Arc Of The Ark

[magnavox_23]

So Ark of Truth finally came out in Australia on Wednesday. I picked up a copy at JB Hi-Fi first thing (I was going out that way anyway), Chey didn't like sitting in the car for 5 minutes all that much. If the car is moving, she loves it, but once we're stationary, it's boring and she wants out.

Overall, I give the film a B+. There are quite a few areas in which I thought there could have been a bit of improvement, and certain themes could have been expanded upon, given that this movie was supposed to tie up the majority of loose ends from seasons 9 and 10.

The opening titles while certainly spectacular - Canada is very beautiful, were of course an attempt at making the film more cinematic, the movie-like sweeping aerial shots of snow capped mountains did remind me a little of the beginning of Ace Ventura II, oh dear :P. The only problem with this is, the rest of the film plays just like a regular television episode making the titles feel out of place.

The scene with the ancients in the mountain I don't believe was explained very well. Despite this, it was nice to see Alisen Down again and I love her pixie cut hair. On the decision of the ancients not to use the ark because it negates free will vs SG-1's non-questioning of the need to use it in order to preserve life is an interesting debate, which is the most righteous in both a logical and metaphysical sense?

On to Dakara, I loved the banter between Daniel and Vala - who didn't? :P And 'yammering' is my new favourite word. It was wonderful, and yes I did get that little thrill at seeing SG-1 once again in their element. The only one that seemed a little off kilter was Cam. His non stop one liners were reminiscent of Jack. They sounded like lines that would have be written for Jack.

One thing that struck me about the return of Tomin (yes I read the spoilers, I knew he was in the film) was that he was still kickin'. This film is set approximately a year or so (presumably) after his last appearance - Line In The Sand. And he's still walking around questioning the prior? Others have been burned for far less, yet this one man - husband to the mother of the Orisi and a Commander in their fleet is allowed to walk around questioning a prior? In his position, there is so much he could do to create anarchy. He is in a position of respect and power, and that could have so easily been turned around in order to steer others away from 'the path'. But aside from that, I did grow to like Tomin as a character in this film.

Daniel's visions - oh why could they not have taken the time to work on this better. Suddenly out of nowhere, Daniel is having all these visions and off looking for the ark based on this sketchy evidence? Pulease. Where exactly did his visions come from? Were they from his suppressed memories of his time as an ascendant? Were they given to him by Morgan Le Fay?

As a result of Daniel sharing these visions with Tomin, Tomin refers to 'Ortum Mallum' (as spelt in the subtitles) which is actually a quote from Christian texts referring to a birthplace of evil (as it is used in the same context in the film). The nearest I can tell, 'ortum' directly translates to mean 'risen' and 'malum' is 'evil'.

Cam's command of the Odyssey was a highlight for me. I thought he made a wonderful commander.

"Weapons to maximum"

"...It was a joke, make it go."

Teal'c's mentoring of Tomin while on the Odyssey was great. He was brutally honest - I'm not sure, but I don't think that has ever been done to that extent on Stargate before.

Odyssey going through the Supergate - very cool. The demolecularising of SG-1 felt like a throwback to Daniel's first trip through the gate in the original movie - this was also confirmed in the commentary.

I actually quite liked the replicator B story. I didn't think I would, because it would deviate from the main premise of the film. But, I was left wondering - who wrote the replicator program for the Asgard system? Some of us on msn the other night theorised that perhaps the Trust may have gotten a hold in the I.O.A. and that Ba'al or some other Goa'uld may have had knowledge of the workings of the replicators.

Teal'c's journey to Celestis was great. The musical score and choir really did add to the overall impact of the montage. Little tidbit though, it seems one of the shots had been flipped as Teal'c's white streak of hair was on the wrong side. This occurred at 59:48.

The Doci's chant during Daniel's torture 'Enim lupin purnum prauus intus' wasn't that easy to translate, in fact I could really only get a direct translation on the first and last words. The line seems to refer to something about the 'truth within' (lupin also means wolf, but I'm not sure how that would fit within the context). I am of course paraphrasing. I won't go into Daniel's torture here as I have written a sort of mini meta below with my thoughts.

Cam's fight with RepliMarrick, I thought was quite good. Maybe throwing Cam all about the place was a tad too much, but the visual effects were amazing. The Terminator-esque rise of the replicator skeleton out of the ashes of the flesh was awesome.

