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Final Cut 
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Release: Oct 17, 2010 - Author: Jason - Translator: Tony Montana
- external link: IMDB
Shortly after the very successful Stargate movie by Roland Emmerich premiered in movie theaters, he and producer Dean Devlin came up with ideas for a sequel. But the right holders had different plans: they prefered the idea of producing a tv series. Emmerich & Devlin couldn't deal with the concept because it was way too different from what they had come up with, so they didn't want to be involved anymore and quit. That's why Brad Wright & Jonathan Glassner took over control as screenwriter and executive producer and produced a pilot for the US Pay TV network Showtime. The idea itself and the realization breathed new life into the genre, which was almost the same (e.g. the Star Trek universe with a lot of movies and series). The critics, who also hadn't liked the Emmerich movie, didn't like the pilot, but the audience seemed to like it pretty much. That's why 4 seasons were produced until the series got cancelled, nonetheless a 5th season was produced. Then the network changed from Showtime to SciFi-Channel and due to the high ratings and the increasing fanbase, the series Stargate SG-1 finally made it to 10 seasons. The rest is history: the series got many awards in the categories best performance, art direction & special effects, . 2007 the series was registered for the longest-running series without interruption in the Guinness Book of Records and two spin-offs followed. One of them was "Stargate Atlantis" and it was as successful as the original and made it to 5 seasons. The other one was a cartoon series, furthermore two follow-up movies of "Stargate SG-1" were released and finalized some plots from season 10 because originally, an 11th season was planned but it was never realized. That's why another solution had to be found. In the fall of 2009, the franchise continued with the third non-cartoon series "Stargate Universe" in the US. The series has a nice cast with well-known actors like Robert Carlyle and Lou Diamond Phillips. Furthermore some well-known characters from the original series "Stargate SG-1" have some cameos. It's no big secret that executive producer/writer Brad Wright & Jonathan Glassner could't get along with each other pretty well. They often had different ideas and visions about the content of the scenes, the score or humour in the series. It didn't happen seldomly that one of them designed sth., the other one scratched it and the first one put it in again defiantly - and that was finally shot and part of the series. During the production of the pilot, both of them had also some disagreements with the director Mario Azzopardi because they weren't satisfied with the footage he had shot. As a result of that, Mario Azzopardi only directed 4 more episodes of season 1 and that's it. For good measure, Showtime also enforced their demands about the content of the pilot. The best-known example is the infamous "Full Frontal Nudity Scene", which of course was NOT designed by the creators like this. But Showtime wanted a higher rating for its premiere to draw interest of the younger adults as well. Especially Brad Wright had sth. entirely different in mind. He wanted a more family-friendly concept, which could be watched together with the complete family. The pilot was supposed to be more subtle, less loud and more serious without any shallow humor. He also was in advance of his time when it came to the special effects and how they should be financed. The final sequence in particular was expected completely different. He thought it was way too stretched and too feeble in the key moments, like the fight with the glider. Approx. 2 1/2 years ago, almost at the same time when the follow-up movies "The Ark of Truth" & "Continuum" were produced, the time had come to adjust the pilot according to Wright's ideas and to make it a match with the rest of the franchise. A version, which doesn't look like a pilot all the time, was planned. Instead it was supposed to look like a stand-alone product by today's standards. He got every available sample, went through the whole withdrawn footage, hired people for the editing, sound & dialog and got some actors back in the studio for a redub. The editings are pretty strong: technically, the old version has been completely renewed, not just slightly adjusted. Some scenes have been summarized for a better pace, others have been completely removed (e.g. Wright had problems with the harem scene from the beginning because he considered it inappropiate plus the set looked a lot like the temple on Chulak, where the SG-Team was going to be attacked and beaten by Apophis). For further scenes, different or alternate angles have been used and some footage was added. As a matter of fact, some entirely new unshown footage was put in as well. The score has been changed in some key scenes, e.g. the attack of the Stargate Center, the confrontation of Apophis & Teal'c in the cell and the final sequence, to the previous really amazing score by Joel Goldsmith (Brad Wright said too much of David Arnold's score has been mixed with the score by Goldsmith until it finally was nothing but noises). Other scenes look better due to a lack or a very slight usage of score. The dialogs have been