Babylon 5: The Gathering (1993) (TV)

User Rating:

6.4/10   

Director:

Richard Compton

Writers:

J. Michael Straczynski (creator)
J. Michael Straczynski (written by)

Release Date:

22 February 1993 (USA)

Genre:

Sci-Fi

Plot:

The opening of a crucial space station is put in jeopardy when the commanding officer is accused of the attempted murder of a diplomat.

Plot Keywords:

Space | Space Station | Alien | Futuristic | Cult Favorite

Awards:

Won Primetime Emmy. Another 1 nomination

Cast

Michael O'Hare	...	Cmdr. Jeffrey Sinclair
Tamlyn Tomita	...	Lt. Cmdr. Laurel Takashima
Jerry Doyle	...	Michael Garibaldi
Mira Furlan	...	Delenn
Blaire Baron	...	Carolyn Sykes
John Fleck	...	Del Varner
Paul Hampton	...	The Senator
Peter Jurasik	...	Londo Mollari
Andreas Katsulas	...	G'Kar
Johnny Sekka	...	Dr. Benjamin Kyle
Patricia Tallman	...	Lyta Alexander
Steven R. Barnett	...	Eric Hazeltine
Billy Hayes	...	Traveler
Linda Hoffman	...	Dome Tech #2
Robert Jason Jackson	...	Dome Tech #3

Also Known As:

B5 (USA) (promotional abbreviation)
Babylon 5 (USA) (alternative title)

Runtime:

89 min | 94 min (special edition)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Netherlands:6 | Australia:PG | Finland:K-11 | Germany:6 | UK:PG | USA:Unrated | Iceland:12

Company:

Babylonian Productions

Goofs:

Continuity: In the beginning of the movie when the hostage situation is occurring when the hostage is first shown her hair is covering her face. The camera switches to Sinclair and when it switches back to the hostage her hair is no longer in her face.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Ambassador Londo Mollari: [voiceover] I was there at the dawn of the third age of mankind. It began in the Earth year 2257, with the last of the Babylon stations located deep in neutral space. It was a port of call for refugees, smugglers, businessmen, diplomats, and travelers from a hundred worlds...

Movie Connections:

Featured in Science Fiction: A Journey Into the Unknown (1994) (TV)

Solid Start To An Intriguing Saga

Babylon 5 was a hugely ambitious sci-fi show to get off the ground with complex characters and story arcs that went on over the entire 5 series run. This was the first pilot movie and it paves the way to what would follow.

It's an intriguing piece of sci-fi with some strong performances in particular Peter Jurasic as Lando Mollari and Andreas Katsulas as G'Kar. The special effects are a bit limited in places but thats to be expected from a show just finding it's feet.

Some of the actors in this initial show would leave to pursue other projects but the core remained in. There are some story lines (which I wont spoil) that could have been further explored had Takishima and Lyta stayed on the show. The acting quality is mixed and this was ironed out as the series went on.

All in all it's a good TV movie that does stand on it's own well but it will leave you with a few questions and a good reason to pick up on the series which just get's better as it goes along.

Good TV movie that will get you ready for the full series 7/10