The first page of this review is spoiler-free! If you don’t want to know any details about what has been changed in the new edition of “Children of the Gods,” just stop reading after this first page — or jump straight to the final page, linked below.
In the spring of 2008 Stargate SG-1 co-creator Brad Wright revealed in an interview with GateWorld that he and editor Brad Rines were revisiting “Children of the Gods,” the original 2-part pilot episode that started the franchise that now spans 12 years and 314 produced episodes (and counting …). He had come across the episode on television, and decided to fix the flaws and bring everything the Stargate team has learned in more than a decade. Stargate SG-1: Children of the Gods – Final Cut
is the realization of that vision, and it’s on DVD this week (North America).
The process consisted of several steps. The Brads returned to archival footage of original dailies, choosing some different takes, trimming some scenes, and restoring material previously cut. With advances in technology, it was then time to revisit the show’s visual effects — such as making the Stargate puddles look like the bluer, more polished version that emerged as the series went on. There were also audio issues to revisit, including some dialogue in need of replacement. And finally, the original episode’s somewhat awkward use of score from the 1994 “Stargate” movie had to be stripped out, and SG-1 composer Joel Goldsmith’s original work allowed to shine.
The result? Final Cut is a much better movie. The episode and its story are very much the same, so the nostalgia factor has not been paved over with a new super-highway. No, this is still the “Children of the Gods” that we know and love — but now it is better. All those points at which many fans would roll their eyes and think, “Well, it was the first episode — they got better as the show progressed” have been fixed or taken out.
It’s a great example of how a different cut of an episode can dramatically improve the overall quality. Much of what there is to like here is not just in the new material or improved visual effects — its in those differences that casual viewers (and even long-time fans) wouldn’t notice. Scenes shift placement; awkward dialogue is excised; and the pace drives the story forward in a more engaging way.
Among the changes in Final Cut: Almost all of the Stargate puddles have been updated.
The value of Goldsmith’s score for the Final Cut cannot be underestimated. David Arnold’s original film composition was a tremendous piece of art, but it was made for that film — not for this one. MGM owned the rights to the score, however, and understandably wanted to make strong connections between the movie and its spin-off TV series.
A desire to restore Goldsmith’s original work was one of the driving factors behind this project, and here it is truly allowed to shine. While there are still cues reminiscent of the 1994 movie, the Final Cut score is entirely original. The movie score felt tacked on, sometimes out of place with the on-screen action, and there was just too much of it. Here Wright and Goldsmith have given us a score that fits the story beats, that is (in Wright’s words) “more understated” than the bombastic music from the movie, and helps “Children of the Gods” feel like a original TV movie instead of a pilot that drew heavily on existing assets due to budget constraints.
When I first heard that this classic chapter of Stargate history was going under the knife for revision, I was a teensy bit worried. Much ado has been made over the revisionist editing of George Lucas, who did more than just restore deleted footage and improve the visual effects of Star Wars — he made Greedo shoot first. That decision retconned the Star Wars story and changed the sort of character Han Solo was. Would Brad Wright make the same sort of changes to Stargate?
For those interested in just what Children of the Gods – Final Cut looks like, on the following pages of this review we’ll discuss some of those changes. Some do consider those changes to be “spoilers,” however. If that’s you, jump past the analysis to our look at the bonus features on this release, or our spoiler-free conclusions.
Also beware of SPOILERS in the reader comments below.
NEXT: What has been cut?
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Meh, seems like it’s worth a rent, shame they cut the cliff hanger ending, that will muck up continuity.
kzap333 | July 20 @ 5:00 pmI probably will get it… but i will have to convenience myself a little to do it.
Tho i would like to see Heroes pt1&2 together… That is an awesome and one of my favorite episode(s)
darsfog | July 20 @ 5:15 pmThe only other and I mean ONLY other episodes I would like to see a ‘final cut’ of is Lost City, just so they can add in all the shots o Mitchel and maybe shot some more.
kzap333 | July 20 @ 5:23 pmApart from that I don’t think they should do any more re-cutting of episodes also am I the only one who prefers the silver gate puddle from the earlier seasons???
