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Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #6923 in DVD
• Released on: 2007-02-26
• Rating: Suitable for 12 years and over
• Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
• Formats: Dubbed, PAL
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: English
• Dubbed in: Greek, Dutch, Hindi
• Number of discs: 5
• Running time: 830 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
If Stargate Atlantis isn't the coolest sci-fi series on television, this five-disc, 20-episode box set from the second season (2005-06) offers ample evidence that it's right up there. The writing is good; the stories are intriguing, and the science part of the equation is credible enough to justify our suspension of disbelief. The characters are for the most part well-defined, and the acting, while perhaps not Emmy-calibre, is just fine. The action is exciting, the effects work impressive, the costumes and sets first-rate. But what Atlantis really has going for it is the presence of some of the baddest bad guys in the cosmos: the Wraith.

With their flowing white locks, cat-like eyes, pale, almost translucent skin, and shockingly bad teeth, the Wraith rock. They also have a constant need to feed--on humans, of course--and are a serious threat not only to Atlantis but to the entire known universe, including good ol' Earth. And although there are occasional diversions, the producers and writers have wisely kept the focus on these implacable antagonists; in fact, the newest member of the team, one Ronon Dex (played by the dreadlocked and hunky Jason Momoa), is a "runner" who escaped the Wraith's clutches, was a fugitive for years before being found by our heroes, and specialises in dispatching the villains with cold precision. In the course of the season, via single episodes and several multi-parters, the Stargate team, commanded by Dr. Elizabeth Weir (Torri Higginson in the show's least interesting role) and led by insouciant Major John Sheppard (Joe Flanigan), with genius-neurotic Dr. Rodney McKay (David Hewlett) handling the scientific intricacies and yet another doc, Carson Beckett (Paul McGillion, affecting a Scottish brogue), overseeing medical matters, deals with the enemy on many fronts. Lt. Ford (Rainbow Sun Francks) defects after assuming Wraith-like characteristics. The team experiments with a "retrovirus" designed to turn Wraiths into humans (the results are decidedly mixed). They encounter a human who raised a Wraith female from childhood and insists she's just like us (she's not). They're captured and imprisoned on a Wraith "hive" ship. And in the final episode, the humans and the Wraiths even form an alliance of supposedly mutual convenience (the episode is a cliffhanger that awaits resolution until Season Three, but anyone who thought this "partnership" was a good idea for our side clearly hasn't been paying attention).--Sam Graham

Synopsis
A team of scientists and military personnel is dispatched to the distant Pegasus galaxy to explore the remnants of the Lost City of the Ancients also known as Atlantis. The Ancients were an advanced human race that initially created the Stargate network, and diplomat Dr. Elizabeth Weir and pilot Major John Sheppherd head the international squad that is sent to investigate. The team arrives at Atlantis to find the city abandoned and their ship permanently stranded, unless they can find a power source to get themselves home to earth. They make contact with a brave but primitive native civilisation as well as with the evil Wraith, a species that feeds on fear and, it quickly becomes clear, poses a threat to human life everywhere. Sheppard's brash, instinctive nature contrasts with the calm thoughtfulness of Dr. Weir, and their team is rounded out by Sheppard's second-in-command Lt. Aidan Ford, witty Scottish doctor Carson Beckett, Pegasus native leader Teyla Emmagen, and inimitable scientist Rodney McKay.

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Customer Reviews

Welcome back to Atlantis!
Last time we saw John Shappard, Elizabeth Weir, Teyla, Aiden Ford, and Rodney McKay, the lost city of the Ancients was under a severe attack from the Wraith armada, with very little hope in the promise of reinforcements being their only chance for survival. As an attempt to stave off the Hive ships, John goes for a suicide mission, armed with a nuke...but fortunately the cliffhanger is resolved in an action-packed 3rd parter, and sets up the basis for a whole new season that sets the groundwork for things to come.

The characters and the mythology behind the Pegasus galaxy are developed even further, especially in regards to the Wraith (Which makes things a little less black and white than it is in season 1). Some things even take a darker tone as the team committs actions which may be seen as foolish and immoral, and taking this fine line makes the situations far more dynamic and interesting.

