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| Stargate Atlantis - The Complete Third Season | 
 enlarge | Studio: Sci-Fi Channel, The
Category: DVD
List Price: $49.98
Buy New: $21.00
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Avg. Customer Rating:  86 reviews
Sales Rank: 383
Format: Ac-3, Box Set, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, Dvd-video, Subtitled, Widescreen, Ntsc
Languages: English (Subtitled), French (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled), Czech (Original Language), English (Original Language), French (Dubbed)
Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Number Of Items: 5
Running Time: 871
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.6
Dimensions (in): 7.6 x 5.4 x 1
MPN: 108668
UPC: 027616086686
EAN: 0027616086686
ASIN: B000RW3YYA
Theatrical Release Date: July 16, 2004
Release Date: September 18, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: NEW FACTORY SEALED- THE CONPLETE 3RD SEASON (MB)
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Amazon.com
With Stargate SG-1 now permanently off the data screen (except for a TV movie or two) after ten productive seasons, it appears that the fate of the universe is now the responsibility of the Stargate Atlantis crew. Based on the latter's third season, whose 20 episodes (plus a wealth of bonus features) are made available here on five discs, we're in good hands.
Three years into it, Atlantis has retained numerous familiar elements while continuing to evolve steadily. The core cast is intact, with the cocky wiseacre-hero Lt. Col. John Sheppard (Joe Flanigan) and the egotistical, neurotic genius Dr. Rodney McKay (David Hewlett) still the most entertaining of the bunch; as the series explores the characters' personal lives and backstories, we even meet (in "McKay and Mrs. Miller") the latter's sister, who's every bit the wiz that he is. On the other hand, the roles of team leader Dr. Elizabeth Weir (Torri Higginson) and members Teyla (Rachel Luttrell) and Ronon Dex (Jason Momoa) are neither especially well-written nor well-played. The return of Richard Dean Anderson (and his sense of humor) as General Jack O'Neill, the SG-1 mainstay during most of its run, for a few cameos is most welcome, as is the presence of the Wraith, the series' principal villains (SG-1 fans will also recognize the "sentient machines" known as the Replicators from that series). With their flowing white locks, cat-like eyes, pale, almost translucent skin, ultra-fine black leather dusters, and, in one case, shades that would make a Hollywood hipster envious, the Wraith remain the coolest bad guys on the sci-fi scene. We already knew that they feed on humans, but this season brings some startling new revelations, particularly in "Common Ground," an excellent episode that finds Sheppard and a Wraith (Christopher Heyerdahl) forming an unlikely alliance against a mutual enemy; we also witness the return of the Wraith known as Michael (Connor Trinneer), who was the subject of the Atlantis team's ongoing "retro-virus" experiment (designed to make Wraiths human) in Season Two and plays a significant recurring role in Season Three. Other developments are apparent as well, but most dramatic of all is the death of one of the team's key members.
Stargate Atlantis isn't the most original TV show ever created; in fact, elements of The Running Man, Alien, The Abyss, Enemy Mine, and other sci-fi works are sometimes so obvious that the characters themselves mention them in dialogue. But as always, the action sequences, special effects, models, and other technical elements are first-rate, as are the bonus features, which include episode commentaries, featurettes, and photo galleries. --Sam Graham Beyond Stargate Atlantis: The Complete Third Season 
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Description
For the first time ever, fans can catch up on season 3 before season 4 begins on Sci Fi!
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| Customer Reviews: Read 81 more reviews...
 Good at times but overall fails to realize its potential July 8, 2007
118 out of 162 found this review helpful
Warning! There are multiple spoilers in the following review!
I've watched STARGATE ATLANTIS from the beginning and have more or less enjoyed it from the start. I definitely plan on continuing to watch it, but I have some concerns about the show that I'm convinced have to be addressed for it to continue to be worth watching.
