@@paulanerruhrpott6188 I like them both, but generally agree. They're both fun popcorn sci-fi for me though, which is a type of movie I enjoy even if it's not generally winning many awards.
You should watch a movie Emmerich produced around the same time called The Thirteenth Floor. It's a weird sci fi simulation movie that feels like a golden age of hollywood era mystery noir romance. It got kinda forgotten because it released around the same time as The Matrix and a bunch of others. But it's based on a book from 1964. Involves "present day" and a simulation of 1930s los angeles. Really interesting movie. Some people shit on Craig Bierko's performance, but i think it perfectly fits the tone of the movie. Vincent DeNofrio is also in it playing multiple characters and is fantastic as always. And i think the cinematography is gorgeous throughout. Such an underrated movie.
Right after the technician announced the locking of the seven chevron, KA-WHOOSH! As the Stargate opened, it made what sounded to me like an unearthly roaring noise. Still gives me thrill-shivers to this day! 😲👍
If you think O'Neil's son shooting himself adds nothing to the story you're missing something. You're forgetting that the point of the mission was to find out what tech is there, if any, and destroy it - Whether they could get back or not. WITH NUKES! He was suicidal before the program going on a suicide mission. It is absolutely vital to the story.
Agreed. Also, O'Neill's backstory foreshadows how he becomes a mentor and "uncle" to Skaara. This benefits both characters. O'Neill begins to overcome his depression while Skaara grows into a mature leader.
The entire scene of Ra and his guards unmasking was so memorable and epic. In a way, Stargate continued the original Battlestar Galactica's concept of ancient Earth civilizations being rooted in alien cultures.
@@MrDeothor Yeah, I didn’t like that all, kind like someone carefully watching and then a pop up villain out nowhere, it cheapens everything s there’s no explanation how it could be done. BOO! See? It’s just ehh.
Great movie overall. But two things stand out for me. First, the score! Absolutely incredible music and sound design! And secondly, Jay Davidson. Jay’s portrayal of Ra is completely unique and extremely memorable. Loved Stargate. One of the first movies I remember seeing in theatres.
It’s almost too bad Jaye was more into his music career. He only did Stargate because they actually agreed to the $1 million dollar fee he threw at them to try to make them go away. Unfortunately for him, they agreed to his salary requirement! He would have made some great films.
Literally my take, word for word. And while the soundtrack does get lots of praise everywhere, Jay's performance not as much. But he has left an imprint for how I see sci-fi gods: ruthless, vain, androginous, terrifying
The amazing thing about the whole SG movie and TV series is the continuity. Take a premise, build on it, discover a flaw, make the solution a part of the story, refer back to previous events, technology and the science and history (lore) being continually advanced and revised, without being "ret-conned". You know, like reality?!
They really show how much they who crew and cast really cared about the show. It's part of why it's still watchable in a way stuff like TNG & Voyager aren't. Add in Kurt Russel, and I'm camping out for tickets! He was one of my favourites at the time. And RDA in the series was a brilliant choice. I kinda wish he'd done the film, sometimes.
To be fair, they did plenty of retconning as well; but they did try to ground it somewhat. I have a wild hypothesis that Stargate is a fictionalized version of what might actually be happening in real life. Just imagine if someone leaked the “truth,” the government or other entities could point to the tv show as a way to provide plausible deniability. There’s even a play on that within the show where an alien guy whose memories have been erased creates a tv show in the Stargate universe called “Wormhole Extreme” based on the “reality” of the Stargate program. At one point Carter asks why the Air Force didn’t shut it down and the answer from Jackson is that the show provides plausible deniability. Could art be imitating life by having art imitate life? Talk about Meta! 😂 As absurd as it sounds, it makes sense in a perverse way and could explain a lot about what’s happening right now with the whole UFO/UAP thing.
"A Serpent guard, a Horus guard and a Setesh guard meet on a neutral planet. It is a tense moment. The Serpent guard's eyes glow. The Horus guard's beak glistens. The Setesh guard's nose...drips."
This is the first film I remember seeing. I was nine years old, and on holiday in Greece. There was a night time open-air cinema and the film showing was Stargate. had a big bag of gummy sweets, a blanket to stay warm, and the film being projected onto the side of a big, white wall. Incredibly fond memories attached to this, and it's one of very few films that still evoke the same feelings I had when I was young. Thanks Rowan for shining a light on that feeling of wonder and adventure.
My sister and I went opening night. It had been a rough week, and we just wanted "two hours off the tour" and a meal before going home and crashing. Sis thought it was good for what it was, but I fell in love with it. It's beautiful, but it has the intellectual appeal of language discovery, first contact with alien civilizations, and interesting characters.
When I try to get friends into SG1 and Atlantis, the Stargate movie is a great way to get them into the franchise. It’s fun, it’s exciting, it introduces the world and characters just enough leaving people wanting more. Thanks Rowan for the retrospective!
The movie is good, the series is just better, especially atlantis late season 2 onward. Also tealc indeed adds a lot of gravitas to the cast. also i like rd and the new jackson more, but then series benefits.
@@marocat4749Michael Shanks does an incredible job of inhabiting Spader's performance as Jackson. He's recognisably the same guy (unlike O'Neil - with one L. There's another guy with two, he's no fun at all) but is able to evolve and deepen the character without losing his core identity as established in the film. Incredible job.
The score is timeless!!!! one of my favorites,I listen to it every now and the. I like the movie too, but man the show is just AWWWSOME!! Mainly season 3-8
Agreed, the tv series is so good but I actually think the Ben Browder seasons are really good. I think the series filale (Unending) is possibly the best of any sci-fi show I've ever seen, and I've seen them all.
Stargate as a film was definitely a film at the right place and time. In 1994, while I didn't see it then, it was one of those films that was in my mind, when it came out in a little format called DVD as one of the first titles made for it. I still have that copy in the collection, and it gets really weird to go back to a film that is on DVD, but works as a laserdisk.
I have an extensive DVD collection and still adding to it; because you never know when the Woke Brigade will try to have films you enjoy, 'altered' or removed from circulation.
What other sci-fi series might we get next after Stargate? The Expanse, For all Mankind, Foundation, The Orville are some of the ones I could think of.
I can't wait for part 2 on SG1! I grew up watching it with my dad as it aired. It grew into a family event call "SiFi Friday", where we'd watch SG1, SGA, and Doctor Who.
I love Stargate. The theme is so instantly recognizable and always sends chills down my spine. Hearing it at the beginning of every SG-1 episode always perfectly set the stage for sci-fi action/fantasy. It perfectly captures a sense of wonder, excitement, and adventure with its sweeping strings and chorus. You'd be forgiven for thinking it's a John Williams or Alan Silvestri score. I remember it was used for years as trailer music for other films.
