Differences between Stargate and Stargate SG-1: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 08:30, 3 September 2007

Revision as of 18:53, 27 September 2007

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Although the movie ''[[Stargate (film)|Stargate]]'' and the television series ''[[Stargate SG-1]]'' share similar names, there is a number of differences in the [[canon (fiction)|canon]] of these fictional works. Through official production notes, scripts, and subsequent text and graphic novel series, [[Roland Emmerich]] and [[Dean Devlin]] created a rich backstory and universe.{{OR|date=September 2007}} When MGM decided to make a TV series based on the movie, new creators [[Brad Wright]] and [[Jonathan Glassner]] introduced many novel concepts, changing many aspects of the film's backstory and universe.

==Changes to the Stargate==

[[Image:Wormhole_old.jpg|thumb|Movie and SG-1 wormhole from Seasons 1-8.]][[Image:New_wormhole.jpg|thumb|TV show wormhole in Season 9 and later.]]

After the ''SG-1'' television series got a greenlight from MGM, the original [[Stargate (device)|stargateStargate device]] prop was considered to be re-used. The prop was found on a studio backlot, weather-beaten beyond usability for the TV series. A cast was made instead, and several new stargateStargate props were constructed from it for use in the gate room and on-___location shooting.

* The [[chevron (Stargate)|chevron]]s in the ''Stargate'' film do not glow as they do in the series.

* The top chevron on the film's stargateStargate is different aesthetically than the rest of its chevrons. In ''SG-1'', all the chevrons on a stargate are visually identical.

* In the film, to "lock" in a stargateStargate symbol, each chevron "pops" or "clamps" the symbol in question to dial it. In ''SG-1'', only the top chevron "pops" when dialing an address, while the other chevrons merely light up and do not clamp.

* The symbols on the film's gate are engraved into the surface of the stargateStargate. In ''SG-1'''s universe, the symbols protrude from the gates' surface.

* In the film, each stargateStargate has a unique set of 39 symbols, but in the series, each gate has the same 38 symbols (Earth's symbols based on Earth's constellations), minus a single point of origin symbol that is unique to that individual gate.

*The sound effects for the stargateStargate were completely re-done for SG-1; none of the stargate's sound effects from the film were used.

In the DVD commentary for the ''Stargate'' film, it was mentioned that the [[kawoosh]] effect in the movie was created by filming the actual swirl of water in a glass tube. On the TV series, this effect was completely created in [[Computer graphics|CG]] by the Canadian [[visual effects]] company ''Rain Maker.''<ref>''Stargate Magic: Inside The Lab.'' Special feature on [[Stargate SG-1 DVD]] Volume 37 (Lost City).</ref> Further [[event horizon]]/[[wormhole]] differences include:

*As part of its operation, the film's stargateStargate (when activated) features a vortex or "tail" on the back of the Gate that resembles an inverted whirlpool. In ''SG-1'', both the front and the back of the stargateStargate are identical, in that both sides resemble a placid pool of water.

*The film's stargateStargate has a "pool" of a silver colour, which has the appearance of mercury, with a highly rippled surface. In ''SG-1'', the "pool" (or event horizon) is bluish, and seems to be more viscous.

*At the beginning of Season 9, the original movie wormhole sequence was substituted by a new sequence similar to the one already used on ''[[Stargate Atlantis]]'', but being blue as it was in the movie and SG-1, whereas in Atlantis it's green.

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* O'Neil's son was named ''Tyler'' in the film, whereas O'Neill's son from SG-1 is named Charlie.

* Dr. Jackson's wife's name was ''Sha'uri'' in the film, rather than ''Sha're'' in SG-1.

* [[French Stewart]]'s character was named Louis Feretti. In ''SG-1'', [[Brent Stait]]'s character is named [[Louis Ferretti]] (with two R's).

* Whereas the film's stargateStargate resides in the fictional military facility located in Creek Mountain, the stargateStargate in ''SG-1'' is in the [[Cheyenne Mountain]] military complex.

==Other changes==

[[Image:Ra_original_humanoid.jpg|thumb|Concept drawing of Ra's original humanoid form by [[Patrick Tatopoulos]]. [http://www.tatopoulosstudios.net/mainpage.html] ]]

* In the ''Stargate'' film, Ra is the last of an unnamed race, which is a humanoid species with large black eyes and a lack of facial features, not very dissimilar to the [[Asgard (Stargate)|Asgard]]. In ''SG-1'' however, Ra is one of many "[[Goa'uld]] [[System Lord]]s," who are a race of parasitic snake-like creatures.

* In the film, the [[planet]] [[Abydos (Stargate)|Abydos]] resides millions of [[lightyear]]s away in an entirely different [[galaxy]]. In ''SG-1'', Abydos is the closest planet to [[Earth]] that has a stargateStargate, residing in the same galaxy as Earth. Also in ''SG-1'', stargateStargate travel is limited to the stargateStargate network in the [[Milky Way galaxy]] (unless a tremendous amount of power is used to lengthen the subspace wormhole of a stargateStargate to another galaxy's stargateStargate).

* The film used more complex special effects than the series. For example, the film's [[ring transporter]]s consist of nine rings that stack on top of one another, whereas only five more widely spaced rings are ever used in ''SG-1''. The film version shows the transported person or object dematerialize and the particles move towards the destination. In the television series, a yellow-orange light would vertically sweep through the interiors of the rings, usually sweeping upward, even when the destination is below.

* The stargateStargate on Abydos in the film is deep within the center of the [[pyramid]], down a ramp from the main atrium room with pillars. In ''SG-1'', the stargateStargate and transporter rings are positioned in the main atrium with the pillars.

* The [[hand device]] used by Ra in the Stargate film differs greatly in appearance from the hand devices used by the Goa'uld in SG-1. The Sarcophagus is also vastly different in appearance.

Other differences might stem from accidental oversights. Some of them have been addressed in the series as either advances in technology or in-jokes.

* The first time Daniel Jackson sees the stargateStargate is after he figures out the seven-coordinate address system, but in the TV episode "[[Lost City (Stargate SG-1)|Lost City]]", he tells [[Elizabeth Weir (Stargate)|Elizabeth Weir]] that "I remember when we were first trying to get the stargate to work, I would just come here, and stare at it for hours."

* In the episode "[[The Torment of Tantalus (Stargate SG-1)|The Torment of Tantalus]]", it was clearly stated [[Catherine Langford]] was twenty-one in 1945, which would make her about four years old in 1928. However, she is much older in the opening sequence of the film, which is set in that year.

* In the episode "[[Children of the Gods (Stargate SG-1)|Children of the Gods]]", O'Neill told General Hammond that their "first clue" Ra was an alien was the fact that his eyes glowed. In the film, O'Neil did not encounter Ra until after Daniel Jackson had discovered he was an alien.