Customer Reviews

Babylon 5: The Gathering/In the Beginning (Widescreen, 2 Discs)

5 star:		(58)
4 star:		(35)
3 star:		(22)
2 star:		(8)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

Yes folks, I'm afraid that's all this is - at least concerning the first of these 2 films. Add a space backdrop, a few cheap CGI's for effect, and now we have an everday soap opera - taking place in space. The second film has improved special effects, but the series overall - lacks originality. It seems based and influeneced on both Star Wars, and Star Trek. Above all, it's made for tv film(s), offering tame acting, and tame plots. The second film is better, but not much better. Who's the guy with the Sponge Head? For tv sci-fi junkies only. With emphasis on the "junkie"!

The pilot, and the movie are great. They are both action packed, and include a great story. I own it and all five seasons.

Yes, Babylon 5 is the best sci-fi show ever produced, and I *highly* recommend you go buy seasons 2/3/4, but like most shows it had a rocky start. "The Gathering" was the pilot, and although somewhat entertaining, I never watched it more than twice. It's just too...boring.

IN THE BEGINNING IS GREAT. Completely opposite of the Gathering, in the Beginning is probably the best "episode" Babylon 5 ever produced. Great scripting, great story, great ending. As my English professor remarked, "It felt like something Shakespeare would create." Absolutely. Series creator J.Michael Straczynski wrote: "In the Beginning is the best thing we've ever done. On every level: acting, writing, the directing, sets, costumes...everything. It's a very moving and emotional movie in a lot of places, which was the goal. If it doesn't touch you, there ain't much point to doing it."

I would have liked both the TNT and original versions, but I guess it's better than nothing. Not much for special features either. But I loved watching this series when it was new and I'm glad it finally came out on DVD (I don't do VHS anymore)

Yep, it has no real extras to speak of - but "In the Beginning" more than makes up for it, a strong TV movie that not only further develops favorite B5 characters but makes you wistful for bigger movie budgets - and how it could have fleshed out the "Battle of the Line" even more dramatically.

"The Gathering" is most fascinating for the evident changes between the original pilot and the final syndicated (later TNT) series - namely in the appearance of Mira Furlan as Delenn. Her original makeup masks Furlan's delicate features and makes the character more androgynous and much more ambivalent as a potential heroine.

Speaking of actresses, with the crappy overdubbing removed, Tamlyn Tomita shows why she was hired in the first place. Apparently, Tomita's role as a tough second-in-command was a little too threatening to some of the network "suits", who forced redubbing of all of her lines, to "soften" them. The first time I saw Babylon 5, it was through this pilot, and I thought Tomita was *terrible* - only to see and appreciate her skill in later films like "Joy Luck Club". The dubbing really hurt her perfomance, which is quite solid for a pilot. [Fans who delve deeper and deeper into the series, and read through some of producer JMS' postings on the web will find her portrayal of Laurel even more interesting, once they learn some more facts (...being vague so as not to spoil the series)].

The score by Stewart Copeland (ex-Police) is also interesting, as it suggests different directions than what regular composer Christopher Franke later chose.

Those who are or become regular viewers of Babylon 5 may be surprised *just* how much JMS had already planned this storyline, and how much of the pilot was retained or further developed later in the series. So, although most TV pilots suffer in comparison to their "final" series, where actors, writers, and other crew have had the chance to "gell", this one is still a cut above.

"In the Beginning," by contrast, was shot after B5 had hit its stride as one of TV's best dramatic series. Backtracking to the war between the humans and Minbari, it should not be seen if you haven't watched the two part episode "War Without End" and other pivotal episodes from the first three seasons. It's one piece that improves and becomes much more dramatic the more you've previously seen of "B5".

While some of the other B5 TV movies veer around in quality, this stars the four strongest, most solid performers from the show: Furlan, Bruce Boxleitner (who manages to convince us he is a younger officer), Andreas Katsulas and Peter Jurasik, with good support from Richard Biggs and Claudia Christian, two other favorites.

The last major scene set in the past is both stirring and heartbreaking, with character actor Tricia O'Neil adding her usual blend of class and vulnerability to a tough role - the president of Earth. Theodore Bikel turns in a good performance too as a Minbari whose faith and wisdom outshines his enemies in the "warrior caste". Jurasik, meanwhile, who explains the history and action to viewers, takes lines that could be dry exposition and turns them into poetry.

A definite buy for those who already appreciate Babylon 5; for those of you just starting to see the series, watch some more before getting this disc.

You can't find these two Babylon 5 movies on the Season One, Two or Three DVD boxsets. "In The Beginning" with Boxleitner is awesome and what you would expect from the B5 people. "The Gathering" can get very dull at times but it was good that they made it because it explains more of the B5 story. I think it's definately worthwhile, After all it's B5.

