Story and Revelation

The following review of Stargate points out how the story's elements are presented as a series of revelations, and how that process operates in a story.

The premise of Stargate: "Human ingenuity defeats oppression."

Again, the purpose of this story's premise isn't to describe the characters in the story, but the story itself. Individual characters should have a personal premise that ties their individual goals into the overall premise of the story.

A brief rundown of the movie, scene by scene...

Stargate opens with mysterious shots of the stargate, unexplained. The music is both uplifting and ominous, building to the voices of slaves and a view of what we will later learn is RA's head-dress. Even in the credits, we're given a strong hint of what this movie is to be about both by its name and what we see under the opening credits.

The story opens in 1928, in Egypt. The archaeologists speak German, the workers, Arabic. A quick way to make the point about how different we can be, even on Earth.

A girl is introduced clearly in the background, and she's given the amulet which will play such a major role in the film. Notice that the amulet is clearly shot by the camera. It's meant to be remembered.

Then we see the gate, but have no sense, other than the title of the movie, what it might be.

Quickly cut to the present. The little girl is now an old woman (we know it's her because we see the amulet) attends a lecture by Jackson (played by James Spader). Spader very, very quickly has his ideas about ancient Egypt and the pyramids shot down. The scene has a point to make about Spader, makes it, and it's over.

In the next scene, Spader's offered a job by the woman with the amulet. It's simply presented, quickly, cleanly, that he needs the job; he has no money, no grants, no place to live. No scene wasted to establish his background. Dialogue very focused and to the point.

Next scene, we see Kurt Russell and learn about the death of his son. Again, focused, brief. No wasted dialogue, no unnecessary set up.

When the officers leave, we learn that Russell's son died by a gunshot, and that's why Russell grieves.

Next scene, in Colorado. Spader sees ring of stargate. Another revelation.

Notice that how these scenes are all built around some revelation of new information. We see the full stargate, then we find out what it is, etc.

Spader, in his element, goes to work to understand the stargate, immediately understanding more than others, so through him we have a revelation about the nature of the stargate. Note that Spader is allowed to reveal the correct answers, even though he hasn't been part of the team before. He's operating in a system where his knowledge is acknowledged and used because he's right, not because of who he is. Thus, his ingenuity is recognized and rewarded, which ties into the story's premise.

Spader figures out the true purpose of the stargate, only to have Russell step forward and take control of project. He simply takes over. Again, it suggests some sense of danger about the use of the stargate, anticipated fear, but does not explain it. That sets up another revelation.

In these first several minutes of the movie, the major characters have all been clearly and strongly introduced. This sequence ends the introduction phase of the movie.

Two weeks later, Spader figures out what others couldn't in two years. Seeing an astrology chart, he has a revelation and breaks the code of the stargate, but we aren't told what he's learned yet.

Next scene, Brass show up. Quick movement.

Spader explains the purpose of the stargate, a revelation. Only then is he allowed to see the gate. Spader explains how to make it work. Where before, they could only go to stage six, Spader explains how to get to stage seven, which opens the gate. Another revelation.

Stargate opens, military sends in probe that gets location across galaxy. A well-functioning team of humans, working together for a common purpose, has discovered the purpose and function of the Stargate.

New questions, can they get back through gate? Spader says yes. Because he can give assurance to get back through the gate, the mission is approved. Old woman gives him amulet.

Russell, soldiers and Spader pass through stargate.

At this point of the story, we've reached plot point one, that point that Syd Field talks about where those in the story are committed to a course of action. Once these soldiers and Spader go through the gate, they must figure out how to operate it from the other side and fulfill the mission and the story.

They enter this new world, which is another set of revelations, a double moon in the sky, etc. But now a whole new problem arises, Spader needs tablets to understand how to get back through the gate. So we have a whole new set of complications that Spader must use his ingenuity to overcome. At this stage, we're introduced to the individual soldiers, but they aren't established powerfully or clearly.

Russell, meanwhile, works on what is clearly a bomb. We don't know why it's there, but its purpose raises a question in our minds. What's it going to be used for? So, first we have a revelation (that Russell's brought a large bomb on the trip), that leads to a question. Why? And the answer to that question will come in the form of another revelation. It's a basic pattern for how this story is told.

Spader then goes for his ride with the ox-like creature, and the native city is discovered, another revelation.

Notice how the boy who will be important to the story is pointed out by the camera, as well as the girl who will be important later.

When these people see the Amulet, they worship Spader, another revelation. Spader sees symbol, eye of RA. It matches the symbol on Spader's amulet.

A sandstorm then blows in, and the group in the native village is cut off from the base camp. The soldiers in the base camp retreat to the pyramid.

The girl is offered to Spader. At first he turns her down, then he realizes, has a revelation, that he must accept her. Then he bonds with her. Then she shows him the symbol he needs, and he asks her where she's seen it.

The soldiers in the pyramid realize something is approaching their position. They fight, but are captured. We just have a glimpse of one of the alien soldiers. Again, a revelation that leads to new questions that will lead to new revelations. But it does answer one question: are all the natives friendly? No. Now we know Spader and the others have something to fear, although they don't. So the audience is set up to understand something the story's characters aren't in on yet. So the audience feels the suspense when Russell, Spader and the others return to the pyramid.

Russell, with the natives, begins to bond with the young boys. Very important, as that is what drives his character on a deeper, personal level, because of the death of his son.

The girl shows Spader the symbol in the cave. Because he accepted her, he's gaining knowledge.

The captured soldiers are taken into some kind of chamber. Again, revelation about the nature of the pyramid, but again leaving questions unanswered that will be answered by further revelations.

