It’s no secret that I’m a science fiction and fantasy guy. Have been since I was first introduced to Robert Heinlein and JRR Tolkien many many moons ago… So it shouldn’t be too shocking that I’m a fan of the Stargate series. From the original movie with James Spader and Kurt Russell in 1994 to the TV series that began airing in 1997 and was on the air until 2007 (not to mention the spinoff Stargate: Atlantis).
Anyway… We’re big Stargate fans at my house. So when Stargate: Continuum was announced, of course I queued it up at Amazon to pick it up when it was released.
[rating:3.5/4]
Here‘s the IMDB link.
This adventure for the SG-1 team starts innocuously enough… Ba’al has been captured, and they think it’s the real Ba’al this time… So the Tokra are working their mojo when suddenly… I won’t spoil it.
Suffice it to say that the team, indeed the universe itself, is at risk in this movie. And in true SG-1 fashion, they get things back to how they should be by the end. Yay team.
This is one of the few movies in my recollection that discusses time travel in any scientific way that actually follows current thinking in the scientific community. And it handles it beautifully. It’s one hell of a scenario to contemplate. Alternate realities, altered timelines, and decisions made by those in power to ensure their own survival. It’s a brilliant story that utilizes all of the SG-1 cast beautifully.
All of your favorites are back:
- Ben Browder as Lt. Col. Cameron Mitchell
- Amanda Tapping as Lt. Col. Samantha Carter
- Christopher Judge as Teal’c
- Michael Shanks as Dr. Daniel Jackson
- Beau Bridges as Major General Hank Landry
- Claudia Black as Vala Mal Doran and Qetesh
- Richard Dean Anderson as Major General Jack O’Neill
- William Devayne as President Henry Hayes
- Cliff Simon as Ba’al
- and Don S. Davis (in his final movie role) as Major General George Hammond
Everyone is extremely sad that Don S. Davis died about a month before this movie was released. He will be missed by Stargate fans everywhere.
Now… A couple of things. And there are spoilers involved, so read at your own risk…
[Begin spoilers]
- We were getting increasingly distressed when they a) killed Jack O’Neill, b) made everybody disappear, and c) apparently left Daniel Jackson to freeze to death. But it turned out to be ok. Everybody survives in the end.
- The Grandfather Paradox is unbelievably cool. Cam not only saves his Grandfather, but helps history right itself. Gotta love that.
[End spoilers]
Ok… So what did I think of this movie? We liked it a lot. I’d give it 3.5/4. It wasn’t perfect, but it was really good. 🙂
What did you guys think of it?
–Fitz
p.s. You can see my review of the previous SG-1 movie, The Ark of Truth here.
I liked it but I admit confusion at the grandfather thing–how does Cam co-exist in his grandfather’s time once he fixes the time line?
I would have liked a little more on the conundrum of the three living in a different timeline, and more of Qetesh–she was pretty awesome.
If you watch the little “Beginner’s Guide to Time Travel” extra on the DVD, it explains the Grandfather Effect a bit more, but it is a bit odd. Time related physics throws me for a loop. 🙂