Babylon 5 vs Star Wars

[Majestic]

Babylon 5 was the best thought out series in the history of science fiction.

This comment was made on another thread under this heading and it got me thinking. What else really did compare with B5? And, then it occurred to me that there was, indeed, another.....

Star Wars and Babylon 5. How do these two compare. Both stretch across the vast arena of space in the eternal battle between Good and Evil, encompassing a multitute of characters, both are complex and multi-layered epics......

How do they stand up next to each other? Thoughts?

Star Wars was made for all ages, which allowed the younger ones to understand it. Babylon 5 was more complex with shades of grey.

I personally found Babylon 5 a more enjoyable show to watch as there were twists which keep the audience interested. Star Wars is a good show/movie to watch, but I don't think it is as good as all the hardcore fans make out, its gets boring real quick.

I also think Lucas is pretty arogrant, I bet he has never watched a episode of Babylon 5 or Star Trek for that matter.

 

[EAS_Intrepid]

Damn. Despite my love of star wars and indifference towards babylon 5 I have to agree. As great as I consider star wars to be it does tend to over simplify things. And i hate the "appealing to all ages" things, like jar jar.
As for Lucas being arogant I feel like sticking up for him so I'm guna point out that it's a little harsh for you to be making personal judgements about someone you don't actualy know, and anyway if you're that rich how can you be arrogant? Being that rich means you are that good.

Or he has good marketing strategies!!

I have to admit that I was quite fond of the Clone Wars battles and some starships from SW, but the ships of B5 where much better done and concepted.

As for the shades of grey, I have to say, that I was surprised to see a political debate in Star Wars in the Old Republic's senate!
(The sheer word democracy, which means pretty much to me, was never heard in SW before...)

In B5 no-one was really evil. The shadows weren't evil, they had another philosophy, the Vorlons where no real good guys, the manipulated to reach goals, too... (Breshnev was not evil, though being hardlined, Stalin was evil and another guy of his time, too; Mr. Morden was not evil, Clark was, because of his hunger for power!) In this way B5 represented our complicated world and our own day-to-day-struggles in social, political and human ways quite good, while SW had this absolute attitude towards ideologies.

And Lucas IS arrogant! How he acts when he gives an interview makes me feel like watching someone who has too much money. No, I do not know him personally and he surely has a nice side (woah, I'm starting with this already ) but he NEVER speaks of any other show than his ones. JMS talked about Trek, too and even said he would direct enterprise when it helps to keep Trek up! (He should have done it, but that's another topic.)

But I actually enjoyed Star Wars, too. I give us something else to discuss:
In military tactics the Clone Troopers would be overrun by an EA Marines troop landing! (Geonosis: EAMC against Republic Clone Troopers)

@ Pharel: You seem very familiar with SW, I look forward to some debates with you!

 

[Masterjon911]

all star wars ships are based on other ships from other starwars or other shows babylon 5 has ships of there own ideas

 

[Modigar]

I would again need to say B5, I can very rarely say anything bad about it.

Were as Star Wars was a little bit of a let down in episode 1 with the Trade Federations droid army that looked really (I dont have the words) compared to anything in the original 3 movies.

 

[WrathofSpanky]

Please. Star Wars is dead to me. Lucas sold out completely. Instead of making the second trilogy in keeping with the power of the first three he decided to make a flashy kiddy flick to indoctrinate a new generation of children into the Star Wars franchise. It was more important that little Tommy and pretty little Susie had their momies buy them the action figures instead of making sure the old corps Star Wars fans saw a movie that they recognized as Star Wars the way it was. Lucas was great once, but now he's an "investor" and "marketeer".

 

[Wheller]

I have to admit. i like any and every Scifi Show/Movie/Book, i see.

Babylon 5 being in my top 5 Favorites.

(Star Trek, Star Wars, Battlestar Galactica(Old and new), Stargate and Babylon 5) those are in no particular order.

i never really cared for the Prequels 'Kid Friendly' Bull crap. Now mind you i still enjoyed the prequels, but i like the Original Trilogy much better.

Babylon 5 however i like over Star Wars. its Darker, more Complex. though i think it would have looked visually better if they had used Physical Models rather then CGI. but Babylon 5 was made when CGI was in its infancy.

but i like everything scifi i see... so my opinions don't really carry much weight. in my Opinion

 

[Jasoneagle]

I would honestly have to say that Both do have their Strong Points and Both Have their Weaknesses, The Prequels where designed to tell the Story of Vader before he was Vader as well as How the Empire Started. While in B-5 It followed suit with Every Scif-Fi show out there (SW included) it Showed someone that was good (or bad) go from one side of the Spectrum to the Other Side. Each Show/Movie was in its own rights Good and Bad (Story Wise as well) For SW it kind of Ends at the End of the Last movie they Wrapped everything up nice and neat and Fans had to create a Large Expanded Universe to fill their need to more, while B-5 Left some Loose ends. Be this intental or just do to Production Cuts and what not, the Fans have a lot to Build on where in SW from just the movies there was not much for Building things had to be made for it.

My personal Fav would have to by SW though I Kind of like the Idea of having a Force out there other than Money or Pure Power that can Turn someone from their Chosen side to the other.

 

[miklosgo]

I prefer Babylon 5. There are more powerful battleships and more adaptability for living in space.
I grew up with Star Wars, the old episodes 4-5-6. I don't know what to say about the new episodes 1-2-3. I like the fight scenes and there are too more computer effects. So, I prefer the old SW episodes.
Regarding Ep 7, I don't think that is necessary. There are many SW books about the continuing. It's necessary another movie ? Why ?
If we talk about creating new Star Wars movies, I'd like to see something about the old republic, the knights of the old republic. How it all started. I'm tired concerning these adventures of Luke Skywalker I need something else.