Battlestar Galactica: Season 4.5 |  | Directors: Edward James Olmos, Gwyneth Horder-Payton, John Dahl, Michael Nankin, Michael Rymer
Actors: Edward James Olmos, Mary McDonnell, Katee Sackhoff, Jamie Bamber, James Callis
Studio: Universal Studios
Category: DVD
List Price: $49.98
Buy New: $26.19
as of 9/3/2010 03:16 CDT details
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Seller: cdwarehouseonline
Rating:  143 reviews
Sales Rank: 1,327
Format: AC-3, Box set, Color, Dolby, DVD, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
Languages: English (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled), English (Original Language)
Rating: Unrated
Region: 1
Discs: 4
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Running Time: 763 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.8
Dimensions (in): 7.6 x 5.4 x 1.2
MPN: 025195050029
UPC: 025195050029
EAN: 0025195050029
ASIN: B001HZXYDC
Theatrical Release Date: 2004
Release Date: July 28, 2009
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
The crew members of Battlestar Galactica go deeper into space to resume the search for Earth and face decisions that will alter the course of their li
Amazon.com
Battlestar Galactica: Season 4.5 is the final 10 episodes of the Sci-Fi Channel's highly acclaimed reimagining of the 1970s show, including one of the more stirring and satisfying series finales in television history. Aired in January 2009 after a six-month hiatus, the half-season opens following the devastating revelation about Earth and with four of the final five Cylons revealed, including Tigh (Michael Hogan), Anders (Michael Trucco), Foster (Rekha Sharma), and Tyrol (Aaron Douglas). The uneasy alliance between humans and a pack of rebel Cylons, including Caprica 6 (Tricia Helfer) takes a quizzical turn when the former residents of Earth appear to be Cylon rather than human, and some of the final five begin to recall their past lives on Earth. Kara (Katee Sackhoff) has to call her own human status into question when she discovers a crashed Viper occupied by a corpse wearing her dog tags, and President Roslin (Mary McDonnell) and Admiral Adama (Edward James Olmos) battle their own despair and struggle to lead an emotionally devastated fleet. Capitalizing on the turmoil, Vice President Tom Zarek (Richard Hatch) and Felix Gaeta (Alessandro Juliani) organize a mutiny aboard the Galactica and Zarek makes an unbelievable power move against the Quorum of Twelve. But before they can carry out their plans for execution, a commando raid led by Kara and Lee Adama (Jamie Bamber) fighting side by side strikes back against the mutineers. That's the action high point of the half-season, as the show then seems to mark some time with such issues as babies and structural integrities until the three-part finale, which, despite a head-scratcher or two, manages to resolve its issues tidily. That viewers even get a rare glimpse of sunlight is kind of a reward for fans of this outstanding but relentlessly dark series. DVD features include extended versions of three episodes ("A Disquiet Follows My Soul," "Islanded in a Stream of Stars," and "Daybreak'), Ronald D. Moore's podcast commentaries for each episode, deleted scenes, David Eick's video blogs, and five behind-the-scenes featurettes. --David Horiuchi
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Showing reviews 1-5 of 143
 Here's What You Need to Buy if You Want To See the Whole Season August 2, 2010
Gilgamesh (New Jersey)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I bought all of the seasons separately as they first came out, and I highly recommend watching the entire television series through to the end. This was a fabulous season.
While looking for the last piece of the series (see the end of the review), I came across some great deals (in terms of price), but was dismayed to see just how confusing things have become on Amazon. This review below is meant to help you wade through the mess in the marketplace, purchase the series, and enjoy it. I originally posted it for the combined Seasons 4.0 and 4.5 set, but someone kindly suggested I post it elsewhere as well. I hope you find it helpful.
DVD CONFUSION
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The show is incredible. However, the whole DVD thing has been a disaster. They released it in the worst way possible (see below), Amazon compounded the problem by lumping together reviews for DIFFERENT PRODUCTS, and the DVD manufacturers seem to be changing the contents of some products. I cannot imagine how someone who is not deeply familiar with it is supposed to purchase this wonderful show. Certainly, they would hesitate to give it as a gift! Let's hope this solves your problem.
In one sentence, I can say that here is what you want to get: Seasons 1, 2.0, 2.5, 3, 4.0, 4.5, and The Plan. I have links to them below. If you get these, then you will be sure to have it all.
