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Babylon 5 - Crusade The Complete Series


RRP: £35.99
Our Price: £12.22 (subject to change)

Of all Warner Brothers Crimes against culture...
Review date: 2008-09-08 Rating: 10 out of 10

...the axing of this series was the most criminal. Yes, I watched it on TV when it first came out, and no it just didn't seem to measure up to B5. Anyway I've bought the series just as a father/son bonding thing cos I did share B5 with him. I am a recovering alcoholic, going through horrid withdrawal just now and asking some very difficult and painful questions of myself. Being a modern, scientifically minded man I can get no comfort from standard religion. Tonight I was in the blackest of moods and my dear wife sat us down for our evening episode and we watched the one called 'Path of Sorrows'. It was like JMS (Series creator/writer) was talking directly to me, answering the very questions I had been failing to find positive answers to just an hour before. It was quite spooky, and I am in a much more comfortable place now as a result.

The thing that always marked B5 out from everything else was, that as well as being an action and adventure series, it was crammed full with philosophical depth, wisdom and deep humanity. Offering very sophisticated answers to ancient and painful questions. I can think of no other TV show that remotely compares to it in this respect. Sure, Star Trek has the occasional platitude to offer on what it means to be 'truly human' but it offers simplistic answers to rather shallow questions. B5 however will give you back as much or as little depth as you are willing to ask from it.

In this vital respect Crusade is every bit as good as B5 and the negative reviewers here can only be missing the point. Sure, if they want action go watch Battlestar Galactica which is top class Sci-Fi or (yawn) more Star Trek, son of Star Trek and all the rest. It was just such a shame that WB decided to pull it before the characters and the plot could really get settled in.

While I'm at it I cannot recommend enough the Jeanne Cavelos spinoff book trilogy that gives the background to Galen and his lost love Isabella, and the nature and origin of the Techno-mage's powers. All the B5 spinoff books fill out the B5 universe a bit more, but this trilogy is way ahead the best. In particular, it takes you into the Shadows homeworld in a way that the effects budget od the TV stuff could never afford, whereupon the writing takes on the quality of the best horror of H.P. Lovecraft. If you've not read these books then you have no idea how truly awful the Shadows really are, and how amazing Galen really is.

I note some reviewers are complaining about the DVD quality. Well first time round I watched it on scruffy old VHS. I'm now watching it off DVD on my lovely new Sony Bravia and some of the artwork is breathtakingly beautiful. It certainly looks better to me than the DVD rendering of B5, but then I've yet to watch it on the new telly. Still, long Winter nights are coming and Crusade will put us in the mood for another round of B5.

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Reviews


Potentially Better Than "Star Trek: Enterprise"
Review date: 2008-08-17 Rating: 10 out of 10

Fans of "Babylon 5" may forget how dreadful much of its first season actually was, with silly episodes including a human archaeologist transformed into an alien monster soldier and one devoted to alien boxing and a fight to the death boxing match. And yet, this series fulfilled its promise and then much more. "Crusade" would have become another splendid science fiction series, being the "Babylon 5" universe equivalent of "Star Trek: Enterprise" or "Star Trek: The Original Series" or perhaps most aptly, "Star Trek: Voyager". Unfortunately some studio executives lacked the patience for series creator's J. Michael Straczynski's vision, so the plug was pulled after thirteen episodes. Speaking of which, I have no doubt that "Crusade" could have told more exciting, dramatically impressive tales than virtually all of those which became episodes of "Star Trek: Enterprise" and "Star Trek: Voyager".

