The return of Bablyon 5? Sort of?

[Ingersoll]

http://www.aintitcoolnews.com/display.cgi?id=23963

The thrust of the news is this: straight-to-video BABYLON 5 adventures...involving B5 characters in an anthology format...should arrive late next year. Written and directed by JMS.

[SparkleMotion]

Here's a part I found particularly interesting:Jms has produced a 12 episode radio program for the Canadian Broadcasting Company called The Adventures of Apocalypse Al. Jms described it as a science fiction comedy in the vein of Hitchhikers Guide.

[dswallow]

This is the sad part:

The DVD sales have raised over 500 million in revenue. Now, I produced B5s 110 episodes at about 90 million dollars. Somehow, B5 is still 50 million in the red. Every time I mention that to WB they say "We made a good deal, huh?"

[wallace]

This is the sad part:
The DVD sales have raised over 500 million in revenue. Now, I produced B5s 110 episodes at about 90 million dollars. Somehow, B5 is still 50 million in the red. Every time I mention that to WB they say "We made a good deal, huh?"

What am I missing here, is there some fuzzy math going on?

[WinBear]

Even sadder is that 2 of the main actors from series have already died and he can't really tell any more of their story. Andreas Katsulas who played G'Kar died earlier this year and Richard Biggs who played Dr. Stephen Franklin died 2 years ago.

[edhara]

Even sadder is that 2 of the main actors from series have already died and he can't really tell any more of their story. Andreas Katsulas who played G'Kar died earlier this year and Richard Biggs who played Dr. Stephen Franklin died 2 years ago.
I loved this quote:

Anyway, they asked if I wanted to do a feature film but I declined mainly because I can't yet picture structuring a B5 movie as long as [Andreas Katsulas] and [Richard Biggs] insist on staying dead.

:D

[Ingersoll]

I loved this quote:

Anyway, they asked if I wanted to do a feature film but I declined mainly because I can't yet picture structuring a B5 movie as long as [Andreas Katsulas] and [Richard Biggs] insist on staying dead.

:D


Atheists have such a morbid sense of humor. ;)

[rhuntington3]

Yeah, I would have love to seen G'Kar's story in between leaving Babylon 5 and the end of the series.

[Rob Helmerichs]

What am I missing here, is there some fuzzy math going on?
Not fuzzy math, Hollywood math, by which no property ever makes money if somebody has a net percentage..

[Anubys]

I didn't know that Andreas is dead...that is a shame that we won't get his story...as for the guy who played Franklin, I don't mean to be cold, but if that's the price to pay to NOT see more of him... :o ;)

this is great news...

[Fleegle]

Not fuzzy math, Hollywood math, by which no property ever makes money if somebody has a net percentage..

It's similar to RIAA Math where a recording artist will end up owing the record company money even after their albums sell millions of copies and they have several profitable tours.

[TivoSlinger]

Not fuzzy math, Hollywood math, by which no property ever makes money if somebody has a net percentage..

The practice is called, "Hollywood Accounting".

One reason for Hollywood Accounting is to claim a loss on a movie is it avoid taxes on profit. If there is no profit, there is no tax.

Another reason for Hollywood Accounting is that many artist will sign contract that stipulates, "a share of the profit". Again, no profit, thus no payment of royalties.

The formula that Hollywood uses, mathmetically makes any movie impossible to make a profit.

A case in point that Art Buchwald (one of my favorite author) sued the studio for the movie "Coming to America" ("McDowells" is a Wendy's across the street from where I live) about this practice. The studios settled this case for an unclosed amount of money.

[Fleegle]

The practice is called, "Hollywood Accounting".

One reason for Hollywood Accounting is to claim a loss on a movie is it avoid taxes on profit. If there is no profit, there is no tax.

Another reason for Hollywood Accounting is that many artist will sign contract that stipulates, "a share of the profit". Again, no profit, thus no payment of royalties.