First and foremost, ATLANTIS has always had and continues to have serious cast problems. They have now had three complete seasons to address these problems and while they have played with it some, most of their decisions have been odd at best. I really like Joe Flannigan as Sheppard and David Hewlett as Rodney, but beyond that the cast is mainly made up of liabilities. There was one other actor I liked a lot on the show, Paul McGillion as Beckett, but inexplicably in remaking the cast they chose to kill off one of the few strong characters on the show. Rachel Luttrell as Teyla is more baffling. Her character has never been very interesting, but I'm not convinced that Luttrell is untalented. I suspect that for whatever reason the writers have simply not been willing or able to come up with any interesting arcs for her (apart from having an interesting connection to the wraiths, which by and large has been underutilized). My hope is that they will rethink Teyla and either do both her and us a favor and kill her off, or become more aggressive in writing her character and give her some significant arcs and character development. Jason Momoa as Ronon, however, is probably a lost cause. He is perhaps the most wooden actor on television today and they have done virtually nothing of interest with his character. David Nykl, however, is good as Zelenka. I always enjoy his scenes with Rodney. Finally, I really want to like Torri Higginson (not least because she bears a scary resemblance to an ex-girlfriend of mine). I love shows that feature strong and interesting female characters, but after three years she remains yet another character with whom they've been unable to do very much. In her case, however, it appears that the producers have decided to either write her out of the show entirely or reduce her merely to a recurring character. I will continue to watch and sometimes enjoy STARGATE ATLANTIS, but they really need to do some serious rehabilitation.
Some help is on the way. We know that Amanda Tapping and her character Samantha Carter will be moving over from the cancelled STARGATE SG-1 to become the new head of the Atlantis project. I think she will bring more strength to the role than Torri Higginson did. Normally I would also applaud the casting of Jewel Staite as the new base doctor. I loved her on FIREFLY as Kaylee, but I still regret Beckett's leaving the show. But I honestly feel that the cast needs several more major changes. The show has had to rely far too heavily on Sheppard and Rodney.
The end of Season Three did, however, leave hope for new and better things. Atlantis has emerged as the name not of a location that cannot be moved, but of a truly mobile city that can relocate . . . well, to anywhere. The season ends with the city blasting off into space. I'm anxious to see what happens next. But whatever they do, I would like to see the show continue the risks it started taking in Season Three. Killing Beckett was an abominable mistake (especially given that there were some other characters who could have been killed with far greater profit to the show), but it at least started giving the show something that both it and SG-1 have always lacked: a body count. The good adventure shows have body counts. SG-1 had next to none. The only truly heartbreaking death in ten seasons was when Dr. Frasier was killed. It is no accident that that the episode in which that occurred was one of the finest in the series' run. If you don't have a body count, you get no sense of danger. On shows like BUFFY, LOST, and BATTLESTAR GALACTIC they have killed off some important characters. As a result when a character is in danger you get a degree of danger that you never, ever get on ATLANTIS or SG-1. Well, at least until they killed off Beckett and at least seriously injured Weir. I dearly hope they continue doing this in the future.
I also hope that we see Season Four taking the stories of the Wraith and the replicators to newer and more complex levels. The series has had some great moments over the first three seasons, especially when they let situations get really desperate. Hopefully they will continue to do this.
While Season Three frequently left me wanting more due to the weaknesses in the overall cast, there were some great moments. The season finale (both SG-1 and ATLANTIS have had some fine season enders) was splendid. And the season featured what may be my favorite episode of the entire series so far in "Common Ground," in which the Genii kidnap Sheppard and enclose him with a wraith who is allowed to feed on no one else. Christopher Heyerdahl has played several wraiths on the series, but in this episode he was allowed to give this particular wraith a dignity and complexity not allowed any other wraith with the exception of Michael. He gradually drains the life out of Sheppard out of sheer necessity before the two of them, cooperating as human and wraith never have before, manage to escape from the Genii. Then, in a moment that could lead to interesting plot developments in the future, we discover that the wraiths cannot only drain another creature of life, they can also imbue them with it, and as a sign of comradeship he heals Sheppard. I want arcs like this one! On a host of other series some of the most interesting characters have been those who came over from the other side. On STAR TREK: VOYAGER, we had Seven of Nine; on BUFFY we had Angel, Anya, and Spike; currently on BATTLESTAR GALACTICA we have Sharon Agathon and (possibly) Caprica Six; and on SG-1 we had Teal'c. I think it would be fascinating if they could do something like that with a wraith.
So I wait for the beginning of Season Four with some nervousness. The show has some weaknesses and problems, but they are fixable. The series has not lost any of its potential. But until we see how the new city in the air Atlantis works in terms of story and how the new cast changes affect the chemistry we won't know for sure. One thing is for certain. Season Four should bear little resemblance to any of the first three seasons.
 Definate Improvement Over Season 2 & Possibilities For An Even Better Season 4! June 27, 2007
29 out of 45 found this review helpful
Season 3 was a definate improvement over season 2. There are a number of different reasons for this; *WARNING*: Some Spoilers ahead!
