Changes: Stargate: The Ark of Truth

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"Do you know what it took to finally eradicate these little buggers?"

Stargate: The Ark of Truth is a direct-to-DVD movie written and directed by Robert C. Cooper. The film is the conclusion of Stargate SG-1's Ori arc, and picks up after the SG-1 series finale, but takes place before the fourth season of Stargate: Atlantis. The Ark of Truth was released as a Region 1 DVD on March 11, 2008. British Sky One broadcasted the film on March 24, 2008, followed by the Region 2 DVD release on April 14, 2008 with the Region 4 DVD release on April 9, 2008.

thumb|right|200px|Stargate: The Ark of Truth trailer

The Road Taken

The movie came with the option to watch a short prelude before it, which was called Stargate SG-1: The Road Taken. This recaps various key points in Ori arc of Stargate SG-1 ranging from when Lt. Colonel Cameron Mitchell joined SG-1 to the most recent showdown with the Ori in "Unending".

Synopsis

The movie covers SG-1's attempt to recover the "Ark of Truth", an Ancient device designed to brainwash whoever looks into it. Even though the Ori's promise of Ascension is a lie, the Ancients believed that people should be free to believe it if they wished.

The Plot

Several million years ago, in the Alteran Home Galaxy, on another planet, a group of Ancients, including Amelius were discussing how big of a threat the Ori have become, and how they would want to wipe the Ancients out. Amelius decides to use a device, known as the Ark of Truth. However, the other Ancients don't want to use a weapon of indoctrination against the Ori, and order Amelius never to open the Ark. Instead, they decide to leave their galaxy to find another home. They then leave by a ship.

In the present, SG-1 are sifting through the ruins of Dakara, where Dr. Daniel Jackson, Teal'c and Vala Mal Doran uncover a box from underground. They attempt to open it, but it is sealed shut. Jackson warns the other not to force it open, as the box is supposedly very powerful. They plan to carefully open the box, but are interrupted by Lt. Colonel Cameron Mitchell and Lt. Colonel Samantha Carter on the radio who inform them Ori soldiers have made it to Dakara. Despite putting up a good effort, Mitchell and Carter are overrun by the approaching soldiers. They retreat to where Jackson, Teal'c and Vala are, but are surrounded.

File:Dakara standoff.jpg

A standoff between SG-1 and Ori soldiers.

The leader of the army is Tomin, who warns Vala that if they don't surrender, the Ori warship will fire on them. SG-1 surrenders, and allows Tomin to come in. Tomin and his troops are joined by a Prior, who is curious about the box. Jackson tells him that it is a weapon capable of defeating the Ori and tricks him into opening the box. However, when the box is opened, all they find is a rolled scroll, which crumbles to dust when Tomin picks it up. The Prior orders Tomin to kill them. However, the team tells him not to, as the Prior is actually forcing him to do it, because for some reason beyond his comprehension, he is powerless. The frustrated Prior tries to snatch Tomin's Ori staff weapon, however Mitchell grabs one from another soldier and shoots the Prior, which kills him. After that, the soldiers quickly surrender themselves, as Carter shows them that the Prior's powers were blocked by the Prior disruptor.

Back on Earth, Mitchell informs Major General Henry Landry that Tomin says a new wave of ships will arrive through the Supergate very soon. When they enter the General's Office, Landry and Mitchell meet James Marrick, an International Oversight Advisory representative sent to interrogate Tomin, despite Mitchell protesting that he is a guest, not a prisoner. Meanwhile, Tomin is in a room with Vala and Daniel. Jackson explains that the Sangraal sent months ago has supposedly wiped out the ascended Ori and that he has received several visions from Merlin about the location of the Ark of Truth. Tomin suggests that the place in the visions is Ortus Mallum from the Book of Origin as it sounds like the place in Daniel's vision.

Marrick starts his interrogation on Tomin. Marrick angrily demands to know how many people were killed, simply because they chose not to worship the Ori. In the observation room, Teal'c tells Daniel that Vala didn't come to see the interrogation. It was too much for her to take, since he is her husband and she still feels for him.

Back in the Briefing Room, Carter explains that since activating the Supergate the last time was by chance, she plans to destroy the gate by placing four Mark IXs in key areas, to prevent the Ori from getting through it. However, Jackson has a revelation, and urges them not to destroy it, as he believes the Ark is actually still in the Alteran Home Galaxy. The IOA approves the mission to go through the Supergate, and Mitchell is to be in command of the Odyssey. However, Marrick is to come with them on the mission.