The formula that Hollywood uses, mathmetically makes any movie impossible to make a profit.

A case in point that Art Buchwald (one of my favorite author) sued the studio for the movie "Coming to America" ("McDowells" is a Wendy's across the street from where I live) about this practice. The studios settled this case for an unclosed amount of money.

Case in point:
http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/view.php?StoryID=20060725-023107-8462r

[dswallow]

Case in point:
http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/view.php?StoryID=20060725-023107-8462r
One day I really would like to see how they juggle the numbers to make things turn out like this. They must somehow be charging an extraordinary amount of overhead (aka graft) to successful movies.

[Anubys]

what agent in his/her right mind would tell their client to sign a contract for a slice of the profits?

has there ever been a movie that made money? ;)

[Rob Helmerichs]

has there ever been a movie that made money? ;)
Star Wars.

George Lucas offered the cast a slice of the pie instead of an upfront fee. Only Anthony Daniels took him up on it.

Anthony Daniels is now a very, very wealthy man. Probably richer than Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, and Mark Hamill combined.

But Lucas is pretty unusual in Hollywood.

[madscientist]

Anthony Daniels is now a very, very wealthy man. Probably richer than Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, and Mark Hamill combined.Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamill I believe. I'm skeptical about Harrison Ford, though: he's had a huge career after/apart from SW.

[Rob Helmerichs]

Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamill I believe. I'm skeptical about Harrison Ford, though: he's had a huge career after/apart from SW.
I'm pretty sure Daniel's cut included merchandising...

[Jonathan_S]

One day I really would like to see how they juggle the numbers to make things turn out like this. They must somehow be charging an extraordinary amount of overhead (aka graft) to successful movies.
I've heard* that the standard contract allows the studio to bill unsuccessful movies production cost to other films.
So rather that showing a massive loss on a flop and a huge profit on a blockbuster, they can transfer costs from the flop to the blockbuster before declaring profits.

*And take that with the applicable grain of salt.

And of course that is all in addition to the various portions of the studio being able to bill the movie for production costs at rates that include significant profit for the studio. Raising the cost of the movie and therefore lowering possible profit.

[Sirius Black]

I'm pretty sure Daniel's cut included merchandising...

The first thing I thought of:

Merchandising, merchandising, where the real money from the movie is made. Spaceballs-the T-shirt, Spaceballs-the Coloring Book, Spaceballs-the Lunch box, Spaceballs-the Breakfast Cereal, Spaceballs-the Flame Thrower.

:D

I am all for more B5. As long as it is of the same high-quality material that he has done in the past. I wouldn't want them to make more B5 just because people demand it. If there is a good story to tell. Go for it. If not, well, I say please don't.

[ADent]

what agent in his/her right mind would tell their client to sign a contract for a slice of the profits?

has there ever been a movie that made money? ;)



I know JMS has talked about moving up the ladder. Here it is:

But the way the town works is that everything's incremental.
First you work for just the salary; then you get a net deal (which means you're
STILL working for just the salary but on paper you're a profit participant),
then you go for an *adjusted* net deal, which means that someday down the road
you'll see a small amount of money, then you can get an adjusted net deal with
a better definition of revenue streams and items which the studio can and can't
charge against the profits of your show...and someday, some far, far distant
day, you may be able to argue for a small piece of the gross, if the prior
shows have been wildly successful.

(all message content (c) 2000 by
synthetic worlds, ltd., permission
to reprint specifically denied to
SFX Magazine)
From http://www.jmsnews.com/msg.aspx?id=1-576 .

He talks about net profits here: http://www.jmsnews.com/msg.aspx?id=1-17181

[spelcheker]

The writer of Forest Gump, STILL hasn't received any money. They told him they wanted to do a sequel, he told them to piss off.

[rhuntington3]

Trailer for Babylon 5: The Lost Tails is up at the official site...

http://babylon5.warnerbros.com/

Flash is required.

