Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent spin off, 15 Sep 2007
I shared some of the previous reviewers' reservations about a spin off - SG-1 was a bit of a legend after all. No need to worry because Atlantis started strongly and has gone from strength to strength. The characterisations are strong, the plots have the wide arcs we've come to expect from this franchise and the individual episodes also stand in their own right. Yes, some of the episodes are stronger than others - show me a TV series that doesn't have variations. Also, while there may seem to be initial 'similarities' with characters from SG-1, give it a couple of episodes and these disappear, to be replaced with individuals who gel together as a team extremely well and offer something distinctly different to the O'Neill/Carter/Jackson/Teal'c quartet - a difference that is very refreshing.
The quality of the visual effects are outstanding for a TV series (much, much better than SG-1) and the pilot in particular is superb. Other highlights are the mid-season two-parter The Storm/The Eye and the several other episodes that deal with the Genii. The Wraith are a much scarier nemesis than the Goauld could ever be and the whole series has a much more apocalyptic feel about it, a sense of jeopardy - which makes for much more involving TV.
Stand-out characters are Joe Flanigan (Major Sheppard) and David Hewlett(Dr Rodney McKay) although it's a bit unfair to single these two out as the cast is an ensemble and all give fine performances. On a personal level I 'like' the Atlantis characters far more than I 'liked' the SG-1 ones - which is a testament to both the quality of the acting and the writing as well.
Overall, an excellent series that can be watched by anyone who loves Sci-Fi as well as people who just enjoy an exciting story with cool baddies and some very, very funny one-liners. Slight warning here that some very young children may find the Wraith a bit much.
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21 of 23 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fantastic show, 26 Dec 2006
As the reviewer before me said I equally was not prepared for another great Stargate series. The Atlantis one is just as great. New stories, new characters and the same sense of humour. I especially like Joe Flanigan, a great actor who plays pilot Major John Shepperd, and who is easy on the eyes. His banter with McKay is just very very funny, as are all the hints at shows like Star Trek (when Sheppard likes an alien woman: he is "kirking it").
This is a show well worth watching and owning, 'cause like me you will want to watch it over and over and over and over....
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21 of 23 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent show - excellent DVD boxset!, 29 Mar 2006
Stargate : Atlantis is far more than just a spin-off from the successful Stargate SG1 series. It stands on its own two feet as a clever, dramatic, funny, entertaining, well-crafted show. In some ways it even surpasses the original, benefiting as it does from the producers' and crew's 8+ years of experience in writing and producing the SG1 series. Continuing the mythology of the original show, but with the added twist of a whole new galaxy to explore, this show has something for everyone. The mix of characters is great and the core cast - and also the regular recurring cast - boasts some excellent actors. Production values are consistently high and, while some episodes are always stronger than others, the writing in season 1 has also been excellent. The first season got things off to a great start, introducing the new team, new allies.. and a new enemy. There is a great mix of humour and drama in this series and stand-out episodes for me include 38 Minutes, Brotherhood, The Defiant One and the excellent mid-season 2 parter, The Storm and The Eye. The DVD boxset of this first season is great - packed to the brim with extras including lots of audio commentaries on various episodes, behind the scenes features, production and design stills, set tours and - perhaps best of all - "Mission Directives" featuring footage of the various episodes actually being set up and filmed (often with segments shown side by side with the finished scene). A treasure trove for any Stargate fan - and great fun to watch as the cast and crew seem to be a really, fun down-to-earth gang (not to mention all being completely insane!) and appear to have a LOT of fun making this show! My only quibble with the DVD boxset itself is that a little more care could have been taken with the presentation etc - there are two instances in the insert booklet where the wrong picture or wrong chapter headings have been attached to an episode listing and on the DVD menus David Hewlett's name is mis-spelt (oops!) on two of the audio commentaries and, on other commentaries, one wrongly lists Joe Flanigan as being involved in the commentary whilst his name is missing from the commentary in which he actually participated!. All in all though, a great first season and an excellent boxset - roll on the release of the Season 2 boxset please!!
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