File:Teal'c and Tomin.jpg

Teal'c talks with Tomin about their past atrocities.

On the way to the Supergate, Teal'c sits with Tomin and tells him that nothing will make up for all the atrocities, as he was once the First Prime to Apophis. He tells Tomin that he must accept everything he has done, and will never be able to forgive himself, no matter how hard he tries.

The Odyssey arrives at the Supergate and dials it to the Alteran Home Galaxy. Once through, Vala, Daniel and Tomin head to a planet to meet Hertis, a member of the Anti-Ori underground. He points them to a location known as Ortus Mallum, a mountain on Celestis, the "birthplace of evil". SG-1 is given directions to the planet. They exit hyperspace and cloak above Celestis to avoid detection. SG-1 and Tomin are beamed down to Ortus Mallum to search the forests where the village once was in hopes of finding the Ark.

Meanwhile, Marrick finds access to a restricted area on board the Odyssey, the location of the Asgard computer core. He activates it then replaces a crystal, and then works on something. Major Kevin Marks has detected the activity and contacts Mitchell. He and Carter get beamed aboard whilst Tomin, Vala and Daniel continue digging out a passage Daniel discovered, with help from another vision from Merlin.

Back on Earth, Colonel Albert Reynolds of SG-3 reports to Landry from P6X-437 that a Prior wishes to see Landry. He proposes that he be allowed to spread the word of Origin to the people of Earth, saying it is their last hope. Landry says that there isn't even a chance that Earth will listen and refuses his proposition, holding the Prior with the Prior disruptor. The Prior says he is without reason and that his world will burn. Landry retorts that if they are going to Hell, they're taking him down with them.

File:AOTReplicatorAndMavrick.jpg

James Marrick creates a Replicator

Back on the Odyssey, Mitchell and Carter break into the core room and apprehend Marrick. They attempt to shut down the computer core, but they can't. The core is alerting every Ori mother ship to the Odyssey's location. Carter finds out that the core is creating something, which they soon see is a Replicator. Marrick explains the "true" mission: The IOA intend to plant it on an Ori ship and let it spread to their entire fleet. The IOA felt that in the event the Supergate couldn't be destroyed, an alternative plan of action was required. Once the Ori fleet is destroyed by the Replicators, the IOA will initiate a shut down program. They didn't expect SG-1 to find the Ark. As the newly created Replicator hangs in the force field, Mitchell calls in an Anti-Replicator gun to destroy it. However, the Replicators are immune to ARG technology, and is now loose in the ship. An angry Mitchell takes Marrick to the brig.

Jackson, Teal'c, Vala and Tomin find an underground corridor to a room. They are about to be beamed up to the Odyssey, however, the Replicator has taken control of several systems, including beaming. The team has time to find the Ark. They blow a hole through a door and find the Ark, then head back out in the open before the tunnel collapses. Back outside, Vala, Daniel and Tomin examine the device, and Teal'c attempts to contact the Odyssey, but gets shot in the back. The rest of the team holds off the Ori soldiers.

Four warships arrive near the Odyssey. Fortunately, the hyperdrive is still operational and they escape the clutches of the ships. Meanwhile, Mitchell manages to destroy the Replicator, but discovers that the original has already turned into a Queen and the Replicators are replicating. Carter runs a search through the Asgard core for a shutdown code, while simultaneously attempting to make one from scratch. A team is called to close off the room from the Replicators. In the brig, Marrick hears Replicators, cutting through the wall. He desperately calls someone to let him out, not realizing no-one is there. The Replicators later violently attack him.

Celestis trek — Teal'c trekking Celestis.

At night on Celestis, Teal'c awakens and sees nothing but dead Ori soldiers. He sees no sign of Jackson, Vala and Tomin, because they were taken to the City of Celestis to be tortured by the Doci and other Priors. Teal'c slowly gets up and treks through the mountain range, finally making it to the Plains of Celestis, before he collapses.

Marrick v Mitchell — Mitchell fighting Replicator-controlled Marrick.

Back on the Odyssey, Mitchell finds the queen, who is feeding the power off a power conduit to replicate. He plans to destroy it. He plants a C-4 charge near the queen to detonate as a distraction, to buy time so Carter can figure out a way to shut down the Replicators. Mitchell later turns around to see Marrick, who is now being controlled by Replicators. He attempts to kill him. However, he is now physically augmented and easily beats up Mitchell.