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-Season One was released as (Battlestar Galactica - Season One) altogether with the pilot in one box.
-Season Two was released as Battlestar Galactica - Season 2.0 (Episodes 1-10) and Battlestar Galactica: Season 2.5 (Episodes 11-20) in two boxes. You can now purchase them together as Battlestar Galactica (2004): Seasons 2.0 & 2.5
-Season Three was released together in one box as Battlestar Galactica - Season Three.
-Season Four was released as Battlestar Galactica - Season 4.0 and Battlestar Galactica: Season 4.5 with the Razor episode. Those are now available together as Battlestar Galactica (2004): Season 4.0 & 4.5. Occasionally I come across things like "Battlestar Galactica: Season 4.5 - Limited Edition Gift Set (2009)." It seems like a lot of money for one part of the full season, but you get some dog tags with it, so if you are into collecting memorabilia, you might want to consider it.
-The Plan was released on its own as Battlestar Galactica: The Plan
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OPTIONS FOR PURCHASING THEM ALL TOGETHER: BAD TO GOOD
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-Battlestar Galactica: The Complete Series (with COLLECTIBLE CYLON). Not recommended. I do not own this, but according to the reviews, it is packaged poorly WITHOUT AN EPISODE LIST. That seems like a horrible idea for four seasons of a tv show. Apparently, it contains the same DVDs as the ones sold separately (explained above).
-Battlestar Galactica: The Complete Series (the one in the GRAY BOX). *Recommended*. I do not own this. Good reviews of it so far. Packaging problems were fixed. According to a comment from Leif Sheppard, it does include The Plan.
-Battlestar Galactica: The Complete Series (with COLLECTIBLE CYLON) [BLU-RAY] or the gray box [BLU-RAY] set. *Recommended*. I do not own this. Seems to include some extras, but not significant. It also has an episode list, according to the reviews. It might be worth buying if you wanted to get everything together.
BOTTOM LINE:
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As far as I can tell from the reviews, ONLY the Blu-Ray version contains everything you need. So, I think there are two choices:
(1) Buy the Blu-Ray set or the Gray DVD set.
(2) Purchase everything separately (make sure to get all of the stuff mentioned above).
NOTE:
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-The "Face of the Enemy" webisodes (episodes shown only online) have not been made available for purchase in any of the sets as far as I can tell. What a shame!
-Also, if anyone sees any mistakes in this review, please tell me and I will edit it. Frustratingly, the manufacturers seem to be changing the contents of some sets, so it is possible that my information has become outdated.
 Damaged May 8, 2010
Bookworm (Oklahoma)
0 out of 2 found this review helpful
One of the DVD's in the set would not play. It stalled and pixelated. No problem thought! Amazon refunded my money. They are great about that.
excellent service May 4, 2010
Mr. Robert J. Stanek (northern cambria, pa.)
the dvd came as promised and wouldn't have a problem buying from him again. it was like it came from any store except much better priced. bob
 The writers airlocked this once great series into the void of space.. April 25, 2010
Anton Chekhov
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
I wholeheartedly agree with fellow Amazon reviewer Nathan Beauchamp's assessment of Battlestar Galactica's fourth and final season-- a great disappointment in light of the promise this one stellar series once held in its initial season.
However, I felt compelled to write my own review to provide a more dispassionate response to Season Four than Beauchamp wrote in order to provide a more clear-headed account as to why this final season was such a great disappointment to a not insignificant number of fans.
This review will contain many plot spoilers. Be forewarned.
Firstly, the show always operated on a core principle of human survival. At all costs, the human race must go on, even if it means sacrificing the innocent. This concept was highlighted in Season 1 when President Laura Roslin ordered the civilian fleet capable of FTL to jump and abandon other civilian ships who were incapable of FTL jump to an imminent Cylon attack. That moment encapsulated the show-- that human beings, who are moral creatures, must make terrible decisions that strongly contradict their moral conscience for the sake of survival.
Admiral William Adama violates this core principle significantly in the opener of Season Two, when he tells his son Lee that "..the price is too high." to leave everyone behind in New Caprica, especially his love Laura Roslin. That is a logically and emotionally acceptable exception clause to the hard and fast rule-- if the one person you care about in the entire universe is being held prisoner by the enemy, and over half of the human population is with them, you might wish to risk imminent death to save all of them.