edited, too. A lot of lines which, according to Wright, just displayed the onscreen happenings ("Here O'Neill. Your lighter!") have been completely removed, others have been redubbed to make it more homogenous or more reasonable. As a result of that, the necessary new calculation of the gate coordinates by Carter is not being explained with the extension of the universe (which would be pretty senseful at a time about 50,000 years ago). Instead it is being explained with planetary changed within the star systems. Teal'c's dialog is completely new now, in former times he sounded reluctantly funny even though he spoke completely normal in the following series. This mistake has been cut out in the Final Cut. Furthermore Teal'c's doubts about his Goa'uld master and his leap of faith are more obvious. Last but not least: the special effects in the final sequence are more sophisticated. The space ships/gliders match with the ones in the actual series now plus die SG-Teams are fighting against two gliders now, not one. The violence has also been decreased in the action sequences and some few have been replaced by more family-friendly shots (marked with red writing in the following comparison). The most obvious difference is the fact that all nudity shots by Sha're actress Vaitiare Bandera have been replaced by shots without explicit nudity. Footage like that doesn't belong in a pilot of a sci-fi series anyway. The result is pretty good. The movie seems to be straighter now and the score fits much better, especially the before-mentioned final sequence has a much better pace now, thanks to removal and editing of scenes that are just way too lang. Improved alternate shots and footage to link two shots top it off. 95% of the shots are different, some slightly, some radically. Sometimes it's just a zoomed image, a slightly different angle of the same shot or another take of the same scene (as a result of that the acting is slightly different). More often shots of other participants have been used in the same order of the scenes or some related shots have been replaced by another one, which still contains the same plot in the same period of time. All that is being presented in a different order of the scenes or just earlier/later. That's why a "normal" comparison, where all the details of any difference is being mentioned, no matter what, is impossible and would be kind of senseless. We gave it a shot but we quit after 15 min. running time. If the footage, which was available at that point, was being grossed up to the entire running time the text file of the comparison would be four times bigger as it anyway and it would contain 1000-1200 screenshots (depending on how many screenshots would have been used). Nobody would like to read sth. like that. That's why we decided to summarize it, built up in the following way: first the content of the scene related to the differences that were made. The most important things, which are NOT related to some old missing scenes or some new scenes and which are things like alternate angles of the same scene, alternate order of the scenes with the same running time, are mentioned briefly and, if necessary, the impact of this is being described. Below this description one can find the length of the Original Version & the Final Cut. Then a listing of the scene apart from all the alternate footage adiitionally ONLY in one of the versions plus the lenght of the difference, as usual. Some examples for alternate footage with the same plot or increased special effects are being given here and there. Alternate footage, which really changes the content (e.g. the glider fight in the final sequence), is being mentioned without any exception of course. There's no time index of the whereabouts in the movie - it wouldn't make any sense because in a lot of cases it's pretty hard to define for the other version. As a result of that the info would be pretty unprecise, so we decided to go without it. WELL. Who made it till here is going to make it till the end. ;-) On that note: Enjoy reading.
Compared are the Original Version of the Pilot, represented by the German DVD (FSK 16), and the Final Cut, also released by MGM/20th Century Fox and represented by the UK DVD (BBFC 15).
Original Version
Text box "Showtime Presents" before the MGM logo. 4 sec
Final Cut Short new opening credits with leading actor Richard Dean Anderson, the title of the series "Stargate SG-1" and the title of the pilot "Children of the Gods". All that happens with a partial shot of the earth as background until the camera turns slowly to the surface. It gets faster through the blanket of clouds and ends with a high-angle shot of the soldiers playing cards at the table. 35 sec
Substantially, the Goa'ulds' intrusion of the Stargate Center is the same in both versions. Technically, the Final Cut is slightly summarized, some more or less redudant footage has been removed. Furthermore, there are lots of alternate shots which show the same or a similar scene, but from a different angle and sometimes from another point of view. Some shots only contain alternate angles of the scene, a shot begins a couple of frames earlier here and there or it is a couple of frames longer. The most conspicuous scene is the one with the soldier on the phone. In the Final Cut, he pulls his gun much earlier than he does in the Original Version and points it at the gate.
