Figured I'd post this here for you guys too:

Have any of you tried UFO: Extraterrestrials? It's the closest remake to X-Com I've played:
http://store.steampowered.com/app/37030/

and

There was a mod I also used that replaced all of the character portraits with those of major sci-fi films and shows like BSG, Babylon 5, and Stargate.

Not sure which mod it was but here's a list of the most used: http://ufo.ufo-extraterrestrials.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1661

I think FrankenMod could have been it:
http://ufo.ufo-extraterrestrials.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2512

I'm not 100% positive on how well these have been supported or if they even work with the Steam/Gold version.