fullygoldy (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
fullygoldy) wrote2008-03-15 08:11 am
fullygoldy) wrote2008-03-15 08:11 am
Review: The Ark of Truth
We watched our new DVD last night.
So we all know that Stargate: SG-1 had a good long run - 11? seasons, and will be missed by many, but syndication is a wonderful thing (and the reason we still get to see all 11 seasons of M*A*S*H). However, TPTB apparently planned this DVD-only release in conjunction with the last season.
There are special features, and the one we watched last night was really helpful for anyone who didn't watch all of the last few seasons. It was about 15 min of recapping the whole Ori story arc, so that when the movie starts, you have some frame of reference. It's like an extended-play of [cue sonorous narrator] "previously on Stargate: SG-1..."
hee!
So this is the story of how our intrepid hero/explorers deal with their latest set of bad guys that are out to rule the universe. And the theme is so comically universal! Think of all the James Bond baddies - they were always evil geniuses intent upon ruling the world. Then the early SG-1 crew had to deal with baddies wanting to rule the Galaxy, and finally, the baddies are big and bad enough that they want to rule/exploit the universe, and impersonating gods is the past time of choice.
I had a lot of trouble keeping a straight face when the whole "Merlin" arc came up in season 9 or 10, so while the DVD was classically Stargate, there were still times when I was laughing at the unbelievable script or premise. And there was one moment where I blurted out "the witch is dead!" and DH said "I was just about to say!" Vala was completely true to herself, plus we got to see some of the deeper parts of her that were explored in the "50-yrs trapped in a time bubble" episode. Cam was a fighting machine, Teal'c was his awesome self, and Sam was considerably warmer and fuzzier than ever before, while still be scarily smart and competent.
And this is where I realize that even though I'm a fan, and I love this show (and several others), I'm not ever going to be the kind of fan that takes pains to remember the names of episodes and what season they played in. If I know an episode name it's probably because I just saw it, or I read a really good fanfic based on it. Other than that, I don't really need to know.
I loved the running bit about Cam not wanting to be the one "in the chair" and even his trying to get removed from command to make Sam have to sit in the chair was great. Obviously, removing Cam and giving the command to Sam was not going to change the outcome, so why bother?
Another universal theme - the supposedly friendly hostile on board. Deep cover, mole, misguided moron, whatever you call it, it always turns out the same - do those people never watch the B movies? Conversely, perhaps the SG-1 writers watch too many B movies.
So, still my TV show, turned to feature length story, but with amped up effects and much more in the way of a musical score. It was cool to hear them extend the beloved theme song and break it apart and build it back up in variations. If imitation is the sincerist form of flattery, we now know that the SG-1 writers truly love all those sf/fantasy stories from Aliens to Wizard of oZ. It was even weirdly reminiscent of the Team America movie, now that I think about it.
So we all know that Stargate: SG-1 had a good long run - 11? seasons, and will be missed by many, but syndication is a wonderful thing (and the reason we still get to see all 11 seasons of M*A*S*H). However, TPTB apparently planned this DVD-only release in conjunction with the last season.
There are special features, and the one we watched last night was really helpful for anyone who didn't watch all of the last few seasons. It was about 15 min of recapping the whole Ori story arc, so that when the movie starts, you have some frame of reference. It's like an extended-play of [cue sonorous narrator] "previously on Stargate: SG-1..."
hee!
So this is the story of how our intrepid hero/explorers deal with their latest set of bad guys that are out to rule the universe. And the theme is so comically universal! Think of all the James Bond baddies - they were always evil geniuses intent upon ruling the world. Then the early SG-1 crew had to deal with baddies wanting to rule the Galaxy, and finally, the baddies are big and bad enough that they want to rule/exploit the universe, and impersonating gods is the past time of choice.
I had a lot of trouble keeping a straight face when the whole "Merlin" arc came up in season 9 or 10, so while the DVD was classically Stargate, there were still times when I was laughing at the unbelievable script or premise. And there was one moment where I blurted out "the witch is dead!" and DH said "I was just about to say!" Vala was completely true to herself, plus we got to see some of the deeper parts of her that were explored in the "50-yrs trapped in a time bubble" episode. Cam was a fighting machine, Teal'c was his awesome self, and Sam was considerably warmer and fuzzier than ever before, while still be scarily smart and competent.
And this is where I realize that even though I'm a fan, and I love this show (and several others), I'm not ever going to be the kind of fan that takes pains to remember the names of episodes and what season they played in. If I know an episode name it's probably because I just saw it, or I read a really good fanfic based on it. Other than that, I don't really need to know.
I loved the running bit about Cam not wanting to be the one "in the chair" and even his trying to get removed from command to make Sam have to sit in the chair was great. Obviously, removing Cam and giving the command to Sam was not going to change the outcome, so why bother?
Another universal theme - the supposedly friendly hostile on board. Deep cover, mole, misguided moron, whatever you call it, it always turns out the same - do those people never watch the B movies? Conversely, perhaps the SG-1 writers watch too many B movies.
So, still my TV show, turned to feature length story, but with amped up effects and much more in the way of a musical score. It was cool to hear them extend the beloved theme song and break it apart and build it back up in variations. If imitation is the sincerist form of flattery, we now know that the SG-1 writers truly love all those sf/fantasy stories from Aliens to Wizard of oZ. It was even weirdly reminiscent of the Team America movie, now that I think about it.
no subject
The Ori were not much fun to watch as bad guys. Hey, the Goa'uld were gorgeous. And wore little in the way of clothes. And they were arrogant, corrupt, and loved spectacle. What's not to love? I always had some ambivalence about the Goa'uld. On the one hand, they were bad. On the other hand -- with the exception of the one that looked like an overloaded towel-rack, Anubis -- they were unselfconsciously evil. Merely self-serving to an extreme.
Review: The Ark of Truth
So, this movie doesn't really grab my interest, unfortunately. Which I'm very sorry about. I'd love to support the franchise, especially as the sales of The Ark of Truth might impact on future Stargate Atlantis movies.... But I agree with icarusancalion in my attraction to the Goa'uld (Apophis, Baal, etc.) and real lack of attraction for the Ori and the Ori storyline.
Thanks for your review. I appreciate it.
Love, max
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no subject