14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Do not purchase this series this way, March 11, 2004
This review is from: Babylon 5 - The Complete First Four Seasons (DVD)
Why pay $360.83 for this four year series when you can purchase each year separatly for a total of $314.93
Season 1: $79.98
Season 2: $79.98
Season 3: $79.98
Season 4: $74.99
Total: $314.93
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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wonderful Television Series, January 15, 2004
This review is from: Babylon 5 - The Complete First Four Seasons (DVD)
Babylon 5 is a five mile long space station. Located deep in neutral territory, it is designed to prevent intergalactic war by providing a place where peace can be worked out between the races. Run by Earth, it was built with help from the Minbari after our war with them when we were almost wiped out. Since it is also a trade station, it attracts allies of all kinds on a daily basis.
Unfortunately, it also attracts trouble. There are raiders in the area, the Narn and Centauri have at best a fragile peace, and someone is always trying to smuggle something on board. Even worse, an ancient enemy is rebuilding forces, and the effects of this will reach all the way back to Earth.
Babylon 5 is still unique in television. It set out to tell a single story that had been mapped out beforehand. As a result, it sucks you in and doesn't let you go until you've reached the end. Season 1 is the most uneven, but the beginnings of the story are there, and it lays the background on the races and cultures we will be dealing with over the course of the show. Season 2 brings a new captain and a storyline that is gaining speed, season 3 brings surprises and increasing tension, and season 4 is full steam ahead as most of the plot lines are resolved (since season 5 was a last minute reprieve).
Of course, if you are looking at this page, odds are you are already a fan and looking for information on the sets. The picture, presented in widescreen, is hit and miss, with some dust popping up occasionally. It is clear and sharp most of the time, however. Sound is presented in full surround and has never sounded better. Each set contains two audio commentaries by series creator J. Michael Straczynski and a season intro by cast and crew. They also have some behind the scenes documentaries and encyclopedia entries introducing you to the world of Babylon 5. All the sets but season 1 have one audio commentary each by various cast members. And season 4 has a great blooper reel.
Whether you buy the seasons bundled like this or individually, don't miss your chance to own this fantastic TV series.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Russian Novel of TV Space Opera, January 26, 2004
By A Customer
This review is from: Babylon 5 - The Complete First Four Seasons (DVD)
I only saw one or two episodes of B5 when it was on TV half a decade ago and at that point my friend, who was obsessed with it, said that it would be just as well to wait until they release it on dvd so that I can see them in order.
Those few that I saw in isolation were ok tv shows, nothing special really. But as a series it's awesome. They do a great job of setting up mysteries and slowly trickling out the details as the series continues for maximum dramatic effect.
The dvd's themselves are of excellent quality. Good menus that are easy to navigate. Very attractive packaging and nice little booklets with sumaries for finding your place. None of those new annoying adds that you cant skip though in the begining. The special features are ok, nothing great, but interesting and honest comentaries. Don't use any of the special features unless you are through with the series or they will spoil some of the suspense though.
By the way. In the begining the acting/directing is spotty and the special effects and sets are 'son of roger corman' low budget specials. But both got progressivly better as the series continued. It was an interesting historical series for television in this regard as well. And the story caries you through the rough parts until they hit their stride with the production values. Eventually both are consistently very good. They are some great space ships by Year 3.
I'm looking forward to year 5.
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