Today I’d like to take a look back at one of my favorite sci fi shows: Babylon 5, a Cinema Static Classic Reflection.
Babylon 5 or B5, (fan shorthand) is chock-full of first-class actors, writers and has a stellar group of creative forces with impeccable credentials. Too bad it was premiered at the same time as another sci-fi show with a similar setting (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine). However, creator J. Michael Straczynski originally pitched his concept of Babylon 5 five years previous to various network kingpins, it just took them a long time to say “yes.” Apparently they thought there was only one franchise that could successfully grab the sci-fi ratings at that time, Star Trek.
Up until then J. Michael Straczynski had previously been a writer on such shows as Murder She Wrote and Jake and the Fatman, so B5 was his first real foray into prime time TV as an executive producer, creator, writer and den mother on a major network.
Unlike other shows, B5 had a definite story arch that began in season 1 but really took off in the second season. (They were also the first to use extensive CGI for the shots outside the station.) During its 5 year run, B5 at times struggled for recognition from the network even though by then they had won a few Emmys and had a large following of devoted fans. Thankfully Straczynski, while under the threat of cancellation, was able to finish out the fifth and final season and thus end the series.
[click to continue reading…]
This week sees a nice collection of over 250 new DVD titles coming out on April 5th, 2011. Some of the select titles coming out brings the likes of Jeff Bridges, Olivia Wilde, Kyle Chandler, Taylor Kitsch, Robert De Niro, Ben Stiller, Ben Aldridge, Billy Joel and many more to our small screen !
What’s big is that Tron has come to disc. I’m not talking only Tron: Legacy, but the original Tron also. There are all kinds of options with either the old or the new, or both packaged together! Also of note is that we finally get Taxi Driver on Blu-ray. And though it seems odd, the fifth season of Friday Night Lights is available to buy, though it has not aired on NBC yet. It’s complicated. And remember, as with most titles over on Amazon, you can choose to buy or if you don’t like the clutter, you can rent via the website with their AIV. (remember, sometimes I’ll show a new title only in Blu-ray, but usually there is a DVD companion to it. I select the order of how they’re listed in rank of best selling and take the first occurrence of a title to list.)
Let’s look at the list of new DVD releases and see what’s to be had, shall we?
Movies
- First up is a plethora of options for new Tron titles.
- Tron: Legacy / Tron: The Original Classic (Five-Disc Combo: Blu-ray 3D / Blu-ray / DVD / Digital Copy) Starring Jeff Bridges, Garrett Hedlund, Olivia Wilde, et al. (2011)
- Tron: Legacy
- Tron: Legacy (Two-Disc BD Blu-ray/DVD Combo)
- Taxi Driver [Blu-ray] Starring Robert De Niro, Jodie Foster, Cybill Shepherd, et al.
- Little Fockers Starring Ben Stiller, Teri Polo, Robert De Niro and Owen Wilson
- Tron: The Original Classic (Special Edition) Starring Jeff Bridges, Bruce Boxleitner, Cindy Morgan (This is also in Blu-ray)
- Fiddler on the Roof (Single-Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo) Starring Topol and Leonard Frey
- A.I.: Artificial Intelligence [Blu-ray] Starring Haley Joel Osment, Frances O’Connor, Sam Robards
- I Love You Phillip Morris Starring Jim Carrey and Ewan McGregor
- Casino Jack Starring Kevin Spacey, Barry Pepper, Jon Lovitz and Ruth Marshall
-
[click to continue reading…]
