Customer Reviews

Babylon 5: The Complete Third Season [6 Discs]

5 star:		(47)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

After reading reviews of all the box sets and some of the problems some people have had,I just wanted to add my experiences.
I too had a few occasions where the picture would break up and even freeze as someone else has mentioned.
I removed the dvd from the player and cleaned it useing a cd/dvd spray cleaner.When I reinserted the dvd and played it again I had no further problems.
I have encountered this on one or two other brand new dvds of other shows and in each instance a good cleaning solved the problem.
The discs never look dirty or scratched and are always played fresh out of the case which leads me to believe it may be a coating of something that cant be seen by the naked eye but is detectable by the players laser.
It may not solve everyones problem but its worth trying before returning the discs for an exchange and then encountering the same problem.
I hope this helps as the series itself is great and nothing is more frustrating then having a problem in the middle of watching it.

Babylon 5 is a fantastic Tv show and i am very pleased with this repackage ( it actualy looks brand new ).

Fascinating, sometimes maddening mix of wonderful and silly,
intelligent and dumb, insightful and obvious.

At it's best it's the 'Wire' of science fiction, challenging
'Battlestar Galactica' for intelligence and emotional depth.

This was an early case of a series having a
pre-planned multi-year arc, so throughout there are sometimes intentionally
confusing or mysterious details that return to be finally explained as
having great importance a season or two or three later.

On the other hand, because this preceded the acceptance of truly serial cable shows,
each episode is more self contained than more recent shows in a sometimes annoyingly
neat way.

The show is also full of allusions; Shakespeare, the Bible, Buddhism,
King Arthur, the Koran. Certainly the writing is grounded in pretty
heady stuff. Of course, sometimes it's dealt with in a pretty heavy
handed way.

Season 3 was a roller coaster of good and bad episodes, with the best
--suddenly making sense of obscure things from season 1 -- simply
brilliant, and other episodes just acting as filler.

And that may be
the series' biggest problem. If this show could have been 12 episodes
a year instead of 22, as is the case with most current serialized series,
there would be a lot fewer episodes that felt lacking
in substance, as if the show were just marking time.

I wish it was even more consistently great, but - in the end - it was
more than good enough.

P.S. To echo what others have written here, be careful with the special
features. They sometimes have a nasty habit of acting as spoilers and
giving away plot twists to come.

I AM VERY PLEASED WITH THE SERVICE FROM AMAZON.CA.
I HAVE RECEIVED ITEMS I HAD BOUGHT IN VERY QUICK TIME. I ALSO LIKE THE AWAY YOU CONFIRM ALL MY ORDER WHEN THE ORDER
IS MADE, AND DELIVERY DATE. I WILL CONTINUE ORDERING ITEMS THROUGH AMAZON.CA

Just to clarify which movies are included, this is from the WB site: Babylon 5: The Movies
Category: Horror & Sci-Fi
Now entering your stargrid: 5 B5 movie adventures in one deluxe set! First time on DVD! Initiate jump sequence for feature-length tales about key events in the B5 chronology. Movie 1: The Gathering - Alien envoys come to the giant space station in the pilot that launched the five-year TV series. Movie 2: In the Beginning - The B5 prequel! It's humans vs. aliens in the battle that led to the station's creation. Movie 3: Thirdspace - Is there a realm beyond hyperspace? Discovery of a million-years-old gateway technology may hold the answer...and more. Movie 4: River of Souls - After death, then what? Questions of eternity arise when a supposedly infallible harvester of souls proves to be very fallible. Movie 5: A Call to Arms - The torch is passed. A race against time to save Earth links the B5 mission with the Rangers' new interstellar efforts.

While Seasons 2 and 4 of Babylon 5 were also very good, none of those achieved the consistent excellency and drama of Season 3.

First, a 3-part arc concerning the Earth war happens in the first third of the season, and those 3 episodes are some of the best of the series. "Messages From Earth" has great music and suspense, while "Point of No Return" ups the ante and intensity, and "Severed Dreams" shows the situation escalate in to one of the best and most amazing space battles of the series.

After that, the rest of the season is basically a big build-up to the shadow war. "Interludes and Examinations" shows the long-awaited confrontation between the Vorlons and Shadows, while "War Without End" brings back Sinclair in a joint adventure through time against the shadows with Sheridan.

The last 3 episodes of the season are great: "And the Rock Cried Out, No Hiding Place" shows both the Narn Homeworld and the death of Lord Refa (which is filmed extremely well). "Shadow Dancing" shows the first large-scale battle against the Shadows (with the second one being "Into the Fire" in Season 4), and "Z'Ha'Dum has probably the best cliffhanger of the entire series with both Garribaldi and Sheridan persumed dead/missing.

All in all, the best season of the series. In the overall view of the series, Season 4 would be the only season to ever come close to the greatness of this one. Season 3 is the apex of the series, and it all goes downhill from here (referring mostly to Season 5).

968 minutes; Equivalent of PG to PG-13; Contains violence, some profane language, and brief sexual content.

The 3rd season by far is the best season ever to achieve an epic sci-fi television series that brings a whole new perspective of what it means to create a good science fiction epic tale that doesn't require special effects, only the script and characters that will bring viewers to the screen.

A war exploded right to the face of the galaxy and its up to Sheridan and Delenn to stop this war with the help of others, G'Kar's downfall happens here with the uprising of Landou. Out of 5 seasons, this is the best of the best and enjoyable in its own way. It will leave you with a cliffhangar that you can't refuse to go for Season 4...

An achievement in television series like no other...

I have purchased all 4 seasons that were available. Every one of them have discs that are faulty. They "freeze" or skip scenes. Those scenes will not play. Pretty poor.

I have even tried these on other DVD players...same results.

Oh yes, and ever try to get someone to acknowledge this problem and correct it? Not happening.

"The year of the Shadow War... Our last, best hope... for victory!"

Yes, Babylon 5 is the best sci-fi show ever produced, and season 3 and 4 are the best of the best. After a rather boring first season, J.Michael Straczynski (series creator) took the reins and wrote 100% of season 3. AND IT SHOWS. The opening title tells it all: "Babylon 5 was created to preserve the peace. It Failed." The galaxy is descending into chaos with Centauri, Narn, and Earth all warring with one another, and underneath all the action is a secretive race called "The Shadows" who are busy pulling the strings. From start-to-finish, season 3 shines with brilliance: Fantastic story, heavy drama, and great characters! (NOTE: IF YOU'RE NEW TO BABYLON 5 I recommend you start with season 2... which is where the show truly starts to shine.)

The third season of Babylon 5 really heats up if you've been watching the prior episodes. Unlike the other seasons, ALL of the episodes in this season are dramatic, action-packed, and suspenseful from the start to finish. I would agree with other reviews that the audio and video qualities of the actual DVD's are only "average" though (grainy video, almost monoaural sound).

Babylon 5 is clearly one of the better story-driven science fiction television shows in existence, and this season really hits the mark.

For Babylon 5 fans, season 3 is one not to be missed.