The perfect blockbuster is the starting signal for an entire universe. The film proves that Stargate, which celebrated its US premiere 30 years ago today. The gripping and visually stunning sci-fi adventure is still celebrated by millions of fans. It’s no wonder that it was followed by four series.
That’s what the sci-fi adventure Stargate is all about
Stargate revolves around a top-secret US government operation: a gate unearthed in Egypt in 1924 is intended to be used to establish contact with far-flung corners of the universe. A special unit under Colonel O’Neil (Kurt Russell), who is followed by the young scientist Dr. Jackson (James Spader).
Check out the trailer for Stargate here:
Stargate – Trailer (German)
On the other side of the stargate they encounter a fascinating world that is surprisingly inhabited by humans. However, these will be added soon scary and brutal alienswho are worshiped as deities by the locals. And a decisive conflict soon breaks out in the human team.
Why is Stargate so great?
Stargate may not be a masterpiece in the way that films like 2001 or Blade Runner are for many sci-fi fans. It perhaps delves too little into the psyche of its characters and says too little about being human. But Roland Emmerich’s film is the perfect blockbuster. The first five minutes alone make it completely clear how much potential there is in the film’s ideas.
The bombastic soundtrack, which doesn’t have to hide from Star Wars, thunders over the images of a bust of the sun god Ra. From the beginning, Emmerich cannot and does not want to hide his desire for opulence.
He briefly shows the distant Egypt of the 1920s in a sequence that many reminiscent of Raiders of the Lost Ark becomes. In scenes like these, the film also conveys the same longings as Spielberg’s masterpiece: the desire to travel, to foreign cultures, to adventure, to the worlds that lie out there.
It’s like Emmerich is consciously laying the foundation for a gigantic franchise. With the eternal conflict between scientific research and military domination. Featuring mysterious alien symbolism and the rich mythology of Egyptian deities. And not to forget the almost cartoonish figures and the gigantic star maps iconic headquarters under the mountain: Everything in Emmerichs Films is perfect for being installed and reproduced.
So it’s perhaps no wonder that Emmerichs Films was followed by four Stargate series with a total of 398 episodes:
So-called webisodes, which were only produced for the Internet, are part of the list. But even 398 episodes are not enough: Apparently Amazon is currently working on expanding the sci-fi universe.
Where to stream Stargate?
If you want to watch Emmerich’s film again on the 30th anniversary, you can still stream it on Amazon Prime Video for a short time.* The series can be seen with all ten seasons on Amazon’s free offer Freevee. Stargate: Universe is also available there.