Stargate: Ultimate Edition (Blu Ray) [Blu-ray]

STARGATE: THE MOVIE [1994] [Ultimate Edition] [Blu-ray] It Will Take You A Million Light Years From Home! But Will It Bring You Back!Relive the stunning original with the new dimension in Picture and Sound. The Original Epic Movie from director Roland Emmerich of ‘2012’ and ‘Independent Day,’ that spawned a galaxy of fans, and ‘STARGATE: THE MOVIE’ remains a thrilling adventure through space and time that is not to be missed.Now for the first time, see and hear the film like never before with multiple versions for the film presented in 1080p High Definition and all new 7.1 DTS-HD HR Master Audio and go beyond the gate with special features that capture how ‘STARGATE: THE MOVIE’ unlocked a massive franchise universe and became a must-see modern sci-fi classic. Go beyond The Gate with 4 hours of Extra content. NEW seamless branching of the Theatrical and Unrated Extended Cuts of the film.FILM FACT: Awards and Nominations: Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films: Saturn Award for Best Science Fiction Film: Won: STARGATE. Nominated: Saturn Award for Best Costume for Joseph A. Porro. Nominated: Saturn Award for Best Special Effects for Jeffrey A. Okun and Patrick Tatopoulos. BMI Film & Television Awards: Nominated: BMI Film Music Award for David Arnold. Fantasporto: Nominated: International Fantasy Film Award for Best Film for Roland Emmerich. Germany's Golden Screen Awards: Won: Golden Screen for STARGATE. Hugo Awards: Nominated: Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation for STARGATE. The Director's cut had several scenes which were cut from the theatrical film version. The first such scene took place immediately after the excavation of the ‘STARGATE’ in 1928 and showed petrified Horus guards near the cover stones; the producers had tried to introduce the idea that beings had attempted to come through the ‘STARGATE’ after its burial, but they cut the scene for time concernsCast: Kurt Russell, James Spader, Jaye Davidson, Viveca Lindfors, Alexis Cruz, Mili Avital, Leon Rippy, John Diehl, Carlos Lauchu, Djimon Hounsou, Erick Avari, French Stewart, Gianin Loffler, Christopher John Fields, Derek Webster, Jack Moore, Steve Giannelli, David Pressman, Scott Alan Smith, Cecil Hoffman, Rae Allen, Richard Kind, George Gray, Kelly Vint, Erik Holland, Nick Wilder, Sayed Badreya, Michael Concepcion, Jerry Gilmore, Michel Jean-Philippe, Dialy N'Daiye, Gladys Holland, Roger Til, Kenneth Danziger, Christopher West, Kit West, Robert Ackerman, Kairon John, Dax Biagas and Frank Welker (Mastadge voice)Director: Roland EmmerichProducers: Dean Devlin, Joel B. Michaels, Mario Kassar, Oliver Eberle, Peter Winther, Ramsey Thomas and Ute EmmerichScreenplay: Dean Devlin and Roland EmmerichComposer: David ArnoldCinematography: Karl Walter LindenlaubVideo Resolution: 1080pAspect Ratio: 2.40:1 [Panavision]Audio: English: 7.1 DTS-HD HR Master Audio, German: 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio and French: 5.1 DTS-HD Master AudioSubtitles: English SDH, French and GermanRunning Time: 121 minutes [Theatrical Release] and 130 minutes [Director’s Cut]Region: Region B/2Number of discs: 1Studio: Optimum Home Entertainment / STUDIOCANALAndrew’s Blu-ray Review: ‘STARGATE’ is Roland Emmerich’s very entertaining sci-fi adventure, begins in 1928 at the foot of the Great Pyramids, where archaeologists have unearthed an enormous ring-shaped artefact covered with strange markings. Immediately the scene shifts to the present, where experts are still baffled by exactly what it is they’ve dug up. When a mysterious artefact is unearthed at Giza, tough-minded military man Colonel Jack O'Neill clashes with archaeologist Daniel Jackson over the origin and potential of the object. When Jackson identifies the object as a portal to another world, O'Neill leads him and a team through the ‘STARGATE.’ They are transported millions of light years from Earth where they are stranded on a strange and alien planet. When Ra, the enigmatic ruler of this extraordinary world, discovers that the doorway to Earth can be reopened, he devises a deadly plot. Racing against time, Army Col. Jack O'Neil [Kurt Russell] and Daniel Jackson [James Spader] must overcome Ra if they are to save Earth and find a way back home...By this time the ring has been transported to an underground military site in the United States. In an act of desperation, the researchers bring in Daniel Jackson [James Spader], a brilliant Egyptologist who’s radical and some say insane theories have alienated him from the intellectual mainstream. In short order, Daniel Jackson determines that the ring is actually a sort of map of the heavens that, if properly calibrated, becomes a doorway for instant travel to the far reaches of the universe.‘STARGATE’ which was written by Roland Emmerich and Dean Devlin, holds our attention through a combination of suspense and funky wit. The latter is supplied primarily by James Spader and the truth about Daniel Jackson is that he’s a little daft, which makes him a great character for James Spader. Slowly but surely, James Spader is emerging as one of the most accomplished, watchable actors in the films. With his shaggy hair drooping over his brow, he plays Daniel Jackson as a bumbling egghead lost in his own thoughts.‘STARGATE’ [1994] is a sci-fi film which follows the typical hero's journey style narrative. Here we follow Daniel Jackson as he is thrust into another world after he is brought on board a secret military operation to decipher symbols on a mysterious object that allows travel from one planet to another. When we first meet Jackson he's an outsider on the fringes of academia. His theories are debunked by every serious scientist and he's just about broke. He's approached by a mysterious group who want to employ his services as a translator of ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs. But what he unearths his far beyond his wildest theories.Not only does James Spader’s comic spin carry us through the first half of the film, it also provides a neat counterpoint to the heavy seriousness of Kurt Russell, who is saddled with the thankless role of Col. Jack O’Neil, the military officer overseeing the project for the government. After Daniel Jackson has deciphered the symbols on the STARGATE, he joins a reconnaissance team that walks through it to the other side of the galaxy. The group, led by Army Col. Jack O'Neil [Kurt Russell], emerges in a desert environment similar to that of Egypt but peopled by a multitude of primitive slaves who mine a precious metal for their master, Ra.Once on the other side of the STARGATE, O’Neil and his team discover that Daniel can’t get them back again. And while they remain stranded, the movie is too, even though the new planet provides some science fiction excitement. The effects conjured up by Peter Mitchell Rubin and Patrick Tatopoulos—including a wonderful lumbering creature that looks to be part elephant and part yak,are inventive, often even thrilling. And as the god Ra, Jaye Davidson is perfectly otherworldly especially when he’s angry, the whites of his eyes glow like headlights.But with nowhere to go, Roland Emmerich treads water with a budding love affair between Daniel and a beautiful slave girl named Sha’uri [Mili Avital] and a trifling plot in which Ra attempts to send a bomb back through the gate to destroy the Earth. Though James Spader’s character dominates the first half of the film, he seems to get lost in the second and even when the character is on screen. By the end, the film’s early promise has pretty much degenerated into routine pyrotechnics.It’s hard to say that Roland Emmerich’s directing is somehow better than subsequent previous work; in fact it may be just the same. I think the reason why ‘STARGATE’ has quality epic performance. The battle scenes in the sand are filled to the brim with total excitement; the special effects are creatively done and integrated quite well without shooting on green screen, worrying about everything around the actors later. All aspects of this film needed to be carefully thought out and orchestrated exactingly, allowing all performers something real to act against; Kurt Russell is perfect as the tough guy with a capacity for compassion and James Spader is full on neurotic eccentric, the odd leading man type he perfected in the 1990s. The rest of the cast consists of familiar faces like John Diehl, Leon Rippy, French Stewart trying way too hard to be badass, and an early Djimon Hounsou and effective parts from the foreigners in Alexis Cruz’s son-like Skaara and Mili Avital’s love interest Sha’uri. Even Jaye Davidson’s Ra, despite his youthful appearance, holds the kind of malicious ego necessary to fear him. Both Kurt Russell and James Spader are amiable enough as the mismatched explorers and the special effects are well up to scratch. Most importantly, there's a sense in which, while it may be ridiculously far-fetched, suspension of disbelief is just about possible as it swings along with a committed gusto rarely seen since the heyday of George Lucas.Blu-ray Video Quality – ‘STARGATE’ finally received the high-definition upgrade