Back on the City of Celestis, Vala enters a room and discovers that the Ori are still around. However, the ascended being turns out to be Adria. She informs her that the Sangraal did work and the Ori are indeed gone. Now that Adria has ascended, she gets to control all of the Ori forces and power. As Adria leaves, Vala sees that some of the buttons on the Ark are glowing. On the plains, an ascended being comes to bring Teal'c back to life. He gets up and proceeds to the city. Daniel is inside a cell, lying on the floor. Merlin tells him not to give up. However, Daniel calls his bluff, realizing that Merlin died, not ascended. He is actually Morgan Le Fay, who was exiled after trying to help them in Atlantis a year ago. Daniel urges her to help, but she tells him Adria is too powerful. At the moment, she has done all she can. She tells him that if he can turn one Prior, the others will be turned by a link in their staffs. This will weaken Adria enough so that Morgan will be able to defeat her. Teal'c later appears to free Daniel.

Back at the SGC, Colonel Abraham Ellis on the new ship Apollo informs Landry that they have detected Ori ships arriving in our solar system, but that they had not yet advanced on to Earth. Landry orders him to try to hold them off if they do advance.

File:Replicator holdoff.JPG

A team holding off Replicators.

File:Ori vs Daedalus.JPG

Ori motherships firing on the Odyssey.

On the Odyssey, the Replicators have taken over the hyperdrive and shut it down. Soon, Ori ships circle the Odyssey and start attacking it. Replicators try to break into the core room. Carter tells Mitchell to detonate the C-4. However, he is busy fighting the Replicator controlled Marrick. Mitchell eventually manages to disconnect one of the Replicator legs to Marrick's head. Marrick tells Mitchell that the self-destruct code is on the back of the crystal Marrick uploaded to the core. The seriously injured Mitchell then detonates the C-4 as the distraction, but is knocked to the floor. Mitchell informs Carter of the shut down code and she activates it just before being overrun. Mitchell limps to the bridge to surrender. However, the Ori ships disregard the surrender and continue attacking until they deplete the Odyssey's shields, leaving them completely vulnerable.

File:Ark activation.jpg

The Ark of Truth activates.

Vala tells Daniel about the 7 glowing symbols, and Daniel tries to figure out the code to activate the Ark of Truth, but they are interrupted by the Doci and Adria. Daniel activates the Arc, remarking that the code is ironically the ancient word for 'Origin.' Teal'c shoots the leg off the table, opening the activated Ark, and catching the Doci in the beam, causing him to renounce the Ori, and realize that they are not gods. Through the link, all the priors in the Ori galaxy are turned and they stop the attack on the Odyssey just before the shields fail and it is destroyed. In Adria's new weakened state, Morgan is able to engage Adria in either in an eternal battle similar to Oma Desala's eternal battle with Anubis, or simply destroy her.

With the Ori in the galaxy defeated, they return to Earth and expose the Prior to the Ark, transmitting the knowledge about the Ori to all of the Priors in the Milky Way, and thus turning all known Priors in the Universe. Jackson learns that the Ark is to be stored in Area 51, despite his warnings that the Ark is very dangerous. Meanwhile, an injured Mitchell is in the Stargate Command infirmary, where Carter drops in, telling him that when he recovers, the IOA wants to meet with him to apologize for Marrick's actions. She also drops off a bag full of macaroons, which she said she baked for him. Tomin is to return to his home.

Meanwhile, SG-1 walks to the Embarkation room, where they find it odd by the fact that they have no "big bad-guy" to fight against anymore. They then prepare for a mission to P3K-546.

References

Alteran; Alteran Home Galaxy; Ancient; Ancient language; Antarctica; Antarctic outpost; Anti-Ori underground; Anti-Replicator gun; Apollo; Area 51; Ark of Truth; Asgard computer core; Atlantis expedition; Black Ops; Book of Origin; Brainwashing; C-4; Celestis; Central Intelligence Agency; City of Celestis; Dakara; Flames of Enlightenment; FN P90 Personal Defense Weapon; Goa'uld; International Oversight Advisory; Jaffa; Life support; Macaroon; Vala Mal Doran's mother; Mark IX; Cameron Mitchell's grandmother; Odyssey; Ori; Origin; Ori Army; Ori crusade; Ori fighter; Ori staff weapon; Ori warship; Ortus Mallum; P3K-546; P6X-437; Pegasus; Plains of Celestis; Planet (The Ark of Truth); Prior; Prior disruptor; Replicator; Sangraal; SG-3; Shield; Spiderman; Supergate; Richard Woolsey; Wraith; Zat'nik'tel; Zero Point Module

Notable Quotes

Vala: We've been out here in the scorching heat for days. I haven't showered.
Jackson: None of us have.
Vala: That is painfully obvious.

