Hotel Babylon (2006/BBC DVD/TV Mini-Series)

 

Picture: B-     Sound: C+     Extras: C     Episodes: C+

 

 

What about a place with high prices where they can give you what you want, even if they charge a ton of money to do so?  Though we have had pot boiler films and TV shows with that idea before, often sappy melodramas at that, Hotel Babylon is based on a book about London Hotels at the top of the list and the “naughty” things that can happen.

 

What makes this series work is that it enjoys a certain joy about what it shows without degrading anyone in the style of a Dynasty, doing this knowingly down to a guest appearance by no less than Joan Collins.  However, instead of just some nighttime soap clone, it is dealing with the world of the wealthy and powerful like nothing in a scripted production in a while.  While the later Aaron Spelling shows became mannequin-fests, the characters are well developed, as are the situations, making all a pleasure to watch.  Most here were unknowns to me, but this is the kind of solid show that could launch a few careers.  If it sounds like your kind of series, you’ll definitely enjoy catching it.

 

The anamorphically enhanced 1.78 X 1 is colorful and has its moments for a digital High Definition production.  There are still more soft spots and motion blur moments than I would have liked, but I will give it the edge to the higher possible rating.  The Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo is just fine, though without surrounds, is well-recorded.  Extras include a making of featurette and commentary on the first episode.

 

 

-     Nicholas Sheffo