In the Beginning

TNT MoW 2

Written by: J Michael Straczynski
Directed by: Mike Vejar

Regular cast: Sheridan, Delenn, Franklin, G'Kar, Londo, Sinclair, Ivanova

Guest Cast: Theodore Bikel (Lenonn), Reiner Schöne (Dukhat), Robin Atkin Downes (Morann), J Patrick McCormack (General Lefcourt), Tricia O'Neil (President), Robin Sachs (Coplann), James Patrick Stuart (Presidential Aide), Jason Azikiwe (Captain Sterns), Yasemin Baytok (Centauri Woman), Kristin Birch (Woman), Justin Carroll (Comm Officer), Jacob Chase (Luc), Tim Colceri (Captain Jankowski), Lane Davies (Callier), Timothy Davis-Reed (Man), Pancho Demmings (Alpha 7), Steven Ford (First Officer), Mio R Jakula (Ganya Ivanova), Nick Jameson (Minbari Pilot), Mike Kennedy (General Fontaine), Erica Mer (Lyssa), Michael York (Weapon's Officer)

"It is said that the future is always born in pain. The history of war is the history of pain. If we are wise, what is born of that pain matures into the promise of a better world, because we learn that we can no longer afford the mistakes of the past."
G'Kar

It looks great, it sounds great but still something's missing. Most of the plot is a pachwork quilt of scenes from earlier episodes so to behonest, there isn't much in the movie that we didn't know already. Fairly good movie nevertheless.

Notes:

• ItB has 'borrowed' material from episodes And the Sky Full of Stars, Revelations, Late Delivery from Avalon, War Without End (Part II) and Atonement
• The novelization by Peter David is also worth reading. It tells the story from Londo's point of view and thus all the little inconsistencies and continuity errors can be attributed to Londo's poor memory. Peter David's Centauri Trilogy has also material relevant to ItB as it gives the background for Luc, Lyssa and the Centauri Woman (named Senna in the books).
• J Patrick McGormack reprises his role as General Lefcourt in Eg and Robin Atkin Downes as Morann in Atonement (although in that episode his character has no name).
• Theodore Bikel (Lenonn) played rabbi koslov in the first season episode TKO

My favourite scene:
There is some hauntingly beautiful music (and stunning visuals) when Londo summarises the battles between the failed peace negotiations and Battle of the Line.

Thirdspace

TNTCF1

Written by: J Michael Straczynski
Directed by: Jesus Treviño

Regular cast: Sheridan, Ivanova, Franklin, Delenn, Zack, Vir, Lyta

Guest cast: Shari Belafonte (Dr. Elizabeth Trent), Clyde Kusatsu (Bill Hiroshi), William Sanderson (Deuce), Kip King (Leo), Floyd Levine (Alex), Jeffrey Anderson-Gunter (Merchant), Joshua Cox (Lt. Corwin), Judson Mills (Delta 7), G. Adam Gifford (Guard), Jerry Kernion (Kuehler), Valerie Red-Horse (Technician)

"One mistake out of so many others."
Lyta

There are many things one can say about Thirdspace and a very small number of them are flattering (to be honest, most of them aren't even printable). The movie starts off well as a funny and entertaining no-brainer, but looses its charm midway through, ending up as nothing more than a poor Star Trek episode.

Notes:

• The story takes place between TIoT and Atonement (although there are some minor inconsistencies)
• The novelization by Peter David is worth reading even if you don't like ThS. It's a lot better than the movie itself because it sees the tongue-in-the-cheek value of a story as corny as Thirdspace and turns every inconcistency and stupidity in the plot into a joke. It even manages to give logical explanations to some of the smaller plotholes.
• William Sanderson played Deuce also in the first season episode Grail
• Ever noticed that John 'Nuke'em' Sheridan only nukes stuff when he's inbetween marriages? He wasn't yet married to Anna when he blew up the Blackstar and the attacks on Z'ha'dum and against the Vorlons/Shadows (in ItF) and Thirdspace aliens were before he married Delenn. And what do we learn of this? Never give a celibate man access to nuclear weapons.

My favourite scene:
Ahem...

River of Souls

TNT MoW3

Written by: J Michael Straczynski
Directed by: Janet Greek

Regular cast: Garibaldi, Lochley, Zack, Franklin

Guest cast: Ian McShane (Dr. Robert Bryson), Martin Sheen (Soul Hunter), Jeff Doucette (Second man), Wayne Alexander (Ralga Soul), Bob Amaral (Customer), Beece Barkett (Woman), Joel Brooks (Jacob Mayhem), Joshua Cox (Lt. Corwin), T.J. Hoban (Male hologram), Stuart Pankin (James Riley), Ray Proscia (Klaus), Nikki Schieler Ziering (Female hologram), Jeff Silverman (Mr. Clute), Jean St. James (Sheila)

"No heaven. Nothing beyond. Only the dark, impenetrable wall of death."
Soul Hunter

Very much like ThS in that RoS too starts off well, but drowns into sillyness, stupidity and plot holes during the second half and not even Martin Sheen (who is brilliant in Apocalypse Now and West Wing) and Ian McShane (who was brilliant in Lovejoy) manage to keep it alive. The story is better than ThS's, but the FX is worse and the whole film has the feeling of having been done in too much of a haste. The music's brilliant as usual, though.

Notes:

• The story is set in June 2263.
• The novellization of RoS (supposed to have been written by Yvonne Navarro) was never published due to artistic disagreements
• Apparently home shopping networks are still alive and well on the 23rd century. Where else could Corwin have bought the 'lovebat'?
• Notice that when Zack visits the holo-brothel, there are several members of C&C staff in the waiting room who then, after seeing the security chief enter, either leave or try to hide.

My favourite scene:
Ahem, again... well, I like some of the funny scenes at the beginning of the movie (like the C&C staff at the holo-brothel), and there is some great choral music in a few scenes, but I really can't say that there are any scenes that I could call 'favourite'.

A Call to Arms

TNT MoW4

Written by: J Michael Straczynski
Directed by: Mike Vejar

Regular cast: Sheridan, Garibaldi, Lochley, Zack, Dureena, Galen,

Guest cast: Tony Todd (Captain Anderson), Tony Maggio (Samuel Drake), Ron Campbell (Drazi), Wayne Alexander (Drakh), Endre Hules (General Denisov), Carlos Bernard (Communications Officer), Burt Bulos (Navigations Officer), Valeria Chiran (ISN Reporter), David Coburn (Minbari), Matt Gallini (Rolf), Marjean Holden (Navigator), Scott MacDonald (First Officer), Tim O'Hare (Technomage), Tom Ramirez (Technomage), Larita Shelby-Mullen (Lynne Anderson), Kayla Spell (Sarah Anderson)

"Give me ramming speed..."
Captain Anderson

It is ironic that the short-lived and rather ...ahem, how should we say ... "not good" Crusade should have one of the best pilot movies around (then again, the pilot only had three - two if you don't count Excalibur - major players from the series itself). It looks good, sounds good (after you get used to Evan Chen's unusual style) and has a good story.

Notes:

• The pilot movie for Crusade
• The novelization by Robert Sheckley is not worth reading.
• Am I seeing things or was Sheridan flirting with Dureena? He probably has a thing about brunette aliens (remember Londo's wife Mariel in Soul Mates). Or perhaps he was just having a mid-life crisis.

My favourite scene:
The end looks and sounds great. The battle, the destruction of Victory and the Drakh's final strike against Earth.