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Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #6865 in DVD
• Released on: 2009-07-27
• Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
• Format: PAL
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 88 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
Eclipsing many of the rival shows it pitched itself against, Stargate SG-1 went on to become the longest-running North American science fiction show in history, with ten seasons and 214 episodes in all. This new release of Children Of The Gods, however, offers a chance to see where it all began.

Spun out of the 1994 movie, Stargate, Stargate SG-1’s story picks up events a year afterwards, which is where Children Of The Gods kicks in. Originally broadcast as a two-part pilot episode, this new DVD release has been recut into movie format, with freshly added material, and brand new special effects. And a nice job has been done, too.

Not that it detracts greatly from the adventure. It still acts as the kick-starting of the Stargate programme, as Colonel Jack O’Neill leads a team to the planet of Abydos, but while on his mission, stumbles across what turns out to be a map of Stargates around the galaxy. Yet, without spoiling it for those who haven’t seen it, Children Of The Gods takes this as a starting point for things really going wrong…

Children Of The Gods is sometimes a little uneven, and for purists, it lacks the full frontal nudity that was shown when the episode was first broadcast, but has never been seen since. But no matter: the work done on boosting this opener into a TV movie has paid off, and it’s a handsome way to check out where such a long-running TV show got started… --Jon Foster

Synopsis
On a special mission to distant Planet Abydos, retired army hero Colonel Jack O'Neill is reunited with a scientist with a controversial and dangerous discovery: a map of the galaxy's various 'Stargates', or portals through which travel is possible. The pilot episode of the television series based on the 1994 Roland Emmerich film.

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Customer Reviews

Can't see the point in this version
Unless you live and breathe Stargate SG1 there is no benefit to buying this DVD, at all. There are a few changes but they do not alter the film enough for the casual watcher to notice or even care - in fact the new version does not introduce the series.

The biggest changes are in the O'Neill meets Hammond encounter and the Carter introduction, which moves along much better. The harem and nudity scenes are gone and a couple of scenes have been extended (and it is just a couple) and some have been reedited using the original 16:9 format so they appear wider (there is a nice two shot of Jack and Sam drinking the moonshine) and some unused footage has been introduced. The ending is different as well, meaning that this version is a standalone film and not an introduction to the series, as a result seven minutes of "unnecessary" footage has been removed. As the whole of the Kawalsky takeover is missing the next episodes in the series do not follow on, so I really fail to see the point of this "movie".

The music has completely been redone, and is better, as has the whole of Teal'c's dialogue. Other dialogue has been removed and a couple of lines have been added, but unless you watch the two versions side-by-side the changes are so small as not to be noticed.

There are, however, noticeable new CGI elements that add continuity to the series (the wormhole puddle and tunnel for example). The new gilder scene is nice, as is the "snake" coming out of Teal'c, but they are not worth buying a whole new DVD for.

If you are new to Stargate SG1 then it would be a good introduction, but if you own the original Children of the Gods don't bother with this new version; there is just not enough to make it worth it - a few new CGI effects and reedits do not make this anything more than a rip off.

An unnessecary release, more 'cash-in' than 'classic'
As an early fan of SG1, I paid quite a bit for the original Stargate SG-1: Season 1 [DVD] [1997] box-set, but was rewarded with an uncut (and oddly 18 rated) 'Children of the Gods'. This would technically qualify as the 'definitive' version, as it was the one the makers originally made! While it is nice to have some sort of 'director's cut' that can be enjoyed as a standalone instead of a pilot, it seems a little pointless when we're still waiting for Blu-Ray releases for the later (made in HD) seasons.

A few major alarms went off when I read about this disc, primarily due to the inaccurate and in some cases libellously untrue marketing. To whit:
1) The series was originally made for broadcast in 16:9, it was simply that UK broadcasters (particularly Sky) bought 4:3 versions of earlier seasons and would have to re-buy them to get the 16:9. (If some of the inserted scenes are the wrong ratio, there's been a real screw-up somewhere).
2) The pilot is not 'finally' available: a now deleted Stargate SG-1 - The Best of Series 1 [DVD] and box-set have been previously released. This is merely a re-cut version.
3) The packaging and marketing claim this is the first episode of the 'longest running science fiction show in television history' (amended in Amazon's write-up to include 'North American' in the claim). This is entirely untrue and Trading Standards should be looking at demanding a re-issue due to misleading packaging. SG1 was THIRTY-SIX YEARS SHORTER (and counting) than the longest running SF series on TV: Dr Who! (If you want to be picky, SG1 is only SEVENTEEN years shorter than classic Dr. Who). The Guinness Book of Records (who started this myth) corrected themselves some time ago, stating SG1 was the 'longest running' series that had 'finished'. Dr Who is ongoing, so can 'only' claim the 'longest running SF series in TV history' award! :)

So, in short, a badly-marketed, over-priced cash-in for unsuspecting fans. Even Paramount have learnt not to do this to their most loyal customers.
I suppose it is possible that this is a DVD release of a possible future Blu-Ray release, but I would be wary of potential upscaling issues when considering it.

Avoid

a final Cut ???
like all stargate nuts the prospect of a difinative version of the pilot episode drew a mixture of exitment and anticipation - that is until you see the cover that rates the film "15" . On a dificult to get hold of " the best of season one " Children of the gods is rated "18" not because of the nudity but the sheer horror that hosts can expect at the hands of the all powerful bad guys - their contempt and brutality of thier human slaves is what gave the "18" rating its significance. So a final cut without these important scenes simpy dumbs down the classic original .
dont buy this - get the never aired original version on stargate sg-1 volume 1 cat number 2000dvdz1 or on the box set for season one volume 1 cat number 22059dvdz1