MISSION GALACTICA: THE CYLON ATTACK

US, 1978, 108 minutes, Colour.
Richard Hatch, Dirk Benedict, John Colicos, Lloyd Bridges, Lorne Greene.
Directed by Vince Edwards, Christian Nyby II.

A cinema sequel to 'Battlestar Galactica'. The material, created by Glen A. Larson, was principally a television series, extremely popular in the United States. To capitalise on this television derivative from Star Wars. Two feature films were made, utilising episodes and then released very successfully to theatres. All the television personalities are in the sequel, although the robot dogs, the daggets, have been omitted. John Colicos, beheaded in the original film, here appears as the most evil of villains. Lloyd Bridges has a guest role imitating General Patton and winning battles like him in space. Entertaining space matinee adventure.

1. The popularity of the series, its quality and budget, television audience in view? Audience expectations of content, style, adventures? The effect of Senssuround?

2. The appeal of the special effects? the presentation of space, the elaborate spacecraft, movement in space, space warfare?

3. The conventions of the 'Star Wars' derivatives of the seventies? The battle stars, the planets, the space cities, technology, robots? and the evil robots in domination of the humans? The war situation in the galaxy?

4. The film's history of space, battles, survivals and wandering battle stars? the plight of the humans wandering space for survival, preoccupied with defending themselves? A Saturday matinee way of total life?

5. The Galactica itself and its appearance, Adams and his wisdom, his son and the various fighters, the women, the medical teams, technicians, soldiers? The group of vehicles in his wake? his coping, hesitancy, wisdom, protecting those in his care?

6. The contrast with Pegasus and his unexpected appearance, Lloyd Bridges' style as Commander Cain, looking like and imitating General Patton? The emphasis on his being a legend, his doing legendary things, the encounter with Adams, clashing, his plans, bold aggressive strategies and success? The loyalty of his daughter, his crew? His achieving his mission and going on to immortality and possible
reincarnation as hero?

7. The drawing of the characters as sufficient for this kind of adventure? Apollo and Starbuck as heroes, the various heroines, the ordinary technicians and their control and collaboration with Adams?

8. The presentation of the Cylon empire and its evil and wanting control, robots and their semi-human appearance, the evil human villain as a devil? that his face was filled with evil intent and emotions? Lucifer as his robot henchman? The presentation of the Cylon city and the leader? as a mutant? The skill of the Cylon attacks, their warships, their battle stars? Their continually being foiled? The importance of the commando raid and its knocking out their central control?

9. The heroes and their survival, the execution of the raid, the rescues, the delivery back to the Pegasus, their saving the Pegasus?

10. The final attack, Adams's operation and its success, the planting of the bombs for the explosion and repairing the Galactica, the possibility of the two men being lost in space? A successful operation?

11. The perennial appeal of this kind of space adventure? Its ordinary values of good and bad, black and white?