Original Version Right at the beginning, a soldier goes to the other card-playing guards at the Stargate Center and joins them. Then a change of the angle from medium long shot to a close-up of the table, afterwards the camera circles. The Final Cut starts later when one of the soldiers plays his second last card. 26 sec
Original Version Pan shot to the other soldier who explains they were running out of money for the project and that's the reason why the staff budget had been reduced. 5 sec
Original Version The playing soldier also asks another one if he wanted to pass. 3 sec
Original Version Extended shot of the soldier taking the ramp at a run, intercut to the wrapped gate included. Suddenly the ramp starts moving, due to the vibration caused by the gate, and the soldier backs off. 12.5 sec
Original Version Extended shot of the dialing gate while the clueless-looking soldiers are being shown several times. A soldier mentions that clearly had never happened before. 8 sec
Final Cut Shot of a soldier on the phone. 1.5 sec
Original Version Additional shot of Apophis yelling "Jaffa! Kre!", then the camera turns right to Teal'c. 3 sec
Original Version Teal'c tosses his weapon away, Apophis tortures the soldier with a lamp. One of the soldier yells at him to let off her. 13 sec
Final Cut Apophis gives the order to attack/kill. 1.5 sec
In the following shootout with the soldiers & the Goa'uld, the order of the scenes has been changed plus the scenes are presented mirror-inverted. As a result of that, shots from the left are now from the right, soldiers walking from left to right are walking from right to left now etc. Besides that, the footage is almost identical. The Original Version contains some more minor shots.
It's quite remarkable that the two Goa'uld soldiers, who get killed under fire, can take many hits in the Original Version. In the Final Cut instead, they get down as soon as they get hit. As a result of that, all close-ups of the direct hits which almost cause no damage have been removed in the Final Cut.
Additional shots of the Original Version
Additional shots of the Final Cut
The scenes themselves are identical, except the fact that alternate footage and different angles have been used. And again some more minor shots in the Original Version.
Original Version Additional shot of the soldiers passing the security door which closes automatically. 3 sec
Final Cut Three soldiers take up position on the other side of the room. 1.5 sec
Original Version Long shot of the soldiers lowering their weapons because of Hammond's order. 1.5 sec
Original Version Additional shot of General Hammond after the shot of Apophis & Gefolge on the ramp. 3 sec
Original Version Now the opening credits, well-known from the TV series Stargate SG-1. 59 sec
In the Original Version, the title of the pilot "Children of the Gods" pops up, followed by some more credits. In the Final Cut instead, further credits of the cast, producer etc. (begins slightly earlier with the arrival of the vehicle). The conversation between Samuels & O'Neill remains technically unchanged, so does the arrival at the Stargate Center. Nevertheless there are some different angles or order of scenes, but the plot itself is still the same.
Original Version O'Neill also asks if Samuels was from the Air Force. Samuels confirms and adds he was the General's personal adjutant. 5.5 sec
Final Cut O'Neill also says he was pretty busy and Samuels sarcastically replies he could see that. 3 sec
Original Version Extended shot of the arriving vehicle at the area, then the elevator going down. 5 sec
The coversations in Hammond's office and the morgue are different in the Final Cut. Most of the time it's exactly the opposite in the other version, which means: Hammond & the soldiers in the background in one version, O'Neill walking around in the other. Generally, the Final Cut shows more shots of different people but the actual content is almost the same. The footage, which has been removed in the Final Cut, is just trivial.
Example for the use of improved alternate footage in the Final Cut: Some shots of Hammond & O'Neill in the morgue are zoomed more / less, depending on the version. This has been done to make it more look like a movie in theaters / a tv series.