First off, more interesting stories with both gains and losses! They fleshed out a few of the characters a bit more like Ronan and Rodney, but again left Teyla out in the cold! I thought her character was pretty good in the first season, but around the middle of season 2 through the end of 3, I completely lost interest in her. She basically just stands around as a little eye candy; when she is even in a scene! Lately she has come across as somewhat condesending with a "holier-than-thou" attitude. If they killed her off, I wouldn't miss her! (I read somewhere that she is pregnant, so the writers are putting that in some of the 4th season episodes, meaning less screen time! The rumor also hinted that she will rejoin "what is left of her people", and leave SGA!)
This also brings up characters that ARE lost, and others we will gain. The first character we lost was Dr. Carlson Beckett in the episode "Sunday"! A very sad episode! I really liked his character. He was a really nice, cool and calm guy, providing a moral center like Daniel Jackson did for SG-1, which was a perfect "yin" to Rodney McKay's hypertensive, egocentric and often rude "yang". Replacing him will be Jewel Staite as Dr. Jennifer Keller (best known from Firefly). She looks more grown-up, adult-like on SG Atlantis than her more kid-like character did from Firefly. (Which is good if she is to be taken seriously) And as always, she is definately still a hottie!
Another character will be Dr. Elizabeth Weir. Her role has been slowly spiraling downwards in season 3, so much like Teyla, I won't really miss her! Although her fate was undecided at the end of this season, she is going to die in season 4 and will be replaced with an SG-1 veteran, Col. Samantha Carter! She will become the new Atlantis commander and should replace Carson as a spring board for Rodney. With their past chemistry it will be like mixing acids and bases, getting quite a volatile reaction at first, but neutralizing in the end. Sheppard and her should also butt heads a lot as she will out-rank him militarily.
Lastly, I've also read some of the previous reviews and would have to disagree with some of their comments. First off, Rodney McKay is HILARIOUS! His character's annoying, smug attitude is what makes him so funny! Especially with the different reactions the other characters give Rodney when interacting with him! (Ex.'s: Sheppard and Ronon threaten him when he gets annoying; Carson (use to) patronize him even though Rodney didn't realize it, etc.) One thing I didn't like about this season was how the Wraith were practically non-existent! Instead they replaced them with the Replicators! These done-to-death bad guys are really starting to get old since they've been used so much in SG-1. I think the only good point of having them on Atlantis was learning more about their origins. They need to bring the Wraith back since they are the pre-dominant bad guys for Atlantis and need to delve deeper into their culture, weaknesses, etc.
Whatever your opinion on the 3rd season of Atlantis, most people will agree it has gotten better since season 2. And with all the quick changes at the end of the 3rd like 2 major characters dying/replaced and Atlantis itself heading off to a new planet to put down new roots, it gives potential for an awesome season 4! Lets just hope they don't screw it up!
 Special Features September 28, 2007
28 out of 32 found this review helpful
Cast changes and the darker edge to the season have already been discussed by previous reviewers, so I'll concentrate on DVD special features. Lack of actor commentary was disappointing (actors may not have been available). The actors have a different spin on the behind the scenes and David Hewlett is always entertaining. The commentaries are informative and entertaining as usual, but I miss the actor's comments.
Each disc has a Mission Directive featurette that profiles an episode with interesting behind the scenes trivia and information. There's a profile on Rachael Luttrell for the Teyla fans and the entertaining "General O'Neill Goes to Atlantis" featurette. My favorite is Martin Gero's "Stargate Atlantis: A Look Back on Season 3" where he takes us through the exciting season discussing old and new adversaries, plots and character development.
Special features and commentaries are usually the deciding factor on whether I will buy a box set or not. Since I don't see the features listed in the product description, I will list them here for those who maybe interested.
Disc One:
A short Promo for the "Ark of Truth" auto plays.
Special Features include Mission Directive: "Sateda" featuring Robert C. Cooper, Inside the Stargate Atlantis Visual FX Department and Photo Galleries.