The newer SciFi seasons are good but nowhere near as good as 1, 2 and 3 in my opinion.
But the I will defiantly rent the DVD and probably buy it when the price goes under £5 ($7).
Its only $18 at my local Target. Cheapest place I could find.
Trekky | July 20 @ 5:30 pmThe effects look like a massive improvement and I’m glad they decided to tackle some of those nasty canon-violating errors and just plain oddities in the episode.
talyn2k1 | July 20 @ 5:40 pmYeah, I wish they’d left the final Kawalsky scenes in, but I understand why they’ve removed them so I won’t be worrying too much about that.
Will definitely be buying this when it comes out in the UK.
I liked SG-1 a LOT more back when it was less silly and cliche. So while some changes seem worthy, I’m a bit turned off by the mentioning of Brad having a final victory over the fights from 12 years ago.
Mrja84 | July 20 @ 5:43 pmGreat review! Interesting to hear about some of the changes that have been made, and I’m looking forward to watching the DVD.
But I’m surprised that you didn’t mention the improved picture quality with one word. At least I assume it looks much better than it used to – based on the new screenshots and Brad’s previous comments.
Earlier DVD releases of COTG (and the early seasons) suffered from heavy grain, so better picture quality is probably the number one thing I’m looking forward to with the recut version (along with RDA’s commentary).
NorwegianFan | July 20 @ 6:13 pmBy cutting the “sexual organs” line, they’ve lost the setup for the joke in “Birthright”, where O’Neill reverses the line’s genders.
Gilder | July 20 @ 6:47 pmI guess they have to do a final cut version of “Birthight” now
Donsta | July 20 @ 7:47 pmim definitely getting this! i dont care how much it costs!
Trak90 | July 20 @ 8:04 pmAmazon has been dropping the price over the last few weeks. As of right now, it’s $16.99 (down from $19.99 a week or two ago).
Darren Sumner | July 20 @ 8:43 pmThis sounds great. I heard some bad reviews but I dont see any changes mentioned that I have a problem with, and I actually like them all. And I dont think this is meant to replace the original pilot. Its more like a companion for the fans. There is no need to worry about missed references.
Clemontine | July 21 @ 1:01 amYour review is excellent; and while I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the version of Children of the Gods that has aired until now, you’ve made me want to see the re-cut version. I think the changes (deletions, modifications and additions) you discussed all seem really appropriate and – rarely am I EVER this enthusiastic about a review – but now I’m really anxious to get this new working of that episode. Thanks! :)
zack | July 21 @ 1:47 amNice review Darren. Thanks for taking the time to write this.
Having said that, I think I will be skipping this until it is down to bargain bin pricing. I don’t think I can stomach a Brad Wright vanity project.
I appreciate all of his efforts over the years, but it seems like Brad has once again ignored the fans, and has just done what he wants. SG-1: COTG has done just fine over the years in its original format and has become a part of established lore. It might seem nice to Brad to excise the “reproductive organ” line, but it then messes up lines in several episodes. Then by cutting out the scene where Kowalski is taken by the Goa’uld it prevents the new version from fitting with the next episode.
Why didn’t they take the money it cost on this and put it towards making another new SG-1 movie? Maybe make one with the Aschen, Jonas Quinn, Crystal Skull aliens, or something else the fans have requested for years, and yet been ignored. I just don’t see why they would butcher a classic ep that didn’t need to be changed.
To each their own, but I just don’t see the point.
Winnebagel1 | July 21 @ 10:35 amSound like just one ego, money making venture to me, and thus I will not be providing them with my money.
I actually prefer the previous version of the implantation of the sybiot.
Also the fight sequence at end was actually better in the original, I prefer the old one of the kind ship that Apophis use. And it certainly did not need changing.
The organ joke I actual thought it was funny and earned her respect in the room.
