Today we have a duo of DVDs that both deal with issues of honor and knighthood of sorts, but in different ways and with different approaches.

First, we have Babylon 5: The Legend of the Rangers, the movie-length pilot for the ill-fated B5 spin-off show of the same name. Written by beloved B5 creator J. Michael Straczynski, the film tells us more about the Rangers, those warriors dedicated to protection of the One and the Minbari ethical system. Now, in the aftermath of the Shadow War, one of the Shadows' allies has stepped up and is making a play for "new worst villain of the galaxy." While the plot and world are endlessly appealing, especially to we die-hard B5 fans, even the appearance of beloved character G'Kar, masterfully played by the late Andreas Katsulas, couldn't save this show. Pilots are often a bit weak in several areas, as the writers, actors, and producers get a real feel for the promise of the show, and this "movie" is no exception. There is a lot of promise here, but very little of it is fulfilled. The idea of the Rangers itself could have been explored in interesting ways, in this movie and perhaps even more had the series done better. If you're looking for an average space fantasy with intriguing promise, then you'll be happy, but if you're looking for the continued adventures of beloved characters or the gritty, yet often funny and always interesting, world of the Babylon space station itself, then you're likely to be disappointed. To add to the disappointment, there are zero features on this release—no interviews, no commentary, no words from JMS, nada.

(more...)