[Rob Helmerichs]

Speaking of moving up the ladder:
The news seems to be everywhere now, and Fox hasn't said anything about NOT commenting on it so...yes, I'm writing the Silver Surfer movie. (Have written, actually, being the more correct form...the script has already been turned in.)

Overall, this has probably been the most extraordinary year of my career. There's Changeling with Eastwood/Jolie/Howard slated for 2008...the Silver Surfer movie, which is going to be a big film, also looking at 2008...They Marched into Sunlight with director Paul (Bourne Ultimatum) Greengrass, based on a historical novel by a Pulitizer prize winning author, for Tom Hanks' company, open date on when it goes...World War Z for Brad Pitt's company, also potentially 2008...the King David script for Akiva Goldsman....just the company of those names alone is astonishing. I am, as they say, in the tall grass now.

And there are still at least two, and possibly three major announcements yet to be made at Comic Con, which regardless of whether one is a TV or movie fan, an SF fan or a comics fan...are gonna pin people's ears back.

There isn't a day when I don't feel as though I woke up in somebody else's life.

[Fleegle]

Speaking of moving up the ladder:

Is that a JMS quote?

[gchance]

Moving up? He can't get much farther up, he's been writing Spider-Man comics for QUITE a few years. JMS is the man.

Greg

[Rob Helmerichs]

Is that a JMS quote?
Yeppers.

[IndyJones1023]

Moving up? He can't get much farther up, he's been writing Spider-Man comics for QUITE a few years. JMS is the man.

Greg
I don't mean to burst your bubble, but writing comics isn't very far up the Hollywood ladder.

[Sirius Black]

I don't mean to burst your bubble, but writing comics isn't very far up the Hollywood ladder.

I don't want someone "far up in the Hollywood ladder" writing comic books. I want them to think for themselves. Be independent. It's what made Whedon successful. It's what has made JMS successful.

The more I hear about these new "episodes" the more interested I am. Unfortunately, there is no mention of Garibaldi being a part of the story. I liked him.

[sieglinde]

What does being an atheist have to do with being dead or alive? Dead is dead unless you believe in ghosts.

[gchance]

I don't want someone "far up in the Hollywood ladder" writing comic books. I want them to think for themselves. Be independent. It's what made Whedon successful. It's what has made JMS successful.

The more I hear about these new "episodes" the more interested I am. Unfortunately, there is no mention of Garibaldi being a part of the story. I liked him.

Garibaldi's going to be in the next one.

[alyssa]

JMS & Silver Surfer, what a great combo

That's a big :up:

Now we just need to get Joss a hit or two--

[Mr_Bester]

I don't want someone "far up in the Hollywood ladder" writing comic books. I want them to think for themselves. Be independent. It's what made Whedon successful. It's what has made JMS successful.

The more I hear about these new "episodes" the more interested I am. Unfortunately, there is no mention of Garibaldi being a part of the story. I liked him.

There was going to be a third story with Him. It was too FX heavy to do on the first run, so if this is successful, there should be a story about him in a future installment. All according to JMS.
Dug

[Mike20878]

Trailer for Babylon 5: The Lost Tails is up at the official site...

http://babylon5.warnerbros.com/

Flash is required.

Is this brand new or is this the last movie that was out several years ago?

[Mr_Bester]

Brand spankin new. Due for release in July.
Dg

[alyssa]

july 31

to pre-order (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000PHX8RA/ref=ord_cart_shr/103-0241578-0149464?%5Fencoding=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&v=glance)

[J4yDubs]

Pre-ordered. Something I never do. B5 is just that good...

John

[steve614]

I have the TV series on DVD.
This thread prompted me to check Netflix...

:eek: Looks like I have more B5 watching to do! :eek:

[Fl_Gulfer]

I didn't see Delin in the cast. YAHOOOOO

[drew2k]

I didn't see Delin in the cast. YAHOOOOOMaybe she was lost?

