DVD Review by David Blackwell

DETAILS: 872 minutes, 20 audio commentaries, featurettes, still galleries

STUDIO: MGM/ 20th century Fox Home Entertainment

RELEASE DATE: 3-6-2007

VIDEO: 1.78:1 (Anamorphic Widescreen)

AUDIO: English 5.1, French 2.0 Dolby Surround

Subtitles: English, Spanish

DISC 1- THE SIEGE Part 3/ THE INTRUDER/ RUNNER/ DUET

DISC 2- CONDEMNED/ TRINITY/ INSTINCT/ CONVERSION

DISC 3- AURORA/ THE LOST BOYS/ THE HIVE/ EPIPHANY

DSIC 4- CRITICAL MASS/ GRACE UNDER PRESSURE/ THE TOWER/ THE LONG GOODBYE

DISC 5- COUP D'ETAT/ MICHAEL/ INFERNO/ ALLIES

PREMISE: Stargate Command send a team to another galaxy to take control of Atlantis as an outpost for Earth. The team lead by Dr. Elizabeth Weir and Lt. Colonel Sheppard face an ancient threat that has been awaken- The Wraith (an old enemy of the Ancients). The end of season one brought assistance from Earth in the form of the starship Daedalus.

ANALYSIS: STARGATE ATLANTIS had a strong first season, but season 2 had me worried that the writing was going downhill. They introduced a new regular, Ronon Dex, while the writers struggled to do thing with Ford still despite changes to his character resulting from a Wraith encounter. Again, the show sparked to life again at the end with MICHAEL and ALLIES. CRITICAL MASS is also one of the better ones too. I just wish season 2 was as strong as season 1, but maybe the writers are struggling with what direction the show should take and how to develop the characters. Despite it's flaws, it is a better season than season 2 of SG-1. Season 3 has some of the same flaws, but the great episodes show the potentional for a great spin-off series that will hopefully be around beyond season 4.

SPECIAL FEATURES: Cast members contribute to many of the 20 episode audio commentaries along with crew (directors, writers). David Hewlett (McKay) contributes to many of them while others only contribute to one or two episodes while STARGATE SG-1 actor Gary Jones joins in and Amanda Tapping (Colonel Carter) shows up for GRACE UNDER PRESSURE. The audio commentaries are more lively on ATLANTIS more than the SG-1 ones.

Still Photo and Production Design galleries are on each disc.

Featuretes on the set are

DISC 1-

Mission Directive: THE SEIGE Parte 3 with Director Martin Wood

Mission Directive: THE INTRUDER with Director Peter DeLuise

DISC 2-

Mission Directive: INSTINCT with Director Andy Mikita

Introduction to a Character: Ronon Dex

DISC 3-

Road To Dream with Writer Martin Gore

DISC 4-

Profile On David Hewlett

Stargate Atlantis: Stunts

DISC 5-

Profile On Paul McGillon

FINAL ANALYSIS: Season 2 was a bumpy road for STARGATE ATLANTIS like STAGATE SG-1 Season 9. Both have weak episodes and strong ones. The extras are extensive on the season 2 set. So buy it now.

Related DVD Review:

STARGATE SG-1 Season 9-  http://enterline2.tripod.com/stargatesg1_season9.html

this review is (c)3-8-2007 David Blackwell and cannot be reprinted without permission (except for excerpts and a link to the review). Look for additional content at http://enterlinemedia.livejournal.com and send all comments to lord_pragmagtic@hotmail.com