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Plot: Star Trek fans were decidedly mixed in their reactions to this, the ninth big-screen feature in Paramount's lucrative Trek franchise, but die-hard loyalists will appreciate the way this...( read more read more... ) Next Generation adventure rekindles the spirit of the original Trek TV series while combining a tolerable dose of New-Agey philosophy with a lighthearted plot for the TNG cast. This time out, Picard (Patrick Stewart) and his executive crew must transport to a Shangri-la-like planet to see why their android crewmate Data (Brent Spiner) has run amuck in a village full of peaceful Ba'ku artisans who--thanks to their planet's "metaphasic radiation"--haven't aged in 309 years.

It turns out there's a conspiracy afoot, masterminded by the devious, gruesomely aged Ru'afo (F. Murray Abraham, hamming it up under makeup resembling a cosmetic surgeon's worst nightmare), who's in cahoots with a renegade Starfleet admiral (Anthony Zerbe, in one of his final screen roles). They covet the fountain-of-youth power of the Ba'ku planet, but because their takeover plan violates Starfleet's Prime Directive of noninterference, it's up to Picard and crew to stop the scheme. Along the way, they all benefit from the metaphasic effect, which manifests itself as Worf's puberty (visible as a conspicuous case of Klingon acne), Picard's youthful romance with a Ba'ku woman (the lovely Donna Murphy), the touching though temporary return of Geordi's natural eyesight, and a moment when Troi asks Dr. Crusher if she's noticed that her "boobs are firming up."

Some fans scoffed at these humorous asides, but they're what make this Trek film as entertaining as it is slightly disappointing. Without the laughs (including Data's rousing excerpt from Gilbert & Sullivan's HMS Pinafore), this is a pretty routine entry in the franchise, with no real surprises, a number of plot holes, and the overall appearance of a big-budget TV episode. As costar and director, Jonathan Frakes proves a capable carrier of the Star Trek flame--and it's nice to see women in their 40s portrayed as smart and sexy--but while this is surely an adequate Trek adventure, it doesn't quite rank with the best in the series. --Jeff Shannon

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Recent Reviews

  • 3.5 Stars
    MCT:
    July 27, 2008
    Not the best of the series, but decent, Patrick Stewart saves this one from being too crappy. Donna Murphy does a great job in her supporting role.
  • 3.0 Stars
    MCT:
    July 24, 2008
    I'm really stodgy when it comes to being consistent reviewing Star Trek movies.

    This really is one of the weaker films. Again, it has the burden of being an odd number film, so it has no chance. (Although I can't wait for either Star Trek XI or I, depending how you look at it. Also, take that, Simon Pegg!) (Okay, don't take that. I think you are great.) Anyway, onto the actual movie. It really isn't terrible. It just doesn't have a lot going for it. I have to say, this really feels like an extended episode than it does a feature film. While the entire concept of the crew of the Enterprise exposing the Federation for conspiracy charges, it seems like the Federation is represented by one man rather than taking on the whole system. I mean, the concept should work, but because we're so far away from earth, this rebellion just has little practical effect.

    More than the conspiracy failing, there's also a little bit of failure when it comes to making a character movie. Frankly, I get bored of all the 'splody stuff. I'd prefer a tight character drama, regardless of the genre. This movie really tries to get to that, but drops the ball with character development that we just don't care about. I mean, the crew of the Enterprise is just too good and too moral to have really character enriching stuff. First Contact touched a little bit on that with Picard's obessession with revenge. He did wrong and that movie wasn't really afraid fo doing wrong. This one, we see these potentially powerful moments. Geordi finally gets his sight back. There's this great moment where he sees a sunrise for the first time. But when he's asked to give that up, he instantly sees the greater good. Where's that moment of conflict that I am begging for? Really, this movie is the anti-theatre. We get a really external conflict of getting these people safe on this planet until help can arrive and we don't have anything we're fighting against.

    Then there's Data trying to be a kid. Man, that is some Eddie Furlong sh*t. I honestly expected that kid to teach Data to say "Hasta la Vista, Baby." Honestly, over the seven seasons of Star Trek: The Next Generation, I think we covered Data and silly recreation. We don't need a kid telling him to do that. Not only that, we had a kid tell him how to be a child on the show many times. Data's practically adopted three or four children on the show because they taught him how to be a child. Really, we should have someone teach him how to be an adult because the kid thing he got down.

