Babylon 5 Lost Tales: Thoughts and reviews?

[OnlyTheShadowKnows]

Hey fellow fans, I got my copy, gave my 20 bucks to the cause and I hope that there will be more in the future.

Now, no spoilers, my thoughts on the dvd.

Loved the stories and the writing, to be honest with you even my fiance wasn't too excited due to the dissapointing trailer for it some months ago. Yet she got into it right off the bat. Loved the introduction and the opening with G'kar's thoughts about voices in the night. Now the only problem I really had was the DVD menu, it looked like there was three stories and there was only two. They had a selection for just the opening. For me, I am not complaining but it was a little weird. Anyway I am hoping for more. I am planning on watching a few more times!!! I just was hoping for more, its a little addictive.

Also on the side, its nice to see the new Vorchan and the new Presidential Valen class ship.

Interesting, the whole new hyperspace drive and now we know that its really not the ISA but the IA. Huh, I guess I have to call it that from now on since it's canon.

What did you think?

 

[H]

I watched it last night, and while everything looks shiny and new, Babylon 5 looked awesome, I was mostly dissapointed, i wanted epic excitement, and something to knock my socks off after such a long time away, and all i got was two standard episodes :-(
I mean, it's great to see new B5 stuff, I just wanted something more!

 

[OnlyTheShadowKnows]

Yeah, I hare you, I was really psyched and don't get me wrong I loved the writing but you are right, it lacked impact after such a long drought.

 

[thePirv]

Well, if it's popular enough,hopefully in time we'll get more Lost Tales with plenty of action and Punch.
Just make sure everybody pays their money and actually buys the DVD's lol

 

[H]

I believe JMS already has plans for garibaldi's episode.

I still want a show on the telepath war (as i am sure do many) and maybe the stuff that was supposed to be in crusade too.

 

[thePirv]

Was there not talk of JMS using the Lost Tales to put a cap on Crusade and actually finish the story properly?

 

[Smoot]

I was very pleased with it, even though it lacked the epic feel of the series. The Lost Tales was pretty much what I expected from all the news and hype. It felt like having an old friend I haven't seen in years over for coffee. The stories were very Babylon 5, though not developed as well or as far due to the time constraints . . but they cut the third story out I don't see why the two in there weren't expanded. I'm kinda torn, if they had been longer then they would have been full B5 episodes and not the short stories they were promising to be, but they would have been more fleshed out and I would have had more. After such a long time without anything new, I was hoping it would be at least 2 hours.

 

[H]

I was very pleased with it, even though it lacked the epic feel of the series. The Lost Tales was pretty much what I expected from all the news and hype. It felt like having an old friend I haven't seen in years over for coffee. The stories were very Babylon 5, though not developed as well or as far due to the time constraints . . but they cut the third story out I don't see why the two in there weren't expanded. I'm kinda torn, if they had been longer then they would have been full B5 episodes and not the short stories they were promising to be, but they would have been more fleshed out and I would have had more. After such a long time without anything new, I was hoping it would be at least 2 hours.

the garibaldi episode was postponed due to cost implications, apparantly it would be rather effects heavy!

 

[Tzarevitch]

I was not at all happy with it. It amounted to 2 episodes from the show, and not very action-packed episodes. The first one really belonged on the X-Files, the second had promise but I was pissed as hell that . . .

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. . . the only combat action was the same clip that you see in the damned trailer, and it lasts only as long. Hell, at least let us see more of the hypothetical battle between the EA and the Centauri. Oh man was I steamed last night after I watched it. I kinda liked the prince, but they did so little with him that it felt like a waste. The philosophical episode with the possessing demonic entity would have made an interesting X-Files episode, it is NOT an interesting B5 episode.

The whole CD is only a bit over an hour and for nearly the cost of a full-length movie. The stories were a bit interesting but they had no oomph at all. I never saw Legends of the Rangers so I couldn't tell you if this is worse but it certainly isn't one of JMS' better offerings. Not by far.

Summary:
- Far too short
- Far too little action

Tzarevitch

 

[dedonta]

So, those who saw the dvd already...should I wait until I have finished the 5th season to watch this? I recently bought the complete seasons and am just ending the shadow war, which by the way was a total downer of a conclusion to that war...shadows and vorlons just say "ok we're leaving if you come w/ us???? no battle to end all battles...was very dissapointed in that ending. But anyhow, back to the question...when would be a good point to interject the new dvd? Also, as far as the movies...is there any particular order I should go in and when is the appropriate time to watch them in the lineage of this epic? Thanks

 

[tneva82]

no battle to end all battles...

And how you figure they would have won that? They were completely outclassed...Interesting battle it would have been: Sheridan&co makes stand, they get swatted, universum doomed.

Stone cold fact is that purely military point of view they were doomed when they fought against just shadows.

Against shadows AND vorlons? Hah!

Heh the Sheridan&co problem could have been dealt with military operation anyway. Z'Ha'Dum showed how. Shadow ships(one would have been enough) jumps next to station, blows it up, flee. Nothing could be done to stop that...

B5 was never about space battles nor was it it's biggest strenght. Which is why I'm not too fussed if only space battle is short one. Concidering they had to redo models it just means budget didn't go out of window which means increased chances for future DVD's And now they have got the models they can make longer fight sequences with same budget as well..

As for when would be most logical time to watch it...My best bet: After 5th season would be probably best. After crusade if you want bit of background for Galen.

