Stargate - Articles - Zimbio

Netflix Review: Stargate Continuum: Keep them coming!

Sun, 4 Aug 2008 19:11:26 GMT

posted by nguirado

Along with the rest of the civilized humanity, I reacted to the canceling of Stargate SG1 with great lamentation and gnashing of teeth (4 out of 5 dentists agree that this is not a good idea no matter how exceptional the show.). Fortunately, the producers of the Stargate franchise forge ahead with the equally excellent Stargate Atlantis and the strait-to-DVD SG1 movies. The first of these, Ark of Truth, is serviceable- its service being to close the controversial Ori story arc begun in season nine.

In Continuum, we return to the Goa’uld, the original parasitic bad guys from the Stargate movie (hinted at) and beginning of the TV series. SG1, having captured Ba’al, the last of the system lords, gives Ba'al up to the Tok’ra who plan an extraction ceremony to remove Ba’al from his host.

It’s all part of Ba’al’s plan. Ba’al’s real last surviving clone had built a time machine, and we see him board the ship transporting the stargate from Egypt to the United States. He disables the ship, thereby preventing the Stargate Program from ever having been started (A dystopian alternative for all sci-fi fans.). The heroism of the ship’s captain prevents the ships total destruction which allows Daniel Jackson, Mitchell, Carter (O’Neill dies in the Tok’ra city.) to go through the stargate and reappear in the North Pole-stranded ship.

Mitchell was never born, Carter died saving her crew on a Space Shuttle, O’Neill stayed in the US Air Force Special Forces, and General Hammond isn't retired(!) in this alternative time line.

The surviving trio minus one limb agrees that not attempting to change the time line is reasonable and accept new identities and my own personal fantasy, a guaranteed allowance- if they don’t mention the stargate to anyone and avoid each other.

Ba’al uses his foreknowledge to gain the upper hand against the other system lords. His queen, Qetesh, is the Goa’uld who made Vala her host.

When Ba’al is ready to attack Earth, the government presses the out-of-time trio into action. SG1 heads for the Ancient base in the Antarctic, but a quick counter move from Ba'al prevents them from using it.

Continuum is a triumph of the genre and amongst the top 300, of 12,000 or so, minutes in the Stargate franchise. Instead of the unexciting profundity of the Ori arc and the absurdity of the too-profound Battlestar Galactica, we have a clear Star Wars-like battle between good and evil. There’s no doubt that the Goa’uld must be destroyed.

We know from the episodes 1968, There But for the Grace of God, and Moebius, Stargate that Stargate writers have done well in those most tricky of sci-fi story lines for their many logical pitfalls- time travel and alternate reality.

The writers do a marvelous job with the time travel story here. It mostly makes sense, and the events are quite plausible given that such machines can exist in the first place. Going for the Ancient weapons platform is an obvious choice, and I would have been happy had the writers just had SG1 use it to engage the Goa’uld. The writers decide to use the platform as a pre-ending instead, and this feint adds a nice ladle of suspense to an already interesting plot pot.

Motivations as well are justified and reasonable- it is a bit too much to ask an alternative civilization to change everything around on a hunch.

Continuum has natural, non-cheap, and unforced fan delights aplenty: In the mid-movie calm, still exciting, we see Jackson pick up a book from his frustrated and scorned alternate self and then calls him to offer encouragement.

O’Neill is present. I’ve found his increasing goofiness over the years distracting at times (The low point is where O’Neill, an avid lay astronomer, doesn’t remember to take the cap off of a telescope.). He’s goofy here, but we also see his serious side when Jackson mentions O'Neill's son.

The action scenes aren’t of BG quality, but I liked them: I found the appearance of the Russian fighter planes especially exciting.

I hope this DVD does well and the producers continue releasing more at this quality level.

Message/Politics:

In Moebius, Carter is a nerdy scientist whereas alternate Carter in Continuum is as heroic as “real” Continuum Carter. Stargate, therefore, adopts the view that mathematical ability is natural while personality is more nurtured. That society evolves similarly in both realities suggests a belief in the inevitability of “social progress.”

Bravery and sacrifice, as always, although Carter and Mitchell uncharacteristically leave O’Neill and Jackson behind on separate occasions.

Stargate (Ultimate Edition)

Stargate - Continuum

Stargate SG-1 - The Complete Series Collection

Stargate - The Ark of Truth

Credits below:

Original post blogged on b2evolution.

Stargate Atlantis: The Prodigal

Wed, 13 Nov 2008 13:18:35 GMT

posted by pinkraygun
By Wolfen Moondaughter Best Carl Binder ep ever! And one of the best of the season, as well, right up there with "The Queen" and "Broken Ties" (though not on par with "The Shrine", of course). It was a great mix of action and humour, tempered with some beautiful character moments. My McShep-lovin' heart is overflowing with joy, there was so much fantastic bonding between our boys here!

DVD Review: Stargate Continuum

Sun, 28 Jul 2008 17:59:24 GMT

posted by fusedfilm

Stargate: Continuum

Director: Martin Wood

Writer: Brad Wright (Series Co-creator)

Starring: Amanda Tapping, Christopher Judge, Michael Shanks, Ben Browder, Claudia Black, Beau Bridges, Cliff Simon, Richard Dean Anderson & Don S. Davis.