I'm not going to say much about "The Gathering" here, for the simple reason that pilots really can't be said to be the best example of a show. All I will say is that, for a pilot, it's pretty good.

"In the Beginning," on the other hand, is a fine movie. It demonstrates what Babylon 5 did best: tell a compelling and intriguing story that takes the viewers deep into the past and far into the future. Not only that, it was filmed at a time when the actors had really grown into their roles, the effects crew was on its stride, and the story was exploring familiar enough territory (ie, history that had already been hinted at, but never developed) that the writing stayed tight and confident.

Later B5 movies and the disastrous Crusade and Rangers flops strayed too far from that recipe. What made the B5 univese so great was its intricacy, its history, and characters we cared about. And, while watching all 5 seasons is the best way to get that, "In the Beginning" captures a nice, tasty slice.

The double dvd, B5: The Gathering, In The Beginning, suffers from a lack of value. There are no extras on the dvd, which is acceptable, but what is unforgivable is the sound. Neither title is rendered in 5.1. One of the points of buying a DVD is the sound reproduction.

In terms of content, the first side of the DVD contains the B5 pilot entitled "The Gathering". This is in fact a "Special Edition" of that piece. Some of the effects have been redone (in the case of an absolutely cartoonish breaching pod, not redone to the degree that they should have been), some voice overs have been added (one for Kosh, and a surprisingly successful sampling of sound from the Season 1 episode "And The Sky Full Of Stars" in a scene made particularly poignant by its addition).

This piece is Babylon 5 at its best and worst. It has the worst acting and worst pacing of any episode of the series, but it gives you an interesting taster of what is to come. Remember that in 1993, when this aired, nothing like this had been seen on American TV. Some of what you will see is jaw dropping - like the beauty shot of the interior of the space station, covered in gardens. Other things, like the previously mentioned breaching pod are so ridiculous that it is impossible to reconcile that they are both visuals in the same piece.

The main difficulty is that many people became so disgusted with the acting in this pilot, that they gave up on the series before it began. To be fair, the returning cast needed time to become acclimated to their roles. The Gathering was produced very quickly, and the acting suffered from that.

The sister piece, In The Beginning, suffers from none of its predecessors weaknesses. Top notch acting, excellent visuals. Like The Gathering, it is a truly interesting story and a great intro to the series, even if it spoils a bunch of the great B5 mysteries.

Considering the price, perhaps the value is not as bad as I originally let on. They should have fixed the sound though, and the addition of the original version of "The Gathering" with Stewart Copeland's soundtrack would have been a nice addition.

The Gathering is the movie/pilot for Babylon 5. Though production values were relatively low, and the acting mediocre, it lays the foundation for a brilliant series. This movie is not to be missed. Be sure to buy it along with Babylon 5 season 1.

In The Beginning takes place before The Gathering, but must not be watched before the end of Season 4. It was made at that time and contains spoilers for story arcs in prior seasons.

The fan consensus on this two-feature DVD is that it represents the Worst and Best of Babylon 5.

To be fair, "The Gathering" as a pilot episode is merely mediocre. Pilot episodes are seldom the strongest of a series. The launching of Babylon 5 had a heavy burden to carry. When Deep Space Nine appeared - or Voyager for that matter - the Star Trek universe was pretty well known. Only the characters and specific situation required introduction. Yet, in "Gathering," the entire Babylon 5 universe required introduction.

On this DVD, "The Gathering" is a Director's Version. Scenes have been added or clipped, and the sound score has been re-mixed, making a superior overall product. My main complaint with "The Gathering" is that it's quite unnecessary. One can never watch the pilot, and still understand the series perfectly. It's almost better to NOT watch it. There were so many cast changes between the pilot and the series, so many costume, prop, and make-up alterations... watching "The Gathering" can be a little unsettling.

Perhaps it may be heresy, but I would suggest "In The Beginning" as a better introduction to the series. Filmed during the last season of Babylon 5, this tele-movie recreates the events leading up to the Babylon 5 program. Humans encounter an alien first-contact situation that goes horribly wrong. A war breaks out between the humans and the highly advanced Minbari, a war the humans cannot win.

"In The Beginning" is arguably the best of Babylon 5 in a capsule. The plot flows naturally, the passion can be felt, and the special effects... all come together in the best sci-fi that came out of television. While the episode lets out some secrets, primarily from the first season, they are minor in the overall scheme of the series. In some respects, "Beginning" was a new pilot episode, financed by TNT, which had taken over broadcasting rights in the last season of Babylon 5. Eager to bring in new viewers, TNT encouraged the production of "In The Beginning."

Wayne Gralian
Wayne's World of Books / Krakow RPGs
WaynesBooks.com