"Battlestar Galactica: Razor" excels in creating yet another compelling story in the Galactica universe as reinvented by Executive Producers Ron Moore and David Eick. It presents itself in the same bleak and desolate dramatic tone that the sci-fi series is known for. The film tosses up the usual modern day moral quagmires, masked as futuristic allegory, for the characters (and the viewers) to navigate through, coming out the other end a little rougher and tougher than when the journey first started. "Razor" is a fine addition to what has become one of the most popular shows on television, acting as a nice little bit of what some might call "filler" that actually manages to expand on the ever growing operatic nature of the show.
The movie tries to fill in gaps raised during the course of the series, mostly focused around the Battlestar Pegasus and what happened between the Cylon attack that ended the armistice (at the beginning of the series) and its reappearance in the second season. The story unfolds in a dual manner as it flashes back to the aforementioned saga of the Pegasus (giving good reason to bring back Admiral Cain (Michelle Forbes) the anti-Adama) and in the "present" with its first mission under newly appointed commander, Apollo (Jamie Bamber). Apollo´s reluctance to take charge under the weight of his father´s presence is a big factor here and gives the character some interesting moments, especially in his usual song and dance with Starbuck (Katee Sackhoff).
Many familiar faces return in addition to the aforementioned players, we get to see Admiral Adama (Edward James Olmos) do double duty as we even get to witness a significant encounter Adama once had during the first Cylon war (in the past he is played excellently by Nico Cortez, gravely voice and all). Tricia Helfer returns as Number Six, though this time she´s featured as a crew member aboard the Pegasus (as well as Cain´s lover), which sheds new light on the Cylon´s relationship with Cain and both characters ultimate demise in the series. The rest of the cast is there in supporting roles or cameos, though some are entirely absent from the film altogether.
But it isn´t Cain, Apollo or any of the other series regulars that find themselves front and center of "Razor"; acting as the guiding light between both past and present is officer Kendra Shaw (Stephanie Jacobsen), who´s journey is a difficult one at best (would we really expect anything less?), as we see her go from a somewhat impressionable new transfer to the Pegasus crew, to a hard edged veteran, who holds many of Admiral Cain´s philosophies close to her heart. When Apollo offers Shaw a position as his second in command it allows her a shot at salvation for difficult choices she made while serving under Cain.
What "Razor" does best is allow us to see Shaw in her present state, rough around the edges and hardened by a difficult journey as a crewman aboard the Pegasus. She becomes something of a confidant for Cain and because of this we´re allowed a glimpse into what makes Cain tick, the justifications she uses for her actions – immoral in the eyes of some, fully justified in the eyes of others. Whatever the case may be, in the same way Apollo and Starbuck are extensions of Adama´s command, so is Shaw an extension of Cain. By giving us someone entirely new to follow through "Razor", the filmmaker´s have also given us a slightly different way of experiencing "Battelstar Galactica," and that's a very good thing.
The movie tries to fill in gaps raised during the course of the series, mostly focused around the Battlestar Pegasus and what happened between the Cylon attack that ended the armistice (at the beginning of the series) and its reappearance in the second season. The story unfolds in a dual manner as it flashes back to the aforementioned saga of the Pegasus (giving good reason to bring back Admiral Cain (Michelle Forbes) the anti-Adama) and in the "present" with its first mission under newly appointed commander, Apollo (Jamie Bamber). Apollo´s reluctance to take charge under the weight of his father´s presence is a big factor here and gives the character some interesting moments, especially in his usual song and dance with Starbuck (Katee Sackhoff).
Many familiar faces return in addition to the aforementioned players, we get to see Admiral Adama (Edward James Olmos) do double duty as we even get to witness a significant encounter Adama once had during the first Cylon war (in the past he is played excellently by Nico Cortez, gravely voice and all). Tricia Helfer returns as Number Six, though this time she´s featured as a crew member aboard the Pegasus (as well as Cain´s lover), which sheds new light on the Cylon´s relationship with Cain and both characters ultimate demise in the series. The rest of the cast is there in supporting roles or cameos, though some are entirely absent from the film altogether.
But it isn´t Cain, Apollo or any of the other series regulars that find themselves front and center of "Razor"; acting as the guiding light between both past and present is officer Kendra Shaw (Stephanie Jacobsen), who´s journey is a difficult one at best (would we really expect anything less?), as we see her go from a somewhat impressionable new transfer to the Pegasus crew, to a hard edged veteran, who holds many of Admiral Cain´s philosophies close to her heart. When Apollo offers Shaw a position as his second in command it allows her a shot at salvation for difficult choices she made while serving under Cain.
What "Razor" does best is allow us to see Shaw in her present state, rough around the edges and hardened by a difficult journey as a crewman aboard the Pegasus. She becomes something of a confidant for Cain and because of this we´re allowed a glimpse into what makes Cain tick, the justifications she uses for her actions – immoral in the eyes of some, fully justified in the eyes of others. Whatever the case may be, in the same way Apollo and Starbuck are extensions of Adama´s command, so is Shaw an extension of Cain. By giving us someone entirely new to follow through "Razor", the filmmaker´s have also given us a slightly different way of experiencing "Battelstar Galactica," and that's a very good thing.
