# Babylon 5 Movie **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 8, 2014, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/babylon-5-movie/695116 "2014-08-08T17:45:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2014, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/babylon-5-movie/695116/21 "2014-08-10T22:45:22Z")
> [@levdrakon](#): > > Didn’t he make the Star Trek reboot? C’mon, you’re never going to satisfy geeks, but he’s made lots of stuff that was more than watchable. You’ve seen some of those B5 spin-offs and straight-to-bittorrent sequels, right? He couldn’t do anything but improve most of that, if he did it in his sleep. “Better than JMS could do” isn’t exactly setting a high bar, you know. Even then, I doubt Abrams could get over it. The original B5 had some subtlety to it, and Abrams couldn’t spell “subtle” if you spotted him all the consonants and let him buy a vowel. No, the best thing is to either let it stand (the best option) or turn it over to someone who understands what they are doing and can make something good. That takes JMS, Abrams, Bay, and about a hundred others out of the equation right from the start. Now to start a war: How about giving it to Whedon?😛 ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2014, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/babylon-5-movie/695116/22 "2014-08-10T22:53:21Z")
Yeah, let’s turn D’len into an angsty teenaged super-heroine who solves the galaxy’s problems with spin kicks and quips! ---
**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2014, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/babylon-5-movie/695116/23 "2014-08-10T23:35:40Z")
I dunno, B5 could use some beat downs and quips during political debates… Delenn: "Then the Council will be broken! _hip tosses Warrior Caste leader over a balcony_ Warrior Cast leader: “Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa_splat_” _long pause, Lennier goes :eek:_ Delenn: “As was prophesied!” I’m in favor of a reboot, either under JMS or under new management. Especially the latter, actually, since it’s always interesting to see a fresh take on an old story. Compare to the numerous screen adaptations of Starship Troopers (anime, film, direct to video film sequels, cartoon, animated film, video game, and Aliens). EDIT: How about Stephen Moffat? The show will be terrifying, hilarious, and everyone will be ship-teased with everyone. Although B5 had plenty enough of that as it was G’Kar/Londo, OTP. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2014, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/babylon-5-movie/695116/24 "2014-08-10T23:46:56Z")
I don’t know. They got so so very lucky with Andreas Katsulas as G’kar, and his chemistry with Peter Jurasik. I cringe at the mere idea that some other director might tweak those characters and put the wrong actors in the roles. ---
**Author:** ![Declan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@Declan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Declan)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2014, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/babylon-5-movie/695116/25 "2014-08-11T00:46:12Z")
> [@Raguleader](#): > > EDIT: How about Stephen Moffat? The show will be terrifying, hilarious, and everyone will be ship-teased with everyone. Although B5 had plenty enough of that as it was G’Kar/Londo, OTP. If Moffat had been running the show, B5 would never have gotten past one season, he would have had the Vorlons destroy the station. Declan ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2014, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/babylon-5-movie/695116/26 "2014-08-11T01:03:37Z")
The Vorlons probably should have destroyed the station. ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2014, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/babylon-5-movie/695116/27 "2014-08-11T01:09:13Z")
> [@Raguleader](#): > > I dunno, B5 could use some beat downs and quips during political debates… Ivanova had that covered. ---
**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2014, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/babylon-5-movie/695116/28 "2014-08-11T01:35:21Z")
> [@levdrakon](#): > > Ivanova had that covered. Ah yes, the Ivanova Doctrine of political discourse: Threaten to beat the opposition if they do not see reason, then proceed to do so. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2014, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/babylon-5-movie/695116/29 "2014-08-11T01:41:51Z")
Otherwise known as the “Rip your lungs out” school of diplomacy. ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2014, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/babylon-5-movie/695116/30 "2014-08-11T01:45:44Z")
Ivanova should have been in charge of Klingon Federation relations. ---
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2014, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/babylon-5-movie/695116/31 "2014-08-11T02:24:50Z")
“No boom today. Boom tomorrow. There’s always a boom tomorrow.” ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2014, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/babylon-5-movie/695116/32 "2014-08-11T05:32:11Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > He had one - one - stroke of lightning that was tarnished by shitty producers and funding but still manages to shine. It’s much in line with _Blade Runner_ in that respect. However, he either exhausted his creative well with that effort or B5 was miraculously nothing like his more general vision, which is peculiar and rather dull at best. I hope the movie is a success, but I’m skeptical. Like the supposed [Sports Illustrated cover jinx](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sports_Illustrated_cover_jinx), B5 may be an outlier. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2014, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/babylon-5-movie/695116/33 "2014-08-11T06:20:27Z")