Rating: “Not Rated”

DVD Release: July 29, 2008

Run Time: 98 minutes

Synopsis: SG-1 must race against time to save time. Three SG-1 members a caught in an adventure to save their own timeline from the last remaining, Goa’ld System Lord, Ba’al, who has re-set time to benefit his own dubious purposes of ruling the galaxy.

So when it was announced almost a year and a half ago that there would be two SG-1 films I was elated especially with the news that they were being canceled from the Sci-fi channel brewing. Now that Ark of Truth has ended the Ori storyline left over from Season 10 and gave us fans closure, I was still left wanting more. Especially with the problem I had with Ark of Truth was that it wasn’t long enough and it was merely an extended episode with a few movie style inserts into and that was it, I didn’t feel as epic as I wanted it to be. Continuum was so much better in the way it was shot but also how it flowed. I was unable to see the Blue-Ray version but is definitely apparent that they had a higher budget for this movie.

The story of the film is your typical SG-1 time-travel story that continues where we left the team dealing with the extra Ba’al clones. In the story we find out that the real Ba’al has built a time-machine and has attempted in resetting things that ultimately ends in a fouled up time-line where SG-1 and the Stargate program don’t exist. Our heroes have to race against time to set things right but that proves harder than it has ever been for the experienced team of space explorers. Ultimately the fate of what they know and all they hold dear comes down to the determination of their leader Col. Cam Mitchell, who must do whatever it takes to fix the time-line and destroy Ba’al before all they know is lost. Perhaps one the best SG-1 stories in years this movie takes fans to the edge and really gives them a true SG-1 movie.

The film succeeds where I mentioned earlier and that is veteran Stargate director, Martin Wood’s directing. A truly wonderful technically shot film that gave the story and actors a better look which seemingly takes SG-1 out of the episode style look and into a more motion-picture feel that you didn’t get from Ark of Truth. The best scenes in the film are all the arctic scenes as well as the awesome air-battle sequence towards the end with F-15’s that are pretty epic for am SG-1 movie. The fast-paced action in the film is a testament not only to his directing but also SG-1 creator and Contiuum writer, Brad Wright. He has always been the best thing for SG-1 and really made a story that was true to the mythos and one that fans really will enjoy. It felt almost like SG-1 never left the Sci-Fi channel.

I have to say that this film also succeeds with our actors. All of which re-prise their characters without missing a beat and it is the usually the consensus that they are having so much fun playing these characters that all of them are beleiveble. This is truly the film that SG-1 fans have been waiting for and we even get some special appearances from characters we haven’t seen in-awhile and that was pretty cool. Probably the best notable performances in the film have to go to Cliff Simon, who plays Ba’al, he is always fantastic but even more so in this film. Also Micheal Shanks, who is the fan-fave Daniel Jackson, he plays an interesting side of Daniel that is different than we have see him before and some of the things he does will surprise you. Lastly it is always good to see Teal’c and some good Jaffa yelling. Perhaps the surprise performance goes to Ben Browder, who plays Col. Cam Mitchell, he really spreads out in this story and has a lot to do throughout the film.

The biggest complaint I had was that I wanted more…I didn’t want the movie to end and that is probably because I love watching this Sci-fi series more than anything else. SG-1 is timeless and I hope this isn’t the last we see of them, especially with a rumored third series in the works, I would expect a third film to come out soon.

The special features are great too. They include, Commentary with Executive Producer/Writer Brad Wright and Director Martin Wood, The Making of Stargate Continuum, Stargate Goes to The Arctic, & Laymans Guide to Time Travel. The “goes to the Arctic feature is really cool and tells how they got the Navy to pop-in their sub as well as how the actors responded to the cold. The “Making of” featurette was also really interesting and most of it was re-told in the audio commentary with Brad Wright and Martin Wood.

Stargate: Continuum gets a wopping 3.5 “Staff Weopons” out of 4 this is because you have a good story that is pure SG-1 but also due to great visual directing and classic acting from the characters we love the best.

Stargate: The Ark of Truth 2008 Hollywood Movie Watch Online

Sat, 5 Oct 2008 14:27:00 GMT

posted by pravat231

Stargate: The Ark of Truth 2008 Hollywood Movie Watch Online Informations :

Directed by Robert C. Cooper
Starring : Ben Browder, Amanda Tapping, Christopher Judge, Michael Shanks, Beau Bridges
Release date(s) : US March 11, 2008
Language : English

Casting In Stargate: The Ark of Truth 2008 Hollywood Movie :
Ben Browder ... Lt. Col. Cameron Mitchell
Amanda Tapping ... Lt. Col. Samantha Carter
Christopher Judge ... Teal'c
Michael Shanks ... Dr. Daniel Jackson

Stargate The Ark of Truth, 2008, Hollywood Movie, English

Stargate:Continuum Teaser Trailer and Featurette videos!

Tue, 4 Jun 2008 22:00:15 GMT

posted by fusedfilm

So everyone knows I am like the biggest Stargate fan ever, or at least in Memphis, TN. This movie actually looks better than Ark of Truth was and so that gets me excited. I love SG-1 and it is nice to see O’Neill back too. Also I thought it was worth mentioning the special effects do not look bad either…I am assuming this movie had a little bigger budget than Ark of Truth.

Here is another 3 videos where the SG-1 cast talks about Stargate:Continuum, what its about, who’s in it and what to expect,etc. The other video is a featurette with the the directors talking about the arctic shoot and other stuff. The 3rd video is from the Air Force and is really cool to see its perspective.

Enjoy!

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