DVD Review: Stargate Continuum
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.
