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STAR TREK GENERATIONS
A review by Professor Neon
November 15, 1994
Starring: Patrick Stewart, Jonathan Frakes, Brent Spiner, Levar Burton,
Michael Dorn, Gates McFadden, Marina Sirtis, Malcolm McDowell,
James Doohan, Walter Koenig, William Shatner
Directed by: David Carson
Produced by: Rick Berman
Screenplay by: Ronald D. Moore, Brannon Braga
Story by: Rick Berman, Ronald D. Moore, Brannon Braga
Paramount; 1994
MPAA Rated: PG
Professor Neon's rating (0-10, 5=average, 10=best): 6
Running time: 120 minutes
Opens: November 18, 1994
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"Star Trek is Star Trek". To expect a Trek-related television show or film
to greatly surpass, in terms of either content or quality, those that have
come before is probably expecting too much from the formula. However, one
can always harbor the hope that an occasional segment or film will surprise
us, and push the Star Trek world to a new height. Regrettably, "Star Trek
Generations" isn't that film.
I'm not a hard-core Trekkie (oops, "Trekker" is the politically correct term
these days), but I've been a mid-level fan of the "generic" Trek concept
since the classic ("Captain Kirk") show made its initial run while I was
in junior high school. I'm of the belief that succeeding efforts never
really recaptured the rather joyful yet simplistic spirit (not to mention
simplistic sets) of the original, but there have certainly been high points
as well as low among the various Trek films and shows which have followed.
Some of the shine was certainly taken off the Star Trek legends as we've
learned that many of the persons who filled in the body and details of Gene
Roddenberry's initial creation were either un-credited or under-credited, and
Gene's apparent unrealistic desire to be considered as the "source" of all
Star Trek appears rather unseemly in retrospect. But the body of Star Trek
work stands apart from its creators, and those previous works, like this new
film, should be judged on their own merits.
Such judging of "Generations" is somewhat painful. If Spock had been around
in this film (he isn't), he might have gotten a green-blooded stroke trying
to keep track of the inconsistencies and gratuitous plot elements. After
the first few of these I just sort of shrugged and tried not to pay
attention to them, though some were about as easy to ignore as the
proverbial 500-pound gorilla.
One doesn't expect a Star Trek show or film to worry too much about technical
plausibility (look at the horrible abuse of the "holodeck" concept as an
example) but is it too much to ask that we're not treated as if we're just a
notch above blathering idiots? Out of deference to those still in blissful
ignorance of the "Generations" plot I won't go into details; but be warned
that you should plan on leaving your logic, common sense, and ideally at
least a third of your cerebrum outside the theater.
There's a sense of "tiredness" to this film that's difficult to miss.
Shatner as Kirk, Doohan as Scotty, and Koenig as Chekov are pretty much
playing caricatures of their original characters--seemingly almost
intentionally. This might be reasonable in a "Saturday Night Live" skit,
but hardly seemed appropriate here. Stewart's Picard remains his well-acted
self, but even he is sucked into the maelstrom of implausibilities that
pervade the plot. The real acting treat in the film is Malcolm McDowell's
portrayal of Soran, the obsessed "villain" of the piece. It's a long way
down the road from the cheerfully evil Alex of "A Clockwork Orange", but he
brings a sense of freshness to the screen that was sorely needed amidst the
rest of what was basically an overblown television show script in need of
(another) serious rewrite.
I think that's part of the disappointment of this film--we've seen better
from Trek. Unlike, say, "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan", the situations
here seemed rehashed and emotionally inaccessible.
As usual, Industrial Light and Magic did their technically proficient job
with the effects. There are indeed a couple of dandy effects sequences
(e.g. suns being destroyed, shock waves destroying planets, starships
smashing into the ground) but even these were somewhat spoiled by logical
inconsistencies clearly present for dramatic impact but nonsensical
nonetheless. And by the way, isn't it about time for the Federation to
spend a few credits and start installing some damned seatbelts on their
ships? They could save a bloody fortune in medical costs.
We're left pretty much where we began, with the view that "Star Trek"
revolves in its own orbit, with its own rules and quite clearly its own
perceived constituency. Persons not already well familiar with the "Star
Trek" universe, and in particular the "Star Trek: The Next Generation"
television show, will be completely lost by most of the references in this
film. It seems certain that Trekkies/Trekkers will flock to see it, but I
wonder if even they will be forced to begrudgingly shake their heads a bit
on the way out. And I wonder how many will be back for repeat
performances.
But we can be sure about one thing. There will be more "Star Trek" films,
and plenty more opportunities to re-approach the levels attained in some of
the past productions. The audience will still be there, and the "formula"
will survive. After all, when all else has been said and done, "Star Trek"
still remains "Star Trek".
[ Professor Neon ]
neon@vortex.com
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Professor Neon's rating for "Star Trek Generations"
(0-10, 5=average, 10=best): 6
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