That which is right, just, and true can still prevail

- remember Farscape?

Last night's movie rental was Stargate: The Ark of Truth, a straight-to-DVD movie based on the Stargate SG-1 science fiction tv series, the events of which take place just after the final eoisode of the 10 year show .... basically, the team finally defeatss the evil Ori. It will probably be of little interest to those who haven't been watching the series, but I thought I'd still post something because there was a dialogue between two of the characters that touched me (see below).


- the Ark of Truth is discovered

For backstory purposes ..... SG-1 is a US Air Force military team composed of archaeologist Daniel Jackson, Lieutenant Colonel and scientist Samantha Carter, the alien Teal'c, Lieutenant Colonel Cameron Mitchell (Ben Browder of Farscape fame), and alein Vala Mal Doran (Claudia Black also once of Frascape). They travel through a device called a stargate whicvh allows them to visit other worlds via wormhole. Late in the series, they encounter evil aliens from another galaxy known of as the Ori, ascended beings who are pure energy and who call themselves gods, who try to take over the universe in a kind of holy war/crusade, sending ships commanded by inhumanly powerful priors and filled with zillions of soldiers, to either convert or deatroy everyone in their path.


- Julian Sands plays the Doci

In this movie, Daniel (the archaeologist) and the others search for and find an ancient device called the Ark of Truth which, when opened, will cause any viewing the contents to believe the truth about the Ori - that they are indeed not gods - and thus SG-1 hopes to change the hearts and minds of the crusaders and end the war before the Ori ships destroy the non-converting earth. But once the Ark is found, it's captured by the Ori and Daniel and Vala are taken as prisoners. Meantime Samantha and Cameron on borad the USS Odyssey fight Ori ships and stow-away replocators, while a wounded Teal'c strives to rescue Daniel and Vala with the help of Morgan le Fay (I know - how does the king Arthur legend fit in? Loooong story :). The prisoners are freed, the last remaining ascended Ori, Adria, becomes locked in eternal combat with Morgan le Fay, the leader of the Ori forces, the Doci, gets exposed to the Ark of Truth, the Ori army stands down, the replicators are destroyed .... all's well that ends well.


- the Ori Adria confronts Vala

There was one part of the story that I found moving, I guess because I always wonder (about myself) if there's ever any way back from having been bad .... Teal'c, who once had served the side of evil (the nasty Goa'uld) but in the first episode of the series turned to the good side, talks to Tomin, an Ori commander who has finally changed sides after learning the truth about the Ori .......


- Tomin and Teal'c in the USS Odyssey's mess hall

Teal'c: Nothing I have done since turning against the Goa'uld will 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. They could not be changed. You tried to convince yourself 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 when I will forgive myself.

Teal'c: Because it will never come. 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.


- Daniel and Vala try to open the Ark of Truth

Trailer for The Ark of Truth ....


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