Babylon 5: The Lost Tales
Here Is What You Need To Know:
Ouch…science-fiction fans can’t catch much of a break can they? This is most definitely true for poor old Babylon 5 fans, who just keep getting kicked squarely in the crotch. I loved the original television series which was, at moments, masterful. If you haven’t seen the original series, rent it. A warning, the first two-hour movie that launched the series is pretty below average, but struggle through it and give the series a chance. It is a complex, woven story involving much intrigue and mystery between numerous races set on a space station. Just make sure you avoid the horrible “Crusade” spin-off that has more in common with the painful Babylon 5: The Lost Tales than the original series.
As a big fan of the original series I am not to eager to get into how truly bad The Lost Tales happens to be. Its rough, I mean really, really rough. The three separate stories are painfully dull and the production values painfully low. At times The Lost Tales seems to have more in common with a rather low-budget independent film than the polished work it once was. Several scenes have actors delievering their lines with their backs to the camera, just to site one example. Some of digital sets are decent enough, yet the physical sets are a different story, as they almost seem like they could have been pulled out of an ambitious high-school production.
If anything The Lost Tales will only make fans morn the good old days of the series and the polished and complex stories which are missing for The Lost Tales. The first “tale” is especially sad as it deals with a sort of demonic possession and a priest. Yeah, its sad. I don’t know what creator Straczynski had in mind, I suspect much of the problem is budget related, but fans of the show should have been spared.
What Was Cool:
Some of the DVD extras were interesting. Sadly cast members have died since the show went off the air and the tributes were nice. The updated computer generated effects were the highlight of The Lost Tales and really pop in high-definition. Seeing some the old faces return once again was nice for the fans of the series.
What Was Stupid:
Much like Lucas has soiled his Star Wars legacy, Straczynski, to a lesser extent, did the same with The Lost Tales. This should never have happened. I say this as a loving fan and an admirer of what Straczynski is capable of doing.
The Film's Real Genius or Geniuses:
The computer generated work is good.
Overlooked Performance/Accomplishment:
It is probably for the best if everything about this one is overlooked.
Story D (Sorry fans, but this was just pure pain.)
Use of Science C+ (Some fun ideas are played with briefly.)
Acting C (Its sad to see good actors in what they know is a big old turkey.)
Portrayal of Women B (Tracy Scoggins has a great role with Elizabeth Lochley, the Commander of Babylon 5 and she plays it well. Lochley is sharp and confident.)
Visuals-Visuals and Special Effects B-
Visuals-Set Design/Props D-
Wardrobe/Costumes D
Style/Sex Appeal D (About as sexy as changing an adult diaper.)
Enjoyability Grade D
Home Theater/HD Factor C+ (The computer generated work is good for high-definition, but the sets will depress you.)
Gut Check (Level of Studio Executive Guts) ? (Why The Lost Tales was made is a mystery to me. So, I don’t know what to say.)
Overall Innovation F (Again, sorry fans, but there was nothing new here, at all.)
Overall Grade D- (Why a grade of D- fans? If you are not a fan of the series you are really in for an unpleasant time with this one. A well done story can stand up to an audience that is uninitiated, but this would be torture for “newbies.” Torture. If you are a fan the grade is C-, but as a DVD release, for the general masses, this is one of the worst major studio releases in a while.)
A Little Fact About Cherie:
I really loved the original series. A lot. If you are bored, due to the eternal writer’s strike, then get the original Babylon 5 series, over 100 episodes, and most of them are good. Trust me.
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