[lordargent]

Jonathan_S: I've heard* that the standard contract allows the studio to bill unsuccessful movies production cost to other films.

I'd assume this would be a common thing since the same thing is done with stocks. If you take a capital loss on one stock, you can use that loss to write down the gains on another stock. I don't see why that wouldn't apply to movies as well since the IRS mostly looks at the big picture.

[Fleegle]

I'd assume this would be a common thing since the same thing is done with stocks. If you take a capital loss on one stock, you can use that loss to write down the gains on another stock. I don't see why that wouldn't apply to movies as well since the IRS mostly looks at the big picture.

Not quite the same thing. You're essentially talking about dollar cost averaging in term of capital gains taxes. (well, not cost, but you get the idea) The problem with that Jonathan is talking about is that is affects people who get a cut of the back-end of a film, which is very common in Hollywood. When you lower the adjusted gross of a movie by moving debt incurred on one film to another film, you're essentially making the actors. directors, etc on the successful movie pay for the flop. That's wrong.

[doom1701]

Maybe this is a hijack, but has B5 not really stood up well over time for anyone else? I started watching a few episodes again (granted, Season 1 took some time to get some traction), and its pretty painful. Bad acting, bad writing, FX that, while they were great at the time, just look terrible now. I still love the overall story, but I'm afriad that the series as a whole just doesn't work well for me anymore.

[gchance]

Maybe this is a hijack, but has B5 not really stood up well over time for anyone else? I started watching a few episodes again (granted, Season 1 took some time to get some traction), and its pretty painful. Bad acting, bad writing, FX that, while they were great at the time, just look terrible now. I still love the overall story, but I'm afriad that the series as a whole just doesn't work well for me anymore.

I rewatch the whole series once a year or so. It holds up amazingly well for me.

Greg

[dcheesi]

Maybe this is a hijack, but has B5 not really stood up well over time for anyone else? I started watching a few episodes again (granted, Season 1 took some time to get some traction), and its pretty painful. Bad acting, bad writing, FX that, while they were great at the time, just look terrible now. I still love the overall story, but I'm afriad that the series as a whole just doesn't work well for me anymore.For me it's also the fact that I know what's going to happen. Part of the thrill of watching B5 as it aired was the wonder and speculation about what was really going on, and what might happen next. Now that excitement is gone, and it's harder for me to get excited about.

[Sirius Black]

Maybe she was lost?

Rim shot

It is likely the same reason Garabaldi isn't in the first one.

[steve614]

...FX that, while they were great at the time, just look terrible now.
IMO, the FX still compare to what's being done on TV now, except maybe for BSG. I like what they did by adding the 'pan' and 'zoom' in their FX.
I still love the overall story, but I'm afriad that the series as a whole just doesn't work well for me anymore.
That's because you've already seen it. :p ;)

BTW, related SOAK:

Is there any particular order to watching the *after series* DVDs?
I would like to watch them in order with the time line of the series (i.e. which DVD shows happen in the time before the series and which ones happen after the series). If that makes sense. :o

Thanks.

[IndyJones1023]

IMO, the FX still compare to what's being done on TV now, except maybe for BSG.
Is BSG all you watch?

[steve614]

Is BSG all you watch?
I watch SG-1 and SG-Atlantis also, but that's about it for the stuff going on now.
It has been awhile since I've watched any of the B5 series, but from what I remember, the FX is on par with SG-1, SG-Atlantis, and maybe even some of the Star Trek series. JMO.

[vertigo235]

No way!

[IndyJones1023]

I watch SG-1 and SG-Atlantis also, but that's about it for the stuff going on now.
It has been awhile since I've watched any of the B5 series, but from what I remember, the FX is on par with SG-1, SG-Atlantis, and maybe even some of the Star Trek series. JMO.
Very far from it.

[gchance]

Is BSG all you watch?

You know, I do like the zoom and pan style of NYPD Blue, The Shield, and the like, but they're not even close to BSG.

