Babylon 5: The Lost Tales

As a fan of "Babylon 5" I could go at this from several angles; as some others have done, I could express disappointment at not seeing more of the characters and situations that made B-5 so intriguing expounded upon in this new entry...

I could focus upon the pleasure at re-visiting this Universe in any form, no matter what limitations...

Then again, I could go another direction....

Well, certainly I would like to see more characters revisited, more stories told, and more of...EVERYTHING. But, all of that takes TIME. Hopefully, this new entry will succeed financially, and create that time for more stories to be told in the future (and about this future) in this format.

Bottom Line: I believe that the best standpoint is to NOT focus upon what is NOT there and appreciate what IS.... while hoping for what MAY BE.

My expectations were not high and I was not disappointed. It was a nice return to a place I've missed these past few years. While it wasn't a total B5 experience and I realize that will never be possible with the passing of Richard Biggs and Andreas Katsulas, I found these "short stories" to be enjoyable.

I especially enjoyed the second story with John Sheridan and the Prince.

The new effects were awesome. This was well worth the less than $20 I paid and I'll gladly pay for others should JMS decided to continue with more of these direct-to-DVD presentations.

I've missed that place all alone in the night. It was good to be back in that place, if only for a short stay. The name of the place is Babylon 5.

Thanks JMS.

I've just seen it and have to say it's a little disappointment... :( As a Babylon 5 fan I expected more - maybe it was the mistake and that was the reason why I didn't enjoy it so much... The first storyline was interesting, however the empty corridors of the station didn't feel like the plot took place on the Babylon 5 station. There is no Babylon 5 atmosphere at all. :(

I didn't like the 2nd storyline... the creators wanted to make it interesting, like a new beginning, a possible 'new future threat' with the centauri Vintari. The plot took place on the new Valen class ship, but the scenes were empty. The scene with the big black room with only 2 chairs, Sheridan and the ISN reporter was so... I can't find the word... simple. I know Sheridan mentioned that the Minbari were minimalists well made.but... bah! I didn't like the whole scene.

On the plus side... the CGI was incredible, the few shots in space were very well made and the music was wonderful as well. The modified 'Sleeping in Light' theme at the beginning of the film was very good.

It was nice from the creators that in the story they say that Franklin and G'Kar are traveling together beyond the Rim. That was nice.

At the bottom line, it was not so bad, however B5 fans expect more for sure. I just hope that if another B5 DVD film is made, we will see more characters in it, like Delenn, Mollari or Garibaldi. Faith manages...

The Lost Tales could never have really lived up to fan expectation. Two major actors have since passed on and no network or studio would be intelligent enough to fund such a scifi fan favorite.

Understandably, the effects and budget were minimal. However, the writing was also minimalist. Not a good thing. It felt as if the whole idea could have been better produced, directed and written by the fans. It's a shame that JMS and company couldn't have showcased their obvious talent better.

I was a huge fan of B5 and now am NOT of Lost Tales. There was just so much that could have been done better. I can't recommend this one to any fan of the franchise.

The new Babylon 5 'movie' was long publicised as separate but related episodes, so I knew what I was getting in for. I had little idea of what to expect of the story lines, and was pleasantly surprised to hear that Straczynski had included his trademark discussion of religious possibilities and ethical dilemmas. His understanding of spiritual matters is incredibly deep for a professed agnostic with atheist tendencies. Moreover, his dissection of moral possibilities leaves one thinking long after viewing. With revised CGI and full use of digital backgrounds, the presentation is generally quite impressive, although it is obviously still a developing area. The script writing, like the sets design, is generally minimalist - partly through cost restriction, but also well placed in the storyline (many scenes put me in mind of Intersections in Real Time). The Lost Tales was not disappointing, and makes for quality viewing. Although more could definitely have been achieved with more budgetary and casting freedom, but Straczynski has made an enjoyable time's viewing. The stories do not contribute largely to the expansion of the B5 universe, but do give tantalising hints of the post-series state of the universe.