Battlestar Galactica: Blood & Chrome (2012)

Movie Info

One little Raptor against the world!!!

The war with the Cylons is going poorly and a new recruit named Will Adama (Luke Pasqualino) has just left the academy.  Assigned to a Raptor against his wishes, Adama finds himself team with Lieutenant Coker Fasjovik (Ben Cotton) who just wants to get out of the military as his time winds down.  When Adama and Coker are assigned to a secret mission with Dr. Becca Kelly (Lili Bordán), they learn that they are going to be part of a secret force to make a major strike against the Cylons that could turn the course of the war.

Exterminate!!!

Directed by Jonas Pate, Battlestar Galactica:  Blood and Chrome was originally a ten part web series that aired online from November 9, 2012 to December 7, 2012.  It was meant as a possible pilot for a series that would serve as a prequel to the Battlestar Galactica relaunch which began with the mini-series in 2004.  The series was not picked up and Battlestar Galactica:  Blood and Chrome aired on Syfy on February 10, 2013.  The movie was nominated for three Primetime Emmys for Outstanding Sound Editing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special, Outstanding Special Visual Effects, and Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Miniseries or a Movie.

Wow…can’t wait to see about her next episode…oh, yeah…not happening…

I loved the Battlestar Galactica series and never got to see any of Caprica (which takes place before this series).  Though many were critical of Caprica’s tone and style, this series was much more in line with the Battlestar Galactica series…I wish it had been picked up.

The story for the film involves the rise of Will Adama (played by Edward James Olmos in the relaunch).  Much of the Battlestar Galactica series was more about the sci-fi nature of the story.  It was about ideas, concepts, and real science-fiction.  This version is more about the battle and a bit more Terminator than 2001.

Luke Pasqualino is a pretty good Will Adama.  He has a nice arrogance that a young pilot might possess.  It is a great contrast to the much more controlled Adama of Battlestar Galactica and does help explain his background.  Ben Cotton is the “I’m close to retiring” character and almost meets the “close to retiring” fate.  Lili Bordán is not bad as romantic foil, but I did feel she played the character too shady from the beginning.

I gave a whiny bitch fit on not flying a Viper…now I get my way!!!

Visually, Battlestar Galactica continues to excel.  The show easily could have gone the cheap route, but still looks worlds above many sci-fi films.  It was a web series and a possible pilot, but the movie still went all out when it didn’t have to.

Battlestar Galactica:  Blood & Chrome is a worthy entry in the Battlestar Galactica mythos.  I would love to see more stories of series and the war.  It would be good to flesh out more of the past leading up to Battlestar Galactica.  With Battlestar Galactica have a very distinct ending, only prequels will really work and Battlestar Galactica:  Blood & Chrome isn’t a bad one.

Related Links:

Battlestar Galactica—The Miniseries (2003)

Battlestar Galactica:  The Plan (2009)

Battlestar Galactica (1978)