i've not started on the sg series, but...

[data_lover]

the stargate movie is one of my favorites to this day, however, this doesn't necessarily mean that I would like the series. before i start on a (very) long process of watching the shows, if i liked the movie will i like the show? or are the two more separate entities?

 

[Lindley]

The movie is used as backstory for the show in general terms, although a few of the specifics were altered, like moving the SGC from the fictional Creek Mountain to Cheyenne Mountain.

Basically they take the movie as a starting point and elaborate. But of course, over time the focus of the series moved on to other things.

 

[RoJoHen]

I love it. It's a little sillier than the movie, but it's a lot of fun. Think of the movie as a pilot episode. Some small details get changed to accommodate the TV format, but I think it's pretty easy to ignore them.

Some say it lasted too long, but I actually rather enjoy the last couple seasons. There really isn't a single season of SG-1 or Atlantis that I dislike (I haven't watched SGU yet). I just like them to varying degrees.

 

[Hermiod]

the stargate movie is one of my favorites to this day, however, this doesn't necessarily mean that I would like the series. before i start on a (very) long process of watching the shows, if i liked the movie will i like the show? or are the two more separate entities?

They are separate entities. For one thing, if you listen to the DVD commentary on the movie, Devlin and Emmerich disassociate themselves from the television series.

Several things from the movie are immediately retconned as early as the series' pilot "Children of the Gods".

The television series is considerably more light hearted in places than the movie. Richard Dean Anderson's Colonel O'Neill is a very different person than Kurt Russell's Colonel O'Neil (one 'L') and while Michael Shanks plays Daniel Jackson similarly to how James Spader did initially, he slowly takes the character in a different direction.

Also, and I believe any Stargate fan will tell you this, I strongly recommend that you stick with the show through the entire first season. The first six or so episodes of season one are probably the worst patch the show went through. After that the show's quality increases drastically, although with a few bumps along the road like any show. Just don't let those early episodes put you off the show.

 

[data_lover]

ack, well, at least daniel is similar, i loved his character in the movie.

 

[Ensign_Redshirt]

Like many other shows (TNG, DS9, Babylon 5 and so on), the first season is pretty weak. In my opinion, SG-1 didn't really begin to "grow a beard" until the mid-Season 2 two-parter "The Tok'ra".

 

[Starbreaker]

I just watched the first 6 seasons over the past 6 months or so. It starts off kind of rocky, but season 2-5 are overall very, very good.

 

[data_lover]

alright, mostly good things. after voyager i shall begin sg. thanks humans!

 

[deadnite]

Are you liking Star Trek Voyager? I thought it was so-so. IMO, SG1 and Atlantis weren't very good. If you love Battlestar Galactica, Deep Space Nine, or the Terminator TV series, you might want to just start watching Stargate Universe. I like that SGU isn't just another planet/alien of the week type show.

 

[Geckothan]

Are you liking Star Trek Voyager? I thought it was so-so. IMO, SG1 and Atlantis weren't very good. If you love Battlestar Galactica, Deep Space Nine, or the Terminator TV series, you might want to just start watching Stargate Universe. I like that SGU isn't just another planet/alien of the week type show.

Heretic! Universe, from what I've seen of it, is pretty boring. Just because of it's format/style, does not mean it's in the same league as BSG let alone DS9 (which isn't even anything remotely like it, in my opinion). SG-1 kicks ass.

 

[cultcross]

ack, well, at least daniel is similar, i loved his character in the movie.

Daniel, especially early on, is exactly like the movie - Michael Shanks copies James Spader's performance right down to his mannerisms - the character evolves and changes over time, but he starts off pretty much the movie character.

Like many other shows (TNG, DS9, Babylon 5 and so on), the first season is pretty weak. In my opinion, SG-1 didn't really begin to "grow a beard" until the mid-Season 2 two-parter "The Tok'ra".

I couldn't disagree more. Sure the first season had it's clunkers and rolled out all the standard sci-fi clichés, but it also had some truly excellent episodes too. Torment of Tantalus, The Nox, There But For the Grace of God and Within the Serpent's Grasp are all excellent, and Bloodlines and Thor's Hammer are well worth it too.
Emancipation, sadly taking position #2 after the pilot, is probably the series worst episode however. data_lover, please don't judge the show on the quality of this episode, which is poorly written, borderline racist, openly sexist, and degrading to all characters involved. It gets better, I promise.

 

[Brent]

Push through the first season, the first part of S1 is a little iffy, but toward the end it picks up real good, and S2 and onward is real good, until after S8, IMO that is when the series should have ended.

 

[Checkmate]

I watched Stargate SG-1 when nothing else was on television, but it never really earned my fandom. I much, much preferred the movie. The science was absolute rubbish (which is saying a lot considering the movie), I was only too happy when the Jaffa stopped using those God-awful helmets, and I couldn't handle O'Neill as a plausible commander. There's just no way anyone in the military would let an asshat like him effectively be Earth's leading interstellar ambassador. Say what you will about the movie's O'Neil, but at least he kept his shit together and acted like a professional soldier.

Considering that many of the fans for SG-1 dislike the movie, it's not a stretch to imagine that people who like the movie may not enjoy SG-1 all that much.

 

[Tyson]

By and large Stargate is generic spoofy space opera.

 

[rramarr]

I don't think the movie was intended to be a pilot for a series. Pay attention to all the races you meet - they pop back up later.

 

[Hermiod]

By and large Stargate is generic spoofy space opera.

Except for those two hundred or so episodes where it isn't,

 

[cultcross]

I watched Stargate SG-1 when nothing else was on television, but it never really earned my fandom. I much, much preferred the movie. The science was absolute rubbish (which is saying a lot considering the movie), I was only too happy when the Jaffa stopped using those God-awful helmets, and I couldn't handle O'Neill as a plausible commander. There's just no way anyone in the military would let an asshat like him effectively be Earth's leading interstellar ambassador. Say what you will about the movie's O'Neil, but at least he kept his shit together and acted like a professional soldier.

Two chiefs of staff of the USAF disagree with you on that score, and their office also has openly and publicly acknowledged the character as positively influencing the image of the USAF.

 

[Hermiod]

^Indeed, Stargate SG-1 is the only show the USAF have ever given their official endorsement to. Richard Dean Anderson especially has been singled out for his portrayal of the Air Force in a positive light.

Sounds like Checkmate really hasn't watched enough of the show. O'Neill's occasionally jovial demeanour should not be used to suggest that he is not a plausible commander or a highly skilled professional.

 

[RoJoHen]

How dare a military officer have a sense of humor!

 

[caisson2delta]

I loved the movie, I saw it when it debuted and numerous times since. I also began watching SG1 when it originally aired on Showtime for the first few seasons. I sort of lost track of it and saw many episodes but here and there. I purchased all of them on DVD and just finished season 5 last night.

There are some differences between the movie and series but I enjoy both. It is so much easier to watch, having the entire series on DVD. I am amazed at how good the production value was for this show. I didn't really have any issues with the first season and I liked the stories. There is only one episode that I've seen that I thoroughly disliked (Wormhole Xtreme).

I would give it a chance and judge it for yourself. It sure beats a lot of whats out there now.