Final Cut Earlier beginning of the shot of General Hammond in his office. 3 sec
Original Version The general thinks about his retirement, what he's going to do then. He thinks about becoming a writer, then he asks Jack if he had ever thought about releasing a novel about his adventures. Jack replies he had, but he had to shoot everyone who had read it. Due to the reaction of the other attendents, he adds that was just a joke and all his assignments were classified. 24.5 sec
Final Cut Shot of Hammond, who says it obvious O'Neill was retired and he (Hammond) was envious. 2.5 sec
Final Cut The medic swings the lamp to the dead body of the other (female) Goa'uld, uncovers it and says (refering to the open belly) those could be found in everyone, no matter which gender. 10 sec
Original Version Additional shot of O'Neill before he returns to Hammond's office. 3 sec
Final Cut Hammond asks O'Neill to sit down, who just keeps on watching Kawalsky & Ferretti taking a seat in the conference room. 5.5 sec
The conversation in front of the gate is the same and so is the scene with O'Neill & Kawalsky in the cell. But the Final Cut has been shortened here. Not only that some parts of the plot are missing, but also some shots are shorter due to some footage removal. And that's not it. While one version contains a shot of O'Neill, the other version contains a shot of Hammond or Kawalsky. To sum it up one can say that the Final Cut is the better version here.
Original Version A technican also puts the detonator into the bombs and activates it. 3 sec
Original Version General Hammond adds the gate on Abydos needed to be destroyed to avoid another alien attack. O'Neill tries to stop him first, but Hammond explains the coutdown had already been started. 15 sec
Original Version Hammond informs the technican that he wants the bomb to detonate as scheduled. O'Neill attempts to intervene because he doesn't want innocent people on Abydos getting hurt. Hammond justifies this action by explaining on earth were innocent people as well. O'Neill seems to understand while Hammond is making clear he had also his orders and he was going to obey. 13.5 sec
Original Version Kawalsky says he didn't know that O'Neill had a son. He gloomily replies his son had died before the Abydos mission. Kawalsky expresses his condolences. 23 sec
Final Cut Kawalsky looks satisfied after Hammond explained to him he was open for suggestions. 1 sec
Making contact with Daniel on Abydos is almost identical as well. Again some alternate angles in both versions. A lot of these scenes are slightly extended in the Original Version and so are a few in the Final Cut.
Original Version Some more technican activitiesm while the gate is dialing. 2 sec
Original Version Ditto. sec
Final Cut Samuels mentions to send a message, O'Neill and Kawalsky reply simultaneously that could be done by everyone. 8 sec
Original Version Harriman comments the way of the object through the wormhole which is also on the surveillance equipment. 10 sec
Final Cut In opposite to the Original Version, O'Neill stands in front of the interactive stargate in the Final Cut. Then he runs across the ramp to the command center. 10 sec
The content of the briefing is equal in both versions. But still the Final Cut has been shortened here, some superfluous dialogs are missing here. Furthermore the usual alternate takes here and some slightly extended scenes there, nothing spectacular. That really enhances the new version.
Final Cut External shot of the Cheyenne Mountain Complex. 4 sec
Original Version Now a dumb dialog with Sam & Kawalsky and the man sitting next to him about playing with dolls. 11.5 sec
Original Version Carter enlightens O'Neill about the fact that the technology of the gate had been studied for two years before he started his first mission. He also tells him he couldn't manage that they didn't have to take part at the upcoming mission. O'Neill wants to reply, but unfortunatly he refers to her academic degree instead of her rank at the Air Force. Sam doesn't like it at all and makes herself clear by explaining it had to be done the other way around and adds she was an officer at the Air Force, just like him. Furthermore she determines she wasn't less qualified for the job than he was, just because her reproduction organs are internally, not externally. Hammond confirms the fact that her participation was irrevocable. The other crew members laugh gloatingly. Now a clear improvement in the Final Cut. The two before-mentioned scenes contain completely useless footage which is supposed to be funny. It doesn't match at all and seems like a foreign element, so it is completely and utterly righteous that these scenes have been removed for the Final Cut. 37 sec
Final Cut Sam smiles at O'Neill who lowers his degorative look. 7 sec
The trip to Abydos or, to be more exact the arrival, is contentual equal. But especially the scenes in the pyramid and Daniel's encounter with the Abydonians has been shortened in many scenes of the Final Cut to conclude it a bit. The same with the following dinner scene.