> [@Declan](#): > > If Moffat had been running the show, B5 would never have gotten past one season, he would have had the Vorlons destroy the station. > > Declan And then it would have been spontaneously repaired using time travel and the power of love. ---
**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2014, 10:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/babylon-5-movie/695116/34 "2014-08-11T10:12:57Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > And then it would have been spontaneously repaired using time travel and the power of love. The space suit reveal near the end of “War Without End” would have Zathras handing his time stabilizer to the space suited figure to reveal… Zathras. “_clicking noises_ OK Zathras, this is where it gets real complicated.” _shakes head_ ---
**Author:** ![Ambrosio\_Spinola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9de0a6/32.png) [@Ambrosio\_Spinola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambrosio_Spinola)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2014, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/babylon-5-movie/695116/35 "2014-08-11T14:41:57Z")
To expand on **Amateur Barbarian’s** excellent post above - there was also the issue of lightning striking in the timing of the series. These days every show that goes past its pilot had its own wiki page, but the _Lurker’s Guide to Babylon 5_ was my first experience with an online fanbase community, and many of my fond memories of the show are related to interacting with other fans/obsessives. I also feel that it wouldn’t be enough to just recast the roles and spiffy up the special effects. In order to really make the show work there would need to be a new mystery - it wouldn’t be enough to just redo the Shadow/Vorlon conflict all over again. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2014, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/babylon-5-movie/695116/36 "2014-08-11T19:46:48Z")
> [@Ambrosio\_Spinola](#): > > In order to really make the show work there would need to be a new mystery - it wouldn’t be enough to just redo the Shadow/Vorlon conflict all over again. Beyond that, part of the reason the BSG reboot worked so well is that the 12 colonies, Kobol and the Cylons in general were very sparsely fleshed out in the original 1970s series, with the majority of the real plot elements taking place in the pilot and subsequent first 2 episodes of the series, leaving the remaining 20 or so episodes to be almost entirely episodic. This left a great skeleton for someone to tweak a bit (the Colonials became the creators of the Cylons, instead of just their enemy), and restart, without having to really re-cover very many already-trodden paths. B5 on the other hand, isn’t at all skeletal. We have a lot of development and a completed story. This isn’t at all like other reboots, which have primarily been episodic shows like Hawaii-Five-O or the original Battlestar Galactica. Any B5 reboot would have to either rehash the same story, or would be a much looser “reboot”, with a significantly different story. ---
**Author:** ![Roadfood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9fc348/32.png) [@Roadfood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roadfood)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2014, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/babylon-5-movie/695116/37 "2014-08-11T21:54:35Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > I don’t know. They got so so very lucky with Andreas Katsulas as G’kar, and his chemistry with Peter Jurasik. I cringe at the mere idea that some other director might tweak those characters and put the wrong actors in the roles. Babylon 5 without Londo and G’kar would be a hollow shell. Babylon 5 without Peter Jurasik playing Londo would be a travesty. Babylon 5 without Andreas Katsulas playing G’kar has some tiny change of being ok given some extreme care in finding the right replacement. ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2014, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/babylon-5-movie/695116/38 "2014-08-11T22:00:56Z")
The right story teller could make new characters and make us love them just as much. Theoretically. ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2014, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/babylon-5-movie/695116/39 "2014-08-11T22:09:34Z")
I wouldn’t mind a reboot [along these lines](http://www.b5-dark-mirror.co.uk/)–don’t directly use that story, but the departure point is a good one. Open with a quick recap of the series. Explain the Drakh in a sentence or two (“Minions of the Shadows who stayed behind”). Have the Drakh send a brief zap of energy back in time (“their last, final effort”). The burst shows up at the battle of the line and Sinclaire, avoiding it zigs instead of zags. When DeLenn is asked to pick a human, she picked someone else who did not activate the triluminary. Everything spirals out of that. That said, I’d rather the story just move forward from the series. For the first time in a billion+ years, the galaxy is free of Shadow and Vorlon influence. Maybe, in addition to their little game with living pieces, maybe they’ve been holding back some greater threat? And now? There’s nobody there to protect us. ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2014, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/babylon-5-movie/695116/40 "2014-08-11T22:30:52Z")
Well, the theme was the ancients hashing out their dark/light chaos/order differences and us young’ns telling them to die out already so we can do the same thing. Seems like a lot of potential material there. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/babylon-5-movie/695116.md?page=1)