Brikar

STARGATE CONTINUUM
Starring Ben Browder, Amanda Tapping, Michael Shanks
Written by Brad Wright
Directed by Martin Wood

MOVIE
SG-1 goes to the Tok'ra homeworld to witness the extraction of the Ba'al symbiote from the host. In the middle of the (very lengthy) ceremony, Vala and Teal'c vanish into thin air while Ba'al makes claims about a "failsafe" plan already being put into action. As the Tok'ra begin to vanish as well, Ba'al murders Jack O'Neill and SG-1 races back to the Stargate.

Meanwhile, on Earth in 1939, Ba'al and several Jaffa board a ship carrying the Stargate from Africa to the United States. After murdering the crew and setting a bomb to destroy the ship, they leave. The ship's Captain manages to toss the bomb overboard before he dies, thus saving the Stargate.

SG-1 emerges from the Stargate, decades later, in the frozen cargo hold of the ship. Not long after, they realize that the timeline has somehow been altered, and they must attempt to put things right. Unfortunately, the United States government disagrees, and in one of the movie's best scenes, General Landry explains that SG-1 will be disbanded, given new identities, and will never, ever step through the Stargate again.

Will our heroes make it through the Stargate before Ba'al returns to conquer the Earth? Will Teal'c, now First Prime of Ba'al and his Queen Qetesh win the freedom of his Jaffa people? Dun-dun-dunnnn.

In reviewing "Continuum", there are two major comparisons to be made. Where to start? I guess we'll start with "The Ark of Truth," since that will lead us into the major comparison. You'll recall that I thought "Ark" was kind of a middling SG-1 adventure because it took what should have been a large, epic story and turned it into a needlessly small one, and even threw in a Replicator subplot for reasons inexplicable (though likely to pad out the runtime after the producers had somehow decided that the end of the Ori storyline should be only minimally dealt with).

I am glad to say that, somewhat, "Continuum" rectifies this complaint. "Continuum" is a story that feels bigger, and is a more cohesive whole since there are no diversions like adding in the Replicators. So this second SG-1 movie ends up feeling more like a movie in that respect (and a couple others, but we'll get to that in a moment).

The second comparison is, of course, to previous adventures of SG-1, which "Continuum" mines excessively, and in more ways than one. In the major respect, the plot is a mish-mash of episodes like "Lost City", "Moebius", "There But For The Grace of God" and "1969". Despite all of that, it works. The "Stargate" franchise will never be one recognized for being brimming with originality, especially now that there are something like 15 seasons of it. So if you're willing to overlook the fact that "Continuum" is just an entertaining retread (and it IS entertaining), then we won't have too big a problem.

In the minor respect of mining SG-1's history, there are lots of little nods to the series for the fandom to seek out and appreciate. A number of minor characters from the past appear again including Major Davis and General Hammond, as well as Apophis and a number of the System Lords like Cronus, Nirti and Camulus. Jack O'Neill returns, and though he doesn't play a large role, actually has a couple of nice scenes in the alternate timeline.

The action and effects sequences in "Continuum" are larger and better-looking than those in "Ark of Truth" (which seemed to consist mostly of stock footage of ships firing at each other and such). Photography seems deeper and better utilized, as well, giving "Continuum" a larger, more expensive feel than the previous movie.

Overall, despite that the plot may be very familiar to fans, "Continuum" proves to be more enjoyable than it's predecessor, something of a return to the more classic SG-1 feel.

VIDEO
Presented in 1.78:1 widescreen, the DVD looks fine. It's better looking than, say, the first season of SG-1, but is about on par with the last movie or the recent seasons of the show. Good black levels, good color and detail. I'm sure it looks better in high-def, but no complaints on this DVD.

AUDIO
The Stargate DVDs have always impressed me with their 5.1 surround mixes, and "Continuum" is no different. There's good bass, dialogue is clear, and the action sequences pop. Very nice for TV, or a DTV movie.

EXTRAS
Aside from audio commentary, the DVD comes with a couple of making-of featurettes. These are about on par with what you'd find on the series DVDs, and provide an adequate look at the making of the movie. There's also a "Layman's Guide to Time Travel", which is... kinda lame. There are also trailers for "The Ark of Truth", "Atlantis: Season 4" and... "The X-Files". The X-Files trailer is pretty weird, since it ends with Mulder and Scully in bed together in the final scene of the series.

SCORE
Movie: B+
Video: A
Audio: A
Extras: B
Overall: A-

__________________
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Bean

I agree, it wasn't spectacular by any means, but it was certainly entertaining.

__________________
"I haven't faced death. I've cheated death. I've tricked my way out of death and patted myself on the back for my ingenuity. I know nothing."

--James T. Kirk

Brikar

I should add that I think this is Joel Goldsmith's best "Stargate" score in a good long while.

__________________
"A million monkeys typing until the end of time will produce the complete works of William Shakespeare. Ten thousand monkeys typing for ten thousand years will write a Hemingway. Ten monkeys typing over Columbus Day weekend will give you a Dan Brown."

http://olympusmans.blogspot.com
http://benforrealz.blogspot.com

Cymro

I couldn't expect or want more out of a Stargate movie.

And I can't belive Amanda Tapping is still so hot.

__________________
"Let me tell you something about humans, nephew: They're a wonderful, friendly people - as long as their bellies are full and their holosuites are working.

"But take away their creature comforts, deprive them of food, sleep, sonic showers, put their lives in jeopardy over an extended period of time and those friendly, intelligent, wonderful people...will become as nasty and as violent as the most blood-thirsty klingon."