Where to get the original cut of the Gathering

[*Starstuff*]

Well, let me point out that your German teacher seems to have achieved more with you in 4 years than my Latin teacher was able to do in 6 years. But then, I really, really disliked her, so that could be part of the problem as well.

So, to make things clear: In my understanding, in Germany the OLD version of the movie is sold. And in the UK/US the NEW version is sold? Is that correct? Which one is better?

[DGTWoodward]

If one of our German brethren would be so kind as to interpret the Amazon.de page for B5 and try to ascertain whether or not it's the original version, I would greatly appreciate it!

http://www.amazon.de/Spacecenter-Bab...882524&sr=8-10

This is the original version NOT the re-edit. I bought it and it is just fine on my shelf with the rest of my DVDs.

I bought it because I am sad completist. And because it is BABYLON 5. And because I enjoyed it. And because it started the whole thing. And....oh you get the idea...

[Morden]

Rather than RE-dubbed, Tamlyn Tomita's dialogue was UN-dubbed. WB wanted a softer, 'more approachable' tone to her and so she'd had to re-dub all of her dialogue. The first thing that JMS did is to restore the original dialogue files.

Jan

Oh, okay, thanks for the info, obviously I didn't remember all details correctly.

@ Shabaz: *Starstuff* is correct, at least your capability to understand German seems to be really good!

[Night Marshal]

AOL put it online a year or so ago you can't down load it or anything but you can see it in all its crappy music poorly edited glory.

http://video.aol.com/video/tv-babylon-5-the-gathering-pilot/1456450

[sftv]

B5 Gathering/Itunes/Unbox/Ipods

I downloaded The Gathering off of Amazon's Unbox (when it was first made available) and it is the original version there as well. Unfortunately, my computer when playing back stuff off of Amazon's player just can't quite keep up with it so it is pretty jumpy.

I didn't know that the Itunes version was the oriiginal, I will have to grab that and experiment with getting it onto a DVD. I still have a SVHS recording of the satellite feed of the original but the audio tracking doesn't track well with my remaining SVHS deck. I've also been digging through my storage locker and finding other interesting Babylon 5 related clips and convention footage such as the infamous E! Behind the Scenes special, the PTEN promo reel with a male voice for Deleen, and Joe, Larry D, Harlan and Peter J at LosCon 21 in 1994.

On the subject of doing something with an iTunes video file...

I recently picked up a Philips portable DVD player (the DCP 750 with a 7" screen) that also includes an Ipod dock with it. Target had it on sale right after Christmas for $97.

It is a Philips DVD player, so with the right codes it becomes region free. It also plays Divx files and has an SD card slot as well. It has audio/video outputs so that you can connect it up to a TV or a DVD recorder and thus be able to watch shows downloaded from iTunes on your iPod to a regular size screen without using Apple TV. It has the ablility to change the video output settings to accomodate different screen sizes on your playback device. I've already used it a couple of times for presenting clips at a convention through a video projector. About the only thing it doesn't have that would have been nice is a SVHS video connection. I've also found that the audio level coming from the combination audio/video cable is a bit low, so when I'm transferring something I tend to connect the audio to the headphone jack to be able to have a higher audio level.

Here's a link to it on Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/Philips-DCP750...2758734&sr=8-1)
There is also an DCP850 with an 8" screen and a DCP855 with an 8.5" screen.

Lee Whiteside
SFTV.org
Amazon a-store at http://astore.amazon.com/magratheasftvhom

[raw_bean]

So, to make things clear: In my understanding, in Germany the OLD version of the movie is sold. And in the UK/US the NEW version is sold? Is that correct? Which one is better?

Unfortunately it's not so clear cut. Apparently there are printings of both the original and special edition versions available in the UK, with identical boxes and no way of distinguishing them short of putting them on. For instance, I bought the Complete Universe Boxset, and the version in it was the original. As for which is better, don't listen to any crazy people who'll tell you otherwise - the special edition is a vast improvement.

[DeMonk]

I bought The Gathering in the UK. On the website it said it was the new version. It was not!
I haven't seen the new version in Belgium anywhere.

