Stargate - Past Present + Future

Our topic of discussion for the week is Stargate. I originally hoped to focus more on the recent success of the direct-to-DVD SG-1 film, "Stargate Continuum", yet more recent developments in the world of Stargate prompt me to take this blog in a somewhat different direction. I will certainly touch upon that film later but 1st... Sci-Fi recently announced the 5th + current season of Stargate Atlantis will be the shows last. On the heels of that they announced they green-lit a third Stargate series, Stargate Universe, with a premiere date set for summer 2009. Stargate Universe has been in the works for some time + will take a somewhat different approach (so were told) to the Stargate franchise. Of course, it would appear that essentially the Sci-Fi network is scrapping one Stargate series for another which... well, among other things it pisses me off.

Lets start with a little history... Stargate originated with the 1994 theatrical film starring Kurt Russel + James Spader simply titled Stargate. Three years later in 1997 the series Stargate SG-1 debuted on the Showtime network. After 5 seasons the show shifted networks to the Sci-Fi channel where it's popularity grew rapidly + spawned a spin-off series, Stargate Atlantis, which premiered alongside it's 8th season. SG-1 remained popular although ratings declined in the 9th + 10th seasons with the departure of Richard Dean Anderson + a shift in the shows direction + mythology. In it's 10 year run though it managed to become the longest running US science fiction series + totaled 214 episodes. While it's cancellation was met with displeasure from fans the quality of the show, in my own + correct opinion, had diminished severely in the shows final season. It of course would not be the last we would see of SG-1 as even before the final episode had aired filming had commenced on 2 direct-to-DVD films.

As for it's spin-off series, SGA, the show ran side by side SG-1 for it's 1st 3 seasons + it's ratings for the most part mirrored those of SG-1. It performed solid enough in it's 4th season + received a renewal for a 5th season. So far it has managed to perform fairly well + consistently in it's 5th season. Apparently, it wasn't good enough for Sci-Fi. What really gets me though is the quality of this current season of SGA has been great so far. I'm sure people can/will argue but so far season 5 is my favorite of SGA. SGA, despite having several stand-out episodes over the years, has always seemed to me to be a step below SG-1 in terms of overall quality. This is the 1st season where i feel every episode has been consistently entertaining + is actually breaking away from the shadow of it's parent show. I had been skeptical of the shows longevity but season 5 had brought renewed faith + interest in the series. It would seem though that doesn't matter now as the Sci-Fi network has opted to cancel the series.

In the works for SGA though is a direct-to-DVD film that will be making its debut on the Sci-Fi channel sometime next year. I, as well as many other fans, are really having a hard time understanding Sci-Fi's motives. Atlantis last episode will only be it's 100th + will have been on the air a full 5 years shorter than SG-1. With SG-1 there was a general feel that the show had run it's course after 10 seasons + it really was logical for the series to take its bow. Being successful as the franchise was MGM went forth + put into production 2 direct-to-DVD movies. Here, Sci-Fi has ordered a TV movie of SGA to air sometime after the series ends but if they still believe the show has an audience, why cancel it?

Now for Stargate Universe - a 3rd Stargate series has been in the rumor mill for quite sometime + it was only recently that it's title, along with several (if vague) plot details were released. The prospect of a 3rd Stargate series brought about a great number of questions however. With 214 episodes of Stargate SG-1 + another 100 of SGA - what new stories could be told? Many time with Stargate Atlantis it felt like as if they would recycle plots from earlier seasons of SG-1. Story lines involving alternate dimensions, time travel, + parallel universes have become particularly tiring (although the recent SG-1 film "Continuum" was fantastic). While a new series with new characters + a twist in approach is very interesting the show runners will have to be careful that what happened to the once mighty Star Trek franchise doesn't happen with Stargate.

The fact that Sci-Fi is choosing to cancel a Stargate series that has been running strong (enough) for 5 years in favor of a new series is also mystifying. First off - if they believe Stargate can be successful why not renew SGA in addition to picking up Stargate Universe. This would give the Sci-Fi network a 2-hour block of Stargate on Friday nights. Airing SG-1 + Stargate Atlantis back-to-back proved immensly successful for Sci-Fi so why not try it again with SGA + SGU? On the flip side, if Sci-Fi doesn't feel SGA is deserving of a renewal why are they so quick to pick up a 3rd Stargate series? Do they really think that a new Stargate series will prove that much more popular than Stargate Atlantis?

