Babylon 5: The Road Home [Blu-ray] [2023] [Region Free]

A cult science fiction tv series back in the 90's, here's a return to Babylon Five. This is an all new animated movie. Telling a story that does actually slot into the tv series. And goes beyond that.There is exposition in here but the show had a very big back story. So new viewers will be better off watching it first. I believe a complete series box set has just come to blu ray. Fans of the original will get into this easily.Long story short: Sheridan finds himself caught up in something that leaves him adrift in time and space. He appears in moments of recent history. Or even future history. He seemingly has no control over what is happening and he doesn't stay where he lands for too long. Can he fix what is going on and get back to where he should be? Before it causes a problem that can't be fixed?It's animated. Probably for reasons of budget. And also because a lot of the original cast have since passed on, so it makes recasting easier just via voice actors. How the animation style works is going to be a matter of subjective opinion. But I rather liked it. It's unique. It works. I have seen some animations in recent years that had very static backgrounds. I was always drawn to the foreground action so much, I never really noticed them here. Which is a plus.As a story, this is pretty good also. It starts by doing some good establishing of character. Then when the plot kicks off it isn't just a linear look at the show's greatest hits. It knows exactly what it's doing. It's pretty clever with this and does some good physics. It all works out really really well in the end.It's nice to hear the returning actors again. Although time elapsed does mean some do sound a little different, but they slip back into their roles. Others of course had to be recast. Those taking over roles do play the character rather than try and impersonate the original actor. So you have to get used to them. I think I did.I was reminded watching this of just how the writer of the show was never quite as good at writing humour as he possibly thinks he is. Some little attempts at jokes may appeal. They may not. Although one character who was always funny before is utterly brilliant here. They are used superbly well. And it does do things with them you wouldn't expect.This did get me smiling early on, thinking how nice it was to see Babylon Five again. And there are moments where it does hit the right buttons emotionally. There are also points where it is really exciting and manages genuine jeopardy. Some good plot set up pays off.I enjoyed this very much. It wasn't just a poor attempt at nostalgia, it was exactly what the franchise needed to get it going again. Here's hoping for more.There are no extra scenes during or after the end credits. But I would watch to the end anyway. Just for a little something. You'll see.

I did enjoy this short film. It is ok over all but sadly is also not going to hit home quit so hard if you have not seen the series.Multverse/ time travel is an old staple of sci fi. It's use hear is not unwelcome. Giving the opertunity to revisit some old friends, though I do wish there had been an opertunity to do more.There are few stakes or true dangers, for we who have seen the show will most likely know how it will be resolved. But they some how still manged to bring a feeling of tension during many of the action sense. Especially when we see the resolution of what was in the show just 2 short scenes showing the Babylon 5 station being attacked by the shadows. Somthing we never saw on screen in the show the shadows themselves fighting.The main character Sheridan apears to forget some things he should know or understand from his last journey through time. But that can be explained as he is not very technological, he was a soldier, a leader and then a politician. So his understanding and remembering things from one instance, now many years ago makes some sense.His journeys end is sadly predictable knowing what we know from the show and it does beat that resolution to his predicament well and truly home maybe a bit too much. Animation is stylised in a way that may have easier production cost, but not too ugly.Voice acting is spot on with many of the shows actors return in their old roles. With some new voice actors required to replace the few others who are ko long with us, where very good. Most notable for me G'kar's voice acting, it had to be and was spot on.

Babylon 5 was to my mind the finest of the old school sci fi serials. I think I can get away with calling it a serial as there are no resets, in other words the story and the characters develop from episode to episode.Now, I say this is great for fans as it fills out the story arc as a whole, to understand it you need the background of the live action series or it just wont make a lot of sense. I understand that animation is not for all, but then neither are books or audio adventures. I enjoy the Babylon 5 universe and the stories told there in whatever format, this is not a kiddie cartoon but an animated tale, the remaining actors have lent their voices to it, and lets face it, time has moved on and those that have survived are looking their age, so to have them play their characters on a live action show would not be easily swallowed by the audience, especially as some of them have passed away and would need recasting. My only gripe with this is the end, it tallies with the series but feels a little trite and weak Still, as an ardent fan, lets see more please, maybe there will be a spark that will light the fire under a new related series..

I thought Franklyn's voice should have been regarded a lot more as the person speaking his lines was great in acting, but he wasn't Franklyn. G'kar sounded right in some ways but... could have had a more in tune voice actor but he tried. Delens actor was quite adequate it made me feel sad a lot to be true, I will miss her.I didn't like whoever spoke markus's lines, it's a travesty.Garibaldi was spoken verbatim. He should be the voice of Garibaldi if a new season is born.Regardless everything else was spot on

Definitivamente una gran adición. Aunque algunos del repertorio original se nos han ido, me sentí como en compañía de viejos amigos.

Es importante que venga con lenguaje castellano, en el audio o los subtítulos.

Non fatevi scoraggiare dal fatto che è un film animato, riprende perfettamente lo spirito della serie originale. Peccato solo che alcuni degli attori che hanno creato questi personaggi iconici non siano più con noi e sia stato impossibile usare le loro voci.

It was entertaining and fun, and reminded me of how much I miss this series. I hope they make more episodes.

If you are a fan of Babylon 5, you will enjoy it. If you are a newcomer, you won't get as much out of it, but it is still a well told tale.I sit in the former, having been a fan of the series since the pilot. So I am certainly looking at this through some rose tinted lenses. That being said, just because something is Babylon 5 doesn't mean I automatically like it.In this case, I felt like this could have easily been one of the (better) made for TV movies back in the day.First thing that has to be said, the voice acting was really spot on - while half the cast are the original actors reprising their roles, the actors they found to portray those actors who have journeyed beyond the rim sounded very close to the original actors in most cases. At times I closed my eyes and could easily visualize the original cast, as the voices were that close.The storyline was a good one, especially for something that involves time / alternate reality travel, which allows the movie to revisit any point of the series of their choosing, but also to follow-up on some 'What If' style moments.The dialog was pitch perfect to the original series, but considering this is the original creator's work, that should be no surprise to anyone. There were some humorous lines sprinkled throughout, which helps to keep it from becoming too grim.Throughout the movie it certainly played on my nostalgia, but not in the way that some reunion or remakes just plug things in for the sake of shoehorning something in. Most everything had a point that helped propel the story forward. There were times I laughed, and parts that brought a tear to my eye, and it kept me interested in what was coming next.The animation style felt more like a comic book brought to life rather than CGI, anime or the more typical super hero movies/shows style. This was a little off-putting at first, but it grew on me quickly.Overall, it was great to see these characters again, and in a format and story that did them justice. It is something that I look forward to watching again with the family (as the kids are only just working their way through the series with the wife and I), though I will likely watch it again sooner than that.I was a little shocked that they didn't take the opportunity that alternate timelines presented to have some other characters make an appearance. It would have been great to have a scene that involved Talia, Bester & Zach (maybe they appeared in the background like Marcus did and I just missed them), and I also missed Vir (though, I think he might have been one of the Ambassadors the background in the beginning). But all of that may have then been too much in the lines of fan service.I am hoping that this is successful, and that we see more of these animated movies. I'd be thrilled to see a movie (or even a mini series) that finished off the Crusades storyline properly. Or they could make some of the books or comics into movies. Another area that could use more exploration in this format would be something like the previous Shadow War (with Valen).Whatever direction JMS goes next, I am sure it will be entertaining and do justice to the show.