Detailing the process of writing novels about the ancient days of Kobol, as referenced in Battlestar Galactica, plus other novels and stories. Expect pictures, Kobollian/Colonial history lessons and much more. Expect SPOILERS of both "Battlestar Galactica" and "Caprica."
Thank you for downloading and reading the book! I really, really appreciate it and hope you have enjoyed it. Please, do me a favor and rate & review the novels online wherever you got them (or, for that matter, wherever you can). That will really help me.
To celebrate, I thought I would make available the trailer I put together in the months before the books were published seven years ago. The editing isn't great and some of the lines were ham-fistedly shoved into the video, but ... what can I do? This is what I made and uploaded to YouTube before they quickly killed it for the music and TV clips. BUT, you can download it now and watch what I'm sure would have made Lords of Kobol an even bigger success: http://bit.ly/KobolTrailer
My thoughts first; my ten-year-old son James’ thoughts after.
After watching a classic like Gojira, I guess it would be easy to end up disappointed.
Godzilla Raids Again is not directed by Ishiro Honda and does not feature music by Akira Ifukube. That’s two strikes right there.
Add to that the fact that the first time I saw the film it was as the bastardized American version, Gigantis the Fire Monster, and you might be able to understand why I’m down on the film.
Upsides? Well … it features the debut of Anguirus and the first monster-on-monster action we’ve seen. It also has Dr. Yamane back from the first film.
Motoyoshi Oda directed this movie and, for whatever reason, decided to speed up the film for the scenes featuring the monsters fighting. This is the exact opposite of what most films featuring giant monsters do. The result is, as you might expect, silly. It is fun, though, to see Anguirus. A bit odd to see him killed so mercilessly, too.
The famed battle scene at Osaka castle is poorly framed, I thought, and doesn’t fully show off the fantastic model being demolished by these guys in suits. That’s a shame. (On another special effects note, the “cute” puppet, as James puts it, is back and is employed when Godzilla uses his atomic breath. Apparently, the big suit wasn’t able to open its mouth sufficiently for the job.)
Musically speaking … I’m drawing a blank. The score is just kind of there. That’s no good, especially when I’m trying to compare you to Ifukube.
As I type, I realize I’m sounding harsh. That has to be because we watched the 1959 American re-edit Gigantis the Fire Monster the first time we watched this about five years ago. In case you don’t know, for whatever stupid reason, American distributors wanted to sell “Gigantis” as a new monster, so his name was changed in the marketing and in the dialogue. Plus, Godzilla/Gigantis was given Anguirus’ roars and Anguirus was given Godzilla’s. George Takei (Mr. Sulu) voiced one of the newly dubbed characters and Yogi Bear himself, Daws Butler, tried his best to do a non-offensive Japanese accent for another. It was very distracting. AND, the American edit made the hero of the Japanese version, Kobayashi, into a goof. Just bad choices all around.
I’m willing to think that Gigantis has colored my perception of the film and that it may be better than I’m giving it credit for. But just having watched the Japanese version again, it’s not too much better.
Thanks to Anguirus and the possibility that I’m being too hard on it, I’m going to go middle-of-the-road on this one: 2.5 out of five atomic breath blasts.
OK. Now here’s James:
I thought it was pretty good, but my dad was right, it was sped it up a little.
And the american-version made me pissed >:(! Godzilla’s roar was wrong and so was Anguirus’s roar!!!
And how did they beat Godzilla w/ ice?!! He survived a h-bomb for pete’s sake!!!!!!!
I give (the Japan version) 3.7 atomic breaths of awesomeness!!
I’m going to have to talk to him about his language.
As outlined a while back, we’ve got 70+ daikaiju/tokusatsu movies to get through before Godzilla opens in theaters on May 16, 2014.
We started with Toho’s 1954 classic Gojira. We watched the Japanese version and not the one with Raymond Burr.
Here are James’ thoughts first:
I think the guy in the suit had a rough time with all the weight and firecrackers up in his face :(! But, it was worth it for a great movie. Toho should edit all Black-And-White movies they made and make them Color. I did not know that this was made right after a war <:( .
