Product 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!

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #17377 in DVD
• Released on: 2005-06-07
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
• Formats: AC-3, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD, Widescreen, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 120 minutes

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

Customer Reviews

An excellent, tension filled start to a great cast and great new show.
First off, you may want to read this, then skip over to the season 1 boxed set, as that contains this episode, and the entire first season. It pretty much makes this one defunct. Aside from that, this is a very thrilling start to the SG-1 spinoff, and they've assembled a very interesting team for the show. It's too bad Robert Patrick didn't stay on as a regular, as I liked his tough as nails military leader attitude, and the clashing between him, Sheppard and Weir.

The story revolves around SG-1's discovery of a new Stargate on Antartica, at the end of Season 7, and then Daniel Jackson uncovers a link to the Stargate at the real Atlantis. This new team, headed by civilian Elizabeth Weir, and militarily by Colonel Sumner (Robert Patrick) are sent in to investigate the new find, knowing that they may never safely return. What they find is the ancient city of Atlantis, buried beneath an ocean on a planet in the Pegasus Galaxy. There, they find there isn't enough power to keep the city's shields from imploding with water, so they send a team led by Sumner to a random Stargate dialed from an Ancient code. It is here they encounter the two main races of beings which they will deal for most of the first season, the Athosians and the Wraith.

The Athosians are a nomadic tribe like people, who are friendly, and the Wraith are their feared enemies, but were not seen for a very long time. The SG team's presence there causes the Wraith to awaken, and the Athosians are forced to relocate to Atlantis, which has now risen from the water to become a spectacular city again.

There is plenty of action and tension throughout the entire pilot, and it gives high expectations for the new series. I was a little skeptical whether or not they could keep the interest up through an entire season, and was rather disappointed with the second episode (not bad, but a simple plot that was rather dull), but overwhelmed again with the 3rd episode, which was one of the best of the first season. I won't get into the rest of the season, as this is only a page for the pilot, but you can check season 1 and I will write a review there soon.

PLEASE PEAPLE!! DON'T BELIEVE THAT GUY!
DO NOT believe that guy who says that the 2-parter pilot episode won't be included in the Atlantis season 1 boxset. Of course it will be. The thing is you won't get a special box for "Rising". The boxSET will contain 5 discs. Every disc has 4 episodes on it. "Rising" will be on the first disc with among episode 3 and 4. If you are a MAJOR FAN of the show and really can't wait for the whole boxset then go ahead. And if you think you'll need this special neat box I'm not stopping you. But please understand that if you think you can wait then don't buy it. It costs alot and THESE EPISODES ARE INCLUDED IN THE BOX SET.

Please tell me you're releasing a box set!
Seeing just the pilot movie for sale makes me skittish. I really dislike it when companies release shows piece-meal. I'd like to know if this will be part of a Season 1 box set later so I can save my money. Or do they plan on releasing them bit by bit much like Farscape and Andromeda only to turn around later and sell you the same thing in a neat little box set? I like what we've come to expect from SG1 and am hoping that SciFi/MGM don't begin this nerve racking trend. Anyway the spin off from the original SG1 is clever and refreshing, something Stargate fans should really enjoy. But please tell me you're putting out a box set I'm sure many agree with me on this. Loyal fans of the show deserve better! Can I get an Amen!