I can comfortably call Stargate my favourite Roland Emmerich film and one of my favourite films of all time. I still have a vague memory of seeing this film as a young kid when I was at my nan's for a weekend. I think about to that memory fondly. This is the kind of sci fi that I want to make where it infuses ancient cultures, mythology and history. Because of that, this is an inspiration for me. And that score by David Arnold. One of my absolute favourites. If I had a film that had that score with it, I'd be really happy and accomplished. Also, this film has some similarities to Atlantis: The Lost Empire, another one of my favourite films. At least, I see the similarities. And despite not having seen SG-1, I've watched Stargate: Atlantis and it's one of my favourite shows.
The thing that stands out to me more than anything is the music as mentioned in the video. It's SO well done and gives me goosebumps to this day. The fact continued to use it in the SG-1 continuation/whatever you want to call it says a ton. The movie is a fine sci-fi standalone movie, with some great ideas and again, it leads into the TV shows so I can't complain.
I was in high school when it came out. It was my favorite movie of that year. I liked it so much, I wrote a very positive review of it for the school paper. One of my earliest pieces of published writing.
I'm sure you'll get to this in later parts, but Stargate the movie, whilst heavy on character tropes and backstories that went nowhere, really used that as an effective springboard when the series got going. There's an amazing scene in the well liked "Window of Opportunity" (Stargate meets Groundhog Day) where O'Neill pleads with the antagonist who has lost his wife and claims O'Neill can't understand what that feels like. "I lost my son! I know!!" and it's really powerful, especially as it comes straight after Jack walks him through the repetition of loss and pain. It's also great because this is a capable soldier using diplomacy, negotiation and empathy, rather than violence. The whole story, in which O'Neill and Teal'c have to learn a new language, learn new concepts and keep calm, is a nice touch. It's similar with Jackson. Although you give him a bit more nuance, Jackson during the series really went on a significant character arc. Sure, he had the confidence of knowing his fringe science was correct, but he lost his wife and was constantly uppity and lacking in respect for the military structure and for the team. He eventually becomes something of a spiritualist, which I always found a nice counter to the scientist, and I personally liked his run ins with the Ori and Ancients. You can make similar about Carter and Teal'c in time. Both of them start somewhat 1 dimensional, but over time are given ways to expand and humanise them. I especially like "Death Knell" as an example, in which Carter is hunted by Anubis' supersoldier, a literally unkillable new technology in which she has to just survive. It would have been easy to make her a Mary-Sue or a damsel in distress, but it's well balanced. She's a resourceful soldier and a great scientist, but she's not superhuman and needs her team. Earlier episodes were admittedly somewhat hamfisted - "just because my genitals are on the inside doesn't make me any less capable" (funny as a meme, tacky on reflection) - but over time they got it right. Last year I re-watched all series of all Stargate's, and it still holds up pretty well. Sometimes the effects are a tad dated, and in the earlier seasons it could be a bit jarring when you know how people and storylines develop, but it really finds itself. You're not going to only have successes across 17 seasons and 3 distinct series, but a lot of it is still very enjoyable watching
This film is a guilty pleasure of mine. Whenever i see it, i typically end up watching it. Kurt Russell was such a hardass and a perfect compliment to james spader's character.
Saw this film when it debutted at the cinema and LOVED it !!!! GREAT movie,loved the Egyptian lore ( I was very interested in Egyptian history and other ancient societies,etc,etc,.. ) liked the military involvement also ( i served 7 yrs in the navy and 7 yrs in the army ) lots of extras quit the film,because of the heat of the desert ( over 100 degrees or more ) I did 4 deployments to Iraq,on my first tour to Camp TQ,the temp was: 140 degrees.There were other places in Iraq hotter than at TQ. The final battle in the desert was-GRAND-and-EPIC. This is a-GREAT-retrospective video-WELL-DONE.
I definitely consider Stargate to be Emmerich’s best film. While that’s a fairly low bar - I do think Stargate deserves to be counted among one of the best sci-fi movies of the 90’s.
The ancient gods being aliens is a fairly old trope now (dating back to the 60s based on writings from Carl Sagan, Erich von Däniken, etc). But I think it's Stargate that took that concept to its full potential in cinematic glory.
I saw this in cinemas and as a 13yr old i loved it. Then when SG-1 started, the world building and characters really grew. Atlantis followed and eventually Universe. I wish we could get some more.
If you want more SG-1 and SGA I highly suggest the novels by Fandamonium. While not tv show cannon they were MGM approved. For a possible way things could have continued at the end of Atlantis TV-Show check out the Legacy books. Writing is great and really captures all the characters we love, action, lore, and humor.
I remember going to see this in theatre as a teen who had no idea what he was in for. Absolutely love this film and the franchise it ended up creating.
My Egypt phase didnt start until my 40's about 15-20 years ago, when I discovered the wonderful lectures by Bob Brier. Haven't stopped since. I guess Dinosaurs and Spitfires consumed MY childhood.
@Rowan J Coleman - You are wrong about O'Neil. It is not the loss of his son per se that is important, but his inability to overcome that loss that is crucial to the story. He being tired of life was chosen to the mission because of his readiness to sacrifice himself (and if necessary everyone in the mission) in case of any hint of a threat to earth.
I had an Ancient Egypt phase when I was a young teen and It never really went away. Almost half of my library of books consists of books on the history, mythology and languages connected to that branch of Egypt. I think the most fascinating part about that time period is how much we do know… and how much we don’t know. There are still gaps of information on the intermediate periods that leave a lot of time and space for Hollywood’s imagination to fill.
Great analysis! Spot on! Just like you I wished that the movie would continue just when it ends. I really enjoyed the atmosphere of this film, when you put it all together it's quite an enjoyable experience and a world I wished I could stay in for longer. That said this movie if done today would rely too much on CG special and would likely be a forced trilogy which would have really destroyed the wonder of thus world
The last time I saw this movie was in March of this year and I realized how difficult it is to play a character who does not speak the language of the viewer or does not even speak at all but you still understand their every sentence and gesture. Jaye Davidson stole the show but a big applause to Milli Avital, Alexis Cruz and Erick Avari. Every time I see a review of this movie they always mention only Davidson but the rest of the cast did a great job too.
If thirty plus years ago is modern, how far do you have to go back to leave modern? Movies have only existed a bit over a hundred years, so going back 30 percent just for this movie, and still calling it modern, does create the suspicion that maybe the commenter is older than the movie and then some.
Brother, I still have an Egypt phase, and somehow it always comes on strongest around Easter holidays. Maybe because TV channels always played some bible or ancient Egypt themed movies for Easer holidays when I was a kid, but it was always this weirdly specific nostalgia thing that triggers for me around this time of year. And of course, Stargate is the movie that I'll put on every year too, lol.
Never had an "Egypt Phase" unless you count this movie? Saw it in theaters when it came out. Loved it. Watch it anytime it showed up on Television. Probably need to think about getting a hard copy somewhere before those disappear.
I'm so happy to see how far the series deviated with SG1. It's almost unrecognizable as being connected to the movie in the best possible way. The movie is good, but I'm so happy Daniel and Jack got to become more unique characters.