For rest of movies I think you are pretty safe now. No major spoilers anymore. ItB could be watched anytime, thirdspace is timeline wise around mid-S4(think somewhere near episode 9), river of souls is post-S5 but no big spoilers there though if you want to watch time-line correct watch after S5. Same for call to arms which is pilot episode for crusade which happens after S5(but before this new DVD).

 

[Romu]

I really liked the movie, even if the first story was a little xfiles like i kinda enjoyed it and that's saying a lot considering i really don't like the Lochley character.

The second story was nice but a little short, very interesting tho if we get to hear more about it if they ever make more lost tales dvd's.

All in all i'm quite happy, i agree it's too short but even 3h would have been too short you know ?

 

[dedonta]

no battle to end all battles...

And how you figure they would have won that? They were completely outclassed...Interesting battle it would have been: Sheridan&co makes stand, they get swatted, universum doomed.

Stone cold fact is that purely military point of view they were doomed when they fought against just shadows.

Against shadows AND vorlons? Hah!

even though you make a good point, that wasn't exactly what I was getting at when I said the final battle was disappointing. it just seemed very lame that the shadow and vorlons finally are forced to confront one another and they simply whine about whether they will be alone if they leave...just thought that was very weak considering we had been building to that point for over 3 years...ya know I guess I would have liked to see the Shadow and Vorlons face off even if Sheridan & Co got a a beat down. Just my opinion though.

Thanks for for the guide for watching all the other B5 stuff...will follow it so nothing gets confusing

 

[tneva82]

that wasn't exactly what I was getting at when I said the final battle was disappointing.

Dunno. I was pretty darned sure from the beginning it wouldn't be decided in one huge battle(it would have been so illogical without some deus-ex machina time travel help from far future system...) that I didn't find it all that dissapointing. Especially when we found out about what the war was about(ideology) in a first place.

Oh and if it's space battles just wait. You'll get your big-bada-boom battles :lol:. 2 huge battle conclusions would be overkill in that short order(even under original plan before S5's future got threatened).

Thanks for for the guide for watching all the other B5 stuff...will follow it so nothing gets confusing

http://www.midwinter.com/lurk/countries/master/eplist.html

There's btw order of episodes and movies in timeline order. So you could watch thirdspace after illusion of truth and it wouldn't spoil much. Well there's one phrase but if you didn't see that one coming(to what it refers) I would be suprised :lol:

 

[eek]

I never saw Legends of the Rangers so I couldn't tell you if this is worse

Not seen Lost Tales yet (have to wait a whole month ), but seeing as how it hasn't drawn laughter from everyone here, it's nowhere near as bad as Legend of the Rangers.

 

[wrefsland]

I would not say I would argue with any of the opinions that have been shared, they all have merit.

I liked the episodes, they could have used a little more action, but I liked the exposition. One of the things I have always liked about JMS is he isn't afraid to risk boring us with a philosophy discussion, but I think they were intelligent and interesting. They filled in the corners of his universe, not as exciting as a space battle, but let you get a deeper understanding of his bent on the B5 universe...

Watch all the extras, they get tedious at points but JMS is sharing with his fans, and it shows and makes you know he did it for you, more than makes up for the strangeness of his extra stuff on the DVD.

I will spoil one thing, in the extras he says he did these two shows to "Set the template". In JMS speech, he intends to make more to fill spaces, but he wanted to make sure it was done in a way he liked.

I missed B5, if this was the last episodes, I would be disappointed (only that the last words would be too quiet) but I am sure by how he talks he intends more. And that makes these episodes a great appetizer for what is to come.

He has not allowed the Psy War or the Crusade plot lines to get tied up by books, that means it is eating him to share them. Hell he didnt even give Mongoose the ability to wind up some in the RPG books (Mongoose has done the best work with B5 in the market than anyone ever has, IMHO) so that says something about the future....

Have faith, JMS will come thru, we will get all our windups and we wil get closure. Or if I'm wrong when I see you at a convention we can play battle of the line and i'll be the humans...lol

Be Well
William

 

[dedonta]

that wasn't exactly what I was getting at when I said the final battle was disappointing.

Dunno. I was pretty darned sure from the beginning it wouldn't be decided in one huge battle(it would have been so illogical without some deus-ex machina time travel help from far future system...) that I didn't find it all that dissapointing. Especially when we found out about what the war was about(ideology) in a first place.

I see your point. I guess there is just something very "soft" about how the two images were addressing Lorien (spelling)..."will you come w/ us?" "We won't be alone?" These were two of the first ones that were sniveling and begging for Lorien to keep them company. I think part of my hangup might be that I watched the first 3 seasons waaaaay back when they first aired, and so I have had these "badass" images of Vorlon and Shadows for sooo many years, then to see this episode...it was just like "what!? are you really that whimpy?!" lol. After say 10 years of thinking they would finally battle it out, it was an odd way to see it end lol. Oh well, that is one thing I love about the series, it is soo unlike any sci fi stuff out there, and some thinking ability is needed to put your mind around all of JMS's work...its deep and not "kiddie" like many other epics.

 

[Jal]

Lorien is to the Ancients as the Ancients are to us... only more so.

 

[Da Boss]

I would have prefered a "Corum" ("you have no need of Gods") style ending - the Shadows and Vorlons wipe each other out in a cool battle and leave the galaxy for the others..........
I agree with the feeling that the First Ones became pathetic children rather than the colness they once were.
But evidently lots of people liked it that way................

 

[tneva82]

I would have prefered a "Corum" ("you have no need of Gods") style ending - the Shadows and Vorlons wipe each other out in a cool battle and leave the galaxy for the others..........

How boring and non-original ending...

So Sheridan&co would have just sat aside and watched them destroy each other...LOL!