Star Trek Retrospective: Star Trek: Generations, Star Trek: First Contact, Star Trek: Insurrection, Star Trek: Nemesis

When this all began, I mentioned how the Star Trek name has endured thanks to a series of beloved TV shows. For my generation, and the generation before it, Star Trek: The Next Generation was probably your introduction to the series. Truthfully, my only encounters with it was an episode of reading rainbow, anytime Seth MacFarlane brings the cast members along for his projects, and of course Sir Patrick Stewart. But how are the films featuring this brand new crew? Let's find out. *Spoilers ahead*

Star Trek: Generations

Generations operates as the official pass of the baton from the original crew to The Next Generation with the apparent death of Captain Kirk in a strange energy ribbon. Years later Captain Jean-Luc Picard and his crew stumble upon a plot by Tolian Soran, a scientist bent on entering a timeless realm known as the "Nexus" through that same ribbon in a plan destined to destroy a number of planets. Now Piccard will have to grapple with his potential legacy and team-up with the presumed dead Kirk to stop Soran from undoing existence as we know it.

Generations is probably most famous, or infamous, for being the movie where Captain Kirk is killed by a bridge falling. Fair or not, this moment is probably the most indicative of this movie's biggest problem which is an angle aiming for big emotional moments that are really a let down. 

The opening supposed death of Kirk is actually the most emotionally affecting moment in the entire movie because it's a true heroes death with Kirk literally sacrificing his life for others, as opposed to be unceremoniously killed in old man combat towards the film's end. The rest is all kind of...obvious. I get that we're supposed to care about Picard's desire to have a family and leave a proper legacy but when that legacy comes at the expense of planet fulls of lives it doesn't quite work.

This hyper focus on Picard also means we get less time with the charming crew. They have a couple of moments sure, but they're not really on full display and considering how they had an entire series of character development this felt like a wasted opportunity. 

I also rarely notice this, but the lack of extras or henchmen in this movie really bothered me. I mean the bad guy is literally one guy and Kirk and Picard go after him on horseback on a mountain guarded by basically no one. Maybe this was a budget thing but it's really underwhelming and that's the word I'd use to describe this movie.

Star Trek: First Contact

First Contact opens with a battle against the terrifying enemy, The Borg, with an apparent Star Fleet victory. However, it becomes clear that the battle was merely a distraction for the Borg to travel in time an alter human history. Now the crew will have to battle on two fronts, with Picard and Data fighting the Borg, with the rest of the crew ensuring the first warp fight and first contact with alien life takes place.

Much like the second outing was the best outing for the original Star Trek crew, the Next Generation crew second film is also its best because of one thing: balance. The series have always been a blender of character work, action, straight sci-fi, and the occasional drift into timey-wimey fun for good measure and this movie has all of it.

Above the Earth it's a Battle against the Borg with Picard attempting to deal with his unquenchable rage, due to his earlier Borg assimilation and Data being viciously interrogated. All of this works really well because not only are they making good use of the series signature villain, but they're also looking into the same questions and impact of said series. And I mean that Tommy Gun scene is just hilariously awesome. I know it goes against the established character, but admittedly my investment in that is minimal.

On the Earth's surface in the past, the rest of the crew has a more comedic journey as they both attempt to defend and keep the ground-breaking pilot, who doesn't live up to the legend, on track. This is the kind of stuff the movie's usually ignore in favor of action and big drama so it's nice to see it on display here.

Fun and multi-faceted, First Contact is easily the most complete film from the Next Generation crew.

Star Trek: Insurrection

In the follow-up to First Contact the Enterprise and her crew are recovering from a botched observation by their android companion Data. However, when Star Fleek order the crew to stand down in the midst of a potentially violent invasion, Picard and company defy orders and band together to save a peaceful alien race from destruction.

The problem with making a movie based on a TV series is often run time. If you don't have a lot of loose ends or storylines to wrap up finding either unique character moments or a story that'll maintain momentum for nearly two hours can be difficult. This is a prime example.

The core story of this film isn't bad, it's always fun to see your heroes defying orders they know are wrong and suspicious, but as things start to take shape, ever so slowly, it's pretty clear that there's not enough plot to maintain a film length adventure. What you mean that the odd orders aren't on the up and up? What do you mean there's a connection between the villain and the victims? Tell me more!

That said, this movie skates by on its cast, which are terribly light-hearted and charming throughout the film. Many of the characters get fun little subplots, while Stewart gets to be the moral and romantic lead of the film, and that all works nicely. 

Much like other Star Trek adventures your enjoyment of Insurrection will probably depend on your love of the original series and your forgiveness for a predictable plot. There's fun to be had but not as much as before.

Star Trek: Nemesis

The final adventure for The Next Generation crew finds them responding a surprising coup in the Romulan empire by a young man named Shinzon. Though initially concerned about the ripple effects, Picard and company soon find the despot's troubling plans for Picard and Earth's destruction.

This is about as straight-forward as a Star Trek adventure gets. Bad guy takes power. Bad guy has unexplained connection to main hero. Hero and friends try to stop it. It's a familiar formula and the effects and action scenes in this movie are solid enough to carry the movie. Sadly it all falls a bit flat.

Mainly because the bad guy, played as best as possible by a young Tom Hardy, just doesn't work. It's not uncommon for bad guys to have personal connections to the heroes (a la Khan or the Borg) and they tend to be most effective this way. However, when the only connection is "the bad guy is a clone of Picard that Picard never knew about and appears to be crazy pants" it doesn't have any emotional weight. 

Everyone is certainly trying their best and the action beats all work really well, but without a solid emotional investment most of this falls flat. The best stuff in the movie really comes from the supporting characters including a solid Spock-esque moment for Data, the marriage of Commander William Riker and Counselor Deanna Troi, and Worf actually getting to live up to his warrior title.

Sadly not the solid send-off you'd hope for, the plot Nemesis is too weak to make the film feel meaningful or necessary.