Lol I asked about this in another previous video from Rowan and he finally delivered. Keep it going man; all of your videos are really well done and I cannot wait to see where this retrospective goes to!
As a sci-fi fan from childhood, and seeing many versions of the same films in different ways, I find the theatrical cut to be a superior version of this story. In the theatrical version, the only “alien artifact” seen besides the Stargate is the necklace. This keeps the mystery of the story going for a lot longer. Seeing an alien in the beginning of the directors cut undermines the mystery as you are made aware of the external threat long before it arrives.
I haven't been on your channel long enough to start pestering you for Stargate, but was very much looking forward to it after burning through your Star Trek vids. Glad to see it's underway, I greatly look forward to seeing your thoughts on all the shows.
Part 2 shuld be good considering SG1 is considerd by many fans, as a masterclass in world building. With useing a large number of parallel on going storylines, a number of witch don't even get resolved in SG1. Some turn up in the two films and some in the folow on shows. I hope the show that is geting made for Amazon will be good. But as everyone reminds Carter "You never forget your 1st." then she nomaly says "You blow up a star one time and you never stop geting reminded of it." 🙂
You have a fleshed-out world built when a main character in one of your series can furrow their brow and ask with sincere puzzlement _"What's a Goa'uld?"_
And they never even had to do a musical episode. However, they ran several other fun or homage episodes, like the Groundhog's Day time loop and Wormhole Extreme, and the follow-up film-pitch idea episode ("200").
I love this movie and i hadn’t watched it for a very long time until just recently. But,i forgot that those dang violins are louder than the ones in E.T. Lol!
I remember getting the novelization of this in elementary school and finishing it in like a day, so my mom rented the movie for me and I've loved it ever sense. The Collector's Edition was one of the first DVDs I ever bought.
Really looking forward to seeing the future parts - as I sincerely hope you cover the fantastic SG-1, the incredible Atlantis and the not-so-great Universe.
I only watched SG for the first time recently and didn't grow up watching the shows. I did however drop into Stargate: Universe when it premiered. I thought it was kinda cool that the multiple series had been going for so long that it's set in its own Alternate Present Day, with the original movie as the diverging point.
Emmerich being white savior is what kills it. Take the same movie, have Fincher or whomever clean up the worst bits of the script, and it's a wonderful idea. As is I'm bored or stupefied by the characters and just waiting for the SFX.
0:42 I hear you, man. The proper mix of fantasy and sci-fi is mind blowing for a nerdy kid. I experienced it with Might&Magic RPG 25 years ago and I still can't let it go.
I watched the movie just weeks ago, before starting SG1 again. The movie 100% is up to date for todays cinema in my opinion. reat score, great cast, good visuals and even some good humour. If you think think this movie startet one of the better SciFi franchises years later with another great cast (I think not one of the shows actors would have worked in the movie and vise versa excpet for James Spader) and good score. To me this is Emmerichs best movie.
I love this movie. I first watched it at my uncle's house. He had an amazing surround system with laser disc player, which this played on. So, not only is the movie enjoyable, there's that feeling of nostalgia that comes with it. I rewatched this a few months ago, and now feel the urge to watch it yet again.
The film is great, and the efforts put into its production are impressive. But I often wonder how many people would still have the movie on their "regular rewatch list" without the franchise that was built on it. Anyway, I'm a Gater fovever! #BringBackStargate!
I can't believe Stargate is 30 years old! It's a bonafide classic in my book. I first watched Stargate on grainy VHS tape as a kid way back in 1995 and I recall being struck with wonder throughout the film. The idea of the stargate was genius - it's not a spaceship, it's a magic door that can send travellers lightyears through space in an instant. Interstellar travel suddenly felt attainable and kind of grounded. I loved the ancient Egypt theme (and genre) and how it's intelligently weaved into space aliens and sci-fi. And it would be criminal to not mention David Arnold's epic soundtrack, which as you said, it really sells that sense of adventure, wonder and scale. The whole thing is a rollicking good time. Side note: Coincidentally, for the past few days I've been watching clips of Stargate SG-1 and Atlantis. I don't know why the TH-cam algorithm recommended it to me given I wasn't watching anything to do with space or sci-fi, but I'm glad I did. Lots of nostalgia. Such great shows.
Saw in theaters, bought the movie trading cards, completed the puzzle and sent off for the prize, more fancy cards!😹 Bought VHS, DVD, Blu-Ray, Extended / Director's Cut Watched every time I came across it back when I still was flipping channels, no matter how far along it was. Bought and read the paperback novelization tie-in. And then... Ten years SG-1, five years SGA, two years SGU, and assorted movies and web series, etc. Yeah, you could say I'm invested. And my 1 and 2 fight is ST & SW, but my 3 and 4 are SG & BG! 50 years of popular science fiction and fantasy devotion reduced to two letter shorthand. Very efficient. 😸
I've got the Director's Cut upstairs on DVD and I 'll always remember how, in Music Class, we looked at the scene where Jackson is being dragged away, talking about how they ramped up the main theme, I don't remember all the flims we looked at, we looked at one, I can never remember its name, but I think it was a gangster movie, it was in a train station and there was a baby carriage giong down some stairs and there was a shootout, I think! But one film I'll always remember us looking at was the first film I saw in the cinema, it was when the T-Rex broke free of her paddock in Jurassic Park! They were all used to show the different styles used in movie and the differing impacts music could have and the different ways it's been used!
The Stargate universe has such depth--adventure, comedy, personal struggles, big ideas--and yet for the most part, the creators never took themselves too seriously. The shows could make fun of themselves from time to time and yet never miss a beat--except for the clip show episodes--going from wonder to existential dread to hard-won achievement. And the Ori are some of the most frightening villains in all of science fiction.
The exception to the exception (the clip shows) being "Citizen Joe"-- a clip show episode that got it right. The unspoken rule is _'You don't destroy the world in a clip show'_ and "Citizen Joe" went ahead and burned down a guy's entire life. The fact the character involved was some nobody is irrelevant-- the authentic jeopardy made the frame story surrounding the clips compelling on its own.
@@BogeyTheBear That one is a good episode for the reasons you point out, and it also was a good example of Stargate having a joke with the audience by a Simpsons tie-in.
Stargate is great, the sense of wonder it poses with possible other Stargates is brilliant. The iconic Egyptian/Alien theme is so engrained in culture it's difficult not to mention Stargate when referencing Aliens and ancient Egyptian culture. Good stuff.
I saw this at the cinema when it first came out. I was at university at the time. I fell asleep it was so boring! That the amazing TV series ever got made off the back of this is a blessed miracle!
