Search - Stargate [Widescreen] [Ultimate Edition] [Director's Cut] on DVD

MPAA Rating: PG-13 Content Advisory: Mild Violence, Questionable for Children, Profanity Movie Release: 1994 DVD Release: 02/17/2003 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV - Closed Captioned Edition: Director's Cut,Restored/Remastered,Special Collection Audio Tracks: English Subtitles: Spanish SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 59 mins Studio: Live/Artisan Total Copies: 11 Genres: Science Fiction, Space Adventure, Sci-Fi Adventure See Also: Stargate [Widescreen] [Special Edition], Stargate [Widescreen], Stargate [Widescreen] [Special Edition], Stargate [UMD for PSP], Stargate [Blu-ray], Stargate [Widescreen] [Extended Cut], Stargate, Stargate [Fullscreen] [15th Anniversary Ultimate Edition] [Extended Cut], Stargate [Widescreen] [15th Anniversary Edition] [Extended Cut] [Blu-ray], Stargate [15th Anniversary] [Blu-ray]

This lucrative, elephantine-budgeted sci-fi opus paved the way for director Roland Emmerich's mega-hit Independence Day (1996). The story commences in Giza, Egypt, circa 1928, where an archaeological expedition unearths an ancient ring with cryptic hieroglyphs. The film then moves to the present day, where Egyptologist Daniel Jackson (James Spader) is busily trying to convince a group of skeptics that the pyramids were not built by man, but by an extraterrestrial force. After the lecture, a military man approaches him and offers him a job translating the said ring; its inscriptions actually constitute a map to a massive stargate (or interstellar portal). The army sends over resident crackpot colonel Jack O'Neill (Kurt Russell) to travel through the stargate and see what's on the other side; Jackson accompanies him, and the two men turn up in a desert planet on the other side of the universe, with three moons in its sky. The world in question is ruled by Ra (Jaye Davidson), a hermaphroditic Egyptian sun god, who oppresses hordes of slave workers. Jackson and O'Neill then join forces to help the said workers revolt against their oppressor. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide

Kurt Russell - Colonel Jonathan "Jack" O'Neil
James Spader - Dr. Daniel Jackson
Jaye Davidson - Ra
Viveca Lindfors - Catherine
Alexis Cruz - Skaara

Is the third time really the charm? It may just be with 1994's Stargate, released for the third time in this "Ultimate Edition." Artisan is known for continually updating their discs, but this two-disc set is still impressive in many ways. Both DVDs have the film -- the first with the 128-minute director's cut and the second with the 121-minute theatrical version -- and, for the most part, they look fantastic. The 2.35:1 image, finally anamorphic, really shines. Colors are represented as they should be and detail is constantly strong. The predominant gold tones really stand out, and distracting elements are kept to an absolute minimum. While that is good, the sound takes this set a step further. Both Dolby Surround EX and DTS 6.1 ES tracks are offered, and they are intense. Surrounds are used extensively, and to great effect, as is the thunderous bass that will surely test any good sound system. At the same time, the quieter moments, including dialogue, are never drowned out. Where the film falters is the supplements, which are good, but it's questionable whether they're "ultimate." The director's cut does include a good scene-specific commentary track from director Roland Emmerich and producer Dean Devlin. These two have a history together and enjoy the work they do, as is obvious from their comments on this track. Also on this disc is the brief featurette "Is there a Stargate?" consisting of an interview with -Chariots of the Gods? author Erich von Däniken. For a popcorn movie, his theories are treated all a little too seriously, though it's still enjoyable to watch. The second disc, with the theatrical cut, doesn't have a commentary, but it does have a 22-minute documentary, entitled "The Making of Stargate: Creating a Whole New World." Other than a very annoying narration, it does offer some insight into the production, though it never goes too far in depth. Interviews with a number of crew members are included, but oddly enough, not the main two, Emmerich or Devlin. Finishing things off are two theatrical trailers and a fairly extensive biography and filmography section, as well as some lengthy production notes. Ultimate Edition may be something of an overstatement, but fortunately, the pluses outweigh the minuses with this release. ~ Trent Fordham, All Movie Guide