Star Trek Generations - Dvd [1995]

The integrity and community of the crew comes to the fore in this film and with the exception of the Data subplot, is incredibly written and acted. The scenes in Captain Picard's quarters when he learns of his brother's death is some of the most heart-felt acting I've seen.

Definitly one film that will live long and prosper (brain - 'Thats it Im outta here!')

It is also William Shatner's final appearance as Capt. James Tiberius Kirk and, as Spock would say, a logical exit in what amounts to a guest role in an ambitious Star Trek: The Next Generation episode, albeit one made for the movies. It is an appearance fans had hoped for, since the rest of the "Enterprise Four" (Dr. McCoy, Scotty, Spock) had already made either cameos or appeared in major episodes ("Unification Parts I and II" and "Relics") set in the 24th Century.

Writers Brannon Braga, Ronald D. Moore (who is also involved in the Sci-Fi Channel's "reimagined" Battlestar Galactica miniseries) and Rick Berman came up with a creative way to bring Kirk and Picard together without using time travel or technological "cheats" like a transporter feedback loop (which is how Scotty had managed to enter the 24th Century). They would start the film in the 23rd Century, with Kirk doing something typically Kirk-heroic, then go forward in time to Picard's time and have the two captains join forces to face a common foe.

It's 2295. The Enterprise-A has been decommissioned, her crew disbanded and her senior officers retired or reassigned. Above Earth, the USS Enterprise NCC-1701-B is being launched, and Kirk, Scotty (James Doohan) and Chekov (Walter Koenig) are guests of honor at her commissioning ceremony. But the brief PR-friendly cruise to "Pluto and back" is cut short by a distress signal from two El-Aurian refugee vessels caught in a strange energy ribbon. Under the command of Capt. John Harriman (Alan Ruck), the woefully undermanned and underequipped Enterprise-B mounts a risky rescue mission, beaming a handful of El-Aurians aboard, including Dr. Tolian Soran (Malcolm McDowell) and future Enterprise-D bartender Guinan (Whoopi Goldberg).

But before the Enterprise-B can escape the effects of the energy ribbon, a tendril strikes the starship and causes damage. Kirk and Scotty find a way to get the starship out of harm's way...and the former captain of the original Enterprise heads down to the Engineering section to implement their plan. It works, but not before the energy ribbon's lightning-like rays lash out at the Enterprise and open a gash in the great ship's hull...right where James T. Kirk is standing...and the legendary captain vanishes and is presumed dead.

Fast forward 78 years into the 24th Century: The Galaxy-class Starship Enterprise-D is on the seventh year of its exploration-defense-diplomatic mission under the command of Capt. Picard (Patrick Stewart). It's a time of celebration as the crew celebrates Worf's (Michael Dorn) promotion to lieutenant commander, and everyone is enjoying the ceremony in the holodeck. After a light moment highlighting first officer William Riker's (Jonathan Frakes) penchant for practical jokes and Lt. Cmdr. Data's (Brent Spiner) inability to understand humor, the mood darkens when Picard receives a message from Earth that leaves him stunned with grief.

To make matters worse, an unknown force has brutally attacked the Amargosa Observatory, leaving only one survivor, Dr. Tolian Soran....the same man rescued from the energy ribbon nearly 80 years before by the Enterprise-B. Picard assigns his senior officers to investigate. After all, who would attack a scientific outpost...and why?

Soon Picard is forced to put his feelings of grief and guilt aside to confront the mystery at the Amargosa station and to find out why an obsessed genius seeks to destroy an entire star system and cause the strange energy ribbon -- known as the Nexus -- to change course. And in order to stop his unexpected new antagonist, Picard must enlist the aid of another legendary Starfleet captain of the Starship Enterprise.....

Director David Carson, making his debut as a feature film director here, keeps things moving at a fast, steady pace, making Star Trek: Generations an above-average entry in the movie series. Although Star Trek: First Contact is by far more exciting and interesting, Generations still has a good premise, stunning special effects and serves as a launching point for three more Star Trek films starring the Next Generation cast.