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I, Zathras
Updated
Faneditor Name:
Original Movie Title:
Genre:
Franchise:
Part of
Fanedit Type:
Original Release Date:
1994, 1996, 1997
Original Running Time:
172 minutes
Fanedit Release Date:
Fanedit Running Time:
30 minutes
Additional Links:
Brief Synopsis:
I wanted to take the 3 time-travel episodes of Babylon 5 ('Babylon Squared' and 'War Without End' P1 and P2) and includes just the scenes from Zathras' perspective.
Intention:
In the original series we watched Zathras out-of-sequence, across several time-lines and across years of the TV show. In this edit we experience what are actually just a few short hours from Zathras' perspective as he travels further and further back in time, with all the other events and characters occurring out of time. It might not always make sense to the viewer now but then it probably didn't always make sense to Zathras while it was happening to him... and I hope that craziness is part of the fun!
If Zathras wasn't in a scene then I cut it, unless it was 100% needed to advance the plot. I've also streamlined, condensed and altered a few plot elements to correct continuity errors in the sources and to remove the need for some non-Zathras elements.
It became clear that this idea wasn't possible to tell in 15 minutes (As there was far more Zathras material than I originally thought) so this is a failed attempt at a consecution entry.
If Zathras wasn't in a scene then I cut it, unless it was 100% needed to advance the plot. I've also streamlined, condensed and altered a few plot elements to correct continuity errors in the sources and to remove the need for some non-Zathras elements.
It became clear that this idea wasn't possible to tell in 15 minutes (As there was far more Zathras material than I originally thought) so this is a failed attempt at a consecution entry.
Other Sources:
Babylon 5 Soundtrack
Special Thanks:
Always to J. Michael Straczynski for having this epic-vision of what TV could be. Thanks to lapis molari for making artwork and subtitles.
Release Information:
- DVD
- Digital
Special Features
- SRT English Subtitles have kindly been made by lapis molari (send a PM to him if you want them)
Editing Details:
- TM2YC logo added
- New B5 style opening Credits created with audio-montage intro
- Roughly speaking the edit starts with 'War Without End' P1 and concludes with 'War Without End' P2 with footage from the earlier 'Babylon Squared' in the middle.
- Added freeze-frame end and memorial music sequence for the B5 cast members who've gone beyond the rim
- Appended a comedic epilogue of Zathras' brother from 1997's 'Conflicts of Interest' episode
- New B5 style opening Credits created with audio-montage intro
- Roughly speaking the edit starts with 'War Without End' P1 and concludes with 'War Without End' P2 with footage from the earlier 'Babylon Squared' in the middle.
- Added freeze-frame end and memorial music sequence for the B5 cast members who've gone beyond the rim
- Appended a comedic epilogue of Zathras' brother from 1997's 'Conflicts of Interest' episode
I, Zathras
Password: Fanedit.org
Password: Fanedit.org
User reviews
4 reviews
Overall rating
9.3
Audio/Video Quality
9.5(4)
Audio Editing
9.8(4)
Visual Editing
9.5(4)
Narrative
8.5(4)
Enjoyment
9.0(4)
Overall rating
9.0
Audio/Video Quality
9.0
Audio Editing
9.0
Visual Editing
9.0
Narrative
8.0
Enjoyment
10.0
If ever Babylon 5 wanted to go the Doctor Who route, this was the path.
Zathius (whichever 1 of 10) slipped in and out, almost at random, disturbing the timestream.
After a confusing opening five minutes, the narrative settles and this makes a case for logically understanding this odd being’s behavior.
The audio is fine throughout, the video elements show their age.
This is an extended short, and “breathes” better than others.
That said, the tone ranges all over the map, from serious to farce to poignant.
Big, big thanks for the ‘in memoriam’ roll near the end. Nice touch.
This was a favorite series of mine for years. Less so now, I’m afraid.
Zathius (whichever 1 of 10) slipped in and out, almost at random, disturbing the timestream.
After a confusing opening five minutes, the narrative settles and this makes a case for logically understanding this odd being’s behavior.
The audio is fine throughout, the video elements show their age.
This is an extended short, and “breathes” better than others.
That said, the tone ranges all over the map, from serious to farce to poignant.
Big, big thanks for the ‘in memoriam’ roll near the end. Nice touch.
This was a favorite series of mine for years. Less so now, I’m afraid.
User Review
Do you recommend this edit?
Yes
Format Watched?
DVD
V
(Updated: July 20, 2019)
Overall rating
9.4
Audio/Video Quality
9.0
Audio Editing
10.0
Visual Editing
10.0
Narrative
9.0
Enjoyment
9.0
If you have not seen Babylon 5, this will confuse you. If you have seen Babylon 5, 'I, Zathras' will initially feel like you're in The Lodge of Twin Peaks. Stay with it, though! Once your time-disorientation wears off, you're in for an exhilarating ride. TM2YC's alternate point-of-view story is a touching tribute to Babylon 5 and, obviously, Zathras.
It's remarkable how important and memorable Zathras' character is for having appeared in only 4 episodes. This edit really shows that off.
Editing is impeccable. There were only two cuts that I noticed and re-watching the source material I don't see how to do them better. The source video quality is infamously flawed, which is why I've deducted a point on A/V Quality.
Honorable mention for the tasteful Tribute at the end and for the 'epilogue' solution to fit Zathras' sibling into the edit.
I recommend 'I, Zathras' to every B5 fan. Sit back and enjoy the short ride.
It's remarkable how important and memorable Zathras' character is for having appeared in only 4 episodes. This edit really shows that off.
Editing is impeccable. There were only two cuts that I noticed and re-watching the source material I don't see how to do them better. The source video quality is infamously flawed, which is why I've deducted a point on A/V Quality.
Honorable mention for the tasteful Tribute at the end and for the 'epilogue' solution to fit Zathras' sibling into the edit.
I recommend 'I, Zathras' to every B5 fan. Sit back and enjoy the short ride.
L
Overall rating
9.2
Audio/Video Quality
10.0
Audio Editing
10.0
Visual Editing
9.0
Narrative
8.0
Enjoyment
9.0
Nicely done! Zathras's story makes a great short. I imagine some of it would be quite baffling to viewers not familiar with the original, but on the whole it seems surprisingly coherent. Perhaps it could use just a tiny bit more context on where B4 was being stolen from and what Not-the-One was doing there?
The erratic video quality of the source material is very noticeable in places, but that's obviously outside your control. It's a pity the series hasn't been released in the original 4:3.
The erratic video quality of the source material is very noticeable in places, but that's obviously outside your control. It's a pity the series hasn't been released in the original 4:3.
User Review
Do you recommend this edit?
Yes
Format Watched?
Digital
G
Overall rating
9.4
Audio/Video Quality
10.0
Audio Editing
10.0
Visual Editing
10.0
Narrative
9.0
Enjoyment
8.0
Wow I realized I never reviewed this.
It was funny as hell. I'm very unfamiliar with Babylon 5 so I didn't fully appreciate the work that went into it, but apparently TM2YC took a whole bunch of different pieces of episodes and stitched them together into a coherent little episode.
It was funny as hell. I'm very unfamiliar with Babylon 5 so I didn't fully appreciate the work that went into it, but apparently TM2YC took a whole bunch of different pieces of episodes and stitched them together into a coherent little episode.
N