Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, October 29, 1994 TAG: 9411010028
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: B-12 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: MIKE MAYO CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Imagine a sort of Cecil B. deSpielberg production that might be called "Close Encounters with the Ten Commandments." The sets and special effects are the real stars of the piece, though the actors acquit themselves well.
The story begins in Egypt, 1928, where an archaeologist discovers this real big thingamabob under the sand. Flash forward to the present. Egyptologist Daniel Jackson (James Spader) can't find an audience for his controversial ideas until he is approached by Catherine (Viveca Lindfors), daughter of the original archeologist.
It turns out that the thingamabob is a StarGate, which has been placed in the tender loving care of the U.S. Army. The soldiers have almost figured out how to make the darned thing work, but they can't quite read the instructions, which are written in hieroglyphics. Col. Jack O'Neil (Kurt Russell), the officer in charge, is tight-lipped as to what plans his team has for its use, assuming Jackson can figure out how to turn it on.
Of course, it wouldn't be fair to reveal how things work out, but the second half the film is a throwback to the sand-and-sandals movies of the 1950s, and the final key character is Ra, played by Jaye Davidson. He provides some surprises, though none as memorable as the one he provided in "The Crying Game."
"StarGate" works best on the "Oh, Wow!" level, when the big visual effects come into play. In that area, effects supervisor Jeffrey A. Okun does first-rate work. Patrick Tatopoulos's creature effects aren't as striking, though there's nothing wrong with them. Throughout, the production values are first-rate.
Director Roland Emmerich, who wrote the script with Dean Devlin, delivers what he promises. The pace is brisk, and even though much of the action is familiar to some moviegoers, it won't be to younger viewers. And they should be the film's most enthusiastic audience.
Though it may not fit conventional definitions of the term, "StarGate" is a terrific date movie.
StarGate
** 1/2
An MGM/Le Studio Canal+ release playing at the Salem Valley 8 and Valley View Mall 6. 119 min. Rated PG-13 for language, effects, violence.
by CNB