I always loved Stargate from the day I saw the film at the cinema when it was first released. Watched every TV episode when it came out as well. Can't wait for part 2 :)
Good video but I have a different take on the Kurt Russel character. He is deeply depressed and it's that depression that drove him to go on this mission for the purpose of remaining behind and blowing up the portal. That depression and the spontaneous fear he shows when the local kids are holding a weapon is played perfectly till the end when the action/fight sequence happens, and he has something to fight/live for. There is a brief moment between the Colonel and General which is great. When the General needs to decide on letting Slater's character see the Star Gate, he looks to the Colonel and KR gives a subtle why not look. That sign of respect from the General to a subordinate officer tells all we need to know about the Colonel.
Stargate(1994), and the Stargate SG-1 Series are amongst my favorite science-fiction, ever. Surpassing that of Star Wars and Star Trek. I can't put into words why I like it more than the more famous ones though.
Saw SG in cinema back when it was released. with no youtube, no one was prepared for that ride. Especially the first dial with heavy subs in the movie theatre and the moment they went through the gate, the whole theatre went nuts. The passage sequence was crazy and when I saw how they did it years later, I had a good laugh. Overall it was a great looking, sometimes a bit slow stepping movie with one of the most memorable scores ever.
5:54 Ooooh, I see now where the weird bulky design for the Goa'uld Troop transport from the SG1 series came from. In "Full Circle" there is a similar one landing in the desert, didn't even know that was an intentional homage for the original design of the Death Gliders, interesting.
Still to this day I remember watching this in the cinema as a teenager. So many great points but highlights definitely include the score and the cinematography of the film, along with the actors and the cutting edge VFX of the day (which Id argue still hold up very well) with the ultimate being when they first step through the gate. Watching the starfield and then the journey through space on a giant cinema screen was unbelievably amazing, still gives me chills as I speak about it. Its a definite proud addition to my DVD collection. And for bonus points, the follow up series with SG1, despite the cast change actually really did the film justice and then became a jewel of its own while still remaining true to its origin.
As much as I prefer SG1 to the movie the movie will always have a place in my heart. It was the first date of my future wife and I way back in 94. Love this, and March can’t come soon enough. Keep up the good work.
I feel validated! Finally! There’s so much to like in Stargate, but it was denigrated on release, and seems broadly mocked even today. The lush score, the actors, themes, awe-inspiring set designs, and general concept are all very worthwhile. Great review; looking forward to part 2.
Saw this in the cinema when I was 9. Really liked it but the film's never been one of my favourites. Strange to think that it's an Emmerich film considering the bombastic over-the-top nature of his filmography following Stargate.
I'll never forgot when I was a child and my family were vacationing, staying in some random hotel somewhere. And as we flipped through channels to find something to watch I saw a scene of people pulling a big circle thing out of the sand in Egypt that clearly didn't belong there. It stuck with me for over a decade until my uncle told me about one his favorite movies called "Stargate."
The 90's was a great period for sci-fi with many fantastic films seeming to come out of nowhere like Stargate and The Fifth Element. Most of the 80's was spent trying to imitate Star Wars or to a lesser extent Terminator and Alien. From Robocop in the late 80's through the 90's is when it found it's own voice again and often from lesser known European directors and creators. This also flowed through to some pretty unexpected TV hits as well such as Farscape , Stargate SG1, and Deep Space Nine 9 which really pushed the boundaries of popular scifi into new territory. It was an exciting time to be a sci-fi fan.
Having watched Stargate for the first time in the theatre when I was 9, it will always hold a special place in my heart due to nostalgia; but apart from that, it is still a movie I enjoy to rewatch to this day from time to time: its writing is not the deepest or the most original, but soundtrack, visuals, settings and most of the performances were on spot, which made it stand the test of time quite well - also thanks of the use of practical effects rather than too much 90s CG.
Excellent commentary! Now, do Stargate SG-1! Opps, ok, I see that a Part 2 will be out in March. Can't wait, the Stargate franchise is one of my favorites!
What the heck. I'm subscribed (correct bell and all), but TH-cam recommended it today instead of popping it into my notifications 3 days ago. Stupid algorithm....
I was 20 when Stargate came out. I hadn't heard of the film, but my wife had seen it, and she drug me to the theater to watch it. Not knowing anything about it really upped the sense of mystery, and I actually think the theatrical cut is superior to the directors cut because of this. Not having any idea what was coming really blew my mind at the time. The second act does drag a little, but Stargate really is an excellent film. It gave us something we hadn't seen before.
HELP THE CHANNEL GROW: www.patreon.com/rowanjcoleman
When will you consider looking at Blake’s 7???
@@r8chlletters@stamfine has just done a second that might keep you going for now.
@@r8chllettersI always felt guilty about not liking it more.
Like I SHOULD be liking it.
But original Tomorrow People was more my obscure UK niche.
@@MlleAdler I enjoyed the film even if it was a little silly but never watched the tv show which I wouldn’t waste my time on.
@@r8chlletters SG-1 is a good show if you don't take it too serious, but very much a product of the times, a show doesn't go 10 seasons if it sucks.
I think it's Roland Emmerich's best film. It's the closest he has come to that Spielberg vibe he tries so hard to capture.
Yeah, i prefer it over Independence Day which is considered to be Emmerichs best film.
@@paulanerruhrpott6188 I like them both, but generally agree. They're both fun popcorn sci-fi for me though, which is a type of movie I enjoy even if it's not generally winning many awards.
Re-watched it just the other day on TV. I remember getting it either for free or heavily discounted when I bought Independence Day on VHS!
You should watch a movie Emmerich produced around the same time called The Thirteenth Floor. It's a weird sci fi simulation movie that feels like a golden age of hollywood era mystery noir romance. It got kinda forgotten because it released around the same time as The Matrix and a bunch of others. But it's based on a book from 1964. Involves "present day" and a simulation of 1930s los angeles. Really interesting movie. Some people shit on Craig Bierko's performance, but i think it perfectly fits the tone of the movie. Vincent DeNofrio is also in it playing multiple characters and is fantastic as always. And i think the cinematography is gorgeous throughout. Such an underrated movie.
I think you are right.
Stephen Sommers tried that too and succeeded multiple times. So bad he's not in Hollywood amymore.
Seeing them dialing the gate for the first time never fails to give me chills!
“Seventh chevron is locked!”
Same. Sometimes I put the movie on just for this scene and crank up the bass so I can really feel it!
The permanent marker part of the scene still makes my eye twitch a little...
Right after the technician announced the locking of the seven chevron, KA-WHOOSH! As the Stargate opened, it made what sounded to me like an unearthly roaring noise. Still gives me thrill-shivers to this day! 😲👍
@@charleshamilton9274 Seventh chevron... also lit up.
If you think O'Neil's son shooting himself adds nothing to the story you're missing something. You're forgetting that the point of the mission was to find out what tech is there, if any, and destroy it - Whether they could get back or not. WITH NUKES! He was suicidal before the program going on a suicide mission. It is absolutely vital to the story.
I wanted to say the same
Agreed. Also, O'Neill's backstory foreshadows how he becomes a mentor and "uncle" to Skaara. This benefits both characters. O'Neill begins to overcome his depression while Skaara grows into a mature leader.
