Stargate SG-1: Children of the Gods - Final Cut (2009 Video) User Reviews

Nice! but not necessary.

[joshi_3592 · 8/10 · 13 August 2009]

I'm a big fan of Stargate SG-1, in fact it is one of my favourite TV series, and the pilot episode I think is one the best.

The new special effects are excellent, not that I'm complaining about the original ones. The gate puddle is new, the death-glider fight have been fixed and some new dialogue has been added to the episode. I also enjoyed the fact that Teal'cs moral struggle and distaste for the Goa'uld ways, has been put more in focus.

Now I can understand the need for removing the nudity scene, I guess many younger fans are angry for not being able to see the episode that started it all. Still I think they exaggerated, the nudity scene fitted in to the story, and I find nothing improper with it, the show was intended to be R rated. And removing Carters classic line "just because my reproductive organs are on the inside rather than the outside, it doesn't mean I can't do your job" was completely unnecessary. Carters argument with jack is both funny and has become a classic moment in the series, which have been mentioned and parodied several times in the coming years.

Also they removed all scenes related to Kawalskys infestation by the Goa'uld, maybe it makes it more of a surprise in the next episode, but I felt it was a little strange.

In conclusion the re-cut is worth watching, should please the younger fans, but it just wasn't really necessary.

An interesting update to the pilot.

[worldgate · 8/10 · 22 January 2010]

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).

Love it!

[ncm-36047 · 10/10 · 16 March 2021]

I am a Stargate fan! Loved the first episode of the series. All 10 seasons are great ! 😁🚀

Less is less

[maeander · 3/10 · 29 September 2009]

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.

Not Worth it at all

[liz-glowacki · 3/10 · 15 November 2009]

I found Stargate as it was entering its 7th season. I went and borrowed the original first season from a friend and this was the first episode i saw. It is what hooked me from the beginning. The dialog was witty, the scenes good, and the overall episode just caught your attention.

Yes there was nudity, but it fit with what was going on. Ancient gods are notorious for being sexual beings. There for it is only logical for a parasite posing as one to want a perfect queen. They removed some of my favorite lines (i.e. Carters argument with Jack, and the staff demonstration), and changed some of the better scores.

The only good thing about the new version is the update special effects. Other than that, it just isn't worth it to buy or even rent this toned down, censored version of the episode. Just get the original, then you'll understand everything better.

Pretty good

[Liryc · 5/10 · 4 August 2009]

It's a small remake of the original Stargate:SG1 pilot, it removes some great scenes (for example the scene in which Carter says "just because my genitals are on the inside...") and adds some good ones. The special effects are better and it offers a lite extra information than the original about the Gou'auld but if you watched the whole series this is just useless, an attempt to cash in of fanboys in my opinion. Overall I give it 5 out of 15 simply because it's slightly better than the original pilot even if it doesn't feature one of the greatest scenes in the series. My recommendation is to rent it instead of buying, it's simply not worth it.

Why'd they bother

[lothos-370-690020 · 3/10 · 8 September 2012]

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.

bad bad bad

[stretch0069 · 1/10 · 22 December 2010]

What was Brad Wright thinking???? I am SO glad I didn't buy this...this....poor attempt to reinvigorate the Stargate franchise (sorry..but SGU is completely unwatchable).

The entire storyline for the series would have to be rewritten for this abomination to make sense.

Brad....just because Steven and George are going back and redoing their older stuff doesn't mean it's a good idea.

I agree with another reviewer.....when SG-1 left Showtime, it lost some of the edge, but it still was able to entertain. Makes one wonder what it would have been like if it had stayed at Showtime....

Anyway...if you've already seen the original pilot, pass this one up. And if you are a SG-1 fan, it will just make you want to send Brad Wright gobs of hate mail.

Dumbest!

[Easygoer10 · 3/10 · 15 May 2021]

This is the the worst of the 3 Stargate TV Films: "Continuum"=Dumb; "The Ark of Truth"=Dumber; and (this film) "Stargate SG-1: Children of the Gods"=Dumbest. The original film "Stargate" (1994) with Kurt Russell and James Spader is the best. I enjoyed the TV Shows "Stargate SG-1"; "Stargate Atlantis" and "Stargate Universe". "SG1" was good until Ben Browder and Claudia Black came on (Seasons 8-10). "Atlantis" is my favorite. "Universe" was well cast (with Robert but poorly written and directed terribly.

couldn't get through it

[paul-2686 · 3/10 · 17 January 2010]

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.