Babylon 5: The Gathering (1993)
Perhaps I should have commented on this film when I watched it back in October, before I began watching the series proper. Now that I've finished watching Babylon 5, I feel like my initial observations aren't really worth commenting on.
I guess I'll just say that, like most pilots, it has its share of poor elements that get dropped/approved on once the series begins. Overall, whether compared to the rest of the series or taken on its own, I feel it's only slightly above average.
6.5/10
Babylon 5: In the Beginning (1998)
I can't say for certain what exactly it was I expected to get from this film; all I know was that I hoped that it would provide some significantly new insight into the genesis and/or evolution of the Earth-Minbari War, something that would have surprised me. Unfortunately, most of the movie was literally made up of footage recycled from the TV show; what new material there was was minor, largely consisting of Lucas-styled revisionism involving major characters meeting years before they were ever implied to have met on the series.
In the end, I just don't see who this movie was made for; fans of the series would already know 99% of what happened from watching the show, and I can't see newcomers who have never watched the series either enjoying or really following the story. IMO, In the Beginning was just a really pointless movie that didn't have to be made.
6.3/10
Babylon 5: Thirdspace (1998)
I guess this is an example of a story being better on paper than on the screen. The basic storyline -- the personnel of Babylon 5 discovering an ancient alien device which serves as a gateway into a universe inhabited by genocidal Lovecraftian entities -- is definately a good one with lots of potential, but the end result just comes off as half-baked; the direction is mediocre and the budget is too small to pull off the effects-heavy scenes adequately.
On the plus side, I did like the stuff with Lyta and Zack; their scenes kept this movie from being a total waste of time.
6/10
La Rose de Fer AKA The Iron Rose (1973)
Stylish, atmospheric, and creepy -- those three words about sum up this film. I would like to say more, but my reactions to the film are primarily emotional in nature, and I've never been good at expressing my feelings through writing (or typing, for that matter).
8/10