The Movie: Stargate is a classic film that just refuses to crumble under the test of time. Already 5 years old, Stargate was ahead of it's time. Stargate follows a group of men as they transcend our galaxy and enter another galaxy far away. Here they encounter a primitive civilization where writing and reading have been banned. Led by Kurt Russel along with David Spader the scientist of the team, they must find a way not only to save this primitive race from their tyrannical ruler, but also find a way to get back through the Stargate.

The movie is visually stunning and although the special effects at times look dated, they still are spectacular. Stargate is a great science fiction film with plenty of action and adventure. The movie delivers every time and stand up under repeated viewing.

The Picture: Stargate contains many visually stunning scenes and the DVD represents them perfectly. From the dark scenes inside the pyramid to the bright Egyptian desert, the picture never falters and is very crisp and clear.

The Sound: The sound really stands out on this disc. The soundtrack is exceptional and all 5 of the speakers were utilized masterfully with the Dolby 5.1. At times, the rear speakers really stood out and the DVD really deliverd a all-around great sounding experience.

The Extras: The extras, are sparse given this is a Special Edition disc. Although it does contain two versions of the movie and a commentary, that's about it. The teaser and trailer are to be expected as are the cast and crew bios and production notes. The extended version of this movie is a treat however, with 9 minutes of additional footage and if you listen to the commentary, which is overlayed on top of the extended version, they give reasons why scenes were cut or edited the way they were. I enjoyed the extended cut more than the theatrical release which they cut down due to time restrictions, which makes no sense since it was only 9 minutes. I also enjoyed the commentary to a point. While not the best commentary on a disc, it did give some insight into the movie, including why scenes were cut, where they cut corners on cost, and other tidbits.

Conclusion: In conclusion, for $29.98, you are getting two versions of the same movie, but the Special Edition label may be a little misleading. I would have liked to see a behind-the-scenes documentary or interviews with the cast or just something other than an alternate cut and a commentary by the director and co-writer. I enjoyed the disc and thought the picture and sound were spectacular. Even though some of the animation and special effects seem a little dated, the movie is a true gem. This Special Edition DVD, while not decked out with features is still a worthy addition to any DVD collection.