Friday, October 15, 2010

JAM Reviews Stargate SGU 1.0 from MGM Home Entertainment



SGU Stargate Universe – Season One: 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, Stargate SGU 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.

Stargate 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.

Thoughts on SGU: Stargate Universe Season One

I was previously able to review the second half of the Stargate SGU Season (labeled as Season 1.5 here) and found SGU to be interesting and intriguing. The original Stargate SG-1 was a novel concept that always skirted on the outside of my attention even though it had MacGyver (Richard Dean Anderson). Stargate Atlantis caught my interest even more as the characters just seemed more fun and interesting. It is a hard thing to say because I love Richard Dean Anderson and Amanda Tapping, but Jason Momoa, Joe Flanigan, Rachel Luttrell, and Jewel Staite were just so much fun to watch. And then enter Stargate SGU with the soap opera subplots and characters that seem to walk the fringe of good and not-so-good.

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 ca not 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 as the General. Throw in some other favorite actors including Lou Diamond Phillips, Rhona Mitra, and Amanda Tapping

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

Enjoy the Official Press Release for the full Season One from MGM Home Entertainment

Multi-Award Nominated Sci-Fi Sensation

STARGATE UNIVERSE

Season One

Transports Onto Blu-ray And DVD October 5 From MGM Home Entertainment With Over Two Hours Of Bonus Materials

Timed To The Season 2 Premiere On SyFy September 28

LOS ANGELES, Calif. (August 23, 2010) – Emmy® nominated* for outstanding special visual effects, the first season of the hit show “SGU” debuts as a complete set on Blu-ray and DVD October 5 from MGM Home Entertainment. The collection features the opening chapter in the spectacular saga as it follows a group of people that is unexpectedly transported to the other side of the universe only to find that their sole mission is survival.

An exciting stylistic change from previous Stargate series, “SGU” Season One offers an in-depth look at human nature and the inner struggle between right and wrong. The latest series of the popular franchise features a brand new cast including Robert Carlyle (The Full Monty), Brian J. Smith (Hate Crime), David Blue (“Ugly Betty”), Jamil Walker Smith (“Hey Arnold!”), and newcomers Louis Ferreira, Alaina Huffman, Patrick Gilmore and Elyse Levesque. Plus fans will enjoy special appearances by original cast members Richard Dean Anderson (“MacGyver”) and Amanda Tapping (“Stargate SG-1”).

Showcasing all 20 episodes, the “SGU” Season One Blu-ray and DVD feature an extended pilot with never-before-seen footage, exclusive behind-the-scenes featurettes, video diaries and commentary on every episode. In addition, fans can enjoy Blu-ray exclusive special features such as extra Destiny SML (Star Map Log) and the SGU: Survival Instinct Game. The brand new interactive 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. The “SGU” Season One Blu-ray will be available as a five-disc set for the suggested retail price of $59.99 U.S./$69.99 Canada, and as a six-disc DVD collection for $49.98 U.S./$59.98 Canada.

All 20 Episodes:
• Air (Parts 1, 2 & 3)
• Air (Extended Version)
• Darkness
• Light
• Water
• Earth
• Time
• Life
• Justice
• Space
• Divided
• Faith
• Human
• Lost
• Sabotage
• Pain
• Subversion
• Incursion (Parts 1 & 2)

Special Features
• Audio commentaries on every episode by cast and crew on each episode
• SGU: Survival Instinct Game – BD Exclusive
• Destiny SML
o Alaina Huffman
o Brian J Smith
o David Blue
o Elyse Levesque
o Jamil Walker Smith
o Lou Diamond Phillips
o Louis Ferreira
o Ming-Na
o Robert Carlyle
o A Brand New “Universe” – BD exclusive
o A New Look for SGU – BD Exclusive
o A Stunt in Tight Places – BD Exclusive
o Chatting with the Cast: Shooting on the Destiny – BD exclusive
o Designing Destiny – BD exclusive
o Director’s Minutes; Ernest R. Dickerson – BD Exclusive
o Director’s Minutes: Andy Mikita – BD exclusive
o Director’s Minutes: William Waring – BD Exclusive
o Falling Through Ice – BD Exclusive
o Fight! – BD Exclusive
o Future/Past: The New Stargate – BD Exclusive
o Helmet-Cam 101 – BD Exclusive
o Inside Destiny – BD exclusive
o Kawoosh 2.0 – BD exclusive
o Let it Rain – BD Exclusive
o No Day at the Beach – BD exclusive
o On the Ice – BD Exclusive
o Out on the Town – BD Exclusive
o Setting the (Alien) Mood – BD Exclusive

o Shooting in the Rain – BD Exclusive
o White Sands – BD exclusive
o Stargate 101: Presented by Dr. Daniel Jackson
 The GOA ‘ULD
 Hyperspace
 The Ancients
 Ascension
 Lucian Alliance
 The Stargate
o A Behind the Scenes Look at “Incursion”
o A Day in the Life of Louis Ferreira
o Alaina Huffman: An Interview with the Creators of SGU
o Brian J. Smith: An Interview with the Creators of SGU
o Chatting with the Cast: Jennifer Spence
o Chatting with the Cast: Julia Benson
o Chatting with the Cast: Patrick Gilmore
o Chatting With The Cast: Peter Kelamis
o David Blue: An Interview with the Creators of SGU
o Designing A New Race: Space Aliens
o Finding Destiny: A Tour of the Destiny Set with Chris Beach
o Out for a Spacewalk with Jamil Walker Smith
o Tanked! Elyse Levesque Goes for a Swim
o The Destiny of General O’Neill
o Two-for-One: Behind the “Incursion” Double Ratchet Stunt
o Young “Get That Thing out of Here”
• Kino Video Diaries
o All the Stages
o Brody and Riley Accident
o Brody and Riley Try on Space Suits
o Destiny Tour
o Drop the Sirs
o Eli: Chloe interviewed in her Room
o Eli: Mess with Greer, Scott and TJ
o Favorite Meal Bit
o Horrible Accident
o Inman Makes Alcohol Concoction then Hears Explosion Favorite Meal Bit
o James in the Shower
o Kino 101 with Brad Wright and Robert C. Cooper
o Kino Race
o Like a Hug
o One Long Endless Night
o Painful Moments (Part 1)
o Park Diary
o Riley Diary
o Spencer and Brody Sneaking Smokes
o Voyeur Scott and Chloe’s Conversation
o Voyeur Scott and Chloe’s Embrace by Window
o Wait For It
o We Volunteer to do This
o Young “Get that thing out of Here”

SGU: Stargate Universe Season One from MGM Home Entertainment is flying onto shelves on October 5, 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.

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