Babylon 5: A Call to Arms: Difference between revisions
Adding link. |
|||
(44 intermediate revisions by 33 users not shown) | |||
Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{Short description|1999 television film directed by Mike Vejar}} |
|||
{{For|the game of the same name|Babylon 5: A Call to Arms (game)}} |
{{For|the game of the same name|Babylon 5: A Call to Arms (game)}} |
||
{{more footnotes|date=March 2011}} |
{{more footnotes needed|date=March 2011}} |
||
{{Infobox television |
{{Infobox television |
||
| |
| image = Babylon 5 – A Call to Arms (1999 film) poster.jpg |
||
| |
| image_size = |
||
| image_size = 200px |
|||
| image_alt = |
| image_alt = |
||
| caption = TNT Promotional Poster for ''Babylon 5: A Call |
| caption = TNT Promotional Poster for ''Babylon 5: A Call to Arms'' |
||
| genre = |
| genre = {{Plain list| |
||
*[[Space opera]] |
|||
*[[Drama (film and television)|Drama]] |
|||
}} |
|||
| creator = [[J. Michael Straczynski]] |
| creator = [[J. Michael Straczynski]] |
||
| based_on = |
| based_on = |
||
Line 14: | Line 17: | ||
| story = |
| story = |
||
| director = [[Michael Vejar]] |
| director = [[Michael Vejar]] |
||
⚫ | |||
| starring = [[Bruce Boxleitner]]<br />[[Jerry Doyle (actor)|Jerry Doyle]]<br />[[Jeff Conaway]]<br />[[Carrie Dobro]]<br />[[Peter Woodward]]<br />[[Tony Todd]]<br />[[Tracy Scoggins]]<br />[[Scott MacDonald (actor)|Scott MacDonald]]<br />[[Ron Campbell (actor)|Ron Campbell]] |
|||
*[[Bruce Boxleitner]] |
|||
*[[Jerry Doyle (actor)|Jerry Doyle]] |
|||
*[[Jeff Conaway]] |
|||
*[[Carrie Dobro]] |
|||
*[[Peter Woodward]] |
|||
*[[Tony Todd]] |
|||
*[[Tracy Scoggins]] |
|||
*[[Scott MacDonald (actor)|Scott MacDonald]] |
|||
*Ron Campbell |
|||
}} |
|||
| narrated = |
| narrated = |
||
| theme_music_composer = |
| theme_music_composer = Evan H. Chen |
||
| country = United States |
| country = United States |
||
| language = English |
| language = English |
||
| num_episodes = |
| num_episodes = |
||
| executive_producer = [[Douglas Netter]] |
| executive_producer = {{Plain list| |
||
*[[Douglas Netter]] |
|||
*J. Michael Straczynski |
|||
}} |
|||
| producer = [[John Copeland (producer)|John Copeland]]<br />[[Skip Beaudine]] (co-producer)<br />[[Susan Norkin]] (associate producer) |
|||
| |
| producer = {{Plain list| |
||
*John Copeland |
|||
⚫ | |||
*Skip Beaudine |
|||
}} |
|||
| editor = Skip Robinson |
|||
⚫ | |||
| runtime = 94 minutes |
| runtime = 94 minutes |
||
| company = [[Babylonian Productions]] |
| company = {{Plain list| |
||
*[[Babylonian Productions]] |
|||
*[[Warner Bros. Television]] |
|||
}} |
|||
| budget = |
| budget = |
||
| network = TNT |
| network = [[TNT (American TV network)|TNT]] |
||
| |
| released = {{start date|1999|1|3}} |
||
| last_aired = |
|||
| preceded_by = |
|||
| followed_by = |
|||
⚫ | |||
}} |
}} |
||
{{Babylon 5 TV seasons and films}} |
{{Babylon 5 TV seasons and films}} |
||
'''''A Call |
'''''Babylon 5: A Call to Arms''''' is a 1999 American [[television film|made-for-television film]] and the fourth film set in the ''[[Babylon 5]]'' universe (not including the pilot, ''[[Babylon 5: The Gathering|The Gathering]]''). It was written by [[J. Michael Straczynski]], directed by [[Mike Vejar]], and originally aired on [[TNT (American TV network)|TNT]] on January 3, 1999, as one of two films shown over the 1998–1999 season to fill in the gap between the fifth season of ''Babylon 5'' and the spin-off series ''[[Crusade (TV series)|Crusade]]''. |
||
==Summary== |
==Summary== |
||
Five years after the establishment of the Interstellar Alliance, President [[John Sheridan (Babylon 5)|John Sheridan]] and Mr. [[Michael Garibaldi|Garibaldi]] rendezvous in deep space to oversee the completion of |
Five years after the establishment of the Interstellar Alliance, President [[John Sheridan (Babylon 5)|John Sheridan]] and Mr. [[Michael Garibaldi|Garibaldi]] rendezvous in deep space to oversee the completion of IAS ''Excalibur'', and IAS ''Victory'', the first in a series of prototype destroyers using technology [[reverse engineered]] from the [[Vorlon]]–[[Minbari]] technology of the White Stars. En route to the firing range, Sheridan is visited in a dream by [[Technomage (Babylon 5)|Galen]], who shows him graphic images of Daltron 7, a world destroyed by a massive attack. |
