DVD Review: ‘Stargate Atlantis: The Complete Series’

Printer-friendly versionPrinter-friendly versionE-mail page to friendE-mail page to friendPDF versionPDF version
No votes yet

CHICAGO – The world of TV on DVD is running out of candidates for lavish “Complete Series” box sets. The fact is that there hasn’t been a major hit that shut down shop in awhile and there’s been something of a gap in the production of these multi-disc gift sets between “Battlestar Galactica” and this summer’s highly anticipated “Lost” set.

HollywoodChicago.com Blu-Ray Rating: 3.5/5.0
Blu-Ray Rating: 3.5/5.0

The dearth of new network hits and the low per-season quantity of episodes for cable hits is going to make 26-disc sets like the new one for “Stargate Atlantis” fewer and farther between. (For example, even a long-running show like “Entourage” has at least two seasons to go before it gets to 100 episodes.) And sometimes quantity is king. Sometimes you just want something gigantic on your shelf to impress your friends in much the same way that people drive giant SUVs and the massive “Stargate Atlantis” set should get the job done.

Stargate Atlantis: The Complete Series was released on DVD on March 23rd, 2010.
Stargate Atlantis: The Complete Series was released on DVD on March 23rd, 2010.
Photo credit: MGM

Of course, most “SGA” fans are screaming that this is a ridiculous intro to their favorite show and that it’s all about what’s in the box, not the size of it. Personally, I’m not a big fan of any “Stargate” incarnation - film or television. With all the quality television sci-fi in the last decade, “Stargate Atlantis” pales by comparison and I’d much rather show off season sets of “Battlestar Galactica,” “Lost,” or even “Star Trek: Enterprise”.

Having said that, I get why the show is appealing to so many viewers. It’s popcorn entertainment; the B-movie of TV science fiction and it’s more entertaining than people who have never given it a chance might think. The show isn’t nearly as intellectually satisfying as some of its peers but sometimes you just want to have a good time and MGM’s box set gives fans that and more.

The set basically just compiles the five season releases of “Stargate Atlantis” complete with previously available special features which are unbelievably copious and extensive. Forget the show. Fans could spend days with just the special features. Every disc of the 26-disc set features as many special features as most entire season sets including featurettes, commentaries, etc. The set also includes a bonus disc with “Mission 100: Atlantis Reaches a Milestone” and “Stargate Atlantis:” A Retrospective”.

There are too many commentaries and featurettes to list here. Suffice it to say that nearly every episode has an audio track and/or a featurette about its production.

If you already own all five seasons of “Stargate: Atlantis,” I can’t imagine that you need the bonus disc that badly to spend a couple hundred dollars on what is basically one new disc and a pretty box. I think this set works best for those of you that liked the show but never bought it or merely picked up a single season or two. Of course, season set collectors might want to clear some shelf space too.

‘Stargate Atlantis: The Complete Series’ was released by MGM Home Video and stars Joe Flanigan, Rachel Luttrell, David Hewlett, Jason Momoa, Torri Higginson, Paul McGillion, David Nyki, and Chuck Campbell. It was created by Robert C. Cooper & Brad Wright. It was released on DVD on March 23rd, 2010. It is not rated.

HollywoodChicago.com content director Brian Tallerico

By BRIAN TALLERICO
Content Director
HollywoodChicago.com
brian@hollywoodchicago.com

Anonymous's picture

Stargate Alantis Complete Series

I’m sorry, but I don’t agree with Mr. Tallerico. I have always thought that Atlantis was by far the best of the Stargate series incarnations and that Syfy made a mistake by canceling it. I didn’t watch the original series very often as I found it lacking to me. Although I do watch SG Universe, it isn’t nearly as good as SGA was. Perhaps I’ll change my mind along the way (the jury is still out for me on this one). The possibility of the Eli/Chloe/Scott characters leaving the show after being marooned disappoints me as I particularly liked David Blue’s role on the show. He very much reminds me of my 29yr old computer whiz son of mine.

I thought the chemistry between the characters (Sheppard/McKay/Ronon) on SGA was terrific & I miss watching it, although I frequently catch reruns of it on Syfy, Universal HD and online. I liked the show in the beginning but I thought the show actually got better after the Aiden Ford & Dr. Weir characters left the show (with apologies to the actors). I also think that the series finale left some questions unanswered, like what happened to Todd the Wraith & whether Atlantis returned to the Pegasus galaxy. Perhaps the new movie will resolve those issues. I hope to see Joe Flanigan & David Hewlett on other shows in the future. I read where Jason Momoa may be cast in a Conan the Barbarian redux. He’s a good actor & I hope he doesn’t get typecast in those types of roles.

Comment viewing options

Select your preferred way to display the comments and click "Save settings" to activate your changes.

User Login

Free Giveaway Mailing

TV, DVD, BLU-RAY & THEATER REVIEWS

Advertisement



HollywoodChicago.com on Twitter

archive

HollywoodChicago.com Top Ten Discussions
referendum
tracker