Unfortunately these questions really can't be answered. We, the fans, have been "assured" by several higher-ups @ Sci-Fi that they have nothing but great intentions + the Stargate franchise is in good hands but their vague explaination of how they want SGU to "replace" Battlestar Galactica (its current season is its last) + skew younger left people equally confused + pissed off. Is Stargate really in great hands at the network that has canceled 2 Stargate series + seems to want to morph a 3rd series to fill the void of, not Stargate, but that of Battlestar Galactica? Now we are guaranteed at least one SGA film with potentially more to follow but that certainly doesn't excite me as much as SGA as weekly series does. We have also been assured by Brad Wright that Stargate Atlantis is going to go out on top. This i do believe as so far season 5 has been very good. Of course, that will only make it that much worse when the series finally does take its bow in January 09.

Now being a huge Stargate fan i am definitely interested in what SGU will bring to the franchise. I am pissed though that Sci-Fi is canceling one series in favor of another. In better Stargate news both SG-1 movies released direct-to-DVD this year have performed very well. "Stargate: the Arc of Truth" has earned 8.8 million domestically + "Stargate Continuum" has earned 6.4 million in only it's first two weeks of release. More importantly - both films have been solid in quality. Of course, not everyone agrees on this but in my opinion both films, especially the more recent Continuum, have proven to be very good. While a 3rd movie hasn't been announced yet there is a very real possibility of one happening if all the pieces can be put in place. Also in the works is "Stargate Worlds", an online game interactive game set for release in 2009. So even with SGA biding farewell after its 100th episode the Stargate Franchise will be, arguably, as strong as ever. It is certainly unfortunate + the logic of the Sci-Fi network is definitely deserving of questioning, as it typically is. MGM has no plans to scrap Stargate however as it is their second most profitable franchise. Hopefully all works out in the end + SGA will continue on as SG-1 has in TV movie/direct-to-DVD format + SGU manages to impress us all upon its debut. It would seem though we'll just have to wait + see...

I Want To Believe...

That should be recognizable as the title of the most recent X-Files film. If you didn't recognize it, now you know. For anyone who made the unfortunate decision to see this film (as i so did) then i am very sorry. "The X-Files: I Want To Believe" is the reunion of Mulder + Scully from the long living + immensely popular X-Files series that ran from 1993-2002. I enjoy visiting old friends as much as the next person but 6 years is certainly a long wait. By the end of the series run the fan base had dwindled, the quality greatly diminished, + really was a shell of the show it had been for it's first 7-8 years. To return 6 years later with a relatively low-key film... well it really isn't so shocking to see this film tanking @ the box office. This likely means any hope of future X-Files films have gone by the wayside. Of course, if the quality of this represented the best Chris Carter had to give us, maybe we don't want anymore X-Files films.

When the series started it's fall from grace will forever be up for debate. It is a popular theory among "X-Philes" that the shows 1st 4 seasons, filmed up in Vancouver, were in fact the best years of the show. The shows audience grew rapidly over the 1st 3 seasons + the shows popularity peaked in the series 4th + 5th seasons upon it's move to Sunday nights. Seasons 6-8 each saw gradual decline in viewer ship until it fell off the map complete with season 9. Only 4 times did the show crack 10 million viewers - it's premiere + the final 3 episodes of the series. It's no real surprise as apart from the shows 2-part finale Mulder was absent from the 9th season + the X-Files unit itself was left in the hands of Dogget + Reyes. I do believe i also mentioned that the quality episodes more or less sucked, right?

Season 8 + 9 are often clumped together being "The Dogget Years" although i have always thought it unfair b/c season 8 towers over season 9 in terms of quality. For many fans of the show though it was Mulder's quest for the truth + the relationship between Mulder + Scully that made it so good. With David Duchovny only in half of season 8 (with several appearances being very brief) it was immediately met with skepticism. The show still performed well however, falling only slightly from season 7's average audience of 14 million. It is my opinion that season 8 was very good + perhaps even a step above the previous 2 seasons. Certainly there were a few dogs (Invocation + Badlaa come to mind) but most episodes, even sans Mulder, proved to be solid. The final stretch with Dogget, Mulder + Scully together was fantastic.

Season 9 however... well to be fair it's been a long while since i've watched many an episode from this season b/c, well, why would i? Or anyone else for that matter? Now it wasn't all bad + there were several good episodes but in the scheme of things though... it was bad. I recently caught the episode "Daemonicus"@ 2 AM on the Sci-Fi channel + it was absolutely brutal. Many episodes of the show became redundant + the logic behind the mythology of the series spread thinner + thinner. They even titled a later episode of the season "Jump the Shark" in which we said goodbye to the Gunmen. Speaking off, Fox shouldn't have canceled that show after just 12 episodes... bastards. Even the 2-part finale wasn't as good as it ought to have been. It welcomed back Mulder + was better than most of season 9 but that really doesn't really say much for it.

The first X-Files, "Fight the Future", was released between the shows 5th + 6th seasons, making 85 million domestically with a worldwide total of 190 million. For the most part was it was fairly solid despite being a bit long winded. Reports of a second film had been in circulation from the moment the series closed up shop (+ probably before then) yet years passed with no news other than a promise that there inevitably would be another film. One might think however that time would have been of the essence. The show had lost a majority of it's audience by it's end + was no longer a pop-culture phenomenon. What made them think that fans would return after 6 years? I guessed they assumed the chance to see Mulder + Scully one final time would be enough to drag even the most casual viewer to theaters.

It would seem however that they were wrong. The film opened with a less than spectacular 10 million + fell to 3.5 million in it's 2nd weekend. It seems as if no one really wanted another X-Files film. Now whether people weren't interested in seeing it because they were no longer interested in the X-Files or whether this particular storyline failed to catch their interest is the question. Chris Carter opted to go with a more stand-alone "Monster of the Week" approach to the film as opposed to the on going mythology of the series. The X-Files did feature many great stand-alone episodes but but it was the Alien conspiracy + mistrust of the government portrayed in the show that resulted in it becoming a staple of pop-culture. They would have to come up with something quite interesting to draw in audiences + they simply didn't.

Very little information regarding the plot (or any other aspect of the film for that matter) of this film was released prior to the films opening. Really all we knew was Mulder + Scully were in search of the Truth yet again + "It's Here!!". The film itself is... well, boring + not very good. One might even go as far as to say it was terrible, + then keep saying it over + over + over. Mulder, last seen being hunted by the government in helicopters with rocket launchers, has apparently been collecting news clippings + growing a beard for the last 6 yrs. Mulder + his relentless search for the truth however remains interesting throughout the film (the only thing this film has going for it) where as Scully + pretty much everything else is boring. The story, unfortunately, really isn't that interesting @ all, just creepy.

I, as i assume many would, hoped this film would be good. While the X-Files certainly should have ended when it did a film, or several, was certainly desired. The 6 year wait + the low key approach however really doomed this project. Releasing the film in the midst of summer block busters was also not the greatest idea as it in no way is a blockbuster film. Of course they could have made a better film... although one thinks anyone who wanted another X-Files film would go see it regardless. Perhaps we've not seen of the end of the X-Files with the end of this film but after it's poor reception we very well may have. Will anyone really want to see a 3rd X-Files film? I haven't quite decide myself if i would or wouldn't. It's sad to see how the franchise has faded into near oblivion. Perhaps it's best to let the franchise rest as it's audience is gone, it's appeal to the casual viewer zero to none + the quality greatly diminished from what it once achieved on a weekly basis. It would be nice though to have one last, good, film with Mulder + Scully bringing everything to a close (the emphasis is on good). I do, after all, still want to believe...

Aliens?! Fuck!!

That being my friend’s reaction to the latest Indiana Jones film. O, is now a bad time to mentioned that this blog might contain certain tidbits of information regarding the latest Indy film? Well, now that the cats out of the bag - the latest Indy films is about, that's right, Aliens!! - Aliens you say?! Fuck!! - Is it really that shocking? I mean, it's not as if George Lucas + Stephen Spielberg have exactly avoided the topic over their years of filmmaking. Still, Aliens in an Indiana Jones film... you would have think they would have had the common sense not to mix the two of them together.

That isn't too much of a jolt to your system is it? I apologize if so. If you’re standing, you might want to sit yourself down + take a few deep breathes. Of course being the film has been out for quite some time (so i'm a bit late with my "WTF" rant - deal with it) you have hopefully already gotten over this (to an understandable extent… we don’t want to be completely over it) . They should really stop letting George Lucas make movies @ this point. It would now seem there are even talks of an Indy 5. An Indy 5?! Give it a rest already. I don't even know how Indy 4 was as well received as it was. It was mediocre @ best + certainly not as good as the previous Indy films.

Now i don't suppose you would expect an Indiana Jones film to draw comparisons to either the Alien or Predator franchise + yet, some how or another it did. That is it did while my friend, brother + I drove home from the midnight showing. While the Indiana Jones 4 plot certainly wasn't as far-fetched as the 1st Alien vs Predator showdown as certain members of the vehicle insisted, it was still quite absurd. For those of you unfamiliar with the plot of "Alien vs Predator" i'm pretty sure you can figure out the basics from the title.

Now Indy 4 would have us believe that when 13 crystal skulls (real skulls of Extra-Terrestrial beings it would seem) were position together atop 13 Alien skeletons they will awaken + theoretically provide us with riches of some sort. Basically there is a "lost city" (a city of gold) which is really a UFO that is buried in South America. The riches of these Aliens happen to be knowledge. Now i won't elaborate on it (to much anyways) but i do feel obligated to mentioned that the plot is very similar to an episode of Stargate SG-1. That plot being that Crystal Skulls were alien artifacts + these aliens possessed great riches... those riches - knowledge. You can't fault the film for having an o so similar plot (well you could but why waste time) b/c as it happens to be it is common mythology that Crystal Skulls are in fact the result of Aliens. It would appear that this is actually true... o w/e, not like it matters.

You'll have to admit the plot of the film is quite absurd, especially being it's an Indy film. While Indy films have always had a hint of Sci-Fi they have never been full out Sci-Fi films, especially not the kind that involves Aliens. Where you might expect to find Aliens however is in an Alien film such as "Alien vs Predator". What you might be shocked to find however is that Predators were once upon a time, our gods. You probably are (as you ought to be) scratching your head @ that one. My friend did sum up how insane this all was in a glorious rant that i unfortunately cannot remember word for word. In essence... Predators would not be our gods, it just wouldn't happen. As the movie would have us believe they taught people how to build pyramids. One such pyramid happened to be buried deep under the arctic ice. Now i can quote my friend in this instance in wondering "how'd they ship in the Aztecs for that one?!". This is certainly odd behavior for a species that tore Arnold's team + some goons in LA to shreds.

As it turns out (+ not so surprisingly), some movie franchises just shouldn't keep going + going + going. That is what we have the energizer bunny + the Friday the 13th films for (new 1 out in Feb!!). Great franchises such as Indy + Alien though just ought to give it a rest. Temple of Doom takes a lot of heat but i myself feel it is underrated. It might not be as good as Raiders or the Last Crusade but it has a very different tone. The 3 Indy films of the 1980’s were a great trilogy. For several... up to ten years (more i'm thinking) Indy 4 went through development hell + it really shows. Harrison Ford was alright but the magic of the 1st 3 is gone + the plot much more ridiculous. I mean... do i have to say it again? Aliens?! Fuck!!

As for the Alien franchise... it has suffered a worse downfall. Alien 3, while good, hurt the franchises image after the 1st 2 films were so well received + Alien Resurrection did nothing to improve the public perception of the series. Pitting the Alien with Predators in an AvP flick was a perfectly good opportunity for a kick ass film but they fucked it up. Many involved with the Alien films were opposed to the idea but really it was the best shot @ revitalizing the series. After years in development hell though AvP hit the screen only to be met with major disappointment. Of course, most of the damage to the Alien franchise had been done already with Alien Resurrection, but AvP didn't do much in the way of reversing it. As for the Predators... well i don't think you can call 2 films a series + AvP was certainly more successful than P2 but the Predators in AvP were nothing like the Predators we had grown accustomed to. AvP: R... i won't start - it's bad, really really bad. The Predator is much better portrayed (paid off the writers one assumes) but the Aliens are reduced to screeching overgrown bugs to serve as cannon fodder.

Now don't get me wrong, i'm not totally opposed to sequels. If there are good stories to be told then by all means, i welcome sequels. Making sequels for the sole point of making a sequel though.... why bother. O, that's right - money. Indy 4 was destined to rake in big bucks. It has pulled in 315 million domestically + has to date has amassed 750 million worldwide. An AvP film... let's see, two dying/dead franchises... It worked too, with AvP pulling in 175 million worldwide + making a killing in DVD sales. It's sequel - well they knew they couldn't fool us twice so they lowered the budget (from 60 mil to an estimated 35-40 mil) to balance the loss in profits. It bombed (really bombed) in the US but performed well overseas giving it a worldwide take of 130 million. I really just wish they would stop... + now we have a new Terminator film (sans Arnold) slated for release in May 09. Some people, studios + filmmakers alike, really need to learn when enough is enough. Is it really worth the quick buck when in the long run you may damage the integrity of the product?

Future Events Such As These...

