashback format, you will also be thrilled to see a young William 'Husker' Adama (Edward James Olmos' character) duke it out with the Cylons in the first Cylon war. You'll also see some pretty upsetting footage of what the Cylons were up to at the end of that conflict. And whilst it does provide some information, Adama's last mission creates more questions than answers.

The key (and exceedingly enigmatic) phrase though, 'this has all happened before' brings to mind echoes of the The Matrix. But there are no answers for us yet. What Razor gives us is a very dark path, a great deal of action, and some pretty great moments for almost all the key actors in the BSG lineup, particularly Jamie Bamber, Katee Sackhoff and Olmos.

The real surprise of the movie is Stephanie Chaves-Jacobsen, who we find in 'the present' more than a match in toughness for Starbuck. That's because 'S C-J' is a 'razor' a weapon of war, pure and simple, honed to lethal perfection by brutal circumstance and unwavering faith. It's a compelling creation, and Shaw plays the emotional journey in a compelling way. The Aussie accent is also just a thing of beauty and wonder for local fans.





Rather than give too much more of the story away, we'll just finish up by saying that the extras are a little bit better than usual, with a commentary by Ron Moore, deleted scenes, minsodes from the web that add even more story and action to Bill Adama's early years, and there is a Season 4 Teaser, which for those who haven't seen it, is just super annoyingly teasing in its teasingness. It bubbles the blood for more BSG.

For those of you who have just seen Season 2, however, Razor comes at the perfect time, giving depth to the history of the Pegasus, explaining many of the lines on Bill Adama's face, and deepening the mystery of the Cylon/Human war. And there's some great stuff in there for fans of the original series, with more than just a nod and a wink to cool bits from the show.

If you're new to the series, and just want a single movie to introduce you to the BSG experience, you're better off watching 'The Miniseries' as the opening double length pilot film is called. This is one of the greatest Sci Fi films of all time, and is obviously more of an introduction. That said, if you're feeling you need a black coffee-flavoured splash of Sci Fi, then Razor will sort you out just fine.





DVD EXTRAS:

Feature Commentary with Series Creator Ron Moore
Deleted Scenes
Minisodes x 7
Season 4 Teaser