STARGATE SG-1 is a show that grew on me.  The standalone episodes didn't thrill me much for the most part and I always thought the arc stuff was the best.   The standalones did get better later on.   I watched STARGATE in theaters three times.  I saw the original pilot for STARGATE SG-1 including the nude scene that Showtime wanted and the creator of the series didn't want.  Now Brad Wright gets his chance to do the pilot the way he always wanted by recutting it and doing some digital fixes (like repairinga scratch in one scene and adding new effects).   

STARGATE SG-1: CHILDREN OF THE GODS picks up a year after the STARGATE movie.  The Goa'uld show up through the STARGATE on Earth which leads to the formation of STARGATE teams to combat the new threat.  Ra isn't the only alien threat out there.  Ra was destroyed and now they have to content with the threat of Apophis (and soon other System Lords).  Apophis, like Ra, is a human host controlled by an alien parasite known as Goa'uld.    Colonel Jack O'Neill (Richard Dean Anderson) is forced out of retirement to visit Dr. Jackson (Michael Shanks) on Abydos which ends up beinga quest for Dr. Jackson to save his wife from the Goa'uld.  Joing the STARGATE SG-1 team is Captain Samantha Carter (Amanada Tapping)  They find an ally in Jaffa warrior Teal'c (Christopher Judge) who looks to free his people from the Goa'uld. 

The Final Cut does add new material while cutting part of scenes which lead into the second episode of the series (which actually makes sense).   It's fun to see where the series started in a different way given how movies have recut versions these days to include and sometimes omit material too (BLADE RUNNER, KINGDOM OF HEAVEN, THE BIG RED ONE, ALEXANDER, TROY).    I do hope more SG-1 movies will be made to pick up from the two Direct to DVD movies left off.  Richard Dean Anderson and Michael Shanks made teh two main characters from the theatrical movie their own and the series adds so many characters over it's ten seasons.  Check out the recut version of the pilot now.

Co-Creator Brad Wright was never entirely happy with the original pilot.   Now 12 years later is a version of the pilot that has been recut, features new visual effects, an original score by Joel Goldsmith, and a re-voiced performance by Christopher Judge (Teal’c).

SPECIAL FEATUES:

An audio commentary by Co-Creator Brad Wright and Actor Richard Dean Anderson

BACK TO THE BEGINNING- Brad Wright gives reasons why he revisited the pilot and the changes done for THE FINAL CUT.

FINAL ANALYSIS:  It is interesting to revisit the pilot episode of STARGATE SG-1 in this way.  Only if Lionsgate could do something like this for the STARGATE movie.  Now I wait for the STARGATE ATLANTIS DVD movie and SGU (STARGATE UNIVERSE).

This DVD review is (c)7-31-2009 David Blackwell and cannot be reprinted without permission.  Send all comments to lord_pragmagtic@hotmail.com