...or Babylon 5.

Greg

[gchance]

It has been awhile since I've watched any of the B5 series, but from what I remember, the FX is on par with SG-1, SG-Atlantis, and maybe even some of the Star Trek series. JMO.

The 3D technology grew in leaps & bounds during the run of Babylon 5, the same as with all the current shows. Compare the CGI between The Gathering, say, and the first episode... then compare that to the S2 season premiere.

The same went for DS9, they were using mostly models early on then moved to CGI. When both were on simultaneously they were both breathtaking.

Greg

[wprager]

I'm a Babylon 5 noob. Watched The Gathering and the first three episodes of S1 (so far). I have to admit that I don't see much improvement in the first three episodes as compared to The Gathering. It's like watching Re-Boot, except there's no Dot, and it's not meant to be a Saturday-morning kiddie show. DS9 was on at the same time and had better f/x; so did ST:TNG, even a few years earlier. The music is not even worth talking about (I still get chills just *thinking* of that trumpet opening for DS9). Anyhow, f/x and music are not the reasons to watch a show, although they help. Unfortunately I also don't see good acting or halfway decent dialogue, at least not so far. I've been spoiled by BSG and Firefly, I suppose (just watched Firefly for the first time last month).

Anyhow, how blasphemous would it be for me to skip the rest of the first season and jump into S2?

[IndyJones1023]

You know, I do like the zoom and pan style of NYPD Blue, The Shield, and the like, but they're not even close to BSG.

...or Babylon 5.

Greg
Okay, but that has nothing to do with the antiquated CGI on B5.

[wedgecon]

I'm a Babylon 5 noob. Watched The Gathering and the first three episodes of S1 (so far). I have to admit that I don't see much improvement in the first three episodes as compared to The Gathering. It's like watching Re-Boot, except there's no Dot, and it's not meant to be a Saturday-morning kiddie show. DS9 was on at the same time and had better f/x; so did ST:TNG, even a few years earlier. The music is not even worth talking about (I still get chills just *thinking* of that trumpet opening for DS9). Anyhow, f/x and music are not the reasons to watch a show, although they help. Unfortunately I also don't see good acting or halfway decent dialogue, at least not so far. I've been spoiled by BSG and Firefly, I suppose (just watched Firefly for the first time last month).

Anyhow, how blasphemous would it be for me to skip the rest of the first season and jump into S2?

Trust me it will get better, espically Babylon Squared, Signs and Portents, and A voice in the wilderness. A lot of things are happening in the first season that will have a big effect in later seasons.

[steve614]

No way!
Yeah, I'm cheap. :p
I only watch OTA programming and DVDs. :o

As far as B5's CGI, I guess what I'm remembering is the wow factor it had when it was first on TV and IMO it set a standard for how sci-fi shows should depict being in space.

[steve614]

Trust me it will get better, espically Babylon Squared, Signs and Portents, and A voice in the wilderness. A lot of things are happening in the first season that will have a big effect in later seasons.
+1.

If you skip over season 1, you'll miss out when you get to season 5.

[Ereth]

Anyhow, how blasphemous would it be for me to skip the rest of the first season and jump into S2?

Don't do it. Season one is laying groundwork, some of which you aren't noticing yet. But things you learn this season become background for other things later, and if you don't know them then the later seasons won't make as big of an impact.

[J4yDubs]

I've been spoiled by BSG and Firefly, I suppose (just watched Firefly for the first time last month).

Anyhow, how blasphemous would it be for me to skip the rest of the first season and jump into S2?
I like BSG and Firefly (and Farscape), but B5 is on another level when it comes to story. You could skip, but you'll also be skipping part of the story. Try and get through it, it gets better.

John

[wprager]

I like BSG and Firefly (and Farscape), but B5 is on another level when it comes to story. You could skip, but you'll also be skipping part of the story. Try and get through it, it gets better.

