Babylon 5

Post by **GORDON** » Thu Dec 14, 2006 9:25 pm

I've never seen a single minute of the series.

I've heard great things about it, rivalling even the Firefly hype.

Would I be dissappointed if I just up and bought season 1 on DVD, and started watching?

Post by **TPRJones** » Thu Dec 14, 2006 10:09 pm

I am myself finally getting around to watching it, checked out from Netflix. Tonight I'm on disc 5 of season 3.

The first season was okay. The second season was good. The third season is making me giddy with it's greatness.

I suspect the fifth season may kill me.

EDIT: However, that having been said, it is no Firefly. Nothing is.

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Post by **GORDON** » Thu Dec 14, 2006 11:35 pm

The DVD seasons are all about $35 on amazon, but that could be holiday pricing.

Post by **TPRJones** » Fri Dec 15, 2006 12:08 am

You don't Netflix or Blockbuster Online?

Post by **GORDON** » Fri Dec 15, 2006 12:27 am

Post by **TPRJones** » Fri Dec 15, 2006 12:40 am

Oh. Well, I'm always reluctant to purchase until I've watched enough to be sure, so I'm unable to advise you here.

Having watched it it's not something I will purchase, but I'll probably watch it again in a few years via Netflix again. I think it's good enough for a repeat later. But it is really long (the whole five years is a single story arc) so watching it again is quite a commitment.

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Post by **Cakedaddy** » Fri Dec 15, 2006 6:38 am

With the way blockbuster is running, I don't know that I'll need to buy many more DVDs. I have damn near instant gratification with their current setup. I have access to more movies than I can watch.

DictionaryDave · Post by **DictionaryDave** » Tue Dec 19, 2006 3:30 pm

I really enjoyed the series. It got better each year. The characters were well written and you got to see them evolve and change.

DoctorChaos · Post by **DoctorChaos** » Wed Dec 20, 2006 8:30 am

I thought season 1 sucked. DD is right, it got better each year. The shadow war was pretty damn cool. Season 3?

DictionaryDave · Post by **DictionaryDave** » Wed Dec 20, 2006 11:03 am

DoctorChaos wrote:I thought season 1 sucked. DD is right, it got better each year. The shadow war was pretty damn cool. Season 3?

Yeah Season 1 was pretty bad but they added some characters and got rid of others which helped the story. Though I liked that they didn't just arbitrarily get rid of them and you saw some of them later.
I think the stories got better and the characters got more and more developed.

On another note two of the actors who played main characters died recently. The guy who played Doctor Franklin died of some heart problem a couple years ago and the actor who played G'Kar died from cancer this year.

Also I liked that Flounder and Will Robinson were on the show

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DictionaryDave · Post by **DictionaryDave** » Wed Dec 20, 2006 11:28 am

I just found this.

BABLYON 5: THE LOST TALES TO BEGIN PRODUCTION NOVEMBER 13, 2006

BURBANK, CA, November 13, 2006 - Warner Home Video (WHV) and Warner Bros. Television (WBTV) have announced the start of production of "Babylon 5: The Lost Tales," a made-for-video movie that will be targeted towards the Babylon 5 loyal audience and science-fiction fans in general . The announcement was jointly made by Jeff Brown, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Non-theatrical Franchise, Warner Home Video and Gregg Maday, Senior Vice President, Movies and Miniseries, WBTV.

WHV will be the home entertainment distributor for this made-for-DVD release which will include two new Babylon 5 stories collectively entitled "Voices of the Dark" in one film plus exclusive behind the scenes content. The stories will be written and directed by executive producer and original "Babylon 5" creator J. Michael Straczynski. Executive producer Doug Netter also returns in that role. Actors from the original series that have signed on to participate in the project include Bruce Boxleitner ("President John Sheridan"), Tracy Scoggins ("Captain Elizabeth Lochley") and Peter Woodward ("Galen").

Babylon 5 is a top selling franchise on DVD to date with over $44 million in consumer sales. Launched in February 1993, the award winning series was a top rated show on television with more than 13.7 million viewers in its debut season. After its original planned five-year run - introducing the concept of a five year arc before other TV series began to use multi-season arcs -- the show went on to enjoy 9 successful years in syndication and Cable on the Sci-Fi Channel and TNT. It also spurred the creation of five feature length movies based on the series including The Gathering, In the Beginning, Thirdspace, River of Souls and A Call to Arms, as well as the limited series Crusade. Babylon 5 has received numerous awards including two Emmys, two consecutive Hugo Awards, the Ray Bradbury Award for Dramatic Screenwriting from the Science Fiction Writers of America, five English Media 'Cult TV‚ Awards, the E Pluribus Unum Award from the American Cinema Foundation, the Sci-Fi Universe Reader Choice Award for Best TV Series and was the winner of the TV Guide Poll for Best Sci-Fi Show.

