Cast: Ben Browder, Amanda Tapping, Michael Shanks, Christopher Judge, Don S. Davis, Claudia Black, Beau Bridges

Our rating: 4 out of 5

Rated: TV14

reviewed by Charity Bishop
 

When Stargate SG-1 finished its ten award-winning seasons, the fans could not get enough of the team. Fortunately, they were rewarded with several full-length movies in an effort to continue on with the unfinished storylines and wrap up some of the loose ends. The result is a tremendous success -- this film has a bigger budget but the same fantastic characters and great storytelling we are accustomed to.

Though it is believed by Stagate Command that their attempt to wipe out the ancient, ascended race known as the Ori has been successful, news of their destruction has not spread across the galaxy and their powerful ships armed with lethal forces continue to wreck havoc in the name of converting the masses to their false religion. Dr. Daniel Jackson (Shanks) has unearthed ancient knowledge that tells them there is a weapon capable of stopping the Ori, a mythological box known as the Ark of Truth. When programmed with the right information, it convinces whomever sees its light of the wisdom within it. Along with Cameron Mitchell (Browder), the mathematical genius Samantha Carter (Tapping), serious warrior Teal'c (Judge), and intergalactic thief-turned-good-girl Vala (Black), they have gone to a distant planet in an attempt to unearth the Ark beneath the ruins of a former civilization.

Days of endless searching at last turn up a suspicious-looking Ark but their discovery of it coincides with the arrival of an Ori fleet under the command of Tomin, Vala's husband and a true believer in the Book of Origin. When commanded by the Prior to murder SG-1, he falters and this allows them to retaliate. Tomin has come to believe there may be false teachings in his faith and wants to help them defeat the Ori. Gathering evidence that the Ark lies within the Ori galaxy, the team sets out to find and implement it before it is too late for Earth's survival. Along the way they encounter more than one old adversary. There is something different to the style of this movie than the series but it was not a bad change. I enjoyed the fact that it was so streamlined and purposeful. The writing is fantastic and brought a good conclusion to a two-season storyline, as well as little reminders that these are the characters we know and love (like Sam bringing an injured Cam some macaroons). Ironically, the Stargate plays only a minor role but is present in the distance, a glittering reminder of adventures yet to come.

One of the things I liked most about it was the return of Tomin and his redemption. He was a nice addition to the cast. There is also an obnoxious new character who turns into a villain in the second half. Unfortunately, this leads to Cam being rather brutally beaten half to death -- painful for anyone who likes the character (meaning me!!). That is the worst bit of violence involved, as he is thrown around into walls, slammed into the floor, kicked multiple times in the stomach, and used as a punching bag. There is a grotesque element when Replicators (bionic spider-like creatures) are shown to have bored their limbs into a man in order to control him. There's no sensuality, but there is one muffled use of s**t and a mild profanity. Religious aspects are present in the form of the continuing debate over the Ori, which have a means of spreading their gospel much like Christianity. (Conversation revolves around the Book of Origin, and whether or not its teachings contain good moral lessons.) Having grown accustomed to it, the Ori do not overly disconcert me but newcomers might be uncomfortable with it. A higher being has ascended (turned into pure energy) and feeds off the worship of her followers; eventually, one of her own kind takes her on in a spectacular collision of darkness and light.

This film may not introduce fans who haven't been involved with watching the franchise, but it is a good sci-fi movie by its own merits and has a lot of great moments for its faithful viewers. I am rather sorry not to have seen a couple of the former cast members, but at the end of the day this left me with a smile on my face.