Much to his credit, J. Michael Straczynski did assemble a decent cast for the crew of the experimental EarthForce/Interstellar Alliance warship Excalibur: Captain Matthew Gideon (Gary Cole), telepathic first officer John Matheson (Daniel Dae Kim), archaeologist and linguist Max Eilerson (David Allen Brooks), Dureena, a member of the Thieves' Guild and the last surviving member of her species (Carrie Dobro), medical officer Sarah Chambers (Marjean Holden) and technomage Galen (Peter Woodward). Without a doubt, the most intriguing character was Galen, though both Captain Gideon and Dureena had memorable moments too. Reoccuring visitors from "Babylon 5" included Captain Elizabeth Lochley (Tracy Scoggins), Security Chief Zack Allen (Jeff Conaway) and former Psi Cop Alfred Bester (Walter Koenig). The episodes were not aired in the order which J. Michael Straczynski intended, so viewers should be aware of unintended references to other episodes that are mentioned.

"Crusade" is set soon after the events of the Babylon 5 television movie "A Call To Arms". EarthForce Captain Gideon and his crew are ordered by the Interstellar Alliance to search for Shadow technology and other alien civilizations which may have clues for finding the cure - or discovering the actual cure itself - for the Shadow virus which is affecting Earth. If the cure isn't found in a few years, then all life on Earth will be wiped out. Series creator J. Michael Straczynski intended that this series would be less story arc-driven than "Babylon 5", offering viewers more stand-alone episodes. In short, had "Crusade" succeeded, it would have been the "Babylon 5" version of "Star Trek: The Original Series".

Its 'Good' not 'B5', why that should matter i don't know....
Review date: 2008-08-12 Rating: 10 out of 10

After reading the other reviews I got thinking "Hey, I liked this, what's wrong with it". Then I realised there isn't anything wrong with it, its a perfectly fine pilot series that contains the seeds for a masterful story. The problem is ITS NOT B5! AHHH!

Wooden Acting? Poor stories? Lack of scope and scale? Does anyone remember B5 series 1? Does anyone remember how dire that was? Was Sinclair on crack as he wander about the station with that benevolent smile?

Do not expect this to be B5 because it isn't, this series is based around archetypes like the wizard, thief and conman instead of huge biblical prophecy. Instead of it being a political story its more a detective story.

If you are willing to suspend you expectations and prevent your glasses fogging with nostalgia you will enjoy it.


Really easy watching
Review date: 2008-06-04 Rating: 10 out of 10

If you look at this boxed set, it represents very good value for money. With no more Babylon 5, this is a fair alternative. It is not as 'dark' as its parent series, but a good watch nevertheless. The sexy Tracy Scroggins is still around, but with an all new cast, its actually nice to get into a new series. If you liked Star trek Enterprise and ignored the old Star Trek critics, then I suggest you do you same with this. Ignore the whining, sit down with a bag of popcorn and enjoy!

not as bad as I thought
Review date: 2008-03-03 Rating: 6 out of 10

I watched Crusade when it was first shown on British television, so I am not surprised to see so many negative reviews posted here. But, hey, I had just watched Babylon 5 again from beginning to end and in a fit of withdrawal decided to give it another chance. Sure enough, the first few episodes are pretty disappointing and you do begin to wonder where MJS had put his brain when he thought this one up. But it began to grow on me, and although it never gets the chance to turn into a good series, nonetheless it did begin to show potential. After all, if B5 were to be judged by the first half of season one, it would not have anywhere near the status it had by the end of season two. Anyway, not going to say any more about it, because if you hate it, you hate it, but I am glad I gave it a second chance. With regard to this edition of the complete series, however, there is a major gripe: the blurb describes it as being presented in widescreen. It's not. If it was filmed in 16:9, then it's more than a shame that it is being sold in full screen format.

Product Details/Specifications


Actor(s):
Gary Cole
Daniel Dae Kim
Peter Woodward
Tracy Scoggins
David Allen Brooks

Creators:
Gary Cole (Primary Contributor)
Tracy Scoggins (Primary Contributor)

Recording label: Warner Home Video
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
EAN: 7321900683890
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 5
Format: PAL,
Release date: 2005-03-28
Audience rating: Suitable for 12 years and over
Region code: 2
Running time: 551 minutes
Language: English (Original Language)

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