Landry: You've been given temporary command of the Odyssey for the duration of this operation.
Mitchell: Sir, does that mean I have to sit in the chair.
Landry: That it does. And I wish the fun ended there. Mr. Marrick will be overseeing the mission.
Marrick: Personally, I' m excited.

Mitchell: Pre-flight.
Marks: We're ready to go, sir.
Mitchell: (leans forward in the chair) Weapons to maximum.
Marks: Sir?
Mitchell: It's a joke, Marks: make it go.

Teal'c: Nothing I have done since turning against the Goa'uld would make up for the atrocities I once committed in their name. Somewhere deep inside you, you knew it was wrong, a voice you did not recognize screamed for you to stop. You saw no way out, it was the way things were and they cannot be changed, you try to convince yourself that the people you were hurting deserved it. You became numb to their pain and suffering. You learned to shut out the voice speaking against it.
Tomin: There's always a choice.
Teal'c: Indeed there is.
Tomin: I chose to ignore it.
Teal'c: Yet you sit here now.
Tomin: I sit here, and I cannot imagine the day that I will forgive myself.
Teal'c: Because it will never come. (pause) One day others may try to convince you they have forgiven you, that is more about them than you. For them, imparting forgiveness is a blessing.
Tomin: How do you go on?
Teal'c: It is simple; you will never forgive yourself, accept it! You hurt others, many others - that cannot be undone. You will never find personal retribution, but your life does not have to end. That which is right, just and true can still prevail. If you do not fight for what you believe in, all may be lost for everyone else. But do not fight for yourself, fight for others, others that may be saved through your effort. That is the least you can do.

Merrick: Kill me.
Mitchell: Believe me I'm trying.

Adria: No! You can't take away my power!
Vala: I think... we just did.

Adria: You're no match for me.
Morgan le Fay: I am now.

Jackson: It was Origin.
Vala: What was?
Jackson: The keyword that activated the Ark. I realized while Adria was talking the Ancient version of the word also means truth in older dialects. I guess the Altaren that built it must have thought it was ironic.
Vala: You know I'm starting to think that irony is very overrated.

Notes

Stargate Wiki has 87 images related to The Ark of Truth.

At the beginning, Amelius' notebook with the Stargate design on it was shown. Furthermore, he told another Ancient of a dream he had the previous night which inspired the creation of the Stargate network we know today.
At the 2008 1st Annual Farewell Farscape Convention Ben Browder stated the production schedule on this was "rough".
The Prior was the fifth to die, not counting Gerak. ("Origin", "Beachhead", "The Fourth Horseman, Part 2", "Counterstrike") But he was the second to be killed by gunshot.
The film was shot in only 18 days.
In an interview Michael Shanks revealed there was an alternate ending shot for the film. Following Major General Henry Landry telling Dr. Daniel Jackson that the Ark of Truth was being stored in Area 51 is out of his hands, Daniel meets with the team. He convinces them that it is too dangerous to be left in the government's hands and they agree. They then plan and execute a raid on the facility and take back the Ark. Shanks said he isn't quite sure why it was cut other than the fact that maybe the movie had "too many endings".
The code that Lt. Colonel Samantha Carter is trying to modify in order to stop the Replicators to replicate, is actually JavaScript, the code used to program Internet browser behaviors. The functions are valid and usable, and one function has the purpose of opening a pop-up window.
This is the first chronological appearance of Colonel Abraham Ellis, as "First Strike" takes place after this film even though it was released first.
It is unclear how Vala Mal Doran escaped the cell to rescue Tomin as Jackson and Teal'c appear from the other end of the corridor. She was taken out of her cell by two monks and left with Adria. Adria was then distracted by Morgan Le Fey so that Vala can escape. She must have found the keys along the way.
At the end Carter gives Lt. Colonel Cameron Mitchell a bag of Macaroons. This is a reference to the episode "Line in the Sand", in which Mitchell gave an injured Carter some "awful" macaroons.
Mitchell's order to set "weapons to maximum" may be a reference the episode "200" in which Teal'c - during the Star Trek parody segment - does the same, which is criticized by Jackson.
The wormhole sequence in which the Odyssey travels through the Supergate closely resembles the sequence from the 1994 Stargate film. The scene features Jackson in the foreground of a shot of the bridge as the Odyssey passed through the Supergate's event horizon. As they pass, they're shown dematerializing before being transmitted through the wormhole. The original scene depicted Jackson's first voyage through the gate in which he slowly stepped through the event horizon, and was dematerialized before being transmitted through the wormhole to Abydos. This is fitting as The Ark of Truth is the first film in the franchise since the original film 14 years prior.
An almost-finished version of The Ark of Truth was leaked months before the actual release.
The film had a budget of $7 million dollars. A typical 44-minute episode costs $2 million.
Christopher Gauthier (Hertis) previously played Mattas in the Stargate: Atlantis episode "Trinity".
Alisen Down (Alteran woman 1) previously played Dr. Brightman in the Stargate SG-1 episode "Lockdown".
Jason Calder (Ori Warrior) previously played SF Guard in the Stargate SG-1 episode "Need", Alien #1 in the episode "Spirits" and SG-3 Soldier in the episode "Lost City, Part 1".

