[PoochJD]

Hi,

The acclaimed sci-fi show has cropped-up on FX, without any fan-fare or advertising, or promotion!

FX appears to be running all of Babylon 5, including the enjoyable Pilot Movie (The Gathering - 1993 version), as of a couple of days ago, every weekday at 6-7pm only.

For those of you who've missed the Pilot Movie (shown Monday night), and Season 1, Episode 1 (shown earlier tonight), these are being repeated all on Sunday 15th November, from around 11am onwards. Episodes will then continue every weeknight at 6pm only (or 7pm on FX+1).

The Pilot Movie (The Gathering) is available in 2 versions: the original, untampered with 1993 release, and a newer, slightly altered 1998 re-edit, which has slightly tighter pacing, and newer special effects shots, that match the rest of the series much better. As FX are airing the original 1993 edit, it's worth watching and/or recording.

Lastly, the good news: episodes are airing uncut and uncensored, including all of the material Channel 4 used to censor, and in 4:3 Letterbox format too, preserving the full width of the image, that appears on the DVD releases.


Pooch

[neroon]

That is fantastic news, it's about time Babylon 5 was back on TV. Personally I can't believe the sci-fi Channel haven't been showing it from time to time. Still appearing on the FX channel demonstrates it's considered a quality series (which us fans have known for some time!) and should open the show to a brand new audience... And even an old audience.

I wish I had access to Sky especially to see the original edit of "the gathering". Apparently musically the score was also re done for the 1998 cut of the film. I'm sure I have read somewhere that the 1993 cut was on early region 1 releases of "the gathering" DVD, later to be replaced by the newer version. I'd love to own a copy of that DVD to really complete my B5 collection.

[soundstory]

That's made me want to dig out my dvds again

[freeman]

Originally Posted by PoochJD

Hi,

Lastly, the good news: episodes are airing uncut and uncensored, including all of the material Channel 4 used to censor, and in 4:3 Letterbox format too, preserving the full width of the image, that appears on the DVD releases.

It was made in widescreen wasn't it ?
I wonder if they'll put it on the HD channel so we can watch it in the correct aspect ratio .

[Thor]

Thanks Pooch. You've just made my day seeing this thread.

[neroon]

Originally Posted by freeman

It was made in widescreen wasn't it ?
I wonder if they'll put it on the HD channel so we can watch it in the correct aspect ratio .

There is between little and no chance in seeing Babylon 5 in HD, besides The Lost Tales. As I understand it they would have to redo all of the CGI from scratch to bring it up to standard.

You are right that the live-action footage was widescreen and the DVDs are. I take it from pooch's post that FX will be showing in non-anamorphic widescreen (since he said 4:3 letterbox format). Although I believe "the gathering" was never filmed widescreen and would just show in 4:3.

[Garrett]

Originally Posted by Thor

Thanks Pooch. You've just made my day seeing this thread.

Nice to see you back on the forum Thor

[soundstory]

Did I read somewhere that B5 was coming out on Bluray?

[Thor]

Originally Posted by Garrett

Nice to see you back on the forum Thor

Thanks Garrett I've been lurking here for ages but never posted much

[PoochJD]

Hi,

Originally Posted by neroon

You are right that the live-action footage was widescreen and the DVDs are. I take it from pooch's post that FX will be showing in non-anamorphic widescreen (since he said 4:3 letterbox format). Although I believe "the gathering" was never filmed widescreen and would just show in 4:3.

Just to confirm, that B5 is being shown in 4:3 letterbox format. By that, I mean that:

1) If you have a Widescreen TV, you will have to Zoom-into the image, to get it to fill your 16:9 screen correctly (as you would have to do on most of FX's widescreen-formatted films and shows), as it will not be being shown in anamorphic format (e.g. your Sky box or TV set, won't reformat the picture for you automatically to fill the TV screen). OR

2) If you have a 4:3 TV, then you will get B5 in 1.78:1 letterbox ratio (that is, a picture with black bars at the top and bottom of the image).


"The Gathering" was indeed filmed in 4:3 and so, will not be shown in widescreen format at all. Just for interest, the differences between the original (1993) 89m edit and the newer (1998) 94m edit are as follows:

The 1998 version:
- has a new score by Christopher Franke, who composed the music for the regular 5-season long show itself.

- cuts out small scenes like the "zoo scene" at the beginning

- corrects effects like the colour of the jumpgate, so that it matches the main series

- adds a few scenes which were cut out, notably:
a) Sinclair dealing with a hostage situation in customs involving "dust"
b) Carolyn confronts Delenn about her abstention on the vote
c) the Takashima and Kyle scene is extended
d) the scene where Sinclair describes the Battle of the Line is also extended
f) there's a new voiceover with Kosh's voice
g) Kyle remarks on what he saw when he opened Kosh's encounter suit
h) the mystery of Kosh's hand is hinted at (longtime viewers will get it; new viewers will just say, "huh?" so the mystery won't be spoiled.)

- The original airing of the film did not include "The Gathering" as part of the title; it was simply called "Babylon 5". The title "The Gathering" was added for future airings and on the 1998 recut of the Pilot Movie, eventually released onto DVD

- in the original airing, the end credits scroll over a hand-drawn sketch of Babylon 5. This is changed in the special edition by replacing the original credit scrawl with one that matches the end credit scrawl of all the episodes and TV-movies.


Pooch

[neroon]

Originally Posted by soundstory

Did I read somewhere that B5 was coming out on Bluray?

Afraid not but if/when it happens I'll be upgrading to HD.

nice post above Pooch.

[soundstory]

Originally Posted by neroon

Afraid not but if/when it happens I'll be upgrading to HD.

nice post above Pooch.

Me too !! wishful thinking on my part clearly !

[neroon]

Originally Posted by soundstory

Me too !! wishful thinking on my part clearly !

Clearly.

Amazom.com has a listing & if enough people sign up to be notified when there's a Bluray release it might get Warner Bros to get B5 ready for release.

[soundstory]

That would be great, one to add to the wanted list!

[PoochJD]

Oops,

Sorry folks. FX aired the new 1998 re-edit version of the B5 Pilot Movie, on Sunday, which was shown uncut, and in 4:3 letterbox format! Apologies for accidentally misleading you all.


Pooch

[soundstory]

Originally Posted by PoochJD

Oops,

Sorry folks. FX aired the new 1998 re-edit version of the B5 Pilot Movie, on Sunday, which was shown uncut, and in 4:3 letterbox format! Apologies for accidentally misleading you all.


Pooch

We'll let you off this time