Plot Details: This opinion reveals minor details about the movie's plot.

With the final Star Trek movie featuring the original cast being completed in 1991 (Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country), it became time for a new cast to take over the reigns. That new cast is from the retired series Star Trek: The Next Generation, which wrapped up so the cast could focus entirely on movies. Of course the first of the new series of movies would not be properly introduced without one final appearance by a couple of great original cast members.

The movie opens with Scotty (James Doohan), Chekov (Walter Koenig), and James T. Kirk (William Shatner) being guests of honor on the maiden voyage of the newly Constructed Enterprise. But while on the short trip, a distress call is received from two cargo ships which are stuck in an energy rift on the move known as "The Nexus." As usual, the three have a great chemistry on screen, and must come to the rescue as the new Enterprise captain (Alan Ruck) turns to them for help. In the process, Kirk is lost to a hull breach on what appears to be his last tour of duty.

Fast forward 78 years and the Next Generation crew takes over as they respond to a distress call from a nearby space station which is under attack. In the process of investigating they discover a survivor, Dr. Tolian Soran (Malcolm McDowell). He was rescued from one of the cargo ship that was trapped in the Nexus back on the mission when Kirk was lost. Soran experienced what the Nexus was, and is now obsessed with finding a way back in. McDowell plays a very entertaining villain with an obsession that drives him to destroy anything that stands in his way.

The Enterprise, captained by Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart), is the only thing that stands in Soran's way. The performance by Stewart is superb as he is so capable of playing a very sophisticated and convincing lead character. Second in command, the confident and powerful William T. Riker is played by Jonathan Frakes who is always a pleasure to watch.

One very entertaining twist on this movie compared with The Next Generation series is Data (Brent Spiner) decides he wants to become more closely human than ever before. So he installs an emotion chip that was made for him by his creator many years before. As data tries to deal with his newfound emotions, many entertaining scenes take place including one that allows Soran to kidnap Geordi La Forge (LeVar Burton).

While investigating the space station attack, Soran attacks the crew in an attempt to protect his potentially destructive work. Overcome by fear resulting from his emotion chip, Data is unable to act thus allowing Geordi to be kidnapped by Soran as he is beamed to a nearby Klingon ship.

Fans of The Next Generation series will be familiar with all the major roles in this movie. They have a good chemistry with some very unique characters added to the crew including a Klingon played by Michael Dorn (Worf) and an empathic counselor played by Marina Sirtis (Deanna Troi). Patrick Stewart is also a superb actor who brings a whole new dimension to the captains chair. He plays a strong leader who does things by the book and leads with confidence, intelligence, and charisma.

The special effects in this installment of the Star Trek movies are superb. Highlighted by two massive star implosions, we also get to witness a Klingon Bird of Prey penetrate the Enterprise shields and do some major damage. The great thing about Star Trek movies is there is never a lack of excellent special effects and fiery explosions.

The only problem I found with this movie is it does have a few slow parts. After seeing it a few times, I have found that it does not move with the same entertaining pace as some of the other releases and even some The Next Generation episodes (such as any encounter with Q). There are quite a few movies in my collection that I can watch over and over and seem to never tire of, but Generations is not one of them. Certainly a quality movie - I just have to use the fast forward button occasionally. But if you have never seen the movie before and are a sci fi fan, it makes for a great first and perhaps even second watch.

Overall this movie turned out to be an excellent first installment with a new crew taking over at the helm, and it even includes one last appearance by a few of the classic Star Trek cast members. I’d say the replacements are doing a pretty fine job, but who will ever forget all the trouble Kirk used to get himself into, Bones's sarcasm, Scotty’s bright personality, and Spock’s logic. I don’t know if any crew will ever be able to top the chemistry the original crew had. If only they could have made another 6 movies…


Recommended: Yes

Viewing Format: VHS
Video Occasion: Good for Groups
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 13 and Older