| | | "Blu-Ray Disc, Beyond High Definition."
Features: Widescreen, English, Subtitled, Spanish
When Professor Daniel Jackson (James Spader) innocently accepts the offer of a mysterious woman to decode an ancient Egyptian artifact know only as the Stargate, he unwittingly takes the first step on an epic adventure that will span the galaxies and decide the fate of an entire planet.Colonel Jack O'Neil (Kurt Russell), a true soldier with nerves of steel and a tragic past, is brought back to active duty to commandeer the first trip through the Stargate. On a desert planet on the far side of the universe, Jackson and O'Neil must battle the powerful alien Sun God, Ra (Jaye Davidson). At stake: the freedom of an ancient civilization from slavery and any chance of ever getting home!
"Think Star Wars meets Ben-Hur." Chris Hicks, Deseret News
"Production design, costumes and special effects are superb and they all make the alien world very convincing." Dragan Antulov, Rec.Arts.Movies.Reviews
"The effects conjured up...are inventive, often even thrilling." Hal Hinson, The Washington Post
"Interesting odyssey, impressively mounted and jammed with visual effects..." Leonard Maltin's Movie & Video Guide
"An instant camp classic." Stephen Farber, MovieLine
Editor's Note
In this visually creative space adventure from the team that would go on to give the world INDEPENDENCE DAY and GODZILLA, a timid, glasses-wearing Egyptologist (James Spader) uncovers an ancient portal to another planet and is dispatched there forthwith--along with blundering, clodfooted government troops (led by Kurt Russell). The downtrodden populace they encounter, ruled by godlike, androgynous King Ra (Jaye Davidson, in his first role after becoming a star in THE CRYING GAME), must be led to literacy and freedom; Ra must be defeated; the intellectual must find his machismo; and our boys must return to Earth.
| Features | Audio Commentary With Director Roland Emmerich & Producer Dean Devlin | | Audio: English DTS HD 5.1 Surround Sound, DD-EX 5.1 Surround Sound | | Interactive Menus | | Scene Selection | | Subtitles: English, Spanish | | This Is A Blu-Ray DVD Made For Blue-Laser Format Players Which Produce Higher Quality Picture & Sound |
| Technical Info
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Release Information
| | Studio: Lions Gate |
| Release Date: 1/8/2008 |
| Running Time: 128 minutes |
| Original Release Date: 1994 | | Catalog ID: 19155 | | UPC: 00012236191551 | | Number of Discs: 1 |
Audio & Video
| | Original Language: English | | Available Audio Tracks: English | | Available Subtitles: English, Spanish | | Video: Color |
Aspect Ratio | | Widescreen 2.35:1 |
| Cast & Crew
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| | Professional Reviews | New York Times
"...For kids, there are relentless special effects....For adults, there is a smartly designed parallel universe....Plenty of enticing moments..." 10/28/1994 p.C6USA Today
"...Impressive-looking..." 10/28/1994 p.4D Entertainment Weekly
"...Panache....[A] spectacle which crosses LAWRENCE OF ARABIA with STAR WARS..." -- Rating: B 03/17/1995 pp.96-7 Los Angeles Times
"...Spader is surprisingly funny and resilient..." 10/28/1994 p.F15 DVD Maniacs 8 of 10
Science fiction has always drew upon the legends and tales of history. It seems that if we are to fully understand the future, we need to look back to the past. Back to the Future did it most effectively, as I'm sure you'll agree. Roland Emmerich's 1994 blockbuster Stargate is a perfect example of the breed, and brings the myths of ancient Egypt into the present, with a neat and compelling twist. Marking the director's first major collaboration with Dean Devlin, this action-packed thrill-ride was a pleasure to revisit on DVD...The more I see this flick, the more I realize that it is Emmerich's best work. The plot (though far from totally original) is compelling and certainly interesting, and is light years ahead of his next sci-fi "masterpiece" Independence Day...Well, bowl me over - who would have thought a cheesy Hollywood movie could be entertaining? Stargate has aged well, and it really does prove that they don't make them like they used to. If you love science fiction, you'll want to pick up this film, and if you haven't seen it, I urge you to take a look. - D.J. Nock
ReelViews 6 of 10
There's a fine line between giving homage to something and stealing from it - and the division is usually defined by how creative and enjoyable the final product is. Using that distinction, Stargate is on uncertain ground. This new big-budget science fiction/fantasy offering can claim barely an original moment, taking from such diverse sources as Star Wars, Star Trek, Close Encounters, Dune, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Doctor Who, and even Dances With Wolves and King Kong...Kurt Russell makes an effective no-nonsense military man who doesn't overplay his grief at a recent personal tragedy...Stargate is peppered with numerous minor faults, some of which - although not all - are easily forgiven. It's the bigger plot problems and lackluster climax which are more difficult to excuse. Director Roland Emmerich, who previously made Universal Soldier, appears infatuated with his film's look without caring if anything moderately substantial lies beneath the glitz. Stargate is all flashes and bangs - a cinematic fireworks show without the grand finale. - James Berardinelli
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