@@TheVeritas1 indeed 🤨
Exactly. It is crucial and very well used
Ditto.
The entire scene of Ra and his guards unmasking was so memorable and epic.
In a way, Stargate continued the original Battlestar Galactica's concept of ancient Earth civilizations being rooted in alien cultures.
i always found it jarring how those masks collapsed/melded into nothing.
That concept was present in Dune and a Foundation which far precedes SG.
@@MrDeothor
Yeah, I didn’t like that all, kind like someone carefully watching and then a pop up villain out nowhere, it cheapens everything s there’s no explanation how it could be done. BOO! See? It’s just ehh.
Great movie overall. But two things stand out for me. First, the score! Absolutely incredible music and sound design! And secondly, Jay Davidson. Jay’s portrayal of Ra is completely unique and extremely memorable. Loved Stargate. One of the first movies I remember seeing in theatres.
Totally agree
It’s almost too bad Jaye was more into his music career. He only did Stargate because they actually agreed to the $1 million dollar fee he threw at them to try to make them go away. Unfortunately for him, they agreed to his salary requirement! He would have made some great films.
Thing that stood out was the design. The helmets, weapons, ship, amazing.
@@keirfarnum6811y didn't know jaye had mudi. cser I kn he h kin pyrebl person lif thi. HD lot okay hgay sdx roms orvso thing like thet
Literally my take, word for word. And while the soundtrack does get lots of praise everywhere, Jay's performance not as much. But he has left an imprint for how I see sci-fi gods: ruthless, vain, androginous, terrifying
The amazing thing about the whole SG movie and TV series is the continuity.
Take a premise, build on it, discover a flaw, make the solution a part of the story, refer back to previous events, technology and the science and history (lore) being continually advanced and revised, without being "ret-conned".
You know, like reality?!
They really show how much they who crew and cast really cared about the show. It's part of why it's still watchable in a way stuff like TNG & Voyager aren't.
Add in Kurt Russel, and I'm camping out for tickets! He was one of my favourites at the time. And RDA in the series was a brilliant choice. I kinda wish he'd done the film, sometimes.
To be fair, they did plenty of retconning as well; but they did try to ground it somewhat.
I have a wild hypothesis that Stargate is a fictionalized version of what might actually be happening in real life. Just imagine if someone leaked the “truth,” the government or other entities could point to the tv show as a way to provide plausible deniability.
There’s even a play on that within the show where an alien guy whose memories have been erased creates a tv show in the Stargate universe called “Wormhole Extreme” based on the “reality” of the Stargate program. At one point Carter asks why the Air Force didn’t shut it down and the answer from Jackson is that the show provides plausible deniability. Could art be imitating life by having art imitate life? Talk about Meta! 😂
As absurd as it sounds, it makes sense in a perverse way and could explain a lot about what’s happening right now with the whole UFO/UAP thing.
@@ThatSockmonkey with two "L's
@@ThatSockmonkey TNG is very rewatchable, Voyager, not so much.
@@mcclintick ta. I'm terrible at remembering spelling, I'm from that generation that grew up with pens AND autocorrect.
"A Serpent guard, a Horus guard and a Setesh guard meet on a neutral planet. It is a tense moment. The Serpent guard's eyes glow. The Horus guard's beak glistens. The Setesh guard's nose...drips."
This is the first film I remember seeing. I was nine years old, and on holiday in Greece. There was a night time open-air cinema and the film showing was Stargate.
had a big bag of gummy sweets, a blanket to stay warm, and the film being projected onto the side of a big, white wall.
Incredibly fond memories attached to this, and it's one of very few films that still evoke the same feelings I had when I was young.
Thanks Rowan for shining a light on that feeling of wonder and adventure.
My sister and I went opening night. It had been a rough week, and we just wanted "two hours off the tour" and a meal before going home and crashing.
Sis thought it was good for what it was, but I fell in love with it. It's beautiful, but it has the intellectual appeal of language discovery, first contact with alien civilizations, and interesting characters.
When I try to get friends into SG1 and Atlantis, the Stargate movie is a great way to get them into the franchise. It’s fun, it’s exciting, it introduces the world and characters just enough leaving people wanting more. Thanks Rowan for the retrospective!
The movie is good, the series is just better, especially atlantis late season 2 onward.
Also tealc indeed adds a lot of gravitas to the cast. also i like rd and the new jackson more, but then series benefits.
@@marocat4749Michael Shanks does an incredible job of inhabiting Spader's performance as Jackson. He's recognisably the same guy (unlike O'Neil - with one L. There's another guy with two, he's no fun at all) but is able to evolve and deepen the character without losing his core identity as established in the film. Incredible job.
Indeed
The score is timeless!!!!
one of my favorites,I listen to it every now and the.
I like the movie too, but man the show is just AWWWSOME!! Mainly season 3-8
Agreed, the tv series is so good but I actually think the Ben Browder seasons are really good. I think the series filale (Unending) is possibly the best of any sci-fi show I've ever seen, and I've seen them all.
Stargate as a film was definitely a film at the right place and time. In 1994, while I didn't see it then, it was one of those films that was in my mind, when it came out in a little format called DVD as one of the first titles made for it. I still have that copy in the collection, and it gets really weird to go back to a film that is on DVD, but works as a laserdisk.
it's weirder on VHS
I have an extensive DVD collection and still adding to it; because you never know when the Woke Brigade will try to have films you enjoy, 'altered' or removed from circulation.
What other sci-fi series might we get next after Stargate?
The Expanse, For all Mankind, Foundation, The Orville are some of the ones I could think of.
I can't wait for part 2 on SG1! I grew up watching it with my dad as it aired. It grew into a family event call "SiFi Friday", where we'd watch SG1, SGA, and Doctor Who.
Oh my gosh please do an SG1 Retrospective! please! I love your reviews and retrospectives. This is another good one!
I love Stargate. The theme is so instantly recognizable and always sends chills down my spine. Hearing it at the beginning of every SG-1 episode always perfectly set the stage for sci-fi action/fantasy.
It perfectly captures a sense of wonder, excitement, and adventure with its sweeping strings and chorus. You'd be forgiven for thinking it's a John Williams or Alan Silvestri score.
I remember it was used for years as trailer music for other films.
I can comfortably call Stargate my favourite Roland Emmerich film and one of my favourite films of all time.
I still have a vague memory of seeing this film as a young kid when I was at my nan's for a weekend. I think about to that memory fondly.
This is the kind of sci fi that I want to make where it infuses ancient cultures, mythology and history. Because of that, this is an inspiration for me.
And that score by David Arnold. One of my absolute favourites. If I had a film that had that score with it, I'd be really happy and accomplished.
Also, this film has some similarities to Atlantis: The Lost Empire, another one of my favourite films. At least, I see the similarities.
And despite not having seen SG-1, I've watched Stargate: Atlantis and it's one of my favourite shows.
You've never seen SG1?
You should fix that...