fans deserve and has a stunning 1080p defined encoded image and an equally stunning 2.40:1 aspect ratio. First and foremost, the colouring problems that plagued the prior version have been corrected this time around, removing the "hot" skin tones, and artificial brightness boosting. On this version, we have a natural colour scheme that accurately reproduces the spectrum of the source material, creating a highly appealing experience. Rounding out the positives, black levels possess incredible depth despite the sun-drenched hues of the desert setting, and contrast offers excellent differentiation through the majority of scenes and only slipping occasionally during dark, indoor shots. Please Note: Playback Region B/2: This will not play on most Blu-ray players sold in North America, Central America, South America, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Southeast Asia.Blu-ray Audio Quality – Not to be outdone by the visual upgrade, the audio experience on ‘STARGATE’ offers an equally impressive experience. The 7.1 DTS-HD HR Master Audio employs a robust sound design that contains a relentless mix of effects and music to create an epic feel. From the booming voices of Ra's bodyguards to the high-pitched wail of the futuristic planes soaring overhead, the audio mix is never bashful in making demands of every speaker throughout your room. There is totally excellent surround separation, lots of clarity and balance in the various elements of the track, the dominant portion of your subwoofer gives a much-needed workout through the multiple explosions, sandstorms and rumbling undertones of the musical score.Blu-ray Special Features and Extras:Audio Commentary: Director’s Commentary with Roland Emmerich [Writer/Director] and Dean Devlin [Writer/Producer] [Extended Cut only] This is the same commentary track as featured on a number of previous versions of the film, but it's the first time I've heard it. Surprisingly it's not actually a bad track, although there are quite a few extended periods of dead air. However, when Roland Emmerich and Dean Devlin do talk, they provide a lot of pertinent information about the technical side of the project, along with plenty of cast and crew anecdotes. They are also very keen to point out that they had no involvement whatsoever with the STARGATE TV series!Special Feature: STARGATE – History Made [2009] [1080p] [2.40:1 / 1.85:1] [22:18] This feature is divided up into 3 category headings, that comprises of the following: Deciphering The Gate: Concepts & Casting; Opening The Gate: The Making of STARGATE and Passing The Gate: The Legacy. Contributing to this new special feature are the following: Roland Emmerich [Director/Writer]; Dean Devlin [Writer/Producer]; Mili Avital [Sha’uri]; Stuart Tyson Smith [Egyptological Consultant]; Eric Avari [Kasuf]; Patrick Tatopoulos [Creature Effects Supervisor] and Frank Gerney [Stargate Fan]. In this first section, Roland Emmerich and Dean Devlin recall developing the script together and securing financing from foreign sources after being turned down by every American studio, now doesn’t that sound typical and familiar? They also talk about their casting choices, some of which had to be pursued and Kurt Russell turned them down repeatedly. There are a few seconds of interesting footage of Jaye Davidson speaking the Egyptian dialogue in an undubbed voice that will sound truly odd to anyone used to hearing the electronically manipulated voice of Ra in the finished film. Roland Emmerich looks genuinely thrilled that people still tell him they like the film. And any true fan of the film should be able to guess what question Eric Avari is asked the most, which he kindly gives the answer as well.Special Feature: The Making of STARGATE Documentary [2001] [480i] [1.33:1] [52:00] This French made documentary, which was luckily filmed in English, was organised according to specific elements of the film, e.g., the STARGATE, the desert, the so-called “mastadge” creature the travellers encounter on the planet, the pyramid structure, etc., and how they were achieved. Perhaps the most entertaining participant is visual effects supervisor Jeffrey Okun, who seems to take an almost child-like delight in the things that go wrong. Contributing to this 2001 special are the following: Joel B. Michaels [Co-producer]; Kurt Russell [Actor]; Joseph Porro [Chief Costumier]; Roland Emmerich [Réalisteur and Co-scénariste]; Dean Devlin [Co-scénariste and Co-prolucteur]; James Spader [Actor]; Mili Avital [Actress]; Jeffrey Okun [Responsible des Effets Spéciaux Numériques]; Peter Mitchel Rubin [Graphiste and Storyboarder]; Patrick Talopoulos [En Charge de Créatures]; Andy Armstrong [Regleur des Casades]; Docteur Stuart Smith [Égyptologue]; Antoine Bonsorte [Responable des Bas-reliefs] and Peter Murton [Directur Artisque].Special Feature: Is There A STARGATE? [2002] [480i] [1.33:1] [12:10] With this feature we have Erich von Däniken [Author of Chariots of the Gods], with a brief overview of his theories. The documentary footage of various phenomena claimed by Erich von Däniken as evidence of prehistoric visits by extra-terrestrials is entertaining. Whether it convinces anyone is a different question. We also get a contribution from Giorgio Tsoukalos [Editor in Chief of Legendary Times]. Narrated by Gene Ross. It was an Artisan Home Entertainment presentation.Special Feature: Original STARGATE Previews [1994] [480i] [1.33:1] [17:18] You get to view 5 separate Preview Promotional vignettes. But sadly most of it is repeated information about the film STARGATE.Special Feature: B-Roll footage [2001] [480i] [1.33:1] [6:02] This is random piece of filming, especially views of behind-the-scenes of filming ‘STARGATE.’ There is no commentary, but in the background you get to hear the main theme music of ‘STARGATE.’Special Feature: Never-Before-Seen Gag Reel [2002] [480i] [1.33:1] [3:12] Shot in one long extended take that is supposedly entitled a “parody reel,” and who ever thought up this ludicrous title, should be sacked. Here you get to see a lot of not so funny choreographed idiots making a fool of themselves and sadly features appearances by Kurt Russell, Roland Emmerich, physical effects supervisor Kit West and dozens of other crew, and it parodies numerous familiar moments from STARGATE to the accompaniment of the all-too-familiar soundtrack. At the end of this rubbish, we get to see the wording COMING SOON TO A THEATRE NEAR YOU, well I hope not, as it is the most stupid idiotic thing I have seen in a very long time and it is not at all funny and complete was of celluloid film and again it is not at all funny.Special Feature: Picture-in-Picture “STARGATE Ultimate Knowledge” [1994] [1080p] [2.40:1] [130 minutes] Mario Kassar presents a Le Studio Canal + / Centropolis Film Production in Association with Carolco Pictures Inc. Exploiting the Blu-ray’s advanced capabilities, this feature allows the viewer to play the extended cut with a PIP at the lower right containing both interview and on-set footage. Much of the interview footage appears to date from the film’s production. Also, a substantial portion of the material is recycled from the documentaries and features provided as separate extras.Theatrical Trailer [1994] [1080i] [1.85:1] 2:38] This is the film’s Original Theatrical Trailerbut one thing I do not understand why they could not instead included the 2.40:1 aspect ratio Theatrical Trailer.BD-Live: This Blu-ray Disc uses the Blu-ray format’s online function [BD-Live] to access additional dynamicHD content. Please make sure that your Blu-ray Player is connected to the Internet and latest player firmware is installed. It also asks you whether you would like to continue, with either Yes or No.Finally, ‘STARGATE’ is one of those sci-fi films that I have watched first the inferior NTSC DVD and now this wonderful Blu-ray disc thatI care to admit, and it is up there at the top of my sci-fi favourites list, especially as I do enjoy its novel twist on the origins of the ancient Egyptian civilisation. Fans of the film may well be wondering why they should stump up for yet another video copy of this film, but if you want the best possible audio-visual presentation then there really is no alternative. Fans have waited a long time for a really good version of ‘STARGATE,’ but the wait is finally over. Will this be the last time the film gets released on disc? If you haven't seen ‘STARGATE,’ and you do not have a fleeting interest in science fiction, please give it a try and get this “Ultimate Edition” Blu-ray disc, as it is well worth purchasing and I am so glad it has been now been added to my Kurt Russell Collection. The only thing that really ages this sci-fi film is Kurt Russell's hair and the CGI effects which now look a little rough around the edges, but were cutting edge in their time; otherwise this is a totally timeless sci-fi classic. Highly Recommended!Andrew C. Miller – Your Ultimate No.1 Film FanLe Cinema ParadisoWARE, United Kingdom

Good acting, great special effects

This film is on of my favourites 😍

Not quite as enjoyable as the TV series but gave a good background. Worth watching and good value for rental cost.

