Babylon 5: The Movie Collection
by Janet Greek, Jesús Salvador Treviño, Michael Vejar, Richard Compton
List Price:
Our Price: $24.50
You Save: $35.48 (59%)
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Buy Used: from $21.51 (click here)
Category: DVD
See more DVD details
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
DVD details
Actor: Blaire Baron, Jerry Doyle, Michael O'Hare, Mira Furlan, Tamlyn TomitaDirector: Janet Greek, Jesús Salvador Treviño, Michael Vejar, Richard Compton
Brand: Warner Brothers
Producer: Douglas Netter
Producer: J. Michael Straczynski
Writer: J. Michael Straczynski
Producer: John Copeland
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown), Dolby Digital 5.1; English (Subtitled); Spanish (Subtitled); French (Subtitled); Portuguese (Subtitled); English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 5.1
Format: AC-3, Anamorphic, Box set, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD, Full Screen, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
Picture Format: 1.77:1
Running Time: 471 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2004-08-17
Audience Rating: Unrated
Platform: Linux, Mac, Mac OS 9 and below, Mac OS X, Windows
Studio: Warner Home Video
Product features:
- First time on DVD! Initiate jump sequence for feature-length tales about key events in the B5 chronology.
DVD Reviews of Babylon 5: The Movie Collection
DVD Review: Gathering up the B5 movies into one set...
Summary: 4 Stars
Some reveiwers have indicated a specific order for watching the B5 movies. While "The Gathering" and "In the Beginning" are both essential at filling out the background of the show, they you can easily enjoy the 5 seasons of the series without having viewing any of these. On the other hand, it does fill in quite a bit of information on the series but, again, the events depicted in these two first TV movies are actually hinted at throughout the entire run of the series.
That said, the transfers here look and sound about as good as the last three seasons of B5. "The Gathering" improves slightly on the previous DVD release that, and the fact that it has a commentary track, should entice viewers that have it already. The same can be said for the static "In the Beginning". I personally found that this TV movie was a bit disappointing as it spelled out what had been hinted at and throughout the series. It also features some scenes that showed up later on in the series (particularly those involving the show's original lead Michael O'Hare). Both tend to look a bit grainy at times and the underlit scenes are not well served by the DVDs. It would probably have benefited both these (and the TV movie "Thirdspace")with transfers onto a dual later DVD with more space allocated to the visual part of the picture. "The Gatering" is the pilot episode of "B5" and the only movie presented in full screen. Commander Sinclair (O'Hare)presides over a ceremony greeting the Vorlon ambassador. It will be the first time humanity has had direct contact with the Vorlons. Unfortunately, ambassador Kosh of the Vorlons is attacked by a lone assassin. When Kosh's mind is read it appears that the assassin is....John Sinclair. Security Chief Michael Garabaldi (Jerry Doyle) and Sinclair have limited time to discover who is behind the murder and why they are trying to pin it on the commander. "In the Beginning" portrays key incidents from the Earth-Minbari war involving both Sinclair and John Sheridan who will inherit Sinclair's job as commander of B5 during the second season of the series. We see how the war began due to a miscommunication between two species that have more similarities than differences.
"The Gathering" has its moments but is the weakest of the TV movies. The film has the unenviable task of setting up most of the B5 world and ,as such, the mystery at its core really is designed to provide more details about the background of the world J. Michael Straczynski created for the series. With only three regular cast members carried over to the series (Sinclair and Garibaldi although and telepath Lyta Alexander), "The Gathering" mostly sets up the saga that JMS designed for the 5 year series. After the original premiere JMS upgraded the optical effects for the movie in preparation for a reairing of the TV movie and home video release. The pilot here is somewhat different from the original TV movie. JMS went back and made some minor tweaking including more character moments. The transfer looks slightly better than the first dual sided disc that featured this and "In the Beginning"
"In the Beginning" spells out many of the adventures and conflicts hinted at throughout the run of the series during the Earth-Minbar war. We finally see how Sheridan helped turn the tide in the war against the Minbari. We also see key scenes that show up later and are important to explaining the fate of Sinclair in the show. The transfer improves slightly on the previous DVD release but is still somewhat grainy and dark at times.
"The River of Souls" was actually the fourth movie produced and relates to a first season episode involving a race that collect the souls of the living after they die. They hope that they can preserve the essence of the person and allow them to share their knowledge and wisdom. The commentary track here, on "Thirdspace" and "A Call To Arms" are among the best. Since it involves JMS, director Janet Greek and actress Tracy Scoggins we get a whole bunch of neat tidbits. The image quality is, again, an improvement over the broadcast version but it has some of the same flaws as the other TV movies included. Overall, the visuals look pretty impressive here as with "Thirdspace".
