Stargate Atlantis - Rising (Pilot Episode)

Starring:Joe Flanigan, Torri Higginson, Rachel Luttrell, Rainbow Francks, David Hewlett, Richard Dean Anderson, Michael Shanks, Garwin Sanford, Paul McGillion, Andee Frizzell, Craig Veroni, Christopher Heyerdahl, Robert Patrick, Dean Marshall, Boyan Vukelic, Reece Thompson, Stefano Colacitti, Casey Dubois, Melia McClure, Dan Shea
Director: Martin Wood
Studio: MGM (Video & DVD)
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com

There are those who may regard it as old wine in a new bottle, but that doesn't mean that Stargate Atlantis doesn't have something to offer to both newcomers and fans of Stargate SG-1, the franchise from which it evolved. Co-creators and executive producers Brad Wright and Robert C. Cooper, both of whom worked on the earlier show, have concocted an appealing premise for this spin-off, in which the so-called Ancients abandoned Earth millions of years earlier, taking their city (i.e., Atlantis) with them. Now, a new team has gained access (via the Stargate, the "wormhole" our heroes use to travel to different worlds) to the legendary sunken city, where new adventures and deadly new enemies await. Stargate SG-1 stars Richard Dean Anderson and Michael Shanks make appearances in this series premiere, but the focus is on the new characters. Of these, Joe Flanigan excels as the insouciant Major John Sheppard, an Air Force pilot unexpectedly recruited for the new mission because of his preternatural ability to interface with the Ancients' wondrous technology. The new leader is Dr. Elizabeth Weir (Torri Higginson), a role that is neither especially well-written nor well-played. The new monster-villains, replacing the trusty old Goa'uld, are the Wraith, whose name is actually cooler than they are; they may eat humans, in addition to being all-powerful (natch), but they tend to come off like refugees from The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Overall, the production values and special effects remain top-notch, especially for television, and the story itself is OK. But while Stargate Atlantis is certainly promising, it has a ways to go to equal its predecessor, which remains one of the best-made, most compelling sci-fi programs on television. --Sam Graham

Description

When SG-1 discovers what it believes to be the remnants of the Lost City of the Ancients ? the originators of the Stargates ? Stargate Command launches an investigation. A new team of explorers, headed by civilian Dr. Elizabeth Weir, travels to the distant Pegasus Galaxy, where it discovers an advanced but deserted city on the ocean floor, a group of nomadic humans and a deadly enemy that feeds on humans as an energy source!

Customer Reviews:

Stargate Atlantis.......2007-03-20

Wish I had known that the pilot episode would be included in the Season 1 Collection. Now I have 2 of the same episode.

So this is how it started...........2007-01-10

The pilot is interesting because it doesnt vary that much from the actual series as some pilots do.Worth collecting if you are into this series.

Intro to Stargate Atlantis.......2006-08-26

This was an informative DVD. I had missed the transition show from SG-1 to Atlantis. It was a great introduction to the new characters.

Goodbye Stargate.......2006-06-20

I just whant to say this, if Richard Dean Anderson is out of the Stargate series; so am I, and that's it!
If I could I would give this 0 stars, but you can't, not what I know anyways. Still Teal'c ,Daniel and Carter is in the storie, but who knows for how long.

A Creative Spin-off.......2006-02-27

Stargate SG1 set a high standard for science fiction series. This pilot for the Atlantis Spin-off maintains that standard. It is interesting, creative and adds a new dimension to the Stargate universe.

The scenario set forth for the series is that Stargate Command finally thinks it has located the Atlantis of the Ancients. It is a long way away in another galaxy and getting there will use up the last of the ZPM power crystal. A decision is made to send a large expedition which will headquarter there and which will probably be cut off for a long while. It will have as its mission the investigation of this new galaxy, the acquisition of new technology and the procurement of more ZPM crystals.

They make it to Atlantis but the city is just barely surviving. It is itself almost out of power and its crystals are almost drained. They also find out what happened to the Ancients. They were involved in a long war against an enemy every bit as bad as the Goa'uld. They were finally driven from their home by the Wraiths, a humanoid species which subsists on the life force of humans. They literally suck the life out of people. The arrival of the Atlantis Crew has awakened the Wraith. Now the ancient war begins again and the Atlantis crew is stuck with marvelous technology but little to power it.

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