However, Admiral Adama makes the same decision again in the series finale of Season Four's "Daybreak" when he makes the decision to rescue the cylon-hybrid Hera from enemy hands. However, the motivation for his decision making does no warrant the violation of the hard and fast rule to sacrifice the innocent in the name of survival. Especially for one child. Given the logic and structure of the show [survival at all cost], and even common sense would agree, there is no good reason to risk the lives of all of those men and women, nearly a third of the crew of Galactica, to rescue one child. That decision, which compels the action of all of the final episode, is deeply flawed from not just a storytelling point of view, but it seems to me from all points of views. Thus, the strength of final episode is already deeply weakened by this flawed decision which acts as an impetus for the rest of the episode.
Secondly, when Cavil holds Hera at gunpoint in the CIC of Galactica, Saul Tigh offers the Number One resurrection technology in exchange for the life of the child. And Adama agrees. I try to hold back my own implosion of disbelief, but this drastically violates the hard and fast rule of survival. Why would you allow an enemy that destroyed your entire race to the point of extinction access to their most feared technology, their ability to resurrect? When the fleet, since its run from Cylon forces after the attack on Caprica, their most stirring victories are the destruction of resurrection hubs and finally the resurrection central nexus itself? All for the life of one child whose 'importance' is esoteric with no concrete proof at best?
As I watched this series conclude, I sympathize with Feelix Gaeta. The world is upside down. If I was one of the writers for Battlestar Galatica, I would have likewised mutinied much like Officer Gaeta and court marshaled BSG creator Ronald Moore for crimes against humanity. The initial principles of the series when it first began were abandoned and betrayed in these pivotal scenes in the series finale.
There are many more gripes to say. Kara Thrace-- who is she, how did she come back? The show doesn't have an answer. This is a terrible decision, to establish such a large question for such a central character and never resolve it-- akin to having an entire story arc be merely a 'dream' by a character in the 70's show "Dallas".
And yes-- absconding technology, technology capable of FTL travel, to settle a world that is warm and sunny until the food supplies runs out, is a startling decision. And the 100% agreement of 300,000 people to all elect to become farmers. Again, the absurdity is too obvious to warrant additional comments.
Lastly, and perhaps also equally disappointing than the violation of the survival rule, is the resolution of the "angels", the apparitions Caprica Six and Gaius Baltar see. Gaius' angel said that he would lead humanity to their destruction: that never came to pass. And if God does indeed plant angels in our midst to help guide our destiny along, then what is his agenda or purpose? Baltar said that God is not a moral entity so much as a force of nature; if that were true, then why send angels in our midst to direct the course of human history?
Too many internal logistical errors that crumble this once promising series. I will choose to remember Battlestar Galactica for what it once was, and what it showed to be every now and then: the great Season One and Two. The arrival of Pegasus and how, even amidst annihilation, humans are still prone to infighting. The prison escape of Season 3. The mutiny of Season 4.
How, when the writing is good, it's damn good. It's a no-nonsense kind of writing, the kind that is skeptical and scornful of esoteric and flowery speech, but at the same time so attuned and eloquent when ascertaining the nature of God [until Baltar claims God is a force of nature, which is erroneous even by the show's own internal logic.] It's good writing, the kind that scorns Lee's "I feel the weight of my guilt every time I look at my wife's face." with Kara's quip, "We don't have time for you to be poetical." The kind of writing that has Cavil saying, "The hybrid is suppose to navigate the ship, not vomit metaphysics."
That sentiment is exactly how I feel about how BSG turned out. It was supposed to be a gritty, meat and potatoes kind of show, but with a soft heart that desperately sought out the nature of God. What we got in the end is one that vomits metaphysics. But, I will choose to remember BSG in her finer moments. Like Adama said when the Chief was besmirching Callie's funeral, "Don't do this to a memory." We should honor the memory of BSg when it was at its brilliance.
 A little better than previous seasons. April 21, 2010
Jero Briggs
These final episodes were good (for the new series that is). I never cared much for Moore's version of the show, but every now and then a spark of good comes out of his version. Still not as good as the original, but worth buying if you've already got the other seasons on DVD or Blue-Ray.
The show's finale was a two-parter with part one being an hour long episode and part two being two hours long. Not much to offer in part one, but part two for the most part is excellent. The humans have their final battle with the Cylons, which is no doubt the best action-packed moments of the entire series, and finally find Earth. The show comes to a great conclusion.
It's not the original, but still good.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 143
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