JAM Reviews SGU: Stargate Universe Season 1.5 from MGM

SGU Stargate Universe – Season 1.5: MGM Home Entertainment
Review by JAM

SyFy fans once more continue to watch the regal lineage of the Stargate Universe, as much like Star Trek before it, search the edges of the universe on a quest for knowledge, a search for camaraderie, and a need to explore the unknown. A darker take on the series as a whole, SGU Stargate Universe is an enjoyable trip through the unknown alongside a group of characters working to find themselves, and their relationships with each other along the way.

SGU follows the travels of a Earth space crew that was transported onto the Destiny, an Ancient spaceship traveling through the far reaches of the universe. The Destiny continues its travels even with many of the systems damaged, dialing Stargates sporadically for supplies as it continues its journey through space. SGU focuses more on character interaction than the previous incarnations and has a feeling of being adrift and alone as the ship continues on its way. The characters involved seem to be more in the realm of the shades of gray, in that they toe the line between being good and being opportunistic or self-aggrandizing.

JAMS Ink on SGU: Stargate Universe

Robert Carlyle plays a very interesting character. Dr. Nicholas Rush is an intriguing man who never seems to share a feeling of getting to know the actual man inside. It seems like everything he does has a meaning, but I for one cannot often tell what the meaning is. I will say this though, he definitely is a reason to watch the show.

MacGyver is back… Okay, not really, but any show where we can see more Richard Dean Anderson is a good thing. I have to admit when the original Stargate SG-1 started and he was cast, I was kind of surprised and for some reason had problems seeing him as commander of an interdimensional force that protected our planet. Then I remembered this is MacGyver and he can do ANYTHING. And now he’s back continuing the good work with the SGU crew as well.

SGU: Stargate Universe from MGM Home Entertainment is a dark version of a crew lost in space, not altogether altruistic but interesting nonetheless.

Extras

Extra, extra, extra… Stargate definitely does not disappoint when it comes to packing their season sets with tons of extras for your perusal and enjoyment. Take the final 10 episodes of the first season, throw in cast and crew commentary on each episode that is provided, add the Kino webisodes, and finally behind the scenes and other extra documentaries and you have an amazing set that will keep you entranced and involved for some time. My personal favorite, the look at the stunt on disc three from the Incursion episodes is some fun insight that I enjoyed at least.

Official Press Release from MGM Home Entertainment

THE LATEST SPACE SENSATION IS TRANSPORTED ONTO
BLU-RAY DISC AND DVD

STARGATE UNIVERSE
(SGU 1.5)

Featuring An All New Survival Instinct Game And Over 90 Minutes Of Extras
SGU 1.5 Arrives July 27

The latest hit series from the creators of “Stargate SG-1” makes a date with destiny when “SGU 1.5” debuts on Blu-ray Disc and DVD July 27 from MGM Home Entertainment. Featuring the final 10 episodes of season one, the story continues to follow a group of soldiers, scientists and civilians that was unexpectedly transported to the other side of the universe. Stranded billions of miles from Earth on an Ancient ship known as the Destiny, the passengers encounter adventures beyond their wildest dreams as they struggle to survive.

“Stargate Universe” recorded the highest Friday night series premiere since “Battlestar Gallactica” debuted in 2005, drawing in 2.7 million viewers. The bold and original show features an out of this world cast including Robert Carlyle (The Full Monty), Brian J. Smith (Hate Crime), David Blue (“Ugly Betty”), Jamil Walker Smith (“Hey Arnold!”), and Canadian actors Louis Ferreira, Alaina Huffman, Patrick Gilmore and Elyse Levesque. Plus fans will enjoy special appearances by original cast member Richard Dean Anderson (“MacGyver”).

Fans can also enjoy “Stargate Universe’s” very first interactive experience, the SGU: Survival Instinct Game, offered exclusively on the “SGU 1.5” Blu-ray Disc. The brand new game challenges players to use their knowledge, intelligence and skillfulness to jump through a series of time loops in order to return to the Destiny. In addition, the “SGU 1.5”Blu-ray Disc and DVD feature a universe of bonus materials including 15 behind-the-scenes featurettes, video diaries and commentary on every episode. The “SGU 1.5” three-disc Blu-ray will be available for a suggested retail price of $39.99 U.S./$49.99 Canada and the three-disc DVD will be available for $ 29.98 U.S./$37.98 Canada. A special on pack sleeve will be included for fans to combine SGU 1.0 and SGU 1.5 into one complete set.

Blu-ray Disc Specs :
Disc One:

Episodes
○ Space
○ Divided
○ Faith
○ Human
Special Features
○ Destiny SML
■ David Blue: An Interview with the Creators of SGU
■ Designing A New Race: Space Aliens
■ Tanked! Elyse Levesque Goes for a Swim
■ Chatting With The Cast: Peter Kelamis
○ Kino Video Diaries
■ One Long Endless Night
■ Horrible Accident
■ We Volunteer to do This
■ Wait For It
○ Commentary by Cast and Crew on each episode
Disc Two:
Episodes
○ Lost
○ Sabotage
○ Pain
Special Features
○ Destiny SML
■ Brian J. Smith: An Interview with the Creators of SGU
■ The Destiny of General O’Neill
■ A Day in the Life of Louis Ferreira
■ Chatting with the Cast: Julia Benson
■ Out for a Spacewalk with Jamil Walker Smith
■ Finding Destiny: A Tour of the Destiny Set with Chris Beach
○ Kino Video Diaries
■ Drop the Sirs
■ Like a Hug
■ Painful Moments (Part 1)
○ Commentary by Cast and Crew on each episode
Disc Three:
Episodes
○ Subversion
○ Incursion (Part 1)
○ Incursion (Part 2)
Special Features
○ Destiny SML
■ Alaina Huffman: An Interview with the Creators of SGU
■ Chatting with the Cast: Jennifer Spence
■ A Behind the Scenes Look at “Incursion”
■ Two-for-One: Behind the “Incursion” Double Ratchet Stunt
■ Chatting with the Cast: Patrick Gilmore
○ Kino Video Diaries
■ All the Stages
○ Commentary by Cast and Crew on each episode

Three-Disc DVD Specs :
Disc One:

Episodes
○ Space
○ Divided
○ Faith
Special Features
○ Destiny SML
■ David Blue: An Interview with the Creators of SGU
■ Designing A New Race: Space Aliens
■ Tanked! Elyse Levesque Goes for a Swim
■ Chatting With The Cast: Peter Kelamis
■ Brian J. Smith: An Interview with the Creators of SGU
■ Finding Destiny: A Tour of the Destiny Set with Chris Beach
○ Kino Video Diaries
■ One Long Endless Night
■ Horrible Accident
■ We Volunteer to do This
■ Wait For It
○ Commentary by Cast and Crew on each episode
Disc Two:
Episodes
○ Human
○ Lost
○ Sabotage
○ Pain
Special Features
○ Destiny SML
■ The Destiny of General O’Neill
■ Chatting with the Cast: Julia Benson
■ Out for a Spacewalk with Jamil Walker Smith
○ Kino Video Diaries
■ Drop the Sirs
■ Like a Hug
■ Painful Moments (Part 1)
○ Commentary by Cast and Crew on each episode
Disc Three:
Episodes
○ Subversion
○ Incursion (Part 1)
○ Incursion (Part 2)
Special Features
○ Destiny SML
■ A Day in the Life of Louis Ferreira
■ Alaina Huffman: An Interview with the Creators of SGU
■ Chatting with the Cast: Jennifer Spence
■ A Behind the Scenes Look at “Incursion”
■ Two-for-One: Behind the “Incursion” Double Ratchet Stunt
■ Chatting with the Cast: Patrick Gilmore
○ Kino Video Diaries
■ All the Stages
○ Commentary by Cast and Crew on each episode


SGU: Stargate Universe 1.5 from MGM Home Entertainment is flying onto shelves on July 27, 2010. Grab some space in your hands and pick up a copy today!

Remember check out this review and more from JAM at www.hollywoodteenzine.com for teens and tweens, and at www.jammoviereviews.blogspot.com for movies of all genres and ages.