"Battlestar Galactica: Razor" excels in creating yet another compelling story in the Galactica universe as reinvented by Executive Producers Ron Moore and David Eick. It presents itself in the same bleak and desolate dramatic tone that the sci-fi series is known for. The film tosses up the usual modern day moral quagmires, masked as futuristic allegory, for the characters (and the viewers) to navigate through, coming out the other end a little rougher and tougher than when the journey first started. "Razor" is a fine addition to what has become one of the most popular shows on television, acting as a nice little bit of what some might call "filler" that actually manages to expand on the ever growing operatic nature of the show.
The movie tries to fill in gaps raised during the course of the series, mostly focused around the Battlestar Pegasus and what happened between the Cylon attack that ended the armistice (at the beginning of the series) and its reappearance in the second season. The story unfolds in a dual manner as it flashes back to the aforementioned saga of the Pegasus (giving good reason to bring back Admiral Cain (Michelle Forbes) the anti-Adama) and in the "present" with its first mission under newly appointed commander, Apollo (Jamie Bamber). Apollo´s reluctance to take charge under the weight of his father´s presence is a big factor here and gives the character some interesting moments, especially in his usual song and dance with Starbuck (Katee Sackhoff).
Many familiar faces return in addition to the aforementioned players, we get to see Admiral Adama (Edward James Olmos) do double duty as we even get to witness a significant encounter Adama once had during the first Cylon war (in the past he is played excellently by Nico Cortez, gravely voice and all). Tricia Helfer returns as Number Six, though this time she´s featured as a crew member aboard the Pegasus (as well as Cain´s lover), which sheds new light on the Cylon´s relationship with Cain and both characters ultimate demise in the series. The rest of the cast is there in supporting roles or cameos, though some are entirely absent from the film altogether.
But it isn´t Cain, Apollo or any of the other series regulars that find themselves front and center of "Razor"; acting as the guiding light between both past and present is officer Kendra Shaw (Stephanie Jacobsen), who´s journey is a difficult one at best (would we really expect anything less?), as we see her go from a somewhat impressionable new transfer to the Pegasus crew, to a hard edged veteran, who holds many of Admiral Cain´s philosophies close to her heart. When Apollo offers Shaw a position as his second in command it allows her a shot at salvation for difficult choices she made while serving under Cain.
What "Razor" does best is allow us to see Shaw in her present state, rough around the edges and hardened by a difficult journey as a crewman aboard the Pegasus. She becomes something of a confidant for Cain and because of this we´re allowed a glimpse into what makes Cain tick, the justifications she uses for her actions – immoral in the eyes of some, fully justified in the eyes of others. Whatever the case may be, in the same way Apollo and Starbuck are extensions of Adama´s command, so is Shaw an extension of Cain. By giving us someone entirely new to follow through "Razor", the filmmaker´s have also given us a slightly different way of experiencing "Battelstar Galactica," and that's a very good thing.
The movie tries to fill in gaps raised during the course of the series, mostly focused around the Battlestar Pegasus and what happened between the Cylon attack that ended the armistice (at the beginning of the series) and its reappearance in the second season. The story unfolds in a dual manner as it flashes back to the aforementioned saga of the Pegasus (giving good reason to bring back Admiral Cain (Michelle Forbes) the anti-Adama) and in the "present" with its first mission under newly appointed commander, Apollo (Jamie Bamber). Apollo´s reluctance to take charge under the weight of his father´s presence is a big factor here and gives the character some interesting moments, especially in his usual song and dance with Starbuck (Katee Sackhoff).
Many familiar faces return in addition to the aforementioned players, we get to see Admiral Adama (Edward James Olmos) do double duty as we even get to witness a significant encounter Adama once had during the first Cylon war (in the past he is played excellently by Nico Cortez, gravely voice and all). Tricia Helfer returns as Number Six, though this time she´s featured as a crew member aboard the Pegasus (as well as Cain´s lover), which sheds new light on the Cylon´s relationship with Cain and both characters ultimate demise in the series. The rest of the cast is there in supporting roles or cameos, though some are entirely absent from the film altogether.
But it isn´t Cain, Apollo or any of the other series regulars that find themselves front and center of "Razor"; acting as the guiding light between both past and present is officer Kendra Shaw (Stephanie Jacobsen), who´s journey is a difficult one at best (would we really expect anything less?), as we see her go from a somewhat impressionable new transfer to the Pegasus crew, to a hard edged veteran, who holds many of Admiral Cain´s philosophies close to her heart. When Apollo offers Shaw a position as his second in command it allows her a shot at salvation for difficult choices she made while serving under Cain.
What "Razor" does best is allow us to see Shaw in her present state, rough around the edges and hardened by a difficult journey as a crewman aboard the Pegasus. She becomes something of a confidant for Cain and because of this we´re allowed a glimpse into what makes Cain tick, the justifications she uses for her actions – immoral in the eyes of some, fully justified in the eyes of others. Whatever the case may be, in the same way Apollo and Starbuck are extensions of Adama´s command, so is Shaw an extension of Cain. By giving us someone entirely new to follow through "Razor", the filmmaker´s have also given us a slightly different way of experiencing "Battelstar Galactica," and that's a very good thing.
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