Boston Herald: Star lite: `Atlantis' spinoff soars without Anderson
From the Boston Herald:
http://theedge.bostonherald.com/tvNe...rticleid=35795
Star lite: `Atlantis' spinoff soars without Anderson
By John Ruch
Friday, July 16, 2004
Moving one sunken empire to another, the increasingly time-withered sci-fi series ``Stargate SG-1'' spins off ``Stargate Atlantis'' (premiering tonight at 9 on the Sci Fi Channel).
Less silly than it sounds, ``Atlantis'' accomplishes the basic task of rejuvenating the ``Stargate'' action-adventure premise.
The ``Dr. Who''-gets-drafted formula of gun-toting soldiers exploring portals to other worlds is brought back to the simplicity that led people to watch the original ``Stargate'' in the first place.
Most importantly, it's ``Stargate'' without obnoxious ``SG-1'' star Richard Dean Anderson, which instantly makes it twice as good. Well, he does show up in a cameo - just long enough to make you realize, ``Yep, I'd jump through a wormhole to Atlantis to get away from Richard Dean Anderson.''
The series picks up from an ``SG-1'' crossover plotline, in which Stargate Command discovers a way to use the Stargate portal to get to the legendary lost city of Atlantis, which is on another planet.
Curiosity may kill the Stargate, however, because this little bit of intergalactic nosing around draws the ire of the Wraith, a vampiric supervillain species. The Wraith, whose fashion sense appears based on Hong Kong horror movies, consider humans cattle to be eaten. Many gunshots, explosions and bizarre electric stun-gunnings ensue.
The Atlantis team is led by Dr. Elizabeth Weir (Torri Higginson), who gave up a brief SG-1 command in that series' season premiere last week. Higginson delivers a prim overacting job more suited for allergy-medicine commercials. But she remains likable and doesn't have much to do anyway, limiting the damage.
The real star is Joe Flanigan as cocky pilot John Sheppard. It's the ``Atlantis'' version of Anderson's hunky rebel shtick. The difference is that Flanigan is actually good at it, conjuring up an air of unforced wiseguy 'tude.
David Hewlett as Canadian egghead Rodney McKay (a character in a few previous ``SG-1'' episodes) is solid enough, with a sense of comedic timing when necessary. Paul McGillion as Scottish scientist Dr. Beckett seems like a calculated attempt to resurrect ``Star Trek's'' Scotty; his role apparently will get more attention in upcoming episodes, so we'll see. Sci-fi fan favorite Robert Patrick (``X-Files,'' ``Terminator 2'') turns up in a nice bit part as well.
The adventures of this gang are, for good and ill, built on the same elements as ``SG-1.''
There's the wargame action. The aliens still speak formal English, while only the heroes get to use slang. The writers still think drama consists of lots of loud, juvenile shouting matches. The special effects are still average-to-good. (The review copy did not include all special effects.) The alien planets still all look suspiciously like Canada.
That's all well and good for people who already prefer their sci-fi to come with more blasters than brains.
But ``Atlantis'' has a few differences, too, and they're all positive. Unlike the Earth-based ``SG-1,'' the Atlantis setting means it's all aliens, all the time. Even when just hanging around their new home, the team is exploring an unfamiliar city.
At least in the debut, that exploration includes one or two moments of actual wonder and beauty, elements long lost in the ``SG-1'' universe.
And - did I mention? - no Richard Dean Anderson. Woo-hoo!
|*|(*)|*|(*)|*|
Morjana
SG1-Spoilergate
http://tv.groups.yahoo.com/group/SG1-Spoilergate/
Richard Dean Anderson Fans
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/rdandersonfans/
http://theedge.bostonherald.com/tvNe...rticleid=35795
Star lite: `Atlantis' spinoff soars without Anderson
By John Ruch
Friday, July 16, 2004
Moving one sunken empire to another, the increasingly time-withered sci-fi series ``Stargate SG-1'' spins off ``Stargate Atlantis'' (premiering tonight at 9 on the Sci Fi Channel).
Less silly than it sounds, ``Atlantis'' accomplishes the basic task of rejuvenating the ``Stargate'' action-adventure premise.
The ``Dr. Who''-gets-drafted formula of gun-toting soldiers exploring portals to other worlds is brought back to the simplicity that led people to watch the original ``Stargate'' in the first place.
Most importantly, it's ``Stargate'' without obnoxious ``SG-1'' star Richard Dean Anderson, which instantly makes it twice as good. Well, he does show up in a cameo - just long enough to make you realize, ``Yep, I'd jump through a wormhole to Atlantis to get away from Richard Dean Anderson.''
The series picks up from an ``SG-1'' crossover plotline, in which Stargate Command discovers a way to use the Stargate portal to get to the legendary lost city of Atlantis, which is on another planet.
Curiosity may kill the Stargate, however, because this little bit of intergalactic nosing around draws the ire of the Wraith, a vampiric supervillain species. The Wraith, whose fashion sense appears based on Hong Kong horror movies, consider humans cattle to be eaten. Many gunshots, explosions and bizarre electric stun-gunnings ensue.
The Atlantis team is led by Dr. Elizabeth Weir (Torri Higginson), who gave up a brief SG-1 command in that series' season premiere last week. Higginson delivers a prim overacting job more suited for allergy-medicine commercials. But she remains likable and doesn't have much to do anyway, limiting the damage.
The real star is Joe Flanigan as cocky pilot John Sheppard. It's the ``Atlantis'' version of Anderson's hunky rebel shtick. The difference is that Flanigan is actually good at it, conjuring up an air of unforced wiseguy 'tude.
David Hewlett as Canadian egghead Rodney McKay (a character in a few previous ``SG-1'' episodes) is solid enough, with a sense of comedic timing when necessary. Paul McGillion as Scottish scientist Dr. Beckett seems like a calculated attempt to resurrect ``Star Trek's'' Scotty; his role apparently will get more attention in upcoming episodes, so we'll see. Sci-fi fan favorite Robert Patrick (``X-Files,'' ``Terminator 2'') turns up in a nice bit part as well.
The adventures of this gang are, for good and ill, built on the same elements as ``SG-1.''
There's the wargame action. The aliens still speak formal English, while only the heroes get to use slang. The writers still think drama consists of lots of loud, juvenile shouting matches. The special effects are still average-to-good. (The review copy did not include all special effects.) The alien planets still all look suspiciously like Canada.
That's all well and good for people who already prefer their sci-fi to come with more blasters than brains.
But ``Atlantis'' has a few differences, too, and they're all positive. Unlike the Earth-based ``SG-1,'' the Atlantis setting means it's all aliens, all the time. Even when just hanging around their new home, the team is exploring an unfamiliar city.
At least in the debut, that exploration includes one or two moments of actual wonder and beauty, elements long lost in the ``SG-1'' universe.
And - did I mention? - no Richard Dean Anderson. Woo-hoo!
|*|(*)|*|(*)|*|
Morjana
SG1-Spoilergate
http://tv.groups.yahoo.com/group/SG1-Spoilergate/
Richard Dean Anderson Fans
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/rdandersonfans/
Karen
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