John

I'll keep going.

[JustAllie]

Anyhow, how blasphemous would it be for me to skip the rest of the first season and jump into S2?I know others have already made this point and you've already declared your intention to slog on through... but I just wanted to reiterate that Babylon 5 is the one series in which you really, really should watch the whole thing, in order.

Some TV series ignore continuity altogether, or push it to the back burner.

Babylon 5 took continuity to a whole new level. While each episode had its own plotline and so on, the overall story really grew from the very beginning through each season. Events that happen at the very end (or in one of the post-series movies) refer back to things that happened in the first season or two. Stuff that begins to unfold in season 2 or 3 doesn't come to fruition until the very end.

It is best experienced in its entirety, without skipping. :)

Of course if you do skip around, there are numerous web-based resources to help you figure out what you missed. But where's the fun in that? ;)

[alyssa]

Skipping season one the first time threw allows for new revelations ( ahhh moments) once the complete show is watched in it's entirety.

[gchance]

Here we go, shortly before release, a news article about the CGI of B5: Lost Tales:

http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/index.php?category=0&id=42435

Can't wait!

Greg

[JustAllie]

Here we go, shortly before release, a news article about the CGI of B5: Lost Tales:

http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/index.php?category=0&id=42435

Can't wait!

Greg
Should I rent/buy and re-watch the entire series and all the movies, just to prepare for this one?

I have probably forgotten some of the minor plot elements. :o

[Mr_Bester]

You should be safe. I doubt they are going to be as tied to the original 5 year arc as something during the arc.

It's cool to know some of the people that the models were taken from and also some of the people that worked on the new one.
Dug

[gchance]

Should I rent/buy and re-watch the entire series and all the movies, just to prepare for this one?

I have probably forgotten some of the minor plot elements. :o

If you even have to ask that question, you're not a B5 fan. Shame on you.

Don't you know? It's required viewing for ANY sequel of ANY series, to watch everything that preceded it. We're talking, new Star Trek? Better watch everything again. New Firefly? New Farscape? Ditto.

You better get crackin'.

Greg

[Mr_Bester]

If you even have to ask that question, you're not a B5 fan. Shame on you.

Don't you know? It's required viewing for ANY sequel of ANY series, to watch everything that preceded it. We're talking, new Star Trek? Better watch everything again. New Firefly? New Farscape? Ditto.

You better get crackin'.

Greg

Actually, if she was a true B5 fan, she'd be watching the entire series with her family 1-2 times per year. :p

[JustAllie]

I fully admit that I am not a "true B5 fan." I was following other TV series more closely at the time B5 started airing.

I definitely liked the show, though. I seem to remember watching the whole series from the beginning when they started rerunning it on cable.

[bkc56]

Actually, if she was a true B5 fan, she'd be watching the entire series with her family 1-2 times per year. :p
We're doing the full series off DVD with the whole family right now. My oldest son remembers bits-and-pieces from some episodes he saw during its first-run. This is the first viewing for my youngest son.

One or two episodes per week, should be about a 2 year project (with the movies and Crusade).

[gchance]

Actually, if she was a true B5 fan, she'd be watching the entire series with her family 1-2 times per year. :p

Dang, you know, you're right. The last time I watched was right after I picked up S4 on DVD, before S5 came out. I thought hey, I'll watch my S5 videotapes when the time comes...

The time came. Where's S5E1? I asked my wife, and she said, "Oh, well you told me I could start erasing Babylon 5." I told her, "I said SEASON ONE!!!"

That was that. I have S5 on DVD now, so maybe with the new DVD it's time. Then again, if I wait until I watch the whole series, I'll have to hold off watching the new DVD, and you KNOW I can't do that. I just can't do that.

Greg

[ADent]

I'd say try to watch it from the beginning.

If that is too hard then watch S2. Once that is done and you are hooked you can go back to S1.



Looking forward to new July 31 movie.