"We are very excited to be releasing this new made-for-video release filled with original content for 'Babylon 5' one of the most successful science fiction series of all time," said Jeff Brown. "This popular TV show which has been off the air for a few years continues to have a strong loyal fan base that is hungry for more content. This is the first time we're utilizing one of our popular TV franchises as a made-for-video title, and we have a strong commitment to the growth of this sector."

"It's great to be reunited with Joe and Doug once again," commented Maday. "I have always been very proud to be associated with their wonderful work on Babylon 5 and I‚m confident the "Lost Tales" will add to the legacy of this very special franchise."

On an immense space station built by the Earth Alliance in the 2250s, the crew of Babylon 5 are charged with maintaining the peace among the various alien races by providing a sanctuary where grievances and negotiations can be worked out among duly appointed ambassadors. Aside from its diplomatic function, Babylon 5 also serves as a military post for Earth and a port of call for travelers, traders, businessmen, criminals, and Rangers. The story of The Lost Tales picks up several years after the events of its original story, and follows several of its major characters in new adventures set against the backdrop of the Babylon 5 universe.

Post by **Leisher** » Wed Dec 20, 2006 11:40 pm

Also I liked that Flounder and Will Robinson were on the show

Why Flouder?

*BURP!* Why not?

Post by **TPRJones** » Thu Dec 21, 2006 12:07 am

Lennier was Will Robinson?! Dayum, I had no idea. That's cool.

DictionaryDave · Post by **DictionaryDave** » Thu Dec 21, 2006 2:28 am

TPRJones wrote:Lennier was Will Robinson?! Dayum, I had no idea. That's cool.

Yep Billy"Danger Danger Will Robinson Danger" Mumy.

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Malcolm · Post by **Malcolm** » Sun Dec 24, 2006 3:14 pm

I vaguely remember this show. It had Bruce Boxleitner towards the end. Ugh. There was some dude in a shiny, carapaced suit or something, another weasely dude w\ fucked-up way out there hair, and the ubiquitous Andreas Katsulas (R.I.P., all-around character actor & one-armed man from the Fugitive flick). & I knew some dude that was all psycho over the second-in-command chick -- what the hell was her name ... Ivonova or something.

Post by **GORDON** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 7:34 pm

God damn it, now that the holidays are over the price has shot up to $50.

Shit.

Post by **GORDON** » Sat Dec 29, 2007 3:14 pm

Got season 1 for xmas. So far I'm 2 episodes in. The characters/actors are very stiff, the sets look flimsy, and the CGI is laughable... it's even worse than season 1 of Star Trek: TNG.

I'm glad to reread this thread and see each season gets better. I will persevere.

It feels like I'm watching the "historical documents" that were the old TV series in Galaxy Quest, production-values wise.

Post by **Vince** » Mon Dec 31, 2007 6:26 am

GORDON wrote:Got season 1 for xmas. So far I'm 2 episodes in. The characters/actors are very stiff, the sets look flimsy, and the CGI is laughable... it's even worse than season 1 of Star Trek: TNG.

Yeah, I couldn't get into the series at all when it aired. I was looking for an alternative to ST:TNG because I was tired of the lack of cohesive vision there. But I just couldn't get into it.

Post by **GORDON** » Mon Dec 31, 2007 6:23 pm

Second impressions, 6 episodes in:

I mentioned "flimsy sets." In the 1st episodes some actors rounded a corner that looked like a sturdy metal wall, and it wobbled. I'm going to forgive this because a) it hasn't happened since, and b) I doubt they planned on the show being watched on a 61" TV when things like that would be more obvious.

Bad CGI - Still laughable, but I wouldn't expect that to improve until at least season 2.

Acting is getting better.

I can tell a lot of things are getting set up for later... I guess I'm enjoying it now.

Oh, also, the last episode I watched had the line, "Who watches the watchmen?" Cool.

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Post by **GORDON** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 9:37 am

I think I screwed myself over.

I watched several episodes when I was in bed sick the other day.

That night I had a 103 fever and was dreaming about it.

And now when I think about watching the next epsiode I think about being sick and I don't want to watch it.