The thing that stands out to me more than anything is the music as mentioned in the video. It's SO well done and gives me goosebumps to this day. The fact continued to use it in the SG-1 continuation/whatever you want to call it says a ton. The movie is a fine sci-fi standalone movie, with some great ideas and again, it leads into the TV shows so I can't complain.
Stargate's production and costume design is stunning and its musical score is top-notch epic!
I was in high school when it came out. It was my favorite movie of that year. I liked it so much, I wrote a very positive review of it for the school paper. One of my earliest pieces of published writing.
That's a very cool story.
Mine was ST: First Contact for our school paper. Great movies to write about. :) Fond memories of high school journalism!
Are you the famous writer Frank B Chavez III owner of many cats?
I'm sure you'll get to this in later parts, but Stargate the movie, whilst heavy on character tropes and backstories that went nowhere, really used that as an effective springboard when the series got going.
There's an amazing scene in the well liked "Window of Opportunity" (Stargate meets Groundhog Day) where O'Neill pleads with the antagonist who has lost his wife and claims O'Neill can't understand what that feels like. "I lost my son! I know!!" and it's really powerful, especially as it comes straight after Jack walks him through the repetition of loss and pain. It's also great because this is a capable soldier using diplomacy, negotiation and empathy, rather than violence. The whole story, in which O'Neill and Teal'c have to learn a new language, learn new concepts and keep calm, is a nice touch.
It's similar with Jackson. Although you give him a bit more nuance, Jackson during the series really went on a significant character arc. Sure, he had the confidence of knowing his fringe science was correct, but he lost his wife and was constantly uppity and lacking in respect for the military structure and for the team. He eventually becomes something of a spiritualist, which I always found a nice counter to the scientist, and I personally liked his run ins with the Ori and Ancients.
You can make similar about Carter and Teal'c in time. Both of them start somewhat 1 dimensional, but over time are given ways to expand and humanise them. I especially like "Death Knell" as an example, in which Carter is hunted by Anubis' supersoldier, a literally unkillable new technology in which she has to just survive. It would have been easy to make her a Mary-Sue or a damsel in distress, but it's well balanced. She's a resourceful soldier and a great scientist, but she's not superhuman and needs her team. Earlier episodes were admittedly somewhat hamfisted - "just because my genitals are on the inside doesn't make me any less capable" (funny as a meme, tacky on reflection) - but over time they got it right.
Last year I re-watched all series of all Stargate's, and it still holds up pretty well. Sometimes the effects are a tad dated, and in the earlier seasons it could be a bit jarring when you know how people and storylines develop, but it really finds itself. You're not going to only have successes across 17 seasons and 3 distinct series, but a lot of it is still very enjoyable watching
Early Stargate episodes would be panned now for being “woke”; but they grew into making Carter a real character that worked well in the series.
In the middle of my backswing!
This film is a guilty pleasure of mine. Whenever i see it, i typically end up watching it. Kurt Russell was such a hardass and a perfect compliment to james spader's character.
One of my favorite films! James Spader just fills the screen. Your review is concise and informative. Thanks!
A beautiful and fun movie! Outstanding score, all the cast were great and Emmerich's best direction of his career!
Saw this film when it debutted at the cinema and LOVED it !!!! GREAT movie,loved the Egyptian lore ( I was very interested in Egyptian history and other ancient societies,etc,etc,.. ) liked the military involvement also ( i served 7 yrs in the navy and 7 yrs in the army ) lots of extras quit the film,because of the heat of the desert ( over 100 degrees or more ) I did 4 deployments to Iraq,on my first tour to Camp TQ,the temp was: 140 degrees.There were other places in Iraq hotter than at TQ. The final battle in the desert was-GRAND-and-EPIC. This is a-GREAT-retrospective video-WELL-DONE.
I've been waiting for this since you started doing these retrospectives. Did not disappoint.
These retrospectives are the best videos of their kind on TH-cam. Excellent work as always.
I definitely consider Stargate to be Emmerich’s best film. While that’s a fairly low bar - I do think Stargate deserves to be counted among one of the best sci-fi movies of the 90’s.
The ancient gods being aliens is a fairly old trope now (dating back to the 60s based on writings from Carl Sagan, Erich von Däniken, etc).
But I think it's Stargate that took that concept to its full potential in cinematic glory.
I saw this in cinemas and as a 13yr old i loved it. Then when SG-1 started, the world building and characters really grew. Atlantis followed and eventually Universe. I wish we could get some more.
If you want more SG-1 and SGA I highly suggest the novels by Fandamonium. While not tv show cannon they were MGM approved. For a possible way things could have continued at the end of Atlantis TV-Show check out the Legacy books. Writing is great and really captures all the characters we love, action, lore, and humor.
I remember going to see this in theatre as a teen who had no idea what he was in for. Absolutely love this film and the franchise it ended up creating.
I love being caught off guard by a film I knew nothing about
My Egypt phase didnt start until my 40's about 15-20 years ago, when I discovered the wonderful lectures by Bob Brier.
Haven't stopped since. I guess Dinosaurs and Spitfires consumed MY childhood.
Egypt is a cover story
@Rowan J Coleman - You are wrong about O'Neil. It is not the loss of his son per se that is important, but his inability to overcome that loss that is crucial to the story. He being tired of life was chosen to the mission because of his readiness to sacrifice himself (and if necessary everyone in the mission) in case of any hint of a threat to earth.
YES!!!!! Thank you for finally starting this retrospective. I remember watching this in the cinema when I was 12. It blew me and my dad totally away.
0:48 the arrangement of Stargate theme by Joel Goldsmith for the Stargate: The Ark of Truth
Awesome Work, Really Enjoy These.
I had an Ancient Egypt phase when I was a young teen and It never really went away. Almost half of my library of books consists of books on the history, mythology and languages connected to that branch of Egypt. I think the most fascinating part about that time period is how much we do know… and how much we don’t know. There are still gaps of information on the intermediate periods that leave a lot of time and space for Hollywood’s imagination to fill.
Tks 4 making a retrospective of this great franchise 👍🎬😎
Great analysis! Spot on! Just like you I wished that the movie would continue just when it ends. I really enjoyed the atmosphere of this film, when you put it all together it's quite an enjoyable experience and a world I wished I could stay in for longer. That said this movie if done today would rely too much on CG special and would likely be a forced trilogy which would have really destroyed the wonder of thus world
The last time I saw this movie was in March of this year and I realized how difficult it is to play a character who does not speak the language of the viewer or does not even speak at all but you still understand their every sentence and gesture. Jaye Davidson stole the show but a big applause to Milli Avital, Alexis Cruz and Erick Avari. Every time I see a review of this movie they always mention only Davidson but the rest of the cast did a great job too.
Thanks for another great retrospective on a modern classic!
If thirty plus years ago is modern, how far do you have to go back to leave modern? Movies have only existed a bit over a hundred years, so going back 30 percent just for this movie, and still calling it modern, does create the suspicion that maybe the commenter is older than the movie and then some.