I know that they are making a new Godzilla movie in 2014 and there are hints. Like in Pacific Rim in the beginning a kaiju roared like beginning of Godzilla’s roar. And skreeonk.com used to have set of pics and letters and some of the letters were red and they either spelled: rise :0 (CRRREEEEPPYYY) or the beginning of Dr. Serizawa, so I guess he’s back.
I give it 4 and a half out of five atomic breath blasts of awesomeness.
I asked why he was writing like a jerk and he said it was because I was haranguing him to stay on topic. Lesson learned. And he wasn’t around for the Ted Turner colorization debacle of the late ’80s / early ’90s, so please forgive him for that.
OK, here’s mine:
Ever since I was a little boy, I had this one dream … Usually, I was at home but sometimes I was at the mall or at school or, later in life, at work. I could hear and feel the rumbling of giant footsteps. They began soft and distant but became louder and closer. I ran or drove or tried to ignore them, but they always seemed to be coming after me.
Most of the time, I never actually saw what was making the noise. Sometimes I did. In the dreams set at my childhood home, I would run out to the front porch, where we had a view of trees, a lumber yard and a nearby thoroughfare. A huge swath of the sky was visible and, invariably, whatever was chasing me filled that view. Occasionally, it was a group of Imperial AT-ATs, far larger than their size in Empire. Sometimes it was a dinosaur, often a Tyrannosaurus. And then there were times when it was Godzilla himself.
When James was just four, he came into the living room as I was watching Mystery Science Theater 3000, specifically the episode wherein they riffed upon Godzilla vs. Megalon. He was entranced. Not only by MST3K but also by the monsters. And so it began.
We started by watching the Japanese version of Godzilla (Gojira, of course). I had only seen the American version before so I was truly surprised at how serious everything was treated. It was, for all intents and purposes, a war movie. Long scenes set in shelters and hospital triage centers, people with radiation contamination, the troubled Dr. Serizawa with a weapon so dire it led to his suicide …
To top it all off, the movie began with footsteps. Well, drums as footsteps, but still.
When it comes to Shōwa era Godzilla films, there are certain things I’m looking for, effects-wise. Naturally, this includes the models that shoot bottle rockets at the poor dude in the suit. Gojira does it first and with a level of restraint compared to later films. The bits with the train are particularly well done, I thought. And I liked the way the objects of his breath melted. This film employs a puppet for some of the scenes with the monster and, unfortunately, it suffers a bit in my eyes because of it.
Still, it was the first and easily the most serious of the franchise until 1984. That only adds to my enjoyment. Akira Ifukube’s music is top notch and you can hear hints of where it will all be going in future films.
So, like James, I’m giving it 4.5 out of 5 atomic breath blasts.
There you go. One down; five or six dozen more to go.
Last fall, SFX revealed that X-Men director Bryan Singer's planned version of Excalibur was shelved. Warner Brothers dropped the project because another King Arthur movie was further along. This means Singer could plow ahead with development on a Battlestar Galactica feature with original series creator and producer Glen A. Larson, as announced back in 2009. (Didn't happen, though. Singer moved on to the X-Men: First Class sequel and the project has stalled, likely thanks to Larson's lawsuit, in part.)
That same week, Deadline reported that Universal Pictures made a deal with John Orloff to write the script. Orloff was nominated for an Emmy thanks to his work on the acclaimed HBO miniseries Band of Brothers, and he also wrote Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole. He is a fan of the show, telling Deadline he built a model Galactica out of cardboard and balsa wood and also saying, "I love BSG, and I would pass on the job rather than frak it up."
"That's swell, Trey," you're mumbling. You do know that this feature film will have nothing to do with Ronald D. Moore & David Eick's 2003-2009 series and would likely be a complete reboot of Larson's original show, possibly a new version of the pilot, Saga of a Star World, right?
Felgercarb, indeed.
Or maybe not. Orloff told Hitfix, "I'm a huge fan of the original series and of the second show, too. But I always thought the first show was a little too heavily reliant on 'Star Wars,' you know? Whereas I think the second show was really original and really cool. And I think I've come up with a way to write this movie that won't (frak) any of that up. I'm not sure how much they want me to talk about it. Let's just say it's not what you expect. It will all work in the universe that exists. It will not conflict with anything Ron Moore has done. I don't think you can compete with what he's done."
