A bridge too far? (Star Trek: Generations (DVD))

Member Name: SimonCook

Product:	Star Trek: Generations (DVD)
Date:	15/08/01 (91 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Good effects, Polished performances

Disadvantages: Weak Plot

I am a huge Star Trek fan and love to watch The original series, The Next Generation (TNG), Deep Space Nine and Voyager. (And soon Enterprise.).

<Introduction>

Many years ago, before I was born, Gene Roddenberry created a series that would become a cult classic and catipult unknown actors such as Leonard Nimoy and William Shatner into stardom. The initial idea was to create a series where a predominately human cast would explore the galaxies meeting new races, fighing evil aliens and increasing the knowledge of human kind.

In doing so, Roddenberry created several new things:

Federation and Star Fleet - the Federation is an alliance of hundreds of peace living cultures ranging from the logical Vulcans to Humankind. The aliens are diverse and bring in many different qualities to the whole federation. Star Fleet is the Federations 'airforce'. Thousands of ships are used for defence, attack or exploration. The Enterprise is the flag ship and it and its crew 'Boldlt go where no man has gone before'.

Klingons etc - Roddenberry created several new races for the Enterprise to encounter. The Klingons were a wall like race whose society was based on honour and an honourable death in battle. The Romulans were a mysterious race who were very warlike; they are similar to the Vulcans, a pointy eared race that uses logic and controls emotions. The Romulans are linked to the Vulcans but do not control their emotions. There are literally hundreds of races that have been created for Star Trek.

The original series was groundbreaking as it bought together many different cultures and races. It had a Russian, an Asian, a Scotsman and an American (Black and White) all on the same bridge. In the sixties when the series first aired this was unheard of.

The series concentrated on adventure an exploration, with the larger than life Captain Kirk taking a major role in the show. With a subtle blend of actio
n, comedy and intrigue Star Trek has become a timeless classic. As the success built, five movies were created based on the original series; these movies removed the poor production and poor sets and replaced this with excellent Hollywood quality and effects.

Several years later as BBC2 continued to air Star Trek (and countless other TV stations continued to air the series) a new series arrived promising much.

Star Trek: The Next Generation (TNG) gave us an entirely new crew in an updated version of the original seried. With enhanced effects and more intriguing plots and characters TNG perhaps appealed more to a mass audience. The series paid less attention to action and added more team work as the crew solved more complicated problems than the original series.

Finally, as TNG series came to an end it was inevitible that this series would be transferred to the big screen. To make the transition easier a movie that linked both the old series and the new series was created, the intention being to slowly let go of the old series and introduce the new series to the mass public.

<Generations>

A strange phenomenon is sweeping the galaxy. Planets, solar systems and all that live in them are swept up in its path to live in a dream world.

A new Enterprise is close to completion and several of the original crew have been invited to attend the official launch. Spock, Scotty, Bones and James Kirk all attend the ceremony. However, before anything can be launched the Enterprise receives a distress call as a strange phenomenon is dragging two ships into oblivion. Although the Enterprise is not fully fitted-out, the ship is launched. Although Kirk initially takes control, he finally let's command go and allows the new captain to take the helm while he goes to seal a breach in the hull.

As the Enterprise manages to save some lives, the arch villain (Macolm McDowell) has been inadvertently rescued from this
'place' by the Enterprise and is intent on getting back, regardless of how many planets he must destroy to get his way.

Unfortunately, Captain Kirk is dragged into the phenomenon and presumed dead.

Many years later we find Captain Kirk embroiled in a race to stop Malcolm McDowell from destroying many worlds in his quest to return to the phenomenon. Captain Kirk has no choice but to persuade Captain Kirk to return and help him stop the mad man. Suffice to say that the movie combines the intigue of TNG with the action of the original series as it attempts to move from the old series to the new series.

......

The movie contains all the main characters from TNG although they seem a little more polished than they were in TNG.

<Captain Picard> - the captain is his typical thoughtful self as his french background combines with his intelligence to provide a determined character intent on saving lives and ensuring his crews safety.

<Data> - the android who wants to be human provides the comic relief as he comes to terms with his newly inserted emotion chip. He is perhaps the most changed character from the series.

<Worf> - on loan from Deep Space 9 for this movie, Worf is belligerent as usual as he combines a gruff attitude with an excellence that is very evident.

<Geordie> - no longer sporting the cool 'glasses' Geordie has had eye implants to allow him to see. Geordie uses his own blend of intelligence and problem solving to attempt to follow in the daunting steps of Scotty as Chief Engineer.

<Beverly Crusher> - a very glamorous Doctor who does more than be a mere doctor. Her courage under adversity is obvious as she continues to help the crew in all matters.

<Dianna troy> - a beautiful woman who is the ships councellor, she uses her psychic abilities to help the crew deal with problematical circumstances. She also advices the captain in dan
gerouse liaisons.

<William Riker> - captain Picard's first officer, he is a strong character who is not afraid to disagree with the captain when required. He is more like the old Captain Kirk character with his larger than life attitude.

<Captain Kirk> - a little older but basically unchanged from the original series, Captain Kirk continues to use brute force to solve problems. It is interesting to see the two captains working together.

<Conclusion>

The plot is a little thin as it tries to seemlessly move from one series to the next; the larger than life Captain Kirk spoils the movie for me as we lose some of the camaraderie and temawork that TNG is famous for. The effects are excellent, and are what you would expect from Star Trek combinging superb explosions, excellent and detailed ships, some great make up for the aliens and a superb sound track. The acting is well rounded and although the characters that we all know from TNG are only just being introduced to a new audience, all their basic traits from TNG still exist and have not been changed too much for the big screen.

As a transitional movie it is interesting, however I do not think that this will win over many new fans because as a stand alone film it is not particularly great. As an ardent Star Trek fan myself I enjoyed this movie and could not wait for the next movie - First Contact, and my favorite of TNG movies Insurrection.

Summary: