|
|
| Source: rec.art.movies.reviews newsgroup | | Rating: 4
| Despite a reasonably original story line, familiar characters, first rate special effects, and the hallmark meeting between Captains Kirk (William Shatner) and Picard (Patrick Stewart), there's something fundamentally dissatisfying about this, the seventh "Star Trek" feature film. The problem is that while STAR TREK: GENERATIONS is undeniably a major motion picture, too often it seems like little more than an over-budgeted, double-length episode of the "Next Generation" television series. The vestiges of the intangible "Star Trek" magic which has survived for more than twenty-five years, and weathered six feature films (the last two of which have been lackluster), are laid to rest here. If the spirit of the series is ever again to boldly go, it will have to rise, phoenix-like, from the ashes.
STAR TREK: GENERATIONS opens in the twenty third century with the christening of the USS Enterprise "B". On hand for the event are three living legends: Captain James T. Kirk, Captain Montgomery Scott (James Doohan), and Commander Pavel Chekov (Walter Koenig). As so often happens in the "Star Trek" universe, a ceremonial maiden voyage turns into a rescue mission, with the Enterprise the only ship within range to aid refugees trapped by a mysterious--and deadly--energy ribbon. Kirk, assisted by his two old friends, manages to save nearly fifty lives, but not before the section of the ship where he's working is destroyed. No body is found, but the celebrated Starfleet officer is presumed dead. In actuality, however, he has been sucked into the "Nexus", a place where time has no meaning and where fantasies become reality.
Seventy-eight years later, the crew of the Enterprise "D" are engaged in a rescue mission of their own: saving scientists in an observatory ravaged by a Romulan attack. One of the survivors, a Dr. Soran (Malcolm McDowell), is a long-lived alien who exhibits certain irrational tendencies. Driven by an obsessive need to enter the "Nexus", and willing to take any action necessary to accomplish that aim, Soran turns against Captain Picard, placing in jeopardy not only the Enterprise "D", but an entire populated planet.
It's difficult to say how the general public will react to this film. Unlike the previous sequels, GENERATIONS is largely inaccessible to non-"Trek" aficionados. However, with its focus on character development over action, it should prove enjoyable for those well-acquainted with the voyages of any Enterprise. One of GENERATIONS' strengths is its willingness to take chances with the familiar "Star Trek" mythos. This movie spends as much time tearing down old bridges as building new ones.
There are problems, however, several of which are too obvious to ignore. First time feature director David Carson's inexperience is at times evident. His film is inconsistently paced, with a few space battle/action scenes sprinkled liberally throughout an otherwise talky, protracted story. A combat sequence between the USS Enterprise "D" and a Klingon ship lacks any semblance of tension. Looking back at the ship-to-ship duels of movies 2, 3, and 6, there was a flair and buildup that is noticeably absent here. The battles in GENERATIONS are hurried, and the viewer appears to be watching rather than participating, with little opportunity to savor the moment.
Equally unimpressive is Carson's handling of a certain highly-emotional moment that figures prominently in the climax. Again, perhaps he's rushing things, but those of us in the audience recognize that the scene should be far more affecting than it actually is. The ending of STAR TREK II: THE WRATH OF KHAN, which featured Spock's death, was wrenching. By comparison, GENERATIONS' last moments are flat.
Malcolm McDowell plays the latest--and probably the weakest--"Star Trek" film villain. Following in the footsteps of Ricardo Montalban's Khan, Christopher Lloyd's Kruge, and Christopher Plummer's Chang, McDowell can't quite live up to the scenery-chewing nastiness of his predecessors. This is precisely because McDowell's Soran is too restrained--"Trek" bad guys tend to be at their best when hamming it up.
The centerpiece of GENERATIONS is the much-anticipated meeting between Kirk and Picard, which completes the old crew-to-new crew transition begun in STAR TREK VI. Shatner wears Kirk like a comfortable garment, and somehow the film seems more alive when he's on screen. Stewart, the consummate professional, is undeniably the better actor, but his presence isn't as arresting. Even Brent Spiner, despite a wonderful, often-comic performance as Lt. Commander Data, can't fill the gap left when Kirk isn't around.
One thing made obvious by this picture is that the "Star Trek" movies are in desperate need of musical continuity. Dennis McCarthy is the fifth composer in seven films, and his score is perhaps the most bland of all. Except during certain key moments when the Alexander Courage signature tune is used, most of GENERATIONS' unmemorable music fades into the dimly-lit background.
Lovers of frantically-paced science fiction may find GENERATIONS too static, and fans of the original series will likely be disappointed by the limited screen time accorded Kirk, Scotty, and Chekov (not to mention the absence of Spock, Bones, Sulu, and Uhura) Mostly, GENERATIONS spends its running length searching for--and never completely finding--its niche.
If there is an eighth "Star Trek" film, and GENERATIONS isn't the series' epitaph, perhaps eliminating the burden of mixing characters from different eras will permit a less-erratic plot line. Either way, however, "Star Trek" will never be the same. Age and a few too many bad stories may have robbed Kirk and company of their vitality, but nothing can take away their mystique--and that is the quality which will sorely be missed.
By : James Berardinelli
|
| | Source: rec.art.movies.reviews newsgroup | | Rating: 0
| Who directed this film? It is very Shatner-esque. Captain Kirk gets to show off his fighting skills, and even Picard seems to prefer combat given the choice. (He can go anywhere in the universe in time or space, and he picks the one place that will allow him to have a fight with another old guy. Come on, please.)
Another Shatner-esque touch: Picard and Kirk get to go to some place that sounds great, and it turns out to be fake snow, dumb holiday scenes complete with a Tiny Tim substitute, and K-Mart style holiday clothes. (Remember how the visit with "God" in "The Undiscovered Country" turned out to be really stupid?) No wonder they don't mind leaving.
Most of the original Star Trek cast are sensibly absent from this turkey. Only Kirk, Scotty, and Chekov show up.
So many familiar plot devices are screwed up that you wonder how they're going to make another movie. I won't give away the plot, such as it is, by revealing any of this, but I suppose Star Trek VIII will dedicate itself to undoing the damage done by its predecessor, like Star Trek III. I just hope they don't resurrect you-know-who.
"All Good Things..." is a far better film. I wonder why the same people who could make a good film like that could not get their act together well enough to put together a film that would appeal to anyone other than a Trekkie.
There's really nothing to recommend in this film. All the TNG actors seem to be under the influence of either very bad direction or some kind of depressants. Perhaps they don't want to show up the acting skills of their inferior counterparts from TOS.
I have an idea. Maybe Shatner got a clause in his contract guaranteeing him a certain type of direction, and no acting any better than his, in exchange for doing this film. That could explain it.
Don't go if you aren't a Trekkie.
By : Jon A. Webb
| more Star Trek: Generations reviews:
<<prev 1 2 3 next>>
|
Star Trek: Generations posters
|
[an error occurred while processing this directive]
|
