Stargate: Continuum

Continuum is the second direct-to-DVD release for Stargate, taking place after the premiere episode of Stargate Atlantis’ fifth season (“Search And Rescue”).  Ba’al’s last remaining clone has been captured and Samantha Carter has returned to Earth to join SG-1 for the Tok’Ra’s extraction ceremony.  However, the IOA has decided to relieve her of command of the Atlantis Expedition at the same time.

As with The Ark Of Truth, Continuum may be hard to follow if you’re not familiar with the series.  Continuum revisits a number of points in the series and shifts things around a bit.  Actually, it may be harder to follow, and there’s no recap of events leading up to it.  That said, this is definitely not a proper introduction to Stargate.

When I first heard the basic idea behind Continuum, I thought it was going to be like a bigger budget version of Moebius (the two episode story that ended season eight) with a slightly different cast.  Truth be told, parts of Continuum do play out that way, but it ended up better than I expected.

While I won’t go into great detail about the plot, there are still some potential spoilers after the jump. 

Stargate: The Ark Of Truth

I know The Ark Of Truth came in the end of March, but I never got around to finishing a writeup about it at the time.  Since I just got Continuum, I figured I’d do both at the same time.

The Ark Of Truth is the first direct-to-DVD release for Stargate, following the cancellation of the series after ten years (the first five on Showtime, the second half on the Sci-Fi Channel).  It concludes the Ori story Arc, which was to continue into the eleventh season.  Wrapping up the Ori arc in an hour and a half instead of a handful of episodes seems rushed, but I think the cast and crew managed to do a good job with it anyway.

If you’re not familiar with Stargate SG-1, you may feel lost with the new Stargate movie(s).  Fortunately, The Ark Of Truth includes The Road Taken – Prelude To Stargate: The Ark Of Truth, which summarizes the Ori story arc from seasons nine and ten.  While not comprehensive, it should refresh viewers’ memories and offer an introduction for fans who aren’t overly familiar with the last two seasons of Stargate SG-1.

While I won’t go into great detail about the plot, there are still some potential spoilers after the jump. 

PSA’s on your DVD’s

A couple days ago, I read about anti-smoking PSA’s being added to some upcoming DVD’s.

Now, even though I do smoke, I will agree that it’s a bad habit.  However, it does not make one a bad person.  That’s not really the point, though.  I have a problem with commercials being added to DVD’s, sometimes unskippable.  Adding PSA’s to the mix as well doesn’t sit very well with me.

One argument for why the anti-smoking PSA’s are being added is because people are seen smoking in movies and that it glamourizes the habit.  Um… no.  Things have changed a lot over the decades.  Smoking isn’t something that’s portrayed as a high class, glamourous thing to do.  Not anymore.  Quite frankly, some people smoke.  Some don’t.  Pretending otherwise is futile.

Yeah, smoking is a bad habit and it’s better to not start.  But to use scare tactics, like showing dissected lungs or a man in a wheelchair with tubes in his nose (which is what’s being added to a handful of DVD’s soon), is something I find questionable. 

What’s next?  Something about drinking alcohol?  Unprotected sex?  Software piracy?  Downloading MP3’s illegally?  Animal rights?  Environment?

Sure, some groups may jump at the chance to spread their message (I’d think Truth and PETA would be at the top of the list), but is this really the way to go?  Is this what we can expect on our movies and TV shows in the future when we pop them into the DVD player or computer?

As it is, the MPAA classification system already mentions some stuff you might see in a movie (a relatively recent addition), a practice I believe was used by the ESRB in its own ratings system first.  It covers stuff like language, drug use, alcohol use, nudity, gore, violence and more.  You know, the sort of stuff some people might take offense to or want to keep their kids from seeing.  I’m surprised the RIAA hasn’t done the same, going beyond the explicit lyrics sticker (or graphic on the front and/or back cover) that some albums get.

Upcoming Stuff

Just a few upcoming releases that I have my eye on…

Judas Priest – Nostradamus [June 17]

Ordered the Deluxe version.  I almost went for an import version with the album on 3 LP’s, but couldn’t justify the cost (just over triple the price).  Yet.  Not sure when it’s coming, but I don’t think it’ll arrive this Tuesday.  At least I can still go listen to it over at VH1’s The Leak until my copy arrives.  I like it so far, so I’m looking forward to hearing it in better quality.