... will affect you in the future - its possible no truer words have ever been spoken. Events that occur in the future, will in fact affect us in the future. Will they have any effect on us now? Why of course not, b/c were not in the future. However, what is certain is that when future events happen, our future will be affected by them. It really is simple logic when you stop + take the time to think about it.

Now perhaps you recognize that grand statement, + perhaps you don't. For those of you unfamiliar with the commonly dubbed "worst movie of all time", that being "Plan 9 From Outer Space", it is a snippet of the powerful opening narration provided by Criswell. In an unfortunate blunder however, after making such a bold statement about future events + their inevitable impact on our future, the film decided to tell us of a "fateful day" that had already happened. How strange... o well, it's no matter; for i'm not here to ramble on about "Plan 9". I am however here to discuss, that's right, the future, + the certain effect it will have on our own future. For this "discussion" on the future, i will look @ 2 monumental film series in our history, the Terminator franchise + the Planet of the Apes...

Let's wet our appetites with "Planet of the Apes", one of the greatest sci-fi films of all time. It isn't however the fantastic + groundbreaking original we will be sinking our teeth in to. Instead however, let's have a look @ the films many sequels. The grand revelation @ the end of the 1st film is that Charlton Heston was on Earth the entire time, only many years in the future, after the fall of man as the dominate species of the planet. In "Escape from Planet of the Apes" we learn that 3 apes from the future manage to land themselves back in time, thus laying the seeds for the Ape "revolution". So, if i have this correct, + i'm fairly positive i do, Apes from the future escape to the past which in turn lead to the rise of Apes + eventual decline of man... Does that really make sense...?

To answer the above question for you - no, it doesn't really make sense. I'm sure many fans (is that right word?) of the "Ape" series will argue that it's perfectly sound logic. I can assure you however that it's not. Now the final "Ape" film leaves off with both species coexisting peacefully although we all no that can't + won't last. If it actually is to last... well, then we seem to have found ourselves a whole new set of questions to ponder haven’t we.

Now lets get on to the main course - the Terminator franchise... Arnold Schwarzenegger is sent back in time to kill Sarah Connor, thus preventing the birth of John Conner, eventual leader of the human resistance. John Connor, in the future mind you, sends back his friend + ally, Kyle Reese, to protect Sarah Connor. You can tell already how seamless this soundly structured plot is. Here's the catch however... while Kyle Reese is protecting Sarah Connor they inevitably fall in love with each other + share a night of passionate love. The result of this... John Connor!! So what have we learned from this? If the Terminator was never sent back in time to kill Sarah Conner, Kyle Reese would have never been sent to protect her + thus, there would be no John Conner. Yet somehow John Conner already existed in the future... sense anyone? I think not.

Now i hope u quickly wrapped your mind around that b/c, that's right, there's more!! In T2, subtitled Judgment Day, we learn that the Terminator hand + computer processing chip recovered from the 1st Arnold Schwarzenegger led to the numerous advancements that would result in "Judgment Day". So if the Terminator was never sent back in time, there would be no Terminators? No Judgment Day? With that in mind i think the Machines made the right call - Sending a Terminator back in time was essential to them being able to send a Terminator back in time. Perhaps they could have avoided hunting down Sarah Connor… it probably would be helpful not to have a human resistance bugging you @ every turn.

Beyond all that non-sense is, well, more non-sense. “No Fate But What We Make For Ourselves” – this being the common message hammered into our heads while watching the Terminator films (especially that long dull part of T2). We learn from John Conner that his mother made him memorize the message so he could tell his father. His father in tern would tell it to her. The origin of this message - unkown!! This is the case with many aspects of the Terminator franchise. According to wikipedia this + just about every other example of ill-logical fallacies from the Terminator films I have mentioned are examples of an ontological paradox. I would explain what that is except my guess is it’s somewhat complicated (+ probably lacking in sense). If you’re that interested in it, look it up.

Of course, it's plain to see how little sense any of this absurd plot makes. This plot + these events however do take me back to what i'm pretty sure was my original point. That being... the future, + the future events that will impact that future. Future events depicted here are very clearly affecting the future. The Machines decision to send a Terminator back in time resulted in a future dominated + controlled by Machines. As a result they had the ability to send a Terminator back in time. The Machines ill-advised insistence in eliminating Sarah Connor to prevent the rise of her son as a military leader resulted in the birth of John Connor, eventual leader of the human resistance (i still question the Machines on that one) . In Planet of the Apes, the Apes that escaped from Earth in the future, only to find themselves in the past, went + laid the way for the future they would eventually be escaping from. It's all very clear - events that are happening in the future, are in fact having an affect on our future.