What a classic, this film is a must watch(I guarantee, once seen, you'll want to add it to your dvd/bluray library) personally I can watch this film, over and over. It never tires, as far as I'm concerned. Good storyline, and well acted

Still watchable after all those years, a good adventure story that spawned the multiple series of TV shows

Other reviews maybe more technical & nit-picking, but for me the huge enjoyment is of having one of my favourite films here in the director's cut. The overwhelming success of this film against the critical panning on its release, is due to the fact it is pure escapism and has a huge band of dedicated followers & of course the successful tv spin-offs. The added scenes make more sense, but were edited for time, as is explained by the director & writer in the commentary, which is in the 'set up' section of the included extras. However, for me, it's the music that makes it so enjoyable. David Arnold's major breakthrough into film composing is a remarkable achievement. Arnold had almost nothing on his cv, but to compose a film score of this magnitude and actually make the music belong to the film, in the same way that John Williams' music for'Jaws' does, is the aforementioned achievement. The sinister opening bars of the title credits leading into the main theme followed by choral chanting as the details of a mask of RA is revealed, build to a crescendo of operatic proportions. In Giza where the STARGATE is discovered, choral singing of extraordinary beauty is heard & adds to the drama of the scene immensely.I recently purchased STARGATE: The Deluxe Edition (CD), which has the complete score & is the perfect companion to this excellent DVD, which I HIGHLY RECOMMEND.I have re-visited this review 6/01/17 and haves added further comments. I personally would welcome a commission for Mr Arnold to compose an opera worthy of Covent Garden, E.N.O. at the Coliseum or to throw the 'cat among the pigeons', an operatic orgasm to shake them all up at Glyndebourne! We wait......Only the 76 year old Giorgio Moroder is on a par with Arnold regards composing and producing. Moroder has found a new young 'clubbing' audience....but I doubt wether we'll see David Arnold behind the record decks in an Ibiza nightclub!!I've said it before and I'll say it again, of there hadn't been STARGATE, there would be no INDEPENDENCE DAY!!I saw David Arnold at Manchester's Bridgewater Hall with the 70 piece Manchester Camerata conducted by Nicholas Dodd. The 'STARGATE SUITE' closed the 1st half, and left me in tears......You must have this DVD if you love STARGATE.....HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Love the film - didn't like the series because it went too far away from the original content and context but this isn't about the series.i remember watching this in the cinema the week it came out in the UK in 1994... It was the most epic film i have ever seen (and remains so)Those people who are *Complaining* about the lack of *alien subtitles* are the people who watched the *DVD* release... (they were added POST-Movie) ... I had no issue with the lack of these subtitles, because it makes a lot of sense... If Daniel cannot understand them (at first) why would we???There are subtitles once Daniel begins to understand the language (Like The 13th Warrior is all in subtitles because Antonio Banderas cannot understand the vikings as a Turk? Asian? and once HE can translate the subtitles dissapear...)*i mention different movie to make a point* (if the *character* cant understand a language, why would we?)If you can get beyond this you will enjoy it if you love scifi