Star Trek: Generations (1994)

There were only two ways for "classic Trek" cast members to appear in a movie with the cast of Star Trek: The Next Generation: either Capt. Kirk and his contemporaries would have to be very, very old, or there would be some time travel involved in the plot. Since geriatric heroes aren't very exciting (despite a welcomed cameo appearance by the aged Dr. McCoy), Star Trek: Generations unites Capt. Kirk (William Shatner) and Capt. Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) in a time-jumping race to stop a madman's quest for heavenly contentment. When a mysterious energy coil called the Nexus nearly destroys the newly christened U.S.S. Enterprise-B, the just-retired Capt. Kirk is lost and presumed dead. But he's actually been happily trapped in the timeless purgatory of the Nexus--an idyllic state of being described by the mystical Guinan (Whoopi Goldberg) as "pure joy." Picard must convince Kirk to leave this artificial comfort zone and confront Dr. Soran (Malcolm McDowell), the madman who will threaten billions of lives to be reunited with the addictive pleasure of the Nexus. With subplots involving the android Data's unpredictable "emotion chip" and the spectacular crash-landing of the starship Enterprise, this crossover movie not only satisfied Trek fans, but it also gave them something they'd never had to confront before: the heroic and truly final death of a beloved Star Trek character. Passing the torch to the Next Generation with dignity and entertaining adventure, the movie isn't going to please everyone with its somewhat hokey plot, but it still ranks as a worthy big-screen launch for Picard and his stalwart crew. --Jeff Shannon Amazon.com

a true fan would buy this :)

if you like the next generation you'll want to own this. Very cool way to see the crew extend the stories past the season 7 eppisode. July 17, 2008

Could Have Been Great, But Underachieved

Much like the first Star Trek film, "Star Trek Generations" could have been great, but ultimately failed to create the high drama and emotional character development that fans of the series crave. The idea of Captains Kirk and Picard interacting in one movie seemed like box office dynamite, but did not live up to the billing.

The basic plot of this film has the "Next Generation" Enterprise crew investigating a strange astral phenomena in which people can live out their greatest fantasies. When that phenomena falls into the wrong hands, the conflict of the movie is set.

The movie fails to deliver in a few key areas: First, the introduction and ultimate fate of the returning James T. Kirk seem quite anticlimactic. In what should have been a momumental "passing of the torch" moment, the writers/producers instead chose to play down the "cannon" aspect in favor of the script at hand. Second, the "Next Generation" crew all seem a bit wooden in their performances, almost as if they were taking themselves too seriously on the big screen, when they should have just remained true to their silver-screen characters.

A few scenes actually work quite while, however, saving this movie from complete oblivion. The opening of the movie, featuring a fish-out-of-water Kirk watching a new captain command the Enterprise, is classic, while Captain Jean-Luc Picard's "fantasy life" in the astral phenomena adds depth to his character. Also, the emotion-chip plotline involving Data was humorous (even though Data's ultimate decision on the chip doesn't come until later on in the Next Generation TV show).

To conclude, "Star Trek Generations" is an average movie that is very uneven throughout. Some scenes with Kirk are great, others are anticlimatic. Some information regarding the astral phenomena is interesting, while at other times it is just confusing. If you are just watching the Star Trek movies, I would recommend this film in order to become accustomed to the Next Generation cast. If you already are a "Next Gen" fan, this movie can easily be skipped en route to the next installment in the movie series. June 10, 2008

When two captains meet!

Retired U.S.S. Enterprise crew members Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner), Chevok (Walter Koenig) and Scotty (James Doohan) are guests of honor as they christened a new enterprise but during their test of the ship, a mysterious energy ribbon called The Nexus as Captain Kirk disappears. Seventy-eight years later the USS Enterprise-D run by Captain Picard (Patrick Stewart) with his crew Worf (Michael Dorn), Data (Brent Spiner), Beverly Crusher (Gates McFadden), Geordie (Levar Burton), Riker (Jonathan Frakes) and Troi (Marina Sirtis) are traveling through space, a mad scientist named Soren (Michael McDowell) who has a plan to destroy the enterprise and millions of lives. Picard must go into the Nexus where he must find the legendary and so called proclaimed dead Captain Kirk to help him stop Soren's madness before it's too late.

Nicely done and well directed installment of the popular sci-fi franchise! I love how they had a few members of the original ST crew and the Next Generation crew are together in this movie. Sure fans had mixed feelings over this installment but i loved it! Whoopie Goldberg does a great uncredited apperence as Next Generation bartender Guinan, the special effects were spectacular and the storyline is very good. Some fans didn't like how Data the lovable android gets an emotion chip that makes him a happy go-lucky joker but i think it's funny, the acting is good and so is the directing. This is a very underrated installment of the series that is worth watching, this is where the old generation meets the new generation with a memorable end to Kirk and a welcome arm to Captain Picard and his crew.

This 2-Disc DVD contains great picture and sound as always with these 2-disc editions of the franchise! the extras include audio commentary by Brannon Braga and Ron Moore with Text commentary by Michael and Denise Okuda of the "Star Trek Encylopedia" fame. Featurettes, deleted scenes, alternate ending, storyboards, production gallery, and a tribute to Matt Jefferies. February 13, 2008

a long episode

I will say this. If I had to pay 15 bucks or go to a theatre to see this film I wouldn't do it. However for the 5-6 bucks you are about to pay for it then yes it's worth it. It was a movie that should have never went to theraters but, been on a tv.

It might as well been a two part eps with a bigger budget. Granted I like the movie and bought it on amazon and if you like TNG you'll like this film. January 12, 2008

A Forgettable Chapter in the Star Trek Series

First, I would just like to say that I'm not a big fan of any other Star Trek series other than the original series. I've barely watched Star Trek: The Next Generation, and knowing that this was really a Next Generation film, I really wasn't expecting to warm up to the "new" cast too easily. The fact is, the things that I didn't like about this film really didn't involve much of the cast. Basically, this film wasn't bad, but it wasn't that good. Simply put, it just didn't do much for me. To be honest, the whole movie just felt like an extra long, normal episode. The story, for the most part, really didn't excite me much at all, especially the whole storyline with Data and his "Emotion Chip" which was not amusing at all. The beginning scenes with William Shatner were descent, but by the time he returns much later in the film, its kinda too late. I didn't think Shatner and Stewart had any on screen Chemistry. I didn't think they fit well together. In a nutshell, I really don't have much more to say about this film. Its just another forgettable movie. And though, I guess the appearance of Kirk (and Scotty and Chekov in the first scenes) was supposed to be the big thing in this film, it didn't meet my expectations. As always, these Star Trek films are worth buying just to have them all at the very least, and the special features, are as always, were having. Again, this film isn't that bad, and is worth watching, but just don't expect nothing real special with this one. October 18, 2007

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