||
An alien thief named Dureena Nafeel ([[Carrie Dobro]]) arrives on [[Babylon 5 (fictional space station)|Babylon 5]] in search of the [[Thieves Guild]], to which she belongs. |
An alien thief named Dureena Nafeel ([[Carrie Dobro]]) arrives on ''[[Babylon 5 (fictional space station)|Babylon 5]]'' in search of the [[Thieves Guild]], to which she belongs. She is captured by their agents, and, upon revealing her credentials, is allowed to ply her trade provided she abide by their rules. In her sleep, she is visited by Galen who warns her to choose a target wisely when the time comes. |
||
On the firing range, construction supervisor Lionel Drake demonstrates the capabilities of |
On the firing range, construction supervisor Lionel Drake demonstrates the capabilities of Excalibur's Vorlon-influenced enhanced weapons system: the ship channels energy from its entire body to capacitance and channels it in a single burst of very powerful energy; the firing, however, leaves the ship underpowered for a recovery period of one minute. During the test, Sheridan is visited by Galen in a waking dream. Galen informs him that while the Technomages will remain in hiding for another 20–30 years, they still watch the galaxy, and have learned of an impending attack on Earth by the [[Drakh]]: a vicious race formerly allied with the [[Shadow (Babylon 5)|Shadows]] who seek revenge for the part humans have played in defeating them in [[Shadow Wars (Babylon 5)|the war]], destroying their homeworld of [[Z'ha'dum (fictional planet)|Z'ha'dum]] and forming the Alliance, which thwarts their ambitions. Galen provides him with descriptions of three individuals who will meet him at ''Babylon 5'' to assist him, but explicitly warns him never to explain his actions or mission to anyone under any circumstances. |
||
Sheridan cuts the test short and travels to Babylon 5, where he provides descriptions to security, who quickly apprehend Dureena. |
Sheridan cuts the test short and travels to ''Babylon 5'', where he provides descriptions to security, who quickly apprehend Dureena. Captain Anderson ([[Tony Todd]]) of the [[EarthForce]] destroyer ''Charon'', arrives and meets with Sheridan and Dureena; all have been alerted to each other by Galen. Dureena turns out to be a refugee from Zander Prime, a world destroyed during the Shadow War by a Shadow Planet Killer; she initially blames Sheridan for his inaction, but upon learning of the Drakh, realizes that they are responsible for what occurred. The team sneaks out of ''Babylon 5'' during the night on ''Charon'', and they travel to the shipyards and take ''Excalibur'' and ''Victory'' out to visit Daltron 7. They arrive to find the once pristine world scorched to ruin and they discover the body of the fourth member of their party, a [[Drazi]], on the surface. The Drazi's records indicate that Daltron 7 was destroyed by the Drakh less than a week before in a test as a prelude to their attack on [[Earth (Babylon 5)|Earth]], confirming that the Drakh is in possession of a Shadow planet killer. Meanwhile, Mr. Garibaldi catches up to the shipyard, and reluctantly takes Mr. Drake with him in pursuit of Sheridan. |
||
Sheridan and Anderson are approached by a small Drakh fleet, who inquire about their identities and intentions. |
Sheridan and Anderson are approached by a small Drakh fleet, who inquire about their identities and intentions. The Drakh suddenly receive a powerful encoded message and begin to flee; ''Excalibur'' and ''Victory'' pursue them only to find the entire Drakh fleet departing for Earth. After a short battle, they escape and contact ''Babylon 5'', informing [[Elizabeth Lochley|Captain Lochley]] ([[Tracy Scoggins]]) to alert EarthGov to mobilize their entire fleet. Sheridan contacts Garibaldi about the fleet and informs him about a possible informant; upon realizing the transmission came from his ship, Garibaldi discovers that Drake – a Mars citizen resentful of Earth's prejudice against [[Mars]]-born citizens – is the informant. Drake is subdued and forced to release the details of the Drakh attack fleet. |
||
Sheridan and Anderson arrive in Earth space just ahead of the Drakh fleet and organize the Earth and Alliance fleets assembled to repel the attack, and a massive battle ensues when the Drakh emerge. |
Sheridan and Anderson arrive in Earth space just ahead of the Drakh fleet and organize the Earth and Alliance fleets assembled to repel the attack, and a massive battle ensues when the Drakh emerge. During the conflict, Sheridan and Anderson venture into the Shadow planet killer in search of a primary component: the device is a well defended planet-sized web of interconnecting joints filled with core-penetrating nuclear warheads. Dureena uses her guile to correctly isolate the master control hub just as ''Victory''{{'}}s weapon systems are irreparably damaged. Anderson and his crew plow ''Victory'' directly into the control hub, and the planet killer activates prematurely. The Earth and Alliance ships escape just as the planet killer destroys itself and most of the Drakh assault fleet. However, the last remaining Drakh ships bypass the defense grid and plunge into Earth orbit, releasing a black gaseous weapon that enshrouds the Earth. |
||
On Babylon 5, Sheridan reports to Lochley that the Earth has been contaminated by a biological weapon engineered by the Shadows; experts calculate that the plague will adapt to human physiology and kill all life on Earth |
On ''Babylon 5'', Sheridan reports to Lochley that the Earth has been contaminated by a biological weapon engineered by the Shadows; experts calculate that the plague will adapt to human physiology and kill all life on Earth within five years unless a cure is found. Determined to save the planet, Sheridan turns ''Excalibur'' into a research vessel, armed with the best experts that can be found to search the galaxy for other races and technologies who may possess the knowledge that can lead to a cure. Galen arrives at the station to assist in the mission. |
||
==Other information== |
==Other information== |
||
''A Call to Arms'' acts as a sequel |
''A Call to Arms'' acts as a sequel to ''Babylon 5'' and a prelude to the ''Babylon 5'' spin-off series ''[[Crusade (TV series)|Crusade]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0146455/|title=Babylon 5: A Call to Arms (TV Movie 1999)|date=January 13, 1999|work=IMDb}}</ref> It introduces two prominent characters for the cast of ''Crusade'', Galen and Dureena Nafeel, as well as the ship IAS ''Excalibur''. The final scenes set up the basic premise of the ''Crusade''. |
||
==Novelization== |
==Novelization== |
||
A [[novelization]] of the film written by [[Robert Sheckley]] was published in 1999.<ref>{{cite web|title=A Call to Arms (Babylon 5)|url=https://www.thriftbooks.com/enwiki/w/babylon-5-a-call-to-arms_robert-sheckley/1091376/#isbn=0345431553&idiq=806454|publisher=thriftbooks.com| |
A [[novelization]] of the film written by [[Robert Sheckley]] was published in 1999.<ref>{{cite web|title=A Call to Arms (Babylon 5)|url=https://www.thriftbooks.com/enwiki/w/babylon-5-a-call-to-arms_robert-sheckley/1091376/#isbn=0345431553&idiq=806454|publisher=thriftbooks.com|access-date=21 April 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=A Call to Arms (Babylon 5) by Robert Sheckley|url=https://www.risingshadow.net/library/book/14085-a-call-to-arms|publisher=risingshadow.net|access-date=21 April 2018}}</ref> |
||
==References== |
==References== |
||
Line 65: | Line 82: | ||
==External links== |
==External links== |
||
* {{IMDb title|id=0146455|title=Babylon 5: A Call to Arms}} |
* {{IMDb title|id=0146455|title=Babylon 5: A Call to Arms}} |
||
* {{ |
* {{allMovie title|224892|Babylon 5: A Call To Arms}} |
||
* {{Lurker|115|''Babylon 5: A Call to Arms''}} |
* {{Lurker|115|''Babylon 5: A Call to Arms''}} |
||
Line 71: | Line 88: | ||
{{Use mdy dates|date= October 2017}} |
{{Use mdy dates|date= October 2017}} |
||
{{DEFAULTSORT:Babylon 5: A Call To Arms}} |
{{DEFAULTSORT:Babylon 5: A Call To Arms}} |
||
[[Category:Babylon 5 films|Call to Arms]] |
[[Category:Babylon 5 films|Call to Arms]] |
||
[[Category:1999 television films]] |
[[Category:1999 television films]] |
||
[[Category: |
[[Category:1999 films]] |
||
[[Category:American films]] |
[[Category:TNT (American TV network) original films]] |
||
[[Category:Films set in the 23rd century]] |
[[Category:Films set in the 23rd century]] |
||
[[Category: |
[[Category:American science fiction television films]] |
||
[[Category: |
[[Category:1999 science fiction films]] |
||
[[Category:Films based on television series]] |
|||
[[Category:Television films based on television series]] |
|||
[[Category:American action television films]] |
|||
[[Category:1990s English-language films]] |
|||
[[Category:1990s American films]] |
|||
[[Category:English-language science fiction films]] |
Revision as of 05:42, 12 September 2024
This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (March 2011) |
Babylon 5: A Call to Arms | |
---|---|
Genre | |
Created by | J. Michael Straczynski |
Written by | J. Michael Straczynski |
Directed by | Michael Vejar |
Starring | |
Theme music composer | Evan H. Chen |
Country of origin | United States |
Original language | English |
Production | |
Executive producers |
|
Producers |
|
Cinematography | John C. Flinn III |
Editor | Skip Robinson |
Running time | 94 minutes |
Production companies | |
Original release | |
Network | TNT |
Release | January 3, 1999 |
Babylon 5 TV seasons and films 1993–2023 |
---|
In order of series chronology: |
|
Babylon 5: A Call to Arms is a 1999 American made-for-television film and the fourth film set in the Babylon 5 universe (not including the pilot, The Gathering). It was written by J. Michael Straczynski, directed by Mike Vejar, and originally aired on TNT on January 3, 1999, as one of two films shown over the 1998–1999 season to fill in the gap between the fifth season of Babylon 5 and the spin-off series Crusade.
Summary
Five years after the establishment of the Interstellar Alliance, President John Sheridan and Mr. Garibaldi rendezvous in deep space to oversee the completion of IAS Excalibur, and IAS Victory, the first in a series of prototype destroyers using technology reverse engineered from the Vorlon–Minbari technology of the White Stars. En route to the firing range, Sheridan is visited in a dream by Galen, who shows him graphic images of Daltron 7, a world destroyed by a massive attack.
An alien thief named Dureena Nafeel (Carrie Dobro) arrives on Babylon 5 in search of the Thieves Guild, to which she belongs. She is captured by their agents, and, upon revealing her credentials, is allowed to ply her trade provided she abide by their rules. In her sleep, she is visited by Galen who warns her to choose a target wisely when the time comes.
On the firing range, construction supervisor Lionel Drake demonstrates the capabilities of Excalibur's Vorlon-influenced enhanced weapons system: the ship channels energy from its entire body to capacitance and channels it in a single burst of very powerful energy; the firing, however, leaves the ship underpowered for a recovery period of one minute. During the test, Sheridan is visited by Galen in a waking dream. Galen informs him that while the Technomages will remain in hiding for another 20–30 years, they still watch the galaxy, and have learned of an impending attack on Earth by the Drakh: a vicious race formerly allied with the Shadows who seek revenge for the part humans have played in defeating them in the war, destroying their homeworld of Z'ha'dum and forming the Alliance, which thwarts their ambitions. Galen provides him with descriptions of three individuals who will meet him at Babylon 5 to assist him, but explicitly warns him never to explain his actions or mission to anyone under any circumstances.
Sheridan cuts the test short and travels to Babylon 5, where he provides descriptions to security, who quickly apprehend Dureena. Captain Anderson (Tony Todd) of the EarthForce destroyer Charon, arrives and meets with Sheridan and Dureena; all have been alerted to each other by Galen. Dureena turns out to be a refugee from Zander Prime, a world destroyed during the Shadow War by a Shadow Planet Killer; she initially blames Sheridan for his inaction, but upon learning of the Drakh, realizes that they are responsible for what occurred. The team sneaks out of Babylon 5 during the night on Charon, and they travel to the shipyards and take Excalibur and Victory out to visit Daltron 7. They arrive to find the once pristine world scorched to ruin and they discover the body of the fourth member of their party, a Drazi, on the surface. The Drazi's records indicate that Daltron 7 was destroyed by the Drakh less than a week before in a test as a prelude to their attack on Earth, confirming that the Drakh is in possession of a Shadow planet killer. Meanwhile, Mr. Garibaldi catches up to the shipyard, and reluctantly takes Mr. Drake with him in pursuit of Sheridan.
Sheridan and Anderson are approached by a small Drakh fleet, who inquire about their identities and intentions. The Drakh suddenly receive a powerful encoded message and begin to flee; Excalibur and Victory pursue them only to find the entire Drakh fleet departing for Earth. After a short battle, they escape and contact Babylon 5, informing Captain Lochley (Tracy Scoggins) to alert EarthGov to mobilize their entire fleet. Sheridan contacts Garibaldi about the fleet and informs him about a possible informant; upon realizing the transmission came from his ship, Garibaldi discovers that Drake – a Mars citizen resentful of Earth's prejudice against Mars-born citizens – is the informant. Drake is subdued and forced to release the details of the Drakh attack fleet.
Sheridan and Anderson arrive in Earth space just ahead of the Drakh fleet and organize the Earth and Alliance fleets assembled to repel the attack, and a massive battle ensues when the Drakh emerge. During the conflict, Sheridan and Anderson venture into the Shadow planet killer in search of a primary component: the device is a well defended planet-sized web of interconnecting joints filled with core-penetrating nuclear warheads. Dureena uses her guile to correctly isolate the master control hub just as Victory's weapon systems are irreparably damaged. Anderson and his crew plow Victory directly into the control hub, and the planet killer activates prematurely. The Earth and Alliance ships escape just as the planet killer destroys itself and most of the Drakh assault fleet. However, the last remaining Drakh ships bypass the defense grid and plunge into Earth orbit, releasing a black gaseous weapon that enshrouds the Earth.
On Babylon 5, Sheridan reports to Lochley that the Earth has been contaminated by a biological weapon engineered by the Shadows; experts calculate that the plague will adapt to human physiology and kill all life on Earth within five years unless a cure is found. Determined to save the planet, Sheridan turns Excalibur into a research vessel, armed with the best experts that can be found to search the galaxy for other races and technologies who may possess the knowledge that can lead to a cure. Galen arrives at the station to assist in the mission.
Other information
A Call to Arms acts as a sequel to Babylon 5 and a prelude to the Babylon 5 spin-off series Crusade.[1] It introduces two prominent characters for the cast of Crusade, Galen and Dureena Nafeel, as well as the ship IAS Excalibur. The final scenes set up the basic premise of the Crusade.
Novelization
A novelization of the film written by Robert Sheckley was published in 1999.[2][3]
References
- ^ "Babylon 5: A Call to Arms (TV Movie 1999)". IMDb. January 13, 1999.
- ^ "A Call to Arms (Babylon 5)". thriftbooks.com. Retrieved April 21, 2018.
- ^ A Call to Arms (Babylon 5) by Robert Sheckley. risingshadow.net. Retrieved April 21, 2018.
External links
- Babylon 5: A Call to Arms at IMDb
- Babylon 5: A Call To Arms at AllMovie
- Babylon 5: A Call to Arms at The Lurker's Guide to Babylon 5
- Babylon 5 films
- 1999 television films
- 1999 films
- TNT (American TV network) original films
- Films set in the 23rd century
- American science fiction television films
- 1999 science fiction films
- Films based on television series
- Television films based on television series
- American action television films
- 1990s English-language films
- 1990s American films
- English-language science fiction films