[J4yDubs]

I rewatched it (for the 4th time?) last spring so I should be set.

John

[Mike10]

It has already been leaked onto the internet

but I hope that enough people buy it when it comes out so that we can get more of these
straight to dvd releases

[vertigo235]

Aparently it was accidently released on XB Marketplace the other day too.

As I understand it, it will be available in HD on the XB Live Marketplace.

[Anubys]

Amazon just sent me a shipment notice...and a $1 off since the price had gone down since I made the pre-order a few months ago...

This might be the first new DVD to play on my PS3...can't wait to see how it looks using its up-conversion capabilities :)

[JMikeD]

Amazon just sent me a shipment notice...and a $1 off since the price had gone down since I made the pre-order a few months ago...



I got the shipment notice also. Naturally, my SD TV picked last week to implode (actually the entire horizontal output section went out). My new HD TV won't be here until a week from Monday. Grrr. :mad: :mad:

I guess the only upside is getting the HD TV to replace the SD. Not so bad, actually. Maybe I can live with this.

[martinp13]

Trailer for Babylon 5: The Lost Tails is up at the official site...Is that the Bugs Bunny version? :)

[rhuntington3]

Is that the Bugs Bunny version? :)

Yes, it is! :o :eek: :( :mad:

[J4yDubs]

Got my shipment notice also (and $1 off). If the tracking is to be believed, I should get it tomorrow (it's at my local hub). Delivery Estimate is still saying August 2nd though.

John

[gchance]

Is that the Bugs Bunny version? :)

Shouldn't it be the Duck Dodgers version? ;)

Greg

[mportuesi]

I hope that enough people buy it when it comes out so that we can get more of these
straight to dvd releases

I bought it for just this reason rather than renting it from Netflix, to encourage more direct-to-dvd and direct-to-download.

$15.99 (I think that was Amazon's price) is pretty reasonable, even considering the disc is somewhat short.

[J4yDubs]

It was sitting on my porch when I got home. Hopefully I'll get a chance to watch it tonight.

John

[J4yDubs]

Just finished watching it. Kinda disappointing.

Visually it looked pretty good. Music was great (very Babylon5ish). It felt good to be watching a new B5.

Part 1 was slow. Very slow. The story was OK, but it needed more diversions (other threads). Felt like a "fill-in" episode than a part of the B5 story.

Part 2 was better. Felt more like B5. There were references from the past and possible future links.

I thought the reference to Franklin and G'kar being Beyond the Rim was a nice touch

I don't want to get into details so as to not spoil it. I haven't watched all the features yet, but I did watch the one called Memorials. Very well done.

Give me more like part 2 and I'll be happy. If you're not a big fan of the series though, you might be a little disappointed in this DVD.

John

[gchance]

I'm with you, John. Part I was unnecessary, the entire thing should have been Sheridan. That said, it could have been that Boxleitner gets paid more than Scoggins, so they saved money that way. Could there be that many Scoggins fans? I dunno.

Talking about the missing characters was a bit weird as well, it was name-dropping at best. The time spent talking about other characters could have been spent with story.

I enjoyed the 2nd part much more than the first, but I do need to watch it again when I'm more awake. I was falling asleep for the first part, but Sheridan woke me up in the second. Also, the sets (or lack thereof) in the first part ruined it for me. You could really tell they didn't have any. At least in part 2, most of the sets were CGI.

Ah yes, the CGI. It was the star of the show! The opening shot of B5 with 2007 CGI was truly amazing... unfortunately, as has always been the case, CGI doesn't make something good. Interestingly enough, the CGI is what made me watch B5 in the first place (Amiga fanatic that I was at the time), but the progressing story kept me going.

In the end I think I enjoyed it more than the other B5 movies, but it left me wanting more. That was probably the point. I'll have more to say after I watch again, I'm sure.

Greg

[drew2k]

How about just starting a discussion thread for the DVD with "spoilers" in the title? Thanks.