Example for the use of alternate footage with the same content:
Original Version Sam & O'Neill in front of the ramp, having a trivial conversation. When Carter goes up the ramp, he also says they were going to like them when he knew them. Jack replies he already worshipped them. 16.5 sec
Original Version Extended shot of astonished-looking Carter in front of the gate. He philosophizes about the energy he needs and touches the energy horizon once. 9 sec
The trip through the wormhole is being presented by the well-known footage from the former motion picture, which has also been used in the seasons 1 to 8. In the Final Cut, the renewed version has been used, which has also been used in season 9 and 10. As a matter of fact, all following shots have been changed as well, but that is not being mentioned explicitly anymore.
Final Cut Another shot of Sam & O'Neill after the invitation for dinner, then they get moving. Feretti welcomes Skaara, then intercut to the desert landscape. 14 sec
The cutscene of Abydos is different in both versions. The Original Versions contains several shots, the Final Cut a much better-looking single shot (the Final Cut is more sinister here).
Final Cut The dinner begins earlier: O'Neill says M.I.T. wouldn't be very amused if he knew that the probe was being used as cooking utensils. Daniel replies shyly it was very battered after hitting barrier in front of the gate. He adds it was perfect for cooking due to its consistency. 19 sec
Original Version The general exhilaration after O'Neill sipped at Skaara's special drink is extended, it contains more angles. 6.5 sec
Original Version Intercut to the exit of the pyramid. 2.5 sec
Different shots of the pyramid. The shot in the Original Version is unquestionable the better one, the shot in the Final Cut looks very artificial. Due to a nice dissolve to a second shot, the Original Version is longer.
Now the first time that the order of the scenes has been completely changed: the room with the uncountable gate coordinates, found by Daniel and now being shown to the SG-Team, in the Original Version. The Final Cut starts with the kidnapped soldier Apophis wants to offer to his queen Amaunet as host. Details to that scene when it appears in the Original Version.
Original Version O'Neill tells Daniel onscreen he didn't have much time and wants to know what the map was about. Daniel explains, also onscreen, it was about many more gate coordinates. 13.5 sec
Final Cut The same dialog in the Final Cut with different footage. To be exact, the Final Cut contains a tracking shot of one of these maps. Sam stands in front of it and films. 15.5 sec
Original Version Daniel adds he had also tried to type in the different gate coordinates from Abydos, but it hadn't worked at all. He continues he assumed that the target areas had been destroyed or at least burried. Sam answers she couldn't imagine that. 10 sec
Original Version Kawalsky wants to know what they had found out. Sam explains more sophisticated civilisations could calculate the stellar modifications of the gate coordinates. Then O'Neill asks if other regions could be reached by using the gate and Sam tells him the aliens could intrude from anywhere. 21 sec
Final Cut In the Final Cut, O'Neill asks earlier if other regions could be reached by using the gate and Sam & Daniel reply it should be possible. Sam wants to film the maps one by one to calculate the working coordinates on earth. O'Neill agrees indifferently. 25.5 sec
Original Version External shot of the pyramide. 2.5 sec
The attack of the Goa'ulds on Abydos is technically identical, but the order of the scenes varies in the Final Cut. Basically, the soldiers can hang on longer, which means: some of them die later in the Final Cut while some Abydonians die earlier. Here's also the first difference due to censorship. It's almost the same with the return of O'Neill, Daniel, Sam & Kawalsky to the spot of action and the preparations for the return to earth. A lot of scenes are in a different order, the content remains unchanged. A couple of shots begin earlier in the Original Version, some others are longer in the Original Version. Alternate angles are also included, as usual. Almost the same with the arrival at the Stargate Center.
