Some
spin-offs of genre material arrive ready-made for a new audience.
Though
occasionally slow as molasses, "Star Trek: The Motion Picture" carefully took
the time to reintroduce each character at the offing. "The X-Files" film
operated in a way that you could get into the story even if you didn't know all
the intricacies of the show (though it certainly helped).
Coming off
a 10-season television run, any "Stargate SG-1" movie should come equipped with
the ability to satisfy old fans and acquaint any potential new viewers with
ongoing plot concerns and character identities in speedy fashion.
Well, one out of two ain't bad.
Based on
the 1994
theatrical film "Stargate," the "SG-1" series chronicled the continuing
adventures of a military team as it explored the galaxy via a network of ancient
wormholes known, conveniently, as stargates.
The
television show ended its 10-year run in 2007, but not before launching its own
spin-off "Stargate: Atlantis." "The direct-to-DVD "Ark of Truth" continues
the SG-1 team's struggle against a villainous alien threat called the Ori.
The thing that "Ark of Truth" does supremely well for new viewers is the
"prelude" track. In the Main Menu, you can select Play Movie or an option to
Play Movie with the prelude. The prelude is essentially a lengthy "previously
on" that gives you the low-down on the Ori arc that occupied much of seasons
nine and ten. Important terms and concepts receive highlights, and you even a
new viewer can comfortably segue into the show.
Unfortunately, aside from the intro of the show's Mitchell character at the
beginning (and bits of sensory osmosis that will download you some Jackson and
Vala info), there is no similar effort made with the characters. You can start
watching "Ark of Truth" and be drawn in by the action (and the set-up you
received from the prelude), but you go many, many minutes after the start
before the five major characters (Mitchell, Jackson, Teal'C, Vala, Carter) are
all even referred to by name (let alone rank).
This is all fine if you've followed the show for one to 10 years. If you picked
it up because it was a new release and you thought you'd give "Stargate" a try,
then you could be very lost. Teal'C, in particular, sticks out; new viewers
will constantly wonder about his head, which is branded with a gold alien
insignia as a mark of his servitude to a former master.
On its own terms, this is a decently exciting movie that honestly really just
plays like a bigger version of a regular episode. This could be a function of
the fact that this story is what would have played out over several episodes
had this piece of the franchise stayed on television rather than moving into a
series of direct-to-DVD movies. There's not a lot here that I felt couldn't
have been done on the show. It's got some good moments; it's just not
overwhelmingly special.
The plot concerns the disposition of the Ori threat. SG-1 is after "the Ark of
Truth", an artifact that may help them overcome the Priors and the Ori. Much of
the plot could seem confusing and convoluted to new or casual fans, but it does
make sense on the level of internal consistency.
Across the board, it's generally well-acted. The leads carry easy familiarity
with their characters and each other. Amanda Tapping (Carter) and Christopher Judge
(Teal'C), for example; each played their characters for ten solid seasons; Michael
Shanks (Jackson) ran thru the first five, appeared in six, and came back for
the rest of the duration). Morena Baccarin is always a treat, and Currie Graham
does a great job as a prick of a government agent.
My initial reaction is that hardcore fans (like my Dad) will either be a)
wildly enthused, or b) slightly deflated that it just feels like some regular
episodes welded together. For me, a casual viewer at best, I thought that it
had decent acting, pacing and effects, but that it suffered the fundamental
flaw of lacking accessibility.
Bonus Features: Easily the best extra is footage from the 2007 San Diego
Comicon panel, which featured, among others, Browder, Tapping, Judge and
Cooper. Judge in particular comes off as good-natured and hilarious. When a fan
tries to sing them a song and gets his microphone cut, Judge launches into a
dead-on Randy Jackson impression (Tapping follows as Paula Abdul, and Browder
ices it with a bitter Simon Cowell); it's funny stuff. There's also a look at
filming in the Arctic, the aforementioned prelude, and a commentary track that
includes, again, Cooper and Judge.
For the resolution that it offers on the Ori front, I'd say that "Ark of Truth"
is a must-have for the Stargate faithful. For the rest of you, you'll either
want to find something that's not made for a such a specific pre-existing
audience, embrace the challenge of catching up, or hit your DVD outlet of
choice to view (at a minimum) seasons 9 and 10. The previously converted need
it, but there's not a lot there to win over the non-believers.
DVD
Details:
Stargate:
The Ark of Truth
From: 20th Century Fox
Directed by Robert C. Cooper
Writers: Brad Wright (developer); Jonathan Glassner (developer); Robert
C. Cooper (writer)
Starring: Ben Browder (as Lt. Colonel Cameron Mitchell); Michael Shanks
(Dr. Daniel Jackson); Amanda Tapping (Lt. Colonel Samantha Carter); Christopher
Judge (Teal'C); Claudia Black (Val MalDoran); Beau Bridges (Major General Hank
Landry)
Also Starring: Martin Christopher, Morena Baccarin, Julian Sands, Tim
Guinee; Sarah Strange; Currie Graham
Troy Brownfield captains the Best Shots team for Newsarama.
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