Russell shows a young boy his lighter.

Spader, seeing the symbols, explains who RA is. We see a recreation of the alien's time on Earth, learn about its existence. That RA was an alien who possessed a boy to live his life through the boy. That the mineral the natives mine was used to create the stargate, but on Earth, there was a rebellion, so RA brought slaves to this world to continue its existence, outlawing writing so there could never be another rebellion, i.e. there would be no expression of human ingenuity allowed on this world.

Again, revelations.

But the seventh symbol that Spader needs is missing. Again, we get part of a revelation, that leads to another question being raised, which calls for another revelation in the future to answer it.

Russell, Spader, soldiers return to their camp, followed by children.

They see Pyramid is ship, a revelation. They go inside. Fighting breaks out. Russell wants to set up bomb, but can't now. Alien soldiers appear and Russell, Spader, others captured.

Space ship opens.

Russell, Spader led to altar. Again, revelation about the true nature of space ship.

When they reach altar, we finally see RA and his retinue. Again, a revelation.

We find out RA has bomb, and learn why Russell brought bomb, to destroy gate. A revelation.

We see that captured soldiers are now in RA's retinue, a revelation.

Russell gets weapon, but he can't shoot through children to get at RA, because of what happened to his son.

Russell is thrown in with other, captured soldiers.

Ships go out to blast natives.

Spader escapes being changed over to being part of RA's retinue.

Spader and RA talk, and we learn RA plans to send bomb back to Earth with mineral so it will ruin gate on Earth by generating a major explosion, and RA will be left undisturbed as a God. Another revelation.

To prove his power, RA explains that he must publicly have Spader kill his friends, since natives have worshipped Spader.

Children gather at pyramid with adults to watch execution. Children have guns. So where a gun took his son's life, now young boys with guns have come to save Russell's life. A battle erupts.

Russell, Spader, others escape back to native's camp.

RA is angry.

Spader asks Russell why he wants to die in the bomb blast he plans to set off.

Russell bonds with a young boy. (This must happen if he is to overcome the death of his own son.)

RA kills trooper and takes his life force through the top of his skull. A revelation about how RA maintains himself and why he's attended to by children.

Boys laugh at Spader, that he now has wife. (I need to point out that it wasn't developed about Spader that he was seeking a wife, or companionship, so this doesn't quite match up directly with his personal premise, his ingenuity and knowledge being recognized.)

Spader sees boy trace missing symbol, a revelation. He now has seventh seal.

RA soldier comes to native camp and is killed. Natives now know they can fight back, a revelation.

RA awaits mineral to destroy Earth.

Spader, Russell, soldiers come with caravan. A firefight erupts.

Russell assembles the bomb. It will go off in seven minutes.

Spader's wife is killed.

Russell and RA soldier fight.

Spader takes wife to chamber where she can potentially be revived. He revives her.

Outside, retarded boy dies.

Russell and soldier continue to fight. 3:17 to go before the bomb goes off. See how the time pressure is used to add urgency to the movie's outcome?

Soldiers outside surrender.

RA surprises Spader and starts to take his life energy.

Russell and soldier continue to fight. Russell brings down rings, killing soldier, saving Spader.

Russell can't stop bomb.

When soldiers outside surrender to RA's soldiers, natives show up and attack. Because of seeing the ingenuity and courage of men from Earth, they have learned to fight against their oppressors. This ties directly into the premise of the story, that human ingenuity, the ability to learn, defeats oppression.

RA, seeing the battle turn again him, flees in his ship. Russell figures out a way to send the bomb up with him, so it is RA the alien who is destroyed, not the stargate.

Russell is now saluted by the young boys. He is thus healed of the death of his son.

Spader decides to stay with his wife.

Emotional send off.

We see amulet. Russell and the others pass through the stargate, which ends the movie.

End of story.

While this issue of revelations is well done in Stargate, I do have a problem that we aren't told clearly why the stargate is feared. Because it's not established that the stargate is inherently dangerous to humanity, what's at stake over the outcome of the story isn't made clear until late in the story.

Secondly, Spader's premise is that he must find a way to be recognized for his talents. So the climax of the story is that Spader figures out how to work the stargate. But the fulfillment for Spader's character is that he has found a wife. But this was never raised as an issue early in the story. Therefore the story wobbles a bit with its fulfillment, and is not quite as affecting as it could have been. If Spader's desire for a relationship been made clear and part of his personal premise from early in the story, this story element would have been more effective. Russell's need to find a way through his grief over his son's death is clearly laid out and clearly dealt with by the action of the movie.

My main point about this story in terms of its structure is that what's at stake with the stargate being opened, the potential destruction of the Earth, is not made clear early in the story. One sees all these military people about, but no explanation for what they fear is offered. If it could have been raised as an issue, that some marking on the stargate threatened danger to Earth if the gate were used, the story would have generated more suspense and drama.

This ties back into that issue that the story moves forward mainly by revelation, which is more common in science fiction than other types of storytelling. This means we're always been offered new and fresh and engaging information that asks questions that we need to stay with the story to get answered. If they had taken just a bit more care about setting up the story itself, I think the movie would have pulled in a wider audience.

Many of the other elements of the movie, acting, sets, special effects, plot, were effective and well done.

The plot of the story serves to set up this series of revelations. And every revelation leads to a deeper, more complex question that needs to be answered. Thus we are engaged and pulled through the story through the action of the plot and its revelations, on one hand, and through caring about Russell and Spader, and the native people, on the other, and what these revelations mean for them.

Understanding this concept of rate of revelation can help writers create stories that are fresh and engaging.

©2000 Bill Johnson