Or so I thought.  The stream has been taken down and when I checked last, my order with Nostradamus is lurking somewhere in Ohio and isn’t expected to get here for at least a few more days.  *sigh*

Metallica – Death Magnetic [September]

Not so keen on the title, but I’m going to give it a shot anyway.  Haven’t ordered it yet, but I will.  I’m not delusional enough to believe that it’s going to be a return to their early days, but I’m hopeful that it’s a step in the right direction again.  We shall see.  Hey, solos are back, as is the old Metallica logo.

Stargate: Continuum [July 26]

Since it’s unlikely that Stargate SG-1 will be picked up again to continue its run, we have to settle for the direct to DVD releases, which isn’t so bad.  Stargate: Atlantis can only offer so much, and I don’t know when Stargate: Universe is starting up.  The Ark Of Truth was pretty good; the bigger budget and longer shooting schedule certainly helped, making it better than the majority of the last two seasons of the series.

Fallout 3 [October?]

A game I’ve been looking forward to for a while.  The change to Bethesda (the maker of the Elder Scroll series) may seem a put-off to some, but I think they can pull it off.  I haven’t decided what version to get yet, but I don’t think I’ll settle for just the standard edition.  I might have to upgrade a couple parts of the computer (if not get a replacement and use this one for other tasks), but I’ve wanted/needed to do that anyway.  I don’t get to play games when they’re released very often, but I think I’ll make the effort to change that for Fallout 3.

Video Games On The Big Screen

It came up in my previous post, so I figured I’d take a few minutes to go over the crappy video game based movies, and take a second to mention the only good one – although my verdict may not be the same as everyone else.

The Good:

Mortal Kombat

The Bad:

Mortal Kombat: Annihilation, Alone In The Dark, BloodRayne, BloodRayne II, Doom, Wing Commander, House Of The Dead, Double Dragon

The Ugly:

Street Fighter (the last movie Raúl Juliá did – not counting the made for TV movie, Down Came a Blackbird) , Super Mario Bros.

Undecided:

Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, Tomb Raider: The Cradle Of Life, In The Name Of The King, Resident Evil, Resident Evil: Apocalypse, Resident Evil: Extinction, Silent Hill

There’s more, but these are the only ones that come to mind.  And there will be plenty more to place in the Crap-O-Meter.

I didn’t add any of the Final Fantasy movies, since The Spirits Within has nothing to do with any of the games, while Advent Children, Last Order and Legend Of The Crystals are sequels or prequels to what went on in their respective games.

Now, the anime/cartoon adaptations may fare better.  I haven’t put them here – I don’t think they should be compared side by side with their live action cousins.  That said, the Final Fantasy movies might be better off being in an anime/cartoon/CG list instead.

Signs Of The Apocalypse: Board Games At The Movies

Apparently, Universal Studios has a deal with Hasbro to bring some of its properties to the big screen.  Monopoly, Magic: The Gathering, Candy Land, Clue, Ouija, Battleship and Stretch Armstrong have been mentioned.

We’ve had Clue before and a Ouija Board has been involved in more than one movie.  Magic: The Gathering could end up being a CG fest of fantasy.  Might as well get Uwe Boll on board for that one.

But Monopoly?  Candy Land?  Stretch Armstrong?

BATTLESHIP?!?

What’s next?  Pictionary?  Operation?  Hungry Hungry Hippos?  Connect Four?  Rubik’s Cube?  Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots?

Oh wait, that last one was Transformers, wasn’t it?  And yes, I do know there was a Rubik’s Cube cartoon on Saturday during the 80’s (Rubik, the Amazing Cube) - I remember watching it a couple times.

Signs Of The Apocalypse: Will Ferrell

Watching TV last night, I saw a commercial for the latest sports related movie with Will Ferrell, Semi-Pro.

That makes four sports movies in four years.  So far.

Kicking And Screaming (2005)
Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby (2006)
Blades Of Glory (2007)
Semi-Pro (2008)

What’s next?  Oh, right.  The adaptation of Land Of The Lost.  Which will be his second, unless you also count Bewitched, which wasn’t exactly a remake.