Stargate
Here Is What You Need To Know:
Stargate, the original movie, is the “face that launched a thousand dorky ships” if you will, for we are all now awashed in Stargate. There have been hundreds of episodes of the long-running television series. Few, however, see this science-fiction giant for what it really is-a replacement of Star Trek.I doubt it is a coincidence that as Star Trek began to stink up the place, and I mean, really stink up the place, Stargate became more and more popular.
The original movie back in 1994, while campy through and through, was original in a sense and it shows how starved movie-goers are for even the smallest crumb of originality. If, by some miracle, you are unfamiliar with the movie, it is about a large metal ring device that opens a wormhole between worlds, enabling travelers to step though one gate and exit, millions of light years away, out of a gate on the other side. Much like Star Trek, Stargate is set up by design to explore “strange new worlds.” When a team, made up of mostly US military officers, goes through the gate they find aliens being worshiped by humans. These aliens appear as what we think of as being Egyptian gods.
What Was Cool:
-The concept is a fun one. On one hand we have a mix of hard science, with the wormhole idea and on the other hand the campy Egyptian god angle that harkens back to a “Mummy” sort of feel.
-The costumes are awesome and worth a rental alone if you have not seen the film.
-The weapons designed for Stargate are marvelous and all the boys will appreciate them.
-Lots of great sets and some good attention to detail. The DVD extra features get into how detailed some of the work on the film was and some of the tools that were used.
-The casting was better than in most science-fiction films as James Spader is a great Dr. Daniel Jackson and Kurt Russell seemed born to play Col. Jack O'Neil.
What Was Stupid:
-Do you think that James Spader might regret, not taking the role of Daniel Jackson on the television series? If he doesn't, he should. Spader isn't on the side of a milk carton, just yet, but he's close. Celebrity Fit Club 2009?
-What was stupid? Not moving ahead with Stargate 2 and instead beginning a television series. Talk about jumping the gun and skipping some serious money in the process. Two more movies, then a television series, don't you think?
-There are certainly flaws in the production, but Stargate is such a fun film you won't care.
The Film's Real Genius or Geniuses:
The visual effects and wardrobe must have been pretty exhausted after this one.
Story B
Use of Science A
Acting B+
Portrayal of Women D (Not exactly a great plethora of strong women in the original Stargate film. The women that are in the film are a afterthought. Definitely a boy's club.)
Visuals-Visuals and Special Effects A
Visuals-Set Design/Props A
Wardrobe/Costumes A
Style/Sex Appeal B+ (Stargate definitely has style.)
Enjoyability Grade A
Home Theater/HD Factor A
Gut Check (Level of Studio Executive Guts) B (Stargate was an unknown property at the time and the studio did spend a good amount of coin on it, so pretty brave especially by the current standards of complete terror that studio executive operate on today.)
Overall Innovation A- (Stargate is innovative in a variety of ways, ranging from concept to costuming, weapons and set design. Oh sure, a lot of its been done before but they did arrange the pieces in a fun, new way.)
Overall Grade A (Campy but fun.)
A Little Fact About Cherie:
Set regional record for number of navel piercings.
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