Star Trek: Generations Blu-Ray Review

Rated PG (Sci-Fi Action and Some Mild Language)

Running Time: 1 Hour & 58 Minutes

Cast:

Patrick Stewart-Captain Jean-Luc Picard

William Shatner-Captain James T. Kirk

Jonathan Frakes-Commander William Riker

Brent Spiner-Lieutenant Commander Data

LeVar Burton-Chief Engineer Geordi La Forge

Michael Dorn-Lieutenant Commander Worf

Gates McFadden-Doctor Beverly Crusher

Marina Sirtis-Counselor Deanna Troi

Malcolm McDowell-Dr. Tolian Soran

Whoopi Goldberg-Guinan

Barbara March-Lursa

Gwynyth Walsh-B'Etor

James Doohan-Captain Montgomery 'Scotty' Scott

Walter Koenig-Commander Pavel Chekov

Alan Ruck-Captain John Harriman

Jacqueline Kim-Ensign Demora Sulu

Majel Barrett-Ship's Computer

Directed by David Carson

You have two of the finest captains in the history of Starfleet and what do you have them do? Cook breakfast.

Note: Part of the "Star Trek The Next Generation Motion Picture Collection" Blu-Ray set.

“Star Trek The Next Generation” finally ended its seven year run in May of 1994 but that wasn’t the end for Captain Picard and the crew of the USS Enterprise-D, because the seventh film, “Star Trek Generations,” was just around the corner. Released on November 18, 1994 and now available on Blu-Ray, “Generations” was supposed to be a ‘passing of the torch’ moment with the much-hyped meeting of Picard and Kirk from the Original Series. To be honest, this is my least favorite of the TNG films because it feels like an extended episode of the TV series. Despite being bogged down by a rather bland story and weak villains, there are still enough moments to win over most Trek fans. 

The USS Enterprise-B is about to begin its maiden voyage and former captains James T. Kirk (William Shatner), Montgomery Scott (James Doohan) and Commander Pavel Chekov (Walter Koenig) are on-hand to send the ship on her way. However, they receive a distress call about two ships trapped in some sort of ‘energy ribbon’ and the Enterprise is the closest ship to conduct a rescue. The ships happen to carrying El-Aurian refugees who are escaping from the Borg and while some of them managed to be rescued, the Enterprise becomes trapped in the energy ribbon. Kirk descends to the Engineering Bay to simulate to effect of a photon torpedo to break free and he succeeds, although he is killed after a hull breach. 78 years later, Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) of the USS Enterprise-D is attending a ceremony to promote Worf (Michael Dorn) to the rank of Lieutenant Commander when they receive a distress call from the Amargosa Solar Observatory. Commander Riker (Jonathan Frakes) and his away team find only one survivor, a Dr. Tolian Soran (Malcolm McDowell), and the body of a dead Romulan. While Data (Brent Spiner) and LaForge (LeVar Burton) are investigating the observatory for clues, they come under attack by Soran, who launches a solar probe to destroy the nearby Amargosa star. He captures LaForge and is beamed to safety with the help of the Duras sisters, Lursa and B'Etor (Barbara March and Gwynyth Walsh). Picard learns from Guinan (Whoopi Goldberg) that Soran is trying to get back into the Nexus, a place where time has no meaning and where one’s every dream becomes reality. With time running out, Picard and his crew must find a way to stop Soran and enlist the aid of a long-dead Starfleet captain. 

The plot of “Star Trek Generations” definitely feels like little more than an excuse to have Picard and Kirk team up and is rife with a few plot holes. One of the more obvious is when Picard is in the Nexus and is told he can leave to any point in time since time has no meaning. He chooses to arrive mere minutes before Soran is about to destroy the Viridian star when he could’ve just picked any time and catch Soran unawares. Writer Ronald D. Moore reasoned that it was because Picard didn’t want to tamper with the timeline, a lame excuse if I ever heard any. Still, like all Trek films, there is a theme and this time it’s time and mortality. When Picard gets the news that his older brother and nephew had died in a fire, he remarks that he was become aware that ‘there were fewer days ahead than they are behind,’ meaning he has spent most of life dedicated to Starfleet that he has neglected to start a family and raise children. Kirk also feels this way in the prologue when he questions how Hikaru Sulu found time for family. By the end of the film, Picard comes to the conclusion that there’s no point lamenting on what you could or couldn’t do but to try to make the most of whatever time you have left (‘I rather believe that time is a companion who goes with us on the journey and reminds us to cherish every moment, because it will never come again’). Of course, Soran does not see it this way and wants to use the Nexus as a way of bringing his family back after they were attacked by the Borg. Even though what the Nexus creates is all an illusion, he doesn’t care. Like the sequel, “First Contact,” there’s a subplot involving Data, who has now taken that leap of faith and installed the emotion chip from his evil brother, Lore. This leads to much hilarity such as when he starts guffawing at a joke made seven years ago and expresses his love of scanning life-forms through song. Some of it borders on being cheesy but come on, it’s Data! 

The acting is generally good and Patrick Stewart continues to have a commanding presence whenever he’s on-screen. Unfortunately, when he finally meets Kirk face-to-face, the moment just isn’t as powerful as I thought it would be. Also,  when Kirk finally does go down fighting, the scene doesn’t pack any emotional punch. Malcolm McDowell’s Soran also doesn’t appear to be menacing at all but it’s more the fault of the writers in handling the character than his performance. The special effects are a cut above from the TNG series but lacks the ‘wow effect’ when I first laid eyes on the Enterprise-E in “First Contact.” Although Industrial Light & Magic did create a digital model of the Enterprise-D, they still used physical models to keep costs down. The most impressive set-piece would be the Stellar Cartography room, which provides a three-dimensional view of space and various planets on a two-dimensional screen. There’s also a ship battle between the Enterprise and a Klingon Bird of Prey but it pales in comparison to the one in “First Contact.” The film crew also tore up the Enterprise real good with consoles exploding everywhere and the scene when it crash lands into Viridian III is the most visually impressive. 

The Blu-Ray looks very good for a film made in 1994 and close-up shots on the actors/actresses faces reveal incredible detail. Hell, I could see every line on Data’s face! However, it makes much of the dated effects look like it came from the Sci-Fi Channel and you’ll notice a slight outline whenever a person is standing behind a blue-screen. Audio is better as weapon sounds like disrupter fire or photon torpedoes pack quite a punch, especially during the space battle over Viridian III. Things get even louder as the Enterprise crashes into the planet below and you can feel the floor shake as it skids to a stop in a forest. Special features include audio commentaries from director David Carson and Manny Coto, writers Brannon Braga and Ronald D. Moore and various featurettes detailing the production process such as visual effects and creating the weapons. Like “First Contact,” Paramount spared no effort in packing the disc with extras. 

“Star Trek Generations” received quite a large amount of hype leading up to its release (including an official website dedicated to the film) but critical reception was mixed, with a 48% on Rotten Tomatoes. The film made $76 million domestic and $118 million worldwide, impressive considering it had a $35 million production budget. “Star Trek Generations” is an average Trek film with a few good moments but the story is nothing more than an excuse to bring Picard and Kirk together. While it succeeds in passing the torch to the TNG crew, one can’t help but feel like they’re watching a double length TV episode of the series.

Final Rating: 3 out of 5

"Someone once told me that time was a predator that stalked us all our lives. I rather believe that time is a companion who goes with us on the journey and reminds us to cherish every moment, because it will never come again. What we leave behind is not as important as how we've lived."