Product description

Babylon 5 - Crusade The Complete Series

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Average customer rating: 4.0

Binding : DVD
EAN : 7321900683890
Label : Warner Home Video
Manufacturer : Warner Home Video
Publisher : Warner Home Video
Release date : 2005-03-28
Title : Babylon 5 - Crusade The Complete Series
Actor : Array
Audience rating : Suitable for 12 years and over
Format : PAL
Languages : Array
Number of items : 5
Region code : 2
Running time : 551
Studio : Warner Home Video

Customer reviews

review by: The Voice in the Wilderness date: 2008-12-08 rating:

Cut Off in its Prime, But Absolutely Spectacular All the Same
In many ways, `Crusade' was the spectacular sequel that only `could' have been. But even though the programme was cancelled after only 13 episodes, every one of them was still a masterpiece and an absolute pleasure to watch.

After five years of being told that `Babylon 5' would be axed and its severe ratings drop in series five, it was almost inevitable the `Crusade' would be cancelled before the end of its first year.

One look at the CGI proves that its budget was cut to the bone, almost suggesting that the Network crippled the series so that they could cancel it out of spite. But then again, the new `Dr Who,' `Stargate Atlantis' and countless other series prove that CGI is no substitute for a wonderful story. And because it was written by J. Michael Straczynski, `Crusade' has this asset in spades.

Of course, since it's the sequel to `Babylon 5,' it definitely helps to watch both the original series and the pilot film, `Call to Arms' before watching the programme itself. So instead of buying this series alone and feeling out of the loop, I would definitely recommend buying the entire `B5 Universe' and watching the whole story from beginning to (premature) end.

review by: date: 2008-11-25 rating:

Superb
Superb series of space station life. Although some criticize the 'stationary' nature of this series, it's examination of live in a microcosm is great. Leadership lessons abound.

review by: Cirenor date: 2008-09-08 rating:

Of all Warner Brothers Crimes against culture...
...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.

review by: date: 2008-08-17 rating:

Potentially Better Than "Star Trek: Enterprise"
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".

review by: Randy Slicker date: 2008-08-12 rating:

Its 'Good' not 'B5', why that should matter i don't know....
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.

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