Babylon 5 Box sets...

[Distorted Humor]

I am Enjoying the series enough that I may buy the entire series on DVD. However I see a massive range of prices and packaging of the DVDs, and I kinda suspect that some that I am seeing are Pirated copies of the series.

As a example, Amazon and Walmart have a complete series that looks like the 5 individual seasons packaged as a single bit, and I have no doubt that its a real copy, as I seen this in the stores.

For a lot less is a packaged that is sold on a lot of websites which is a mostly black packaging that looks a lot thinner then a the single series.

Then there is a silver and purple box set (one box) that is VERY inexpensive, and so inexpensive I worry that It might be a pirated copy ($36 for the entire series) I really do not want to buy pirated copies, so what are the "Real" ones?

[Jan]

There does seem to be a slimmer packaging that came out recently but I haven't seen it myself and if WB made any kind of announcement, I missed it.

Sorry, not much help, am I?

Jan

[Distorted Humor]

And should I get the widescreen or standard Definition disks?

[Jan]

And should I get the widescreen or standard Definition disks?

That might be a clue right there. What region are you in? Because to the best of my knowledge, the only legit region 1 DVDs are all in kind of a faux-widescreen.

See, the live action was filmed in widescreen but the CGI was only rendered in standard width. So when they wanted to create widescreen, it came out wierd in places. It seldom bothers me but I know it drives some folks up the wall.

Again, JoeD80 or Mac (KoshN) might be able to tell you more.

Jan

[Distorted Humor]

I am region 1, (Stupid region codes...)

There is a Single Box set that 30 disks for as low as 40 USD online, but I suspect that they may be a Pirate version. (too good to be true and all that). But the sad thing is I can buy season 1 -5 from Amazon on a individual basis for less then I can buy the box set of season 1-5.

[Reverend]

I can't speak for Region 1, but I recently replaced my old worn out box sets (bought back during their initial releases) with a Complete Collection box set which is *extremely* compact for the number of discs in it. Overall I'd say it's about 7'' long and contains 10 standard sized DVD cases (once each for the five seasons of B5, Crusade + The Gathering, ItB, LoTR & Lost Tales) and a little sub-box with three slim cases for Thirdspace, tRoS & ACtA.

No clue if it was released in the US at all or was just an exclusive UK/Europe release. Things may get a little confusing since there was also a Complete Universe box set which was basically everything in the old bulky box sets.

Either way, as far as I know Jan is correct in that all the DVD releases were done in widescreen. So if you've found something that claims otherwise, you're probably looking a pirated discs, probably taken from the old VHS releases (which I'm pretty sure were 4:3.) So, obvious legal issues aside, the quality probably isn't going to be up to much.

[ILUVJOHNSHERIDAN]

My orgininal box set has 5 boxes with 6 DVD's in each. each box is a different color. Orange S1, Blue S2, green S3, Purple S4 and Brown S5.

[ILUVJOHNSHERIDAN]

OH and aqua with the Movies, except Lost tales which is totally by itself

[valens_shadow]

I can't speak for Region 1, but I recently replaced my old worn out box sets (bought back during their initial releases) with a Complete Collection box set which is *extremely* compact for the number of discs in it. Overall I'd say it's about 7'' long and contains 10 standard sized DVD cases (once each for the five seasons of B5, Crusade + The Gathering, ItB, LoTR & Lost Tales) and a little sub-box with three slim cases for Thirdspace, tRoS & ACtA.

No clue if it was released in the US at all or was just an exclusive UK/Europe release. Things may get a little confusing since there was also a Complete Universe box set which was basically everything in the old bulky box sets.

Either way, as far as I know Jan is correct in that all the DVD releases were done in widescreen. So if you've found something that claims otherwise, you're probably looking a pirated discs, probably taken from the old VHS releases (which I'm pretty sure were 4:3.) So, obvious legal issues aside, the quality probably isn't going to be up to much.

It's also worth remembering that with the UK DVD is you don't get commentaries on The Gathering and one of the other movies if I recall correctly. Also I don't know if it's been rectified or not but on the UK 5th season one of the episodes is missing a few minutes at the beginning and during the corps is mother, the corps is father they haven't got the specially made title sequences for that episode.

The Gathering and Crusade are not widescreen.

[Distorted Humor]

It looks like its going to be much less expensive to buy the seasons individually then a package, just picked up season 1 widescreen, and now I am deciding if I Just pick up the seasons cheaply as they go on sale, or just buy seasons 2-5 Tuesday.

[ILUVJOHNSHERIDAN]

Buy them ALL!

[KoshN]

That might be a clue right there. What region are you in? Because to the best of my knowledge, the only legit region 1 DVDs are all in kind of a faux-widescreen.

See, the live action was filmed in widescreen but the CGI was only rendered in standard width. So when they wanted to create widescreen, it came out wierd in places. It seldom bothers me but I know it drives some folks up the wall.

Again, JoeD80 or Mac (KoshN) might be able to tell you more.

Jan

There are legit Region 1 B5 Slimsets; I've SEEN them at Best Buy. They're similar packaging to CSI Season 10 Region 1. I haven't had the occasion to buy any B5 DVD sets since Warner Home Video FINALLY came out with the current good packaging (the slimsets).

For a graphic explanation of the cropping see below:

http://m222.photobucket.com/albumview/albums/KoshN/Babylon%205/b5wscomparison.jpg.html

Laserdisc screencaps are on the left.
SVHS copy of The Sci-Fi Channel airing (same cropping as the DVD sets) is on the right.

http://m222.photobucket.com/albumview/albums/KoshN/Babylon%205/B5fswscomp.jpg.html

Hope this helps.

[Dr Maturin]

Is there a version that goes a little lower on the fourth pic down?

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd61/KoshN/Babylon%205/B5fswscomp.jpg

[JasonDavis]

Is there a version that goes a little lower on the fourth pic down?

Why? Are you a connoisseur of body stockings and SCUBA gear?

[Distorted Humor]

Well, the order is in...let us hope that they get me the widescreens that I ordered and not the SD copies!