Back To Index Babylon 5: The Gathering / In The Beginning
 Barnes & Noble Babylon 5 makes its long-awaited DVD debut with the two TV movies that carried the sci-fi series through its transition from syndication to cable TV. The first film here, The Gathering, began its life as the pilot for the series and aired in 1993, but not in the form included here. This version of The Gathering is a 1998 edit, recut to weave in a new subplot, tighten up some character drama, and serve as a pilot episode for the series relaunch on TNT. Minor tweaks aside, the two-hour movie introduces a handful of characters -- only a few of whom later returned -- and echoes its series contemporary, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, with its story of a neutral, nonpolitical space station that acts as a hub for four warring alien races in the year 2257. The second movie in this collection, In the Beginning, functions as the series prequel. Also aired in 1998 in connection with the TNT move, it served as a comprehensive introduction for new viewers and afforded revelatory payoffs for seasoned fans. The story fleshes out B5s previously shadowy history and the events leading to the space rivalries that fuel the series. In a sense, the movie is the pilot that The Gathering wasnt, offering glimpses at the histories of characters who became central as the series evolved, particularly Andreas Katsulas GKar, Peter Jurasiks Londo Mollari, and Bruce Boxleitners John Sheridan -- who did not even appear in the 1993 movie but was a main character throughout the shows run. Stuart GazzoCustomer ReviewsWrite your own online review >Number Of Reviews: 3 Average Rating: Entilzha (diresky@yahoo.com), A fan of well done sci-fi The Truth Points To ItselfPrequels. They are a popular trend these days. Some are better than others. Babylon 5: In The Beginning is one of the very best. I think of B5:ITB as like Herman Wouks The Winds Of War. What strikes me most about B5:ITB is the emotion put into the performances. As humanity faces certain extinction our best qualities rise to the surface. There is a grim and yet heroic montage in B5:ITB that brings tears to my eyes even now. B5:ITB is a tale told by a corrupted character seeking redemption. It is a tale that puts on display the folly of collective hubris and personal arrogance. In the B5 TV series now on DVD one will hear about the Earth-Minbari War. Well that is what B5:ITB covers.Also Recommended: Anything with the title Babylon 5 is a must-see-item.A viewer Echoes od DS9?and echoes its series contemporary, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine the B&N review says. Dont be fooled and think that this is a knock-off: 5 years before the premiere of either show the producers pitched B5 to paramount & others, who werent interested in any non-Trek Sci-Fi. Then myseriously they hane an idea for a Trek show about a space station near a hyperspace transfer point...Duke Walls, remarkably normal, for a B5 fan... A good intro to possibly the best SF show ever producedIf youve had trouble jumping into the middle of B5s complex story lines, this release is for you. In The Gathering, youll meet many of the main characters at their starting points in the 5-year story arc that made B5 unique (the difference in casts is attributed to the one-year gap between production of the pilot and series production). And for those who cant get enough of those wacky Minbari, In The Beginning will tell you more about them than you possibly wanted to know. What makes this an excellent intro to possibly the best SF show ever? Phenomenal writing, three-dimensional characters that go beyond the usual SF cardboard cutouts, acting that doesnt require much willing suspension of disbelief, no pseudo-scientific mumbo-jumbo, aliens that actually act alien, and special effects that will have you asking, Howd they get the computer to do *that*?! Add in the wide-screen format, excellent sound production, and Christopher Frankes techno-retro soundtrack, and you have a package that never fails to impress. Grab a cup of hot jala, snag some spoo, and enjoy !Also Recommended: Any Star Trek movie (even the odd-numbered ones), any Star Wars movie (even Episode I), Destination: Moon (written by R. Heinlein), and 2001: A Space Odyssey Interested in the song lyrics? - Check out themostlyrics.com! Looking For A DVD? - Check out dvd-a-rama.com! |
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