By Kelas Lloyd
For years, J. Michael Straczynski has been attempting to get the prospect to make extra Babylon 5, as documented on his Twitter and at his frequent conference panels. I attended one of many screenings at San Diego Comic Con for the brand new animated film and had the chance to ask him a few questions as effectively, and I can let you know the film appears like, effectively, coming dwelling.
More than anything, Straczynski has at all times centered on telling good tales, and this is a good story. The characters and their voices have by no means left him, which you’ll really feel as they present up once more within the film. Londo is particularly true-to-form; of the returning forged, he felt essentially the most seamless. There’s one explicit trade he has with Sheridan that was for me essentially the most satisfying a part of all the film. Then once more, like director Matt Peters, my favourite character is Londo. I’m a bit biased.
The new voice forged members did a unbelievable job of bringing legacy characters to life in their very own approach, however the standout for me was Phil LaMarr. From the second Stephen reappeared he felt and sounded proper. Others took a little adjusting to, however you could possibly inform the actors cared and linked with who the characters have been. It’s touching to know that JMS emailed the entire authentic forged earlier than beginning this mission to be sure that they have been okay with having new voice actors changing these from the unique forged who’ve handed on, and to know that each single one was okay with this. The film serves as a nice new level of entry in addition to an homage to those that have gone on earlier than.
Plotwise, jokewise, musicwise, this appears like one other Babylon 5 episode, simply an prolonged one. There aren’t gaps that want to be crammed in, or jumps which can be laborious to comply with. There’s ties to previous episodes which have unbelievable influence while you see them. You can inform that Strazcynski’s coronary heart is nonetheless on this, and that Peters is on board as effectively.
One query I had getting in to Babylon 5: The Road Home, after seeing the forged checklist, was the place Vir was. Straczynski sadly couldn’t discover a approach to match him in organically. Considering what number of characters he did handle to put in there, foremost and bit alike, it’s comprehensible. Should he get the chance to make extra, Straczynski stated characters that have been missed will discover their approach again. The film even units up the chance for any characters in any respect to return; as famous within the previews this isn’t nearly being misplaced in time and that different place (you already know the place, additionally has Bill Mumy), it entails alternate universes. The potentialities are just about countless, which suggests right here’s the spot the place I point out the film releases on August fifth this yr. If the animated film does effectively, we get extra Babylon 5. What ‘well’ means wasn’t ever quantified so far as I do know, however at the very least there’s some thought of what might help. It’s a welcome change from the years of the Free Babylon 5 marketing campaign.
Straczynski and Peters have stated they’re each trying ahead to doing extra within the animated realm. The outcomes of their first team-up are unbelievable, and I’m trying ahead to them getting extra alternatives to showcase what else they’ll do.
Babylon 5: The Road Home shall be obtainable tomorrow, August fifteenth, on Blu-ray and on Amazon, Apple TV, Vudu and YouTube.
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