The episodes range from great to outstanding to okay on most occassions, save 'The Tower' which is an ep you should watch only one, due to terrible writing the story falls flat in that one sadly, but is made up for incredibly quickly.

As for extras, the discs are chocked full of the damn stuff! No need to worry there. On the whole, buy, watch and enjoy another great sci-fi season.

Amazing Second Season!
Back for more action Atlantis doesnt waste anytime with the story continuing from where it left off with the Sierge (Part 3). The Wraith are attacking Atlantis and Sheppard is on a suicide mission to stop them...or is he? Following the attack Atlantis goes on missions once again where Ford, who we last saw being attacked by Wraith leaves Atlantis and becomes an addict...youll have to watch to find out what to! The season truly is better than the first one and continues with great action sequences throughout and excellent special effects which include the new battleship called the Daedalus. A new character joins in the form of Ronan Dex, who has been on the run from the Wraith ever since they destroyed his planet. Prime episodes include the Siege Part 3, The Intruder, Runner, Aurora, The Hive, The Tower finishing with Allies. 2 Special Guests this season include SG-1's Amanda Tapping as Sam Carter, and Enterprise's Conner Trineer (Trip) as Michael, a Wraith turned Human!
Your sure to love the second season of Atlantis, I give it 5*'s!

Season two holds strong at 80%
`Stargate: Atlantis' season one not only established this show as a unique rival to its fellow series `Stargate: SG-1', but also set the bar very high for a second season with this new breed of adventurers continuing to battle Wraith and other foe in the far-removed Pegasus Galaxy. Consequently for me this season did not quite live up to that impressive debut.

Just as with its sister series, `Atlantis' is adept at balancing a large season story-arc while at the same time providing its audience with inventive one-off stories that act both to attract new viewers to the show and also give the loyal fan-base a break from the on-going threat of the Wraith. This second season is no exception. However, with many of the episodes it seemed to me that the plots were simply too similar in style and set-up to many from the first season. Episodes like 11- `The Hive' (6/10) and 14- `Grace Under Pressure' (7/10) felt like carbon-copies of episodes 2- `Rising, Part 2' and 4- `Thirty-Eight Minutes' from the first season- obviously mixing up ideas and going in slightly different directions, but still- simply too reminiscent of those season one stories. This season works slightly differently compared to the first in that many episodes (even those that aren't strongly Wraith-based) tend to bleed into one another, even though they're not described as `to be continued', which means that many episodes here end quite abruptly and in an unsatisfying way for the viewer. Episode 7- `Instinct' (6/10) (guest-starring the unrecognisable Jewel Staite of `Firefly'/'Serenity' fame) was one that left me particularly at a loss and wondering `is that it?' only to begin episode 8- `Conversion' to discover that the closure awarded the character was particularly brutal and baffling. Even in episode 17- `Coup D'etat' (7/10), which sees the long-awaited return of the Genii- the plot feels stretched and doesn't come close to rivalling the twists and character intricacies that were so engrossing with the Genii episodes of season one i.e. `Underground', `The Storm' and `The Eye'. Of course it's great to see Colm Meaney return as the villainous leader of the Genii people, but throughout the episode I was willing the pace to quicken and for events to take off the way they never failed to during season one.

Yet still, there are some especially engrossing and original stories to enjoy in season two. Some of my favourite episodes would be episode 4- `Duet' (8/10), which has some great chemistry between McKay and Beckett (hilarious), episode 12- `Epiphany' (9/10) that steps into SG-1 territory somewhat by exploring the ancients and their process of ascension, and episode 18- `Michael' (10/10) guest-starring Enterprise's Connor Trinneer, which is easily the best episode of the season- absolutely original, suspenseful and emotional. All fans of `Stargate: Atlantis' should be reassured because season two definitely maintains the high-quality of this show, although frustratingly- doesn't quite manage to up the anti after a rollercoaster first season. Anticipation rating for season three- 4 stars.