Star Trek: Generations (1994) starring Patrick Stewart, William Shatner, Jonathan Frakes, Brent Spiner, Malcolm McDowell, LeVar Burton directed by David Carson Movie Review

Star Trek: Generations (1994)   3/53/53/53/53/5


Patrick Stewart in Star Trek: Generations (1994)

Not My Generation

With the new USS Enterprise "B" to be launched veteran crew members Kirk, Scotty and Chekov are invited to be honoured guests on its maiden voyage. Of course things don't go to plan when the new Enterprise is called in to action when a distress signal is picked up and the Enterprise is the nearest ship with Kirk, Scotty and Chekov still aboard. Thanks to Kirk many lives are saved but part of the Enterprise is destroyed in the process with the crew in that area including Kirk presumed dead although the truth is they have been sucked into the "Nexus". 78 years later and the Enterprise "D" is on a mission to rescue scientists under attack from the Romulans. One of the survivors, Dr. Soran (Malcolm McDowell) is obsessed with entering the "Nexus" and turns against Captain Picard to take the Enterprise "D" into danger

To adapt the saying to fit my purpose "To boldly go where this man has never gone before" is apt for when it comes to "Star Trek: Generations" the 7th movie in the Star Trek foundation. It is apt as I have not even seen even part of an episode of "Star Trek: The Next Generation" and whilst I am aware that Patrick Stewart played Captain Picard and a few things I picked up from "The Big Bang Theory" I know nothing of the series. Unfortunately whilst the original 6 movies worked for non-Trekkies these new ones are much harder work. As without previous knowledge of the characters it is if you excuse the pun all a bit alien and whilst some might say otherwise Picard, Data and Riker are not as iconic as Spock, Kirk and McCoy.

Having said that the actual storyline to "Star Trek: Generations" is not hard to follow as we have a crazed scientist obsessed with re-entering The Nexus and in doing so putting a lot of people in danger. Of course it is more elaborate than that but it is the basis and has a few twists and turns to make it entertaining even for non-Trekkies. The trouble is that director David Carson who directed a few episodes of the TV series doesn't quite lift "Star Trek: Generations" to fill like a big screen movie and more like a TV special, an extended two part episode thrown together as one.

What this all boils down to is that "Star Trek: Generations" unlike the previous movies in the franchise is really for Star Trek fans who have the previous knowledge of the characters. It isn't impossible for non Trekkies to watch and to enjoy but it is hard work compared to the first 6 movies in the franchise.


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