    The reason I like these movies is because of the commroderie of these actors. It looks like they have a lot of fun on set and have a good time. I know that has little to do with the movie itself. I just am always depressed with the squabbling, negative, dark Hollywood that I love hearing stories of franchises continuing on because people love their job so much. I always hear these stories in the sci-fi camps rather than other genres. Maybe its because fanboys are so ruthless.

    I wish I had something to say about F.Murray Abraham. There literally was nothing wrong with his performance. (Except, maybe, for the "yaaaa" into space.) But there really wasn't anything that blew my mind. You may say "that's because it's a Star Trek movie.) Well, I've seen some good stuff in this franchise, dammit, so back off! I just wish there was a little bit more going on here that could have gotten my vote early on. I don't know. This movie was kind of blah for me and that's a shame.
  • No rating.
    MCT:
    July 20, 2008
    This was an underrated sequel of Star Trek: The Next Generation, which I thought was one of their best.
  • 3.0 Stars
    MCT:
    July 10, 2008
    Following on the heels of the dark, intense 'First Contact', it must have sounded appealing to the 'Trek' cast and crew to attempt a more lighthearted story. In many ways an enjoyable (if slight) adventure flick, 'Insurrection's undeniable charms are often undercut by a half-baked plot that seems content to aim for the middle of the road. While the cast all seem to be having a great time playing their roles more comically than in the past, and while returning director Jonathan Frakes again demonstrates solid skill behind the camera, there's a disappointing lack of character-building drama (or even interesting villains) this time around to counterbalance the fluffiness. The central premise of having the Enterprise crew rebel against their own beloved Starfleet is certainly rife with possibilities, but 'Insurrection' soft-pedals the tension right when it should be tightening it. There's still plenty of enjoyment to be had, especially if you're a die-hard 'Trek' fan, but it's also hard to escape the disappointing notion that 'Insurrection' simply could have been better.
  • 2.5 Stars
    MCT:
    July 4, 2008
    Jonathan Frakes is given the chair again, to direct this adventure about some aliens who seem to have the secret to eteral youth. The problem, an evil admiral wants to exploit the planet, and Picard and Riker must stop him. Not as indearing as the movies with the old crew, this one would have made a good TNG episode, but not a great movie.
  • 2.5 Stars
    MCT:
    June 7, 2008
    My least favorite of all the movies. It was too slow. And not very interesting. Too bad.. Because I love F.Murray Abraham.
  • 3.0 Stars
    MCT:
    May 20, 2008
    Decent Star Trek film is hampered by a weak villain and rather understated story. Only the charisma of the characters keeps this together and the intriguing possibilities for Picard.
  • 3.0 Stars
    MCT:
    May 18, 2008
    Although the weakest of the series, feeling more like an episode of the tv series (and not even a 2-part season finale/opener at that), it has a few good ideas and character moments. Scrapes three stars but only barely.
  • 2.5 Stars
    MCT:
    May 1, 2008
    I've only seen this one time. I don't remember much about it, so it probably didn't make much of an impression. I remember the villains had some kind of disease.
  • 3.5 Stars
    MCT:
    April 20, 2008
    Good movie but..something about it felt half-assed. Questionable choices & bad editing weaken the sweet story. This is the exact point that Star Trek lost its mainstream appeal.
  • 3.5 Stars
    MCT:
    January 26, 2008
    Reasonable "Trek" adventure. Restores some of Roddenberry's philosphical thoughts while providing a good, entertaining film.
  • 4.0 Stars
    MCT:
    January 16, 2008
    Picard and crew at it again for another fanastic vovage. Its nice to see the crew a brief vacation after their last movie. A true trekkie will not be let down.
  • 3.5 Stars
    MCT:
    January 15, 2008
    just one, ordinary ST:TNG episode. sadly, that is it's fault. after forst contact, this was a let down. hardly any huge action. little build-up in drama, and nothing new in character development. it's fun, i enjoyed it now, after a 10 year gap since first seeing it. the movie just leaves you wanting more.
  • 3.5 Stars
    MCT:
    December 28, 2007
    This was good. I think it didn't get enough credit. Sure it just seemed to be just like a long episode but was entertaining.
  • 2.5 Stars
    MCT:
    December 18, 2007
    Well I come to the next to last film with the Next Generation cast and here is my verdict, not good, not bad, not much of anything. The enjoyment I felt in this movie was entirely due to seeing the characters again; the story was confused and uninteresting. It wasn't until some time had passed after I'd seen it that I finally realized that "Insurrection" referred to Capt. Picard! Oh, yeah, he's breaking some kind of rule -- the problem is, the "authority" he was rebelling against seemed so distant and unimportant, it was easy to forget that there was any other dimension to the story than the shooting and hide-and-seek between the heroes and the bad guys. The whole plot was boring and uninvolving, probably because the pastoral Ba'ku who need protection are unbelievable even in a science fiction movie. A race of hippy immortals who know all about advanced science, but choose not to use it; do we know anyone who prefers to haul their water by hand and lug it to the house if a better method is available? Anything more advanced, it seems, would be "corrupting", but they are willing to accept the help of the more advanced weapons Picard and his crew are equipped with when push comes to shove. The romance between Anij and Picard was merely exasperating; perhaps they thought this movie would be daring and original by showing the captain falling for a mature woman instead of the usual twenty-something who sets her cap for him, but Anij overdoes the Earth-mother bit. It's hard to believe Picard could have anything to say to this po-faced bore; when they settle down in a glen for her to teach him about slowing down time, I searched in vain for the standard incense sticks and windchimes. Oh, but I forgot - she's brilliant, too.