That sounds nice, taking a cue from '09's Star Trek and all.
All of this big screen BSG aside, did you know that there was a version of new-BSG before the Moore & Eick BSG we all love? And it was being produced by the aforementioned Bryan Singer?
Yes. That's a new Cylon.
So, what's the deal? Why haven't I ever heard about this?
In 2000, Singer and producer Tom DeSanto began negotiating with Universal and by 2001, they were hard at work on a new Galactica series that would have aired on Fox.
This series would have been a direct continuation of the 1978 show, set twenty years into that series' future and ignoring Galactica 1980. Deals were in place for original cast members such as Dirk Benedict (Starbuck) and Herbert Jefferson Jr. (Boomer). Sets and props were at least partially built and designs were well-fleshed out, including that of the above Cylons.
Galactica briefing room or chamber for the Council of Twelve
President Mara's ship (yes, a female president)
Commander Orin's room
Galactica bridge
Bridge set
The famous revolving center console
Aliens ... maybe the Imperious Leader in the center?
Now, story-wise, we know what was up. I guess I'll say spoiler alert, but since this is a show from twelve years ago that never got made and whatever movie we get will likely be radically different, ... I can't imagine that you really need a spoiler alert. But still. Oh, and you might be a bit surprised how much sounds like the Moore & Eick BSG.
Two years after the episode "Hand of God," Galactica's fleet finds Admiral Cain and the Battlestar Pegasus, leading to a mammoth battle that destroys their Cylon pursuers once and for all. Unfortunately, Cain, Pegasus and Apollo were all lost in the engagement. Some years later, Adama passes away and Commander Tigh and the fleet weary of their search for Earth and decide to settle upon habitable asteroids abundant with resources which they called New Caprica. Elsewhere, the Cylons engaged in a civil war between two factions: those who embraced their free will and those who believed it should be eliminated. In the end, the mechanical Cylons decided to incorporate many facets of humanity, thanks to their assimilation of Baltar and became all the more deadly for it.
That's just the backstory.
So, in the main story of the show, the commander of Galactica is Boxey, now called Orin (and not Troy). The president, Mara, and the council decide that after so many years of peace, Galactica should be deactivated. It is and, of course, this is when the Cylons strike. As the Galactica is about to be destroyed once and for all, the Cylon Central Controller orders a retreat. They then communicate with the Colonials and order them to surrender.
Orin refuses, of course, and launches a bunch of new Vipers. They fight well, but the new Cylons are too strong. In the battle, a water ship is damaged and a large chunk of ice forms. The Colonials push it into the Basestar and it's destroyed. Their cover blown, the Colonials again gather up a ragtag fleet and search for Earth.
Cylon Homeworld
Epilogue: on the Cylon homeworld, we see their mechanized might and then we see their Central Controller: Richard Frakkin' Hatch! And his eyes glow Cylon red! Da-da-dummmm!
After the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, Bryan Singer departed the production to work on X2: X-Men United and Fox passed on the series in favor of Joss Whedon's Firefly. They felt the story of a sneak attack was a bit too close to home. This iteration of Battlestar Galactica was, for all intents and purposes, dead and all of those sets you see above were trashed. Literally.
And that's it. A BSG show we'll never see, I guess.
UPDATED:
Thanks to Daniel on my Facebook page for reminding me about Richard Hatch's nearly one-man effort in the late '90s to get a new series on the air. I saw the concept trailer he made a while back and had trouble finding it online for some time. But, hey! A new search turned it up quickly. Check out all the OG BSG glory:
If you follow my Twitter account, you know that on the weekends, my son and I watch movies. Usually we're working our way through the Godzilla franchise. Sometimes it's Gamera, the Harryhausen classics, '50s scifi B-movies or something else. Usually Godzilla, though.
That's my son two years ago in his Godzilla costume with sound effects t-shirt. Pretty sweet.
