Review of Stargate: The Ark of Truth
The Ori are dead, or are they? SG-1 intends to find out as they search for The Ark of Truth—an "ancient" artifact that can put an end to the Ori followers' war against Earth and its galaxy.
A movie that's both an end and a new beginning
Stargate SG-1 returns with a movie that lends a slick new feel to the show. In their search for the "ancient" artifact known as the Ark of Truth we meet up with familiar faces and former foes, all in a seamless move from small screen television to movie format.
There was so much in the feature film length The Ark of Truth that played to my love of Stargate SG-1 the series.
What worked for me...
Characters kept their places— everyone was as "in character" as ever. Daniel carried the story's search for the ancient artifact. Vala, with her well-hidden vulnerabilities, provided lightness and fun (a burden previously carried by Jack O'Neill prior to season 9). Sam has always been the smarts of the series, and her role in The Ark of Truth was no different. She kept us apprised of the technological and scientific hurdles awaiting the team on their journey into Ori territory. Cameron is fun, but his character has always held a level of respect for the other team members that makes it hard for him to take true command of SG-1. In this movie, that respect holds, but I think he's finally coming into his own. He assumes a role of leadership this time out and it fits—him and the movie. Teal'c has a moment with Tomin that defines his actions of the entire series that came before The Ark of Truth. Although I'd guessed, or assumed, as much as he outright says in this film, to hear him so clearly lay out the reasons for everything he's ever done as a team member of SG-1 solidified his character for me in a way that has never been done before. Teal'c is older in this movie because of the events of the final season 10 episode Unending and it shows, not only in his looks, but in the wisdom of his words. He's subtly changed, yet he hasn't changed at all.
The unexpected villain of the movie seemed fitting. I won't say much more about this, to keep from giving away a very good moment in the movie, but I totally enjoyed the added plot elements of the addition of the "second" villain of the piece. It tied the movie nicely to the series and gave Cameron an adventure he hadn't yet had the opportunity to experience. I love his actions and reactions. Something old made new again.
What didn't work so well for me...
To a certain extent, because of the addition of that "second" villain, the entire storyline of the Ori had the feel of a summary treatment. The core elements of the movie could have easily been broken into episodes in a season long arc. It seems to me that all the elements were stripped to their bare essentials, where stories would have been woven around those elements in the series, they were left to stand alone in the movie. It works to move things forward quickly, but I missed the build up of storylines and season arcs. Having it all boiled down to the core story left me feeling like I'd missed something significant in the telling of the story. Maybe it's just my love of series television showing through—but I really missed that feel here.
But ultimately, I think the movie succeeded. I want more and I don't want to wait—and isn't that the goal of any serial program, whether it's a tv show or a series of movies?
Stargate SG-1 goes out with a bang, in the perfect set up for a new beginning. New adventures—new storylines—await and what better way to begin the new than with an ending to the old?
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