[sftv]

Ipod/Itunes followup

I downloaded the Apple Itunes version of the Gathering and it is indeed the original version. This brings another question to mind. Are the regular episodes on iTunes the widescreen versions or the original full screen versions?

In any case, I played back the episode on my iPod with the portable player and my Panasonic DVR did not give me any grief when I pressed record. I guess I can put that on a DVD along with the original E! Behind the Scenes special, the PTEN promos, and have my own special Babylon 5: The Beginning special DVD (for my own personal use) and can discard some more old videotapes!

It wasn't until I started going through my climate controlled storage locker to weed out old videotapes that I realized just how much stuff I recorded since I got my first VCR in 1980. Everything from complete runs of The Avengers on A&E (plus unedited ones from really bad prints from KTEH in San Jose), The entire run of the recent Star Treks and Babylon 5 in from satellite feeds (with most of B5 in SVHS), various copies of MTV's New Video Hour from back when they used to actually play videos, and lots of convention footage from Gallifrey One, LosCon, various Creation Cons, and other stuff I've accumulated over the years. I cleared out close to 80 storage boxes full when I moved last summer and have been working on ones in the 10x10 storage locker (about half full of videotapes) for the last couple of months.

Lee Whiteside

[SpanishFan]

Well, you've probablyu bought it already, but just in case anyone finds it useful, the Spanish edition can be bought here (if the page appears in Spanish, go to Dvdgo.com and pick language there.)

Just like in Germany, in Spain only the original version is available, since there is no dubbing for the 1998 one.

[mandragora]

Quick hello, as I'm new here - also from Germany

I'm also confused about the "Gathering" versions available in Germany, thus asking for assistance

First, I can confirm that the DVD mentioned by Lightstorm earlier is the original version, since I own it.

But there is another one offered by Amazon.de as a UK import: http://www.amazon.de/Babylon-5-Gathe...3950481&sr=1-1. From the description and some of the reviews it seems that this is also the original version. However, I've looked it up at Amazon.co.uk and they offer exactly the same DVD, same ASIN no., here: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Babylon-5-Ga...3950569&sr=1-4
In the Amazon-UK description it reads: "The Gathering is presented here in its 1998 Special Edition version. However, nowhere on the packaging is this stated. In fact, the back-cover credits are incorrect: apart from anything else, this version features a new score by Christopher Franke and not Stewart Copeland's original. Special effects and sound quality are also superior to the original version, even if still only presented in 1.33:1 ratio and two-channel Dolby." One reviewer, however, commented that this is incorrect and the DVD contains the original version.

Does anyone by chance own this DVD, and can clarify which version it is?

[Andrew_Swallow]

Quick hello, as I'm new here - also from Germany
Does anyone by chance own this DVD, and can clarify which version it is?

When Babylon 5 was sold to continental TV stations they dubbed it into their own languages, This includes "The Gathering". A new version of "The Gathering" was made for US TV, it has different sound. This only exists in English.

The new version of "The Gathering" was released on DVD in Britain. The continental DVDs contain the original version. When all British copies of the "The Gathering" had been sold instead of making more they imported German DVDs containing the old version.

[mandragora]

Thank you for your answer... now I'm even more confused. From your post I gather that the Special Edition has sold out in the UK - so it shouldn't be available from UK Amazon at all and the DVD on their website is the original version?

But why does the description on the website say it's the Special Edition and lists as language only English? As if the situation weren't complicated enough without Amazon suggesting the cover text is incorrect ...

[*Starstuff*]

Andrew, if what you say is correct (not that I doubt it), that would mean the only way to get a new version would be to get it from someone via eBay, for example?

[Andrew_Swallow]

Andrew, if what you say is correct (not that I doubt it), that would mean the only way to get a new version would be to get it from someone via eBay, for example?

I do not know which one is on sale in the USA.
Also can your equipment play Region 1/NTSC DVDs?

[*Starstuff*]

I do not know which one is on sale in the USA.
Also can your equipment play Region 1/NTSC DVDs?

I don't know about the US. I will ask a friend of mine to check it out.
And about the Region Code: You can switch it on Mac drives, though only for a limited number of times.