The ones that interested me the most was "Thirdspace" and "A Call to Arms". Both were offshoots from the main story arcs of B5 and are excellent stand alone movies. Although the latter film was prepared as a "B5" "Crusade" bridge, it operates quite well as an open ended TV movie. Here's hoping that "Crusade" will follow and that JMS will tie up all the lose ends of that series. In "Thirdspace" the B5 crew discovera massive spaceship stranded for centuries in hyperspace. They bring the ship out and discover it has unusual properties including the ability to drain any ship coming into contact with it of all its energy. Meanwhile, resident B5 mindreader Lyta Alexander begins having strange visions of B5 destroyed by a massive power and overrun by creatures from another dimension.
In "Crusade" a deadly virus is unleased on Earth by minions of The Shadows. Without the cure, the people of Earth only have 5 years to live without a cure. Both look pretty good and are an improvement over the broadcast quality images but, again, a bit more care could have been taken with these occasionally grainy and dark transfers. Any scenes involving the opticals and live action appear especially effected by these transfer issues. On the whole, though, both look pretty good.
Overall, a great set and addition to the B5 universe. Of the five movies included here, only three are essential but all five are pretty solid in terms of the quality of the writing and performances. My only complaint is that I wish that Warner would take a bit more care in transferring these to DVD as they do share many of the same flaws from seasons 3-5 with somewhat murky images and grainy transfers. It's a particularly issue when it involves the CGI effects integrated into live action sequences. A very good set and an essential purchase for B5 fans. As with the previous sets you get a booklet with credits for each movie and the who is on the commentary track. There's also a touching note from JMS about the death of the talented actor Richard Biggs who played Dr. Stephen Franklin on the show. Tragic loss at such a young age. The single extra includes a featurette on how science effected B5 and visa versa. Pretty interesting but you probably won't watch it more than once.
Description of Babylon 5: The Movie Collection
BABYLON 5:MOVIES - DVD MovieBestsellers in DVD
![The Story of Jeremiah [VHS] Image](/images/noimg.gif)
The Story of Jeremiah [VHS]Vision Video; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Wresting With God [VHS]by Vision Video
Vision Video; Published: 1990-10-01; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Price in other shops:
Study Bible Video with Workbook [VHS]Spring Arbor Distributors; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $7.95
Price in other shops:
Tempo:Childrens TV Favourites Video [VHS]HarperCollins Audio; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $9.17
Price in other shops:
Tempo.Herbs:Parseley'Sb/ Party Video [VHS]HarperCollins Audio; VHS Tape; VHS Video
![Strike the Original Match [VHS] Image](/images/Strike-the-Original-Match-VHS-0001374079-X.jpg)
Strike the Original Match [VHS]New Liberty Films; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Price in other shops:
![Medjugorje The Miracles and the Message [VHS] Image](/images/Medjugorje-The-Miracles-and-the-Message-VHS-0001373293-X.jpg)
Medjugorje The Miracles and the Message [VHS]JPN Film Production; Release date: 1995-12-15; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $29.99
Mayo Clinic Echocardiography Review Course for Boards and Recertification DVD 2008by Mayo
DVD
Price in other shops:
Pediatric Diagnostic Imaging DVD: Single Userby Oakstone
DVD
Price in other shops:
Cost Accounting [VHS]by Charles T. Horngren, George Foster, Srikant M. Datar, Howard Teall
Pearson Canada, Toronto; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Similar DVDs, VHS Video, Audio CDs
Farscape: The Peacekeeper WarsIVE; Release date: 2005-01-18; Published: 2005-01-01; DVD
Best price: $6.93
Price in other shops:
Babylon 5: The Complete Seasons 1-5Warner Brothers; Release date: 2009-06-16; DVD
Best price: $119.74
Price in other shops:
Babylon 5: The Legend of the RangersWarner Brothers; Release date: 2006-03-14; Mac; DVD
Best price: $12.72
Price in other shops:
Babylon 5: The Complete Second Season (Repackage)Warner Brothers; Release date: 2009-06-16; DVD
Best price: $14.89
Price in other shops:
Babylon 5: The Lost TalesWarner Brothers; Release date: 2007-07-31; DVD
Best price: $12.99
Price in other shops:
Crusade: The Complete SeriesWarner Brothers; Release date: 2004-12-07; Mac; DVD
Best price: $10.59
Price in other shops:
Babylon 5: The Complete First Season (Repackage)Warner Brothers; Release date: 2009-06-16; DVD
Best price: $14.89
Price in other shops:
Babylon 5: The Complete Third Season (Repackage)Warner Brothers; Release date: 2009-06-16; DVD
Best price: $14.88
Price in other shops:
Babylon 5: The Complete Fifth Season (Repackage)Warner Brothers; Release date: 2009-06-16; DVD
Best price: $9.29
Price in other shops:
Babylon 5: The Complete Fourth Season (Repackage)Warner Brothers; Release date: 2009-06-16; DVD
Best price: $16.89
Price in other shops: