Babylon 5: In the Beginning (TV 1998)

Emperor Londo Mollari tells the story of the Earth-Minbari war that almost destroyed Humanity and later inspired its last best hope for peace.

Director:

Michael Vejar

Writers:

J. Michael Straczynski (creator), J. Michael Straczynski

Stars:

Bruce Boxleitner, Mira Furlan, Richard Biggs

Nominated for 1 Primetime Emmy.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Bruce Boxleitner	...	John J. Sheridan
Mira Furlan	...	Delenn
Richard Biggs	...	Stephen Franklin, M.D.
Andreas Katsulas	...	G'Kar
Peter Jurasik	...	Londo Mollari
Theodore Bikel	...	Lenonn
Reiner Schöne	...	Dukhat (as Reiner Schone)
Michael O'Hare	...	Lt. Cmdr. Jeffrey Sinclair (archive footage)
Robin Atkin Downes	...	Morann
J. Patrick McCormack	...	General Lefcourt
Tricia O'Neil	...	Earth Alliance President
Robin Sachs	...	Coplann
James Patrick Stuart	...	Presidential Aide
Jason Ross-Azikiwe	...	Captain Sterns (as Jason Azikiwe)
Yasemin Baytok	...	Centauri Woman

Storyline

The Earth military encounters an alien race called the Minbari. Through a series of accidents and misunderstandings, a war breaks out that nearly results in the death of every human on Earth. The war and its aftermath provide the background for the TV series "Babylon 5," especially its first season.

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Plot Keywords:

alien | future | sequel | 23rd century | alien invasion | 

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Drama | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

Unrated

Details

Official Sites:

Warner Bros.

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

4 January 1998 (USA)

Also Known As:

Babylon 5: Last of the Fallen

Company Credits

Production Co:

Babylonian Productions, Turner Network Television (TNT)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

94 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

Both the children and the Centauri woman are members of Emperor Mollari's household, and all got there through murder. Luc and Lyssa are the niece and nephew of Urza Jaddo, whom Mollari killed in a duel in the Babylon 5 installment, Knives. Senna, the Centauri woman, is the daughter of Lord Refa, whom Mollari had assassinated in the installment, And the Rock Cried Out, No Hiding Place. In both cases, Mollari took the children of his victims into his family.

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Goofs

When Sheridan, Franklin and G'Kar are captured by the Minbari, Sheridan is punched by a guard and his rank pin is crooked. In the next shot, his pin is suddenly straight.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Delenn: It is said that in every age, there is one singular event that forever changes the world around us. A nexus, if you will.
G'Kar: 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.

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Connections

Followed by Babylon 5: Thirdspace (1998)

User Reviews

A good movie that adds important detail missing from the series

As with most TV movies that are effectively a story arc, "In the Beginning" is only attractive to fans of the series. But for these people, this movie adds critical background information only hinted at in the series, and as well, casts one of the significant characters of the show into a different light. Now we can see a little of why the first four Babylon stations were destroyed, and how Sinclair and then Sheridan were fated to be the keystones in the development of Earth-Mimbari relations.

Finally the linked histories of Delenn, Sincliar and Sheridan that are alluded to throughout the series are explained, revealing some of the deep background created by J. Michael Straczynski that helped add to the series strength. The acting is well crafted, highlighting the depth of skills in their craft of the major cast. What I found particularly intriguing was the manner in which Straczynski rounded out the character of Llando by having him slightly distort the historical events covered in the series (only apparent to someone who had paid particular attention to the original TV screening).