Commentaries:
"No Man's Land" - Producer/Writer Martin Gero and Director/Supervising Producer Martin Wood
"Misbegotten" - Executive Producer Paul Mullie and Director/Supervising Producer Martin Wood
"Irresistible" - Director/Supervising Producer Martin Wood and Director of Photography Michael Blundell
"Sateda" - Executive Producer, Writer and Director Robert C. Cooper and Director of Photography Brenton Spencer
Audio - English 5.1 Dolby Surround and French Dolby Surround
Subtitles - English and Spanish
Disc Two:
Special Features include Mission Directive: "Progeny" featuring Andy Mikita, Profile On: Rachel Luttrell and Photo Galleries.
Commentaries:
Progeny" - Director Andy Mikita and VFX Supervisor Mark Savela
"Common Ground" - Director William Waring and Director of Photography Brenton Spencer
"McKay & Mrs. Miller" - Producer/Writer Martin Gero and Director/Supervising Producer Martin Wood
Audio - English 5.1 Dolby Surround and French Dolby Surround
Subtitles - English and Spanish
Disc Three:
Special Features include Mission Directive: "Phantoms" featuring Martin Wood, General O'Neill Goes to Atlantis and Photo Galleries.
Commentaries:
"Phantoms" - Co-Executive Producer Carl Binder and Director/Supervising Producer Martin Wood
"The Return, Part 1" - Producer/Writer Martin Gero and Executive Producer Paul Mullie
"The Return, Part 2"- Producer/Writer Martin Gero and Executive Producer Paul Mullie
"Echoes" - Director William Waring and Director of Photography Brenton Spencer
Audio - English 5.1 Dolby Surround and French Dolby Surround
Subtitles - English and Spanish
Disc Four:
Special Features include Mission Directive: "The Game" featuring William Waring, Masters of the Alien and Photo Galleries.
Commentaries:
"Irresponsible"- Director/Supervising Producer Martin Wood and Director of Photography Michael Blundell
"Tao of Rodney"- Director/Supervising Producer Martin Wood and Director of Photography Michael Blundell
"The Game" - Director William Waring and Director of Photography Brenton Spencer
"The Ark" - Director/Supervising Producer Martin Wood and VFX Supervisor Mark Savela
Audio - English 5.1 Dolby Surround and French Dolby Surround
Subtitles - English and Spanish
Except for "The Ark":
Audio - English 5.1 Dolby Surround
Subtitles - English, French and Spanish
Disc Five:
SG-1 Season 10 DVD Promo auto plays.
Special Features include Mission Directive: "First Strike" featuring Martin Wood, Stargate Atlantis: A Look Back on Season 3 with Martin Gero and Photo Galleries.
Commentaries:
"Sunday" - Producer/Writer Martin Gero and Director William Waring
"Submersion" - Director Brenton Spencer and VFX Supervisor Mark Savela
"Vengeance" - Director Andy Mikita and Creative Effects Designer Todd Master
"First Strike" - Producer/Writer Martin Gero, Director/Supervising Producer Martin Wood and VFX Supervisor Mark Savela
Audio - English 5.1 Dolby Surround
Subtitles - English, French and Spanish
Best show ever! June 21, 2007
12 out of 28 found this review helpful
Having seen all of Season Three already I have to say that it was the best Stargate Season this year. Since SG-1 made the ori-storyline-mistake Stargate Atlantis was able to redeem the franchise.
I am glad that the wraith are taking the back seat this time. The Asurans/Replicators are a much more interesting foe for our heroes.
My only complaint for this season is that it had way too much Rodney in it. He became too annoying. I missed Teyla this season. It seemed that the writers didn't know what to do with her. Nevertheless a great season.
I bet Teyla is referring to Sheppard in Sunday with having feelings for someone.
New heights September 19, 2007
9 out of 11 found this review helpful
For my money, the third season of Stargate Atlantis is the best thus far. All of the seasons have been somewhat hit-and-miss, in terms of episode quality, but I think season three brings a wealth of much-needed character development. We learn more about the mysterious Sheppard in "Phantoms" and the taciturn Ronon Dex in "Sateda," while the episodes "McKay and Mrs. Miller" and "The Tao of Rodney" provide new dimensions to the brilliant and blustery Rodney McKay. McKay's character arc alone -- looking from his original guest appearances years ago on SG-1 to the newest Atlantis offerings -- is staggering, and David Hewlett greatly deserves the praise he's received for his performance. Outside of something like Firefly, I think it's rare to see a show in this genre explore so much of the characters' backstories, and it's gratifying to see it finally happening for SGA.
Teyla is certainly underutilized, and I hope that this season will bring new depths to her character. From what I've heard, there is definitely the opportunity for that to happen.
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