The only thing which could compel me to spend money on this would of been a massive special features lists, with stuff from universe, snoopers from the last 12 years and the two versions of the film, one with all the new digital remastering done to it by left all the scenes intact. The ego enhancing one we got now.
knowles2 | July 21 @ 11:25 amJust look a tru blood and the original and best STCOTG got nothing on the nudity front.
Thanks for the comments, everyone. A few people have commented on the continuity issue — the fact that the “reproductive organs” line is referenced (made fun of) a number of times in the series, and Kawalsky’s Goa’ulding playing out in the next episode.
First, if you watch “The Enemy Within” it clearly holds up as a story. We don’t need the reveal at the end of “COTG” to understand and enjoy the story. One might even argue that the mystery is better if it’s not telegraphed ahead of time.
As for the other: I don’t think Brad or anyone else is pretending that the original COTG goes away and this is its replacement. History and canon are still there; the original will continue to air and be in the DVD sets, and people will still watch it. He’s not saying “that never happened;” he’s saying “the movie is better this way.”
Darren Sumner | July 21 @ 2:06 pmThat’s a fair point about Enemy Within Darren, but it is still a scene that seems silly to take out. It just added to the portent of what was to come.
As far as Carter’s line, it has become famous in its own right, and has been referenced many times. Off hand I can recall after effects in 200, Morbius, and Birthright. Removing this will then impact all of those episodes and leave new fans in the dark when they watch those shows.
I beg to differ regarding Brad. Wasn’t it him who said, in an interview on Gateworld, that he wanted a new version to include in new sets and in eventual HD format(i.e. Blu Ray, etc.), and he was always ashamed because there were naughty bits showing in the pilot? I thought he said he wanted a new version to effectively do away with the original cut. Correct me if I am wrong, but I believe that is essentially what he said.
I still think the whole project is a redundency, and is not anything the fans ever asked for.
Winnebagel1 | July 21 @ 2:46 pmBrad did mention that an impetus was the need to go back to the original 35mm footage anyway in order to create a Blu-ray version (which we still don’t know is going to be released).
Here’s the exchange from the 2008 interview:
GW: Does the old “Children of the Gods” maybe go away? Will there be a TV version you can give to SCI FI to put in the rotation?
BW: The old “Children of the Gods” will never go away. I think fans are going to be mad at me for playing with it in the first place. It’s kind of the one I wish we made to begin with.
Darren Sumner | July 21 @ 3:04 pmI personally didn’t miss the ‘organs’ line. I did miss the MacGyver line, I thought that was one of the best lines in the episode when I first saw it years ago and I found that it was really startling when it wasn’t there.
arrakis44 | July 21 @ 3:08 pm@ Darren,
Okay. I stand corrected on what he said. Brad Wright was correct about the fact that many fans (including myself) are mad that he has decided to play with it, though. I think it is unnecessary and ultimately a waste of time IMHO. ;)
Winnebagel1 | July 21 @ 3:41 pmI’d err on the side of cutting him some slack. He described it as a “pet project,” something that he as an artist wanted to do because some elements of his work has always bothered him. He didn’t do it for fans, didn’t do it to make money — I think he did it for his own creative peace of mind.
Darren Sumner | July 21 @ 3:51 pmPeople are whining about how removing Sam’s ridiculous ‘reproductive’ line ruins jokes in later episodes. Okay, I’ll concede that. For example, it does ruin the little joke in Moebius that referenced this line. It’s really fortunate then that Moebius was a terrible episode (perhaps the worst of the entire series) that can be completely skipped without throwing off any continuity (thanks to Threads being such a fantastic conclusion.)
ZhaneEndrick | July 21 @ 4:03 pmOriginal is best. Too many cut scenes
mehteh | July 21 @ 5:04 pmI was just reading this and I got really bummed out. Why are you going to take one of the best lines in that whole episode out? That was Sam Carter’s biggest line in the whole movie, that line there told everyone watching that Sam Carter is a no BS kind of person, and she wants to be treated like a solider and not a woman who can’t do anything that the men can do. And that is how she was through the whole series she was a no BS kind of solider.
genjacksgrl90 | July 21 @ 5:11 pm