:: theLogBook.com DVD Reviews ::

“For the people of this planet, it was a time when the sea and the sky and the very land on which they lived had been polluted by their own cultural waste. They came from as yet unknown outer space. They landed on the planet and sucked up air, water, and even living creatures into their womb, stealing away the very roots of the planet’s culture. And so began, with the few remaining inhabitants, and later with the one called Rodo, the creation of a new world.”

Let’s activate the way-back machine and go back to March 31st, 1998. A year has elapsed since DVD players were first introduced to the market. DVD players still cost a few hundred dollars each, and titles were few and far between. Some major studios were still sitting on the sidelines. The studios that were releasing titles were still learning how to utilize the format. (more…)

The third and most recent DVD release of Stargate is rather light on special features, but offers very good sound and picture for two versions of the film. (A few frames appear to have suffered significant damage, but other than that, it’s a very good remastering.) An extended director’s cut mostly features scenes designed to embellish the background characters or add a slightly different shade to the main characters’ actions. For example, the Giza prologue is extended slightly to show the fossilized remains of a Horus warrior who rematerialized in the rock after the gate was buried. The Air Force has those remains, which shows that the military knew there was a good chance the expedition would encounter hostile aliens. None of the changes are essential, and a few slow down the pace of the movie. But with the theatrical version also available in this set, it’s worthwhile to see a more complete picture of what the creators envisioned. (more…)