Final Cut Internal distance shot of the pyramid. 3.5 sec
Original Version Distance shot of the crowds' disbandment while the gate is dialing. 3.5 sec
Original Version The first shots by the Goa'ulds miss some escaping Abydonians. 2 sec
Final Cut The black soldier, who finds himself half-covered, is being shot at. Apophis comes through the gate (in the Original Version he appears out of nowhere and is just there). 4.5 sec
Original Version An Abadonian gets killed by a very graphic hit in the back. 3 sec
Original Version Two shots of the battle field and the dead Abydnians, Sha're looks anxiously around the post. 6 sec
Final Cut O'Neill leaves the mise-en-scène and is on his way to Daniel. Kawalsky comes to Sam & Ferretti and starts with the medical treatment. 4 sec
Final Cut Kawalsky looks at Daniel, then he leaves. 3 sec
Original Version A shot of Sam & Ferretti, the wounded mumbles sth. like "...so many...so many...". 3 sec
Original Version Shots of some grieving Abydonians, theatrical music included. 8 sec
Final Cut Daniel wants the Abydonians to promise him to bar the gate, they agree. 6 sec
Original Version A shot of O'Neill. 2 sec
Final Cut General Hammond enters the room. 2 sec
Example for the use of alternate footage in the Final Cut: When the Iris reopens after Abydos' return, the Oringinal Version contains a shot without any participaiting people, even though the entire SG-Team was there a second ago. Seems like they vanished into thin air whereas the Final Cut contains a shot of the closing Iris with all crewmembers on the ramp.
Original Version Ferretti is being moved, Kawalsky orders to bandage him. 3 sec
Original Version Hammond also wants to know if it was one the men and O'Neill explains it was on a former mission. 5 sec
Original Version Hammond also goes to the killed soldier at the gate. 5 sec
Now an entirely new scene in the Final Cut! Taking place directly after the arrival on earth, before Sha're is being taken out of the cell. Final Cut Shot of a short briefing with General Hammond including his personnel plus O'Neill, Sam & Daniel after the external shot of the Cheyenne Mountain Complex. Sam says Ferretti possibly recognized the gate coordinates and explains the cartouche with the different coordinates to the others. She asks for permission to type in the coordinates, O'Neill asks for permission to be the leader on a rescue mission to save the kidnapped as soon as they were familiar with the whereabouts of their enemies. Hammond refers to a meeting at 0800 and permits Carter to use the computer. He finally adds they should get new clothes for Daniel because he smelled. Hammond & Carter leave, O'Neill touches Daniel's shoulder in a friendly way and leaves, too. 56.5 sec
Just trivial differences in the following scenes of Apophis' cell and the Stargate Center/ O'Neill's place. Especially when the plot takes place in the cell, a lot of alternate shots have been used. Furthermore some shots are extended in the Original Version. In comparison to that, the scene with Ferretti at the hospital and O'Neill at his place almost remain unchanged.
Different external shot of Apophis' fortress. In the Final Cut, the fortress has been shot from the distance which allows a better view of it plus an Al'kesh glides over the fortress.
Original Version Skaara also smashes against the cell door plus a further shot of him sitting down. 4.5 sec
Final Cut Shot of Ferretti in the hospital bed, pan shot of Kawalsky who has fallen asleep. 7.5 sec
Final Cut Kawalsky raises his coffee mug demonstratively, O'Neill turns around and leaves. 5 sec
Final Cut O'Neill says the savior of Abydos didn't sound bad. Daniel adds it had taken him one year to break the inhabitants loose of permantly bowing down. 6.5 sec
Now the earlier-mentioned scene with the soldier in the Original Version, Apophis offers her as a host to his queen. This scene follows just after the one with O'Neill at home and the Chulak mission briefing. The beginning of this scene is missing in the Final Cut because at that time, Sha're hasn't been kidnapped yet (plus Brad Wright didn't want to have any harem scenes in the Final Cut). Furthermore the order of some single shots has been changed plus some of the existing scenes are longer in the Original Version.
Original Version Teal'c and some men arrive at the room where a lot of the kidnapped women are being held captive, one of is Sha're and another one the blond soldier. It's also the blond soldier who is being chosen by Teal'c and she is being dragged away by some henchmen, just next to scary/looking Sha're. Teal'c also leaves. 44.5 sec
Original Version Shot of Teal'c looking up. 3 sec
Final Cut Additional shot of the blond soldier. 2 sec
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