Star Trek Generations (1994) / Sci Fi-Adventure

MPAA Rated: PG for sci-fi action and some mild language
Running Time: 118 min.

Cast: Patrick Stewart, Jonathan Frakes, Brent Spiner, LeVar Burton, William Shatner
Director: David Carson
Screenplay: Ronald D. Moore, Brannon Braga
Review published March 2, 1997

Kirk, Scotty and Chekhov, now retired from service, come out to celebrate the christening of the Enterprise-B. While on board the ship answering reporters' questions, a distress signal comes in and they are the only ones in the area to deal with the problem. During the rescue mission involving a mysterious "space ribbon", the Enterprise rescues some of the passengers of the distressed ship but is also hit, taking the quarters Kirk was in. 78 years later, Captain Jean-Luc Picard and co. on the Enterprise-D deal with the nefarious Dr. Soren, who was one of the survivors of the aforementioned mission, and end up trying to stop his plot to collapse suns with trilithium and changing the course of the ribbon and killing hundreds of millions of innocent people.

Despite some serious flaws in narration, still a thrilling first entry for the Next Generation of Star Trek films. Director of the TV series, David Carson (Carrie, Unstoppable), takes the directors seat this time and delivers a more hit-than-miss adventure that is sometimes confusing but still thoroughly entertaining for fans of both TV shows. Spiner as the android Data, steals the best moments after being implanted with an emotion chip that causes some erratic but hilarious behavior. Kirk's death lacks the emotional impact of Spock's in Star Trek II, but is still moving and tastefully handled. With a little more editing of the script and crisper direction of various scenes, this could have been the best of the film series. As it stands, still a solid entry, bringing the end of the first generation and coming of the second in style.

-- Followed by Star Trek: First Contact

Qwipster's rating:

©1997 Vince Leo