Goofs

On 1h 02min 20sec, Teal'c's white patch of hair is on the wrong side of his head; this is due to the video being flipped horizontally, as the radio is also on the wrong side.
The sketch of the first Stargate is clearly seen to be Milky Way-type while in Stargate Universe it was clearly stated that the prototype was the Destiny-type Stargate. The mistake is understandable, though, because the movie was created before SGU. It's also possible that the Ancients weren't yet advanced enough to create the Milky Way-type. Or the SGU Stargates could be simply be dumbed down versions of the original "full-featured" Stargates. Designed to be mass-produced by the Seed ships to support the journey of the Destiny. This can be supported by the fact that the SGU gates have no Dial Home Devices and are smaller.
The second time Adria is shown talking to Vala Mal Doran, her voice changes slightly. She is an ascended being so can talk in whatever voice she chooses.

Death

The Cast

File:The Ark of Truth.jpg

A promotional poster for The Ark of Truth.

Ben Browder as Lt. Colonel Cameron Mitchell
Amanda Tapping as Lt. Colonel Samantha Carter
Christopher Judge as Teal'c
Claudia Black as Vala Mal Doran
Currie Graham as James Marrick
Morena Baccarin as Adria
Tim Guinee as Tomin
Julian Sands as Doci
Sarah Strange as Morgan Le Fay
Michael Beach as Colonel Abraham Ellis
Gary Jones as CMSgt. Walter Harriman
Martin Christopher as Major Kevin Marks
Christopher Gauthier as Hertis
Eric Breker as Colonel Albert Reynolds
Matthew Walker as Merlin
With Beau Bridges as Major General Henry Landry
And Michael Shanks as Dr. Daniel Jackson

Soundtrack

Main article: Stargate: The Ark of Truth soundtrack

The Stargate: The Ark of Truth soundtrack was released on May 1, 2008.

External links

Stargate: The Ark of Truth on the official MGM website. (backup link)
Stargate: The Ark of Truth on GateWorld. (backup link)
Stargate: The Ark of Truth on Wikipedia
Stargate: The Ark of Truth article on Stargate SG-1 Solutions' The StargateWiki

@@ Line 129: / Line 129: @@
 *The code that [[Lt. Colonel]] [[Samantha Carter]] is trying to modify in order to stop the [[Replicator]]s to replicate, is actually JavaScript, the code used to program Internet browser behaviors. The functions are valid and usable, and one function has the purpose of opening a pop-up window.
 *This is the first chronological appearance of [[Colonel]] [[Abraham Ellis]], as "[[First Strike]]" takes place after this film even though it was released first.
-*It is unclear how [[Vala Mal Doran]] escaped the cell to rescue [[Tomin]] as Jackson and [[Teal'c]] appear from the other end of the corridor.  ''She was taken out of her cell by two monks and left with Adria.  Adria was tehn distracted by Morgan Le Fey so that Vala can escape.  She must have found the keys along the way.''
+*It is unclear how [[Vala Mal Doran]] escaped the cell to rescue [[Tomin]] as Jackson and [[Teal'c]] appear from the other end of the corridor.  ''She was taken out of her cell by two monks and left with Adria.  Adria was then distracted by Morgan Le Fey so that Vala can escape.  She must have found the keys along the way.''
 *At the end Carter gives [[Lt. Colonel]] [[Cameron Mitchell]] a bag of [[Macaroon]]s. This is a reference to the episode "[[Line in the Sand]]", in which Mitchell gave an injured Carter some "awful" macaroons.
 *Mitchell's order to set "weapons to maximum" may be a reference the episode "[[200]]" in which Teal'c - during the ''[[Star Trek]]'' parody segment - does the same, which is criticized by Jackson.