Stargate SG-1: Children of the Gods

Stargate SG-1 started on the Showtime Network, a cable subscription channel that does not carry commercials. As such, it was looking for programming with an edge; a sharpness that would set it apart from the bland offerings of the commercial sponsored networks. When the series transferred to Sci-Fi Network, it toned down it's edge in subsequent seasons; so that it was suitable for "family viewing" and the sponsors who paid for the commercials would not offend the general viewers.

When movies and TV programs are reissued as new versions, they are extended versions (Director Cuts, Unrated, Never-before-seen, etc. ). This is neither a Director's nor extended cut. In fact, I feel the original director and producers would complain to have their names on this censored version of the pilot. All things sexual have been removed. Some of the dialog has also been replaced. The running time is less than the original. It is a condensed newly censored version.

Besides the censoring, a few CGI shots have been updated and much of the music has been replaced. Also some editing has changed to alter some of the characters intentions.

Why would you watch this scrubbed up version? If you are going to see it at a church function, I can understand. Otherwise, go see the original instead.

From what I can tell this "improved retelling" is just a child friendly version of the original. With all the after watershed moments removed, to make way for some woeful special effects.

Given how fickle the American television giants are when it comes to continuing with Sci Fi shows, the fact that this pilot gained it enough popularity for a permanent series, when many doubted it, is surely evidence enough that the original doesn't need "improving. After all expectations must've been high given the success of the original film.

PS it started in 1997 and finished in 2007, ten years by my admittedly not perfect maths, but even I can work out that Doctor Who, which started in 1963 and ran uninterrupted until 1989, not counting the current series, lasted 16 years longer than SG1. If your gonna lie to sell your product, at least lie convincingly.

While some people here may not have liked the movie, or in some cases, don't like any movies at all (im looking at 'Big Cloits' movie review list), I enjoyed some aspects of the redo of the pilot. The enhanced CG was nice, expanding and cutting scenes which were kind of corny to me and extending others was nice. While its interesting to see Carter say 'because my genitals are on the inside' it doesn't seem realistic for her to be so militant.

I would suggest this to be a rental, unless you are a die hard fan and have every stargate episode released on DVD (or maybe picked up the 10 season box set like i did).

I am not putting any spoilers here, but if you have not seen the original, do not watch the recut. It is CRAP and changes the entire philosophy and string of life lessons in the show. As well of the deep sense of adventure and intelligence. The new cut is just dummed down and edited to remove anything that may encourage people to think for themselves.

That said, the original is one of the best shows of all times. It is the star trek of its time. It is what the new star treks all tried to be. And from beginning to end a truly heart warming story with all the ups, downs, and in between. Character relationships that felt real and relatable.

There was a time in my youth this show got me through extreme depression. The characters were at times the closest things I had to friends and role models. And they were good ones. I would never have tried college if not for this shows original uncut series.

The cut even removes lines that support gender equality.... It actually stops a main character from stating her right to be a female in the military and be seen and treated as a professional regardless.

The cut has literally brought back depression from my youth for me. Please do not watch it. Demand the original or you're better off not watching.

I came to this as a Stargate innocent — I'd never watched an episode. I figured a reworked pilot of the series might be a good place to start, if I was ever going to dip into the franchise. But, after this film, I'm certainly not going to give Stargate another chance.

Couldn't get through it.

Stilted, trite, plodding, it just reeks of old-school sci-fi camp. The characters are paper thin pretty boys and girls, the acting so weak that you can see them trying to remember their lines and "make believe."

The plotting is nonsensical, lurching from one sound stage to the next with little rhyme or reason, hurling clichés at the audience faster than you can roll your eyes.

And, from what I understand from the other sprinkling of comments, this version was stripped of a little sexiness in the original that might have made it at least tolerable to sit through.

Sci-fi can be worse than this. But not much. Maybe when it was new, I could have stomached it. But after the anté for dramatic quality in TV sci-fi has been upped by series like BSG, not a chance — I'm spoiled now.