Guilty!🙋♀️
Brother, I still have an Egypt phase, and somehow it always comes on strongest around Easter holidays. Maybe because TV channels always played some bible or ancient Egypt themed movies for Easer holidays when I was a kid, but it was always this weirdly specific nostalgia thing that triggers for me around this time of year. And of course, Stargate is the movie that I'll put on every year too, lol.
Never had an "Egypt Phase" unless you count this movie? Saw it in theaters when it came out. Loved it. Watch it anytime it showed up on Television. Probably need to think about getting a hard copy somewhere before those disappear.
I love your content already but I grew up on Stargate and can’t wait for the next part!
The Stargate soundtrack was the second CD I bought as a teenager, the first one being the Jurassic Park soundtrack. I still love this soundtrack.
Hell yes, been looking forward to you covering this franchise!
my favorite tv show of all time.. glad to hear your perspective
I'm so happy to see how far the series deviated with SG1. It's almost unrecognizable as being connected to the movie in the best possible way. The movie is good, but I'm so happy Daniel and Jack got to become more unique characters.
This is the retrospective I’ve been waiting for since Star Trek. Can’t wait for your take on SG1 et al. Great video as always dude!
Lol I asked about this in another previous video from Rowan and he finally delivered. Keep it going man; all of your videos are really well done and I cannot wait to see where this retrospective goes to!
As a sci-fi fan from childhood, and seeing many versions of the same films in different ways, I find the theatrical cut to be a superior version of this story. In the theatrical version, the only “alien artifact” seen besides the Stargate is the necklace. This keeps the mystery of the story going for a lot longer. Seeing an alien in the beginning of the directors cut undermines the mystery as you are made aware of the external threat long before it arrives.
I haven't been on your channel long enough to start pestering you for Stargate, but was very much looking forward to it after burning through your Star Trek vids. Glad to see it's underway, I greatly look forward to seeing your thoughts on all the shows.
Part 2 shuld be good considering SG1 is considerd by many fans, as a masterclass in world building. With useing a large number of parallel on going storylines, a number of witch don't even get resolved in SG1. Some turn up in the two films and some in the folow on shows. I hope the show that is geting made for Amazon will be good.
But as everyone reminds Carter "You never forget your 1st." then she nomaly says "You blow up a star one time and you never stop geting reminded of it." 🙂
You have a fleshed-out world built when a main character in one of your series can furrow their brow and ask with sincere puzzlement _"What's a Goa'uld?"_
And they never even had to do a musical episode. However, they ran several other fun or homage episodes, like the Groundhog's Day time loop and Wormhole Extreme, and the follow-up film-pitch idea episode ("200").
@@BogeyTheBear- Indeed!
Saw this at age 6 and then became obsessed with it and then the show afterwards. Still love it to this day.
I love this movie and i hadn’t watched it for a very long time until just recently. But,i forgot that those dang violins are louder than the ones in E.T. Lol!
I remember getting the novelization of this in elementary school and finishing it in like a day, so my mom rented the movie for me and I've loved it ever sense. The Collector's Edition was one of the first DVDs I ever bought.
I literally just re-watched this at the weekend, great timing and another great review!
Really looking forward to seeing the future parts - as I sincerely hope you cover the fantastic SG-1, the incredible Atlantis and the not-so-great Universe.
I only watched SG for the first time recently and didn't grow up watching the shows. I did however drop into Stargate: Universe when it premiered. I thought it was kinda cool that the multiple series had been going for so long that it's set in its own Alternate Present Day, with the original movie as the diverging point.
Solid movie, still underrated. Good structure, pacing, art/costumes and epic music! Bit white-saviour-y but always loved it.
Emmerich being white savior is what kills it. Take the same movie, have Fincher or whomever clean up the worst bits of the script, and it's a wonderful idea. As is I'm bored or stupefied by the characters and just waiting for the SFX.
Amazing review, enjoyed it thoroughly. Great work and well done!
Apparently you've started the SG retrospective when I started rewatching Stargate. I'm very happy.
0:42 I hear you, man.
The proper mix of fantasy and sci-fi is mind blowing for a nerdy kid. I experienced it with Might&Magic RPG 25 years ago and I still can't let it go.
Absolutely wonderful. I don't think I could have described this film better. I am SO glad I stumbled across this! ❤
The film is entertaining the TV show SG1 is EPIC so many good episodes and the cast are brilliant
I was never really into the TV show, but I loved this movie (and still do).
I watched the movie just weeks ago, before starting SG1 again. The movie 100% is up to date for todays cinema in my opinion. reat score, great cast, good visuals and even some good humour. If you think think this movie startet one of the better SciFi franchises years later with another great cast (I think not one of the shows actors would have worked in the movie and vise versa excpet for James Spader) and good score. To me this is Emmerichs best movie.
Stargate the movie and TV series are a huge part of my childhood and teenage years. Thanks for the great content.
Best intro by you yet😊
I love this movie. I first watched it at my uncle's house. He had an amazing surround system with laser disc player, which this played on. So, not only is the movie enjoyable, there's that feeling of nostalgia that comes with it. I rewatched this a few months ago, and now feel the urge to watch it yet again.
Stargate is an incredible film. It should have gotten the Oscar for Best Visual Effects.
The film is great, and the efforts put into its production are impressive. But I often wonder how many people would still have the movie on their "regular rewatch list" without the franchise that was built on it. Anyway, I'm a Gater fovever! #BringBackStargate!
I can't believe Stargate is 30 years old! It's a bonafide classic in my book.
I first watched Stargate on grainy VHS tape as a kid way back in 1995 and I recall being struck with wonder throughout the film. The idea of the stargate was genius - it's not a spaceship, it's a magic door that can send travellers lightyears through space in an instant. Interstellar travel suddenly felt attainable and kind of grounded. I loved the ancient Egypt theme (and genre) and how it's intelligently weaved into space aliens and sci-fi. And it would be criminal to not mention David Arnold's epic soundtrack, which as you said, it really sells that sense of adventure, wonder and scale. The whole thing is a rollicking good time.
Side note: Coincidentally, for the past few days I've been watching clips of Stargate SG-1 and Atlantis. I don't know why the TH-cam algorithm recommended it to me given I wasn't watching anything to do with space or sci-fi, but I'm glad I did. Lots of nostalgia. Such great shows.
Saw in theaters, bought the movie trading cards, completed the puzzle and sent off for the prize, more fancy cards!😹
Bought VHS, DVD, Blu-Ray, Extended / Director's Cut
Watched every time I came across it back when I still was flipping channels, no matter how far along it was.
Bought and read the paperback novelization tie-in.
And then...
Ten years SG-1, five years SGA, two years SGU, and assorted movies and web series, etc.
Yeah, you could say I'm invested.
And my 1 and 2 fight is ST & SW, but my 3 and 4 are SG & BG!
50 years of popular science fiction and fantasy devotion reduced to two letter shorthand.
Very efficient. 😸
So happy you’re finally doing Stargate!
Well said Rowan! ❤ your commentary and research for it!
Wow! Seeing Kurt Russell so young here really emphasizes how much his son Wyatt Russel looks like his father (Monarch: Legacy of Monsters). 😮
I've got the Director's Cut upstairs on DVD and I 'll always remember how, in Music Class, we looked at the scene where Jackson is being dragged away, talking about how they ramped up the main theme, I don't remember all the flims we looked at, we looked at one, I can never remember its name, but I think it was a gangster movie, it was in a train station and there was a baby carriage giong down some stairs and there was a shootout, I think! But one film I'll always remember us looking at was the first film I saw in the cinema, it was when the T-Rex broke free of her paddock in Jurassic Park! They were all used to show the different styles used in movie and the differing impacts music could have and the different ways it's been used!
Are you thinking of The Untouchables?
@@josie_the_valkyrie I would have to see a clip, but bear in mind, this particular lesson was nearly 30 years ago now...
@@CD-Gaming the train station scene you speak of is in The Untouchables.
The Stargate universe has such depth--adventure, comedy, personal struggles, big ideas--and yet for the most part, the creators never took themselves too seriously. The shows could make fun of themselves from time to time and yet never miss a beat--except for the clip show episodes--going from wonder to existential dread to hard-won achievement.
And the Ori are some of the most frightening villains in all of science fiction.
The exception to the exception (the clip shows) being "Citizen Joe"-- a clip show episode that got it right.
The unspoken rule is _'You don't destroy the world in a clip show'_ and "Citizen Joe" went ahead and burned down a guy's entire life. The fact the character involved was some nobody is irrelevant-- the authentic jeopardy made the frame story surrounding the clips compelling on its own.
@@BogeyTheBear That one is a good episode for the reasons you point out, and it also was a good example of Stargate having a joke with the audience by a Simpsons tie-in.
Stargate is great, the sense of wonder it poses with possible other Stargates is brilliant.
The iconic Egyptian/Alien theme is so engrained in culture it's difficult not to mention Stargate when referencing Aliens and ancient Egyptian culture.
Good stuff.
I saw this at the cinema when it first came out. I was at university at the time. I fell asleep it was so boring! That the amazing TV series ever got made off the back of this is a blessed miracle!
I always loved Stargate from the day I saw the film at the cinema when it was first released. Watched every TV episode when it came out as well. Can't wait for part 2 :)
Good video but I have a different take on the Kurt Russel character. He is deeply depressed and it's that depression that drove him to go on this mission for the purpose of remaining behind and blowing up the portal. That depression and the spontaneous fear he shows when the local kids are holding a weapon is played perfectly till the end when the action/fight sequence happens, and he has something to fight/live for. There is a brief moment between the Colonel and General which is great. When the General needs to decide on letting Slater's character see the Star Gate, he looks to the Colonel and KR gives a subtle why not look. That sign of respect from the General to a subordinate officer tells all we need to know about the Colonel.
Stargate(1994), and the Stargate SG-1 Series are amongst my favorite science-fiction, ever. Surpassing that of Star Wars and Star Trek. I can't put into words why I like it more than the more famous ones though.
Saw SG in cinema back when it was released. with no youtube, no one was prepared for that ride. Especially the first dial with heavy subs in the movie theatre and the moment they went through the gate, the whole theatre went nuts. The passage sequence was crazy and when I saw how they did it years later, I had a good laugh.
Overall it was a great looking, sometimes a bit slow stepping movie with one of the most memorable scores ever.
5:54 Ooooh, I see now where the weird bulky design for the Goa'uld Troop transport from the SG1 series came from. In "Full Circle" there is a similar one landing in the desert, didn't even know that was an intentional homage for the original design of the Death Gliders, interesting.
I saw the model used for Ra's ship once in a Florida cinema having just watched Star Trek Generations.
Little me geeked the f out that day
Still to this day I remember watching this in the cinema as a teenager. So many great points but highlights definitely include the score and the cinematography of the film, along with the actors and the cutting edge VFX of the day (which Id argue still hold up very well) with the ultimate being when they first step through the gate. Watching the starfield and then the journey through space on a giant cinema screen was unbelievably amazing, still gives me chills as I speak about it. Its a definite proud addition to my DVD collection.
And for bonus points, the follow up series with SG1, despite the cast change actually really did the film justice and then became a jewel of its own while still remaining true to its origin.
As much as I prefer SG1 to the movie the movie will always have a place in my heart. It was the first date of my future wife and I way back in 94. Love this, and March can’t come soon enough. Keep up the good work.
I feel validated! Finally! There’s so much to like in Stargate, but it was denigrated on release, and seems broadly mocked even today. The lush score, the actors, themes, awe-inspiring set designs, and general concept are all very worthwhile. Great review; looking forward to part 2.
Saw this in the cinema when I was 9. Really liked it but the film's never been one of my favourites. Strange to think that it's an Emmerich film considering the bombastic over-the-top nature of his filmography following Stargate.
I'll never forgot when I was a child and my family were vacationing, staying in some random hotel somewhere. And as we flipped through channels to find something to watch I saw a scene of people pulling a big circle thing out of the sand in Egypt that clearly didn't belong there. It stuck with me for over a decade until my uncle told me about one his favorite movies called "Stargate."
The 90's was a great period for sci-fi with many fantastic films seeming to come out of nowhere like Stargate and The Fifth Element. Most of the 80's was spent trying to imitate Star Wars or to a lesser extent Terminator and Alien. From Robocop in the late 80's through the 90's is when it found it's own voice again and often from lesser known European directors and creators. This also flowed through to some pretty unexpected TV hits as well such as Farscape , Stargate SG1, and Deep Space Nine 9 which really pushed the boundaries of popular scifi into new territory. It was an exciting time to be a sci-fi fan.
Having watched Stargate for the first time in the theatre when I was 9, it will always hold a special place in my heart due to nostalgia; but apart from that, it is still a movie I enjoy to rewatch to this day from time to time: its writing is not the deepest or the most original, but soundtrack, visuals, settings and most of the performances were on spot, which made it stand the test of time quite well - also thanks of the use of practical effects rather than too much 90s CG.
Funny... just started the series and you come along with this retrospective.
Perfect timing!
Excellent commentary! Now, do Stargate SG-1! Opps, ok, I see that a Part 2 will be out in March. Can't wait, the Stargate franchise is one of my favorites!
What the heck. I'm subscribed (correct bell and all), but TH-cam recommended it today instead of popping it into my notifications 3 days ago. Stupid algorithm....
I was 20 when Stargate came out. I hadn't heard of the film, but my wife had seen it, and she drug me to the theater to watch it. Not knowing anything about it really upped the sense of mystery, and I actually think the theatrical cut is superior to the directors cut because of this. Not having any idea what was coming really blew my mind at the time. The second act does drag a little, but Stargate really is an excellent film. It gave us something we hadn't seen before.
One of my all time favorite movies. I watch it at least once a year.