Stargate: The Ark of Truth (2008)
Dir. Robert C. Cooper
The weekly SG-1 series ended with Season 10, but the story of the Ori didn't - there was some ambiguity over whether or not the Tau'ri's plan to destroy the aggressors was entirely successful or not. TV Movie Ark of Truth remedies that. I don't know why it drops the SG-1 designation from the title, but it's SG-1 in every way.
There's an optional catch-up prelude (approx nine mins) to refresh the memory of anyone who may need it, but seeing as how I went from S10 to TAoT in less than 24 hours, I didn't watch it.
The opening music turns much more dramatic as it leads into the opening scene, which was a nice touch, familiar but different at the same time.
After a short scene set many, many years before present day, we catch up with some members of the team as they hunt for the titular ark. The location is clearly a soundstage pretending to be an outdoor location, but it looks pretty.
Mostly it does things by the book, with two distinct but connected plot threads happening simultaneously, the story flicking back and forth between them from time to time. Each one has its primary villain, but there's also an IOA member to contend with; i.e. a bureaucrat, and if there's one thing you can rely on an ego in a suit to do, it's to screw up everyone else's day.
The danger level is high, and even though in the end it comes down to what's essentially an old fashioned Good vs Evil battle, it explores a few interesting themes along the way, including the role of freedom of will, and asks how can one defeat a philosophy; even if a godhead is toppled, the priests, followers, and teachings can endure and continue to inspire or corrupt.
Teal'c's (Christopher Judge) motivations aren't as key as they could've been, but the story still manages to illustrate once again that any man or woman who has him on their side is blessed.
General Landry (Beau Bridges) even gets a couple of decent scenes in which he isn't bland.
- All the cast pics I had were spoilery, so here's a dull one of the Ark instead. -
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