I guess the ending of the Ori arc was a little disappointing in that it seemed to happen quite suddenly. Flip the lid and the truth is revealed, Morgan wipes out Adria and we're home in time for tea. Vala's relationship with Adria was skimmed over in favour of using it as a tool for Daniel to stall for time to open the ark, and then what? Vala's story in that sense feels unaddressed to me. Perhaps Cooper spent too much time focusing on her relationship with Tomin.

Sam and Cam in the infirmary at the end was very sweet. I don't mind this ship - in fact, I'm surprised that I haven't found myself writing fic about them yet.

The ending with them all standing in front of that gate yet again was so much better than the Unending finale - no cheesy lines, thank god.

I have also been talking with quarryquest for some time now about Daniel's torture scenes. From her descriptions I was already getting ideas about writing a little something like this:

"Oh God."

"Your gods cannot save you now Daniel Jackson"

"That's just a statement of general dis-satisfaction."

Interesting words. I did think of the possibility of a double meaning in those words. Not only has the Doci shown up, presumably to either preach or torture, but the ancients still sit around and do nothing about the priors or Adria's followers. This dis-satisfaction Daniel speaks of could also be placed in the context of his abandonment by the ancients.

He also rolls over, presumably hugging himself while in pain.


This is classic Daniel behaviour, but quarryquest is much more adept at reading body language than I. But, this move to me foreshadows his giving up.

While quite short, Daniel is still on his side during his second torture scene. He is also in a semi-foetal position (probably a coincidence that it mirrors and reflects the position he had in Fallen after his descension) and this is him realising that the 'gods' that he has placed a certain amount of faith in are not going to help him. His eyes fly open in realisation.


The third Daniel!prison scene finds Daniel in the same position, possibly sleeping. He hears Merlin's voice telling him not to give up, but he's past that now. He calls Morgan on it from the get go. Morgan/Merlin tells Daniel that he must find the strength within. (I could go on about the religious discourse underpinning the film, but that would deviate from the deconstruction on Daniel. It would make for a fascinating subject nonetheless.)

Daniel is not having a bar of it. He rolls on his back - showing his belly in submission to a situation that he just doesn't have any control over. Conceding defeat not only to the 'Ori', but to Morgan and ultimately, himself.

Daniel and Morgan/Merlin throw words around for a few moments before Daniel calls her on her disguise and Morgan reveals herself. Daniel's smile here is both ugly and saddening.

He sees their rules as a joke. He also calls in the debt owed to him by the ancients for destroying the Ori. Daniel cannot stand the great injustice in this and his voice breaks as he half cries "Then help us!"

This scene is a conga line of slaps in the face for Daniel. Morgan's refusal to help, and then her reasoning for not fighting Adria and indeed Daniel's finding out that Adria is there. each time Daniel lies back on the ground. Prostrated. Morgan explains that she has taken some steps at least (distracted Adria, giving Vala a chance to get them out, healed Teal'c), but Daniel starts to cry here, he raises his hands up to his face, shielding himself from Morgan's words.

But this is Daniel after all, and deep down, he cannot ignore her. He listens as she tells him what he can do to defeat the priors - in essence showing him that he in fact has more power over the situation than even the ancients do - and of course Daniel, even after giving up for himself, won't stop fighting for others - he is still looking for redemption - worthiness. And in a way, Morgan had just given it to him.

Comments

[whisper99.livejournal.com]

Great insight to the Daniel torture and Morgan scenes. :) RCC and Shanks both talk about this scene being Daniel facing 'god' or somesuch. I'll have to see if I can find the related quotes.

[magnavox-23.livejournal.com]

Coolies. I might have read then if they were done last year or something, but honestly, I didn't read that many spoilers for the movies, unlike the show when I couldn't get enough.

[whisper99.livejournal.com]

Ok, now I think I remember if you listen to the commentary track, you'll hear RCC talk about that scene.

[magnavox-23.livejournal.com]

I had the commentary on in the background when I was cleaning up the other day. I wasn't paying that much attention, so I should go back and listen to it properly.

[sg-wonderland.livejournal.com]

I don't know if you guys get the same commentary that we do in the States. If you do, I'd suggest skipping the first 15-20 minutes of commentary..unless you like endless discussion of what type of film to use...put me right to sleep.

[magnavox-23.livejournal.com]

Hehe. It is the same commentary, but for me, I have an interest in film and television so it was a little interesting for me.