    "First Contact" was genuinely exciting and engaging; several times during that movie I caught myself wondering "how on earth are they going to escape?" This movie, by contrast, was a plod. At one point late in the movie my attention wavered, I missed one line, and from then on had no idea what was going on or what was the point of the climactic duel between Picard and the arch-villain. I still haven't really figured that out, because I would have to watch the movie again to do so, and I don't intend too. For die hard Trek fans only
  • 4.0 Stars
    MCT:
    October 24, 2007
    More like an episode than a movie, it falls down because it follows on from the action packed First Contact. More linkage to Section 31 would have helped this.
  • 3.5 Stars
    MCT:
    October 11, 2007
    This was actually quite good. I was expecting it to carry on the tradition of odd numbered Trek movies being duffers but this was good entertainment and was funny too.

    Did Anthony Zerbe ever play a good guy?
  • 2.0 Stars
    MCT:
    October 4, 2007
    This one was ok. It seemed like a long episode of the show to me. It did give us more character play than some of the others but all in all it was just ok
  • 2.5 Stars
    MCT:
    September 16, 2007
    Was this the age defying one? The Next Gen movies sputtered out of energy, and this one has some nice moments but the end was nigh..
  • 3.0 Stars
    MCT:
    September 10, 2007
    I can't really remember which Star Trek movies I've seen, and which I haven't. But I'm sure it's entertaining...
  • 5.0 Stars
    MCT:
    August 29, 2007
    I absolutely adore this one. I just wish Donna Murphy had an even bigger part. You never want her to be out of a scene!!!
  • 3.0 Stars
    MCT:
    August 26, 2007
    I didn't really get the story behind this piece and overall it felt a little unfocused and confused. Still, the story at its core is important and it certainly made an effort to continue the trek series.
  • 5.0 Stars
    MCT:
    August 19, 2007
    a very good movie, it shows that what data can do as with his emotion chip and how we can learn to be happy with what we got cause when it is gone, it is gone...
  • 5.0 Stars
    MCT:
    July 29, 2007
    Data's assignment on Briar Prime and Son'a want control the planet get Briar Prime will be own Son'a Picard to order save the People of 6 officer Riker contract to Starfleet Command

My Friends Said...

Comments

  • JigsawRambo007
    Buuuuuuuuuuuu!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    borring borring borring!!
    I vil kil this mother fucker who made this movie
    posted 392 days ago
  • stagepresence16
    i gotta admit, this movie isn't as good as some of the other TNG movies plotwise, but actingwise, it was brilliant. And the flesh-stretching guys? Gave me the creeps! :)But the Pinafore stuff was SO HILARIOUS !!!!!!!!!!!!!
    posted 500 days ago

Details

  • Rated: (PG)
  • Directed by: Jonathan Frakes
  • Genres: Science Fiction & Fantasy, Kids & Family
  • Released: December 11, 1998
  • DVD Released: May 11, 1999

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