Stargate (DVD)

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In the end, "Stargate" is a film about exploration, about understanding the roots of our culture and how it developed to better our understanding about where we are going. It mixes the adventurous exploration of films like "Raiders of the Lost Ark" and blends that with science fiction technology and sensibilities. The product is a film that is closer to a traditional sci-fi film than pretty much any movie since "Star Wars," and does so at a pace that pulls the viewer along for the ride.

Video:
The Ultimate Edition of "Stargate" houses two different versions of this film with marked differences in video quality. On the first disc, there is the Director´s Cut of the film, an inferior version of the movie, as I´ve stated previously. The video quality on this disc is absolutely abhorrent, with grain and film artifacts marring every sequence, even those that look absolutely stunning on the second disc. Considering the amount of praise that Devlin and Emmrich give their extended version of the film, it is disturbing to see it found in such a poor state.

However, I don´t like the Director´s Cut of the movie, and prefer to watch the much superior Theatrical Cut of the film… and this one is demo quality, folks. For a movie that´s approaching 10 years old and has seen 3 releases on DVD, it would seem that the folks at Artisan nailed this one. The colors on the disc are amazing, and the separation between shades of brown and tan (very important in a film set in the desert) are detailed. The contrast did seem a little off, as flesh tones varied greatly, but I chalked that one up to the harsh desert conditions, and less to a flaw in the film. Dark tones are solid, and the scenes that vary from light to dark are presented in a more-than-adequate fashion. The film has never looked this good, Anamorphically speaking.

AUDIO
Wow.

I would rank the audio mix for the Ultimate Edition of "Stargate" on par with recent, magnificent efforts like "Fellowship of the Ring." Although there are very few "gimmicky" effects that utilize positional audio, the overall mix will thoroughly immerse you into the desert. The films dynamic, epic score nicely filled my theater room. The Dolby Digital-EX 5.1 soundtrack is excellent, and understandably the 6.1 DTS-ES is even better. The track is aggressive and deep. The surround usage found in the actual usage of the Stargate (the trippy travel sequence) would rival the gravity mines in "Star Wars: Attack of the Clones" for a demo point. Be prepared to receive complaints if you have neighbors, sit back and enjoy if you don´t.

EXTRAS
Artisan continues their trend of mediocre "Ultimate Editions" with "Stargate" by including little to anything of any importance. One could say that the inclusion of both a Director´s and Theatrical cut of a film is extra special, I would disagree, especially when one of the versions is in piss-poor condition as the DC is on this DVD. And, as I´ve stated before, I think the Theatrical edition of the film is far superior.

The matching jewel of this set would be the inclusion of a Feature-Length Audio Commentary with director Roland Emmrich and producer Dean Devlin. This commentary is found only on the extended DC of the film, and features the two speaking about the film in a very reactionary method, speaking about different topics as they come on the screen, talking about everything from the headaches of filming in the far-flung desert to the inclusion of deleted material to the design influence for Kurt Russell´s hair. The two rarely let a lull grow in the film, and do not get caught up watching the movie, nor do they go off on tangents and forget there is a film being presented. A well-balanced commentary with the two filmmakers who got their break with this film.

Additionally, there is a host of written materials which I believe have been taken directly from the previous DVD editions, since there is nothing more recent than 1998 in any of the biographies and filmographies. There are also extensive production notes which just read like a short biography on the film. All of this information is repeated through the commentary, if you prefer your information presented to you.

Two Featurettes are included with this set, one on each disc. On disc one, the Featurette asks the question, "Is There a Stargate." This featurette is something that could be found on the television show Sightings on SciFi, featuring an alternative look at the creation of human civilization, showing the theoretical possibilities of the ideas posed in Stargate. The other, found on the second disc, is called "The Making of Stargate." This EPK style feature gives a cursory look at the creation of the groundbreaking effects found in the film, as well as the creation of models, design elements, and story genesis. It´s a rather broad look, but covers a wide range of topics. Although there is much more that could be covered in depth, this brief look should satisfy the casual fan such as myself.

Rounding out this Ultimate Edition are… Interactive Menus, Spanish Subtitles, Scene Access, and Theatrical Trailers. To talk briefly about that final option, there is a pair of trailers for the film. The American trailer sells the film as a jam-packed action ride, completely misrepresenting the film. The International trailer sells it as a discovery, much truer to the actual content of the film, something I appreciate.

On the physical side of the disc, there is a nice booklet that is reminiscent of "The Mummy" Ultimate Edition that allows the director to say a few words about his project. This is a handy little bonus for fans of the film.

Film Value:
Combine a great science fiction story of discovery with a solid DVD presentation, throw in some action and adventure, and reference-quality audio and video, and you´ve got a disc that is a must in any movie fan´s collection. If you are a modern SciFi fan, don´t hesitate to pick up this wonderful set!

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