I'm also a fan of Electronic Arts and Maxis. They've made SimCity, The Sims and their most epic game, Spore. In it, you can create cellular life, act as its intelligent designer and help it evolve, make it become a sentient tribe, then nation, then civilization and then space-faring race. You can design animals, vehicles, buildings and entire worlds.
I think you see where this is going.
Yes, we made a planet full of Godzilla monsters.
My son and I worked to recreate many of the "kaiju" from the Toho films in the game. Here's a collage of some of the best "good guy" monsters we made:
Clockwise from top-left: Rodan, Mothra, Anguirus (Angilas), Minilla (Minya), Baragon and Godzilla. Click to enlarge.
And here's a collage of our favorite "bad guy" monsters we made:
Clockwise from top-left: Battra, Keizer King Ghidorah, Hedorah, Gigan, King Ghidorah, Space Godzilla and Destoroyah. Click to enlarge.
Oh, there are "mecha" versions, too:
MechaGodzilla on the left; Mecha-King Ghidorah on the right. Click to enlarge. Other "kaiju" in here: Manda, Kumonga, Kamacuras, Zilla, Ebirah, Orga, Mothra Larva, Megaguirus, Megalon, King Caesar, Biollante ...
Now, you can't have a bunch of monsters like this without a city to smash. I built a big one (you'll see it soon). I populated it with a race of beings I called "Fle'ers," because they're always running away, you see? Here are some of the people:
The soldier is inserted in the game as a "captain" so I could outfit him with a weapon to use, futilely, against the monsters. The citizens are colored red after those poor Star Trek security bastards. Dr. Serizawa (complete with eyepatch) is the scientist who provides instructions, takes your technology, etc.
Here are some of the vehicles I made:
(Click to enlarge) Watch Invasion of Astro-Monster. That Xilien ship is a dead ringer. I'm particularly proud of the Super X1. Lots of detail there (you'll see more in the video below). The rocket truck was big fun, too. Now the maser cannon I'm really pleased with, unfortunately, you can't make land vehicles shoot beam weapons in the game. Didn't look right to have it launching missiles.
There are other vehicles, too. They are all altered versions of ones available from Maxis. (The buildings, too.)
OK, enough of that. Here's a video I made of the big "Galactic Adventure" I constructed on our monster planet, Toho. The player is Jet Jaguar and you'll see what he faces in the video below:
(You can turn off the annotations if they annoy you. Just click the little red word balloon.)
I had some fun last week posting pics of my #Dorkmas tree on the Twitter. I thought I'd post the pics here, with additions, as well as some pictures of my Dad's "Star Trek Museum." (Click any of the pics to enlarge.)
First up, here's the JJ Enterprise, Thomas the Tank Engine and one of many Scarletts O'Hara my wife has:
Next, here's Lord Vader mere inches away from Yoda:
Clu's Light Cycle from Tron: Legacy near the USS Defiant:
Harry Potter and Superman:
Batman and Speed Racer:
Scooter (ornament circa 1979) checks out Scarlett's bustle:
Pewter Potter and little Godzilla:
Big Godzilla, with lights and sound:
X-Wing:
The Battlestar Galactica (why not the Hallmark Cylon ornament? Read this):
Thanks to everyone who visited the site last week for my BSG/Trek birthday post. Lots of great pictures and nice comments, too.
In case you didn't know, I'd appreciate it if you guys could 'like' me on Facebook. CLICK THIS, please.
Secondly, Lords of Kobol - Book Three: The Final Exodus is still on track for release the first week of October. Please download Books One & Two at the various links scattered around this page. Also, let me know what you think. I appreciate reviews and thoughts but I haven't gotten nearly enough.
OK, enough with the felgercarb. Click the JUMP for a great and hilarious BSG Season 3 gag reel. Also, you MUST stay until the end so you can hear the song, "I Wanna Frak." Let's just say the video and song are NSFW.
Since I teased it some weeks ago, I've been trying to find a site that will allow me to upload the "Lords of Kobol" preview teaser that I put together. YouTube, et al, keep claiming "copyright infringements" and all that.
So. I've decided to do this up as right as I can and still convey what I wanted. Essentially, the purpose of this video is to refresh your memory. To bring certain things to mind that you may have missed or forgotten as BSG itself got further away from Kobol.
