Home :: DVD :: Science Fiction & Fantasy :: General  

Alien Invasion
Aliens
Animation
Classic Sci-Fi
Comedy
Cult Classics
Fantasy
Futuristic
General

Kids & Family
Monsters & Mutants
Robots & Androids
Sci-Fi Action
Series & Sequels
Space Adventure
Star Trek
Television
Star Trek Generations (Special Collector's Edition)

Star Trek Generations (Special Collector's Edition)

List Price: $19.99
Your Price: $15.99
Product Info Reviews

<< 1 >>

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Old Meets New - Interesting
Review: Directed by David Carson (a STTNG Director) this films tried to marry the elements of the old cast with the new. Many of the original cast memebers didn't sign on because of the small parts and the overwelming large parts featured of the new Next Gen players, but three did come back.

Kirk, Scotty (James Doohan) and Chekov (Walter Koenig). They each intertwine the history of the Eneterprise B to the new Enterprise D. This is the first film with the Next Generation cast after the series went off the air.
The scenes with Kirk and Picard are a little stiff. Shatner (Kirk) seems to be having a little more fun than Stewart (Picard). Apparently, according to Shatner, they got a long great!

It's light, it has fun moments and the best part is by far Malcom McDowell. His performance as Dr. Soren really rivals a sadistic scientist.

The Enterprise D is yet destroyed again and the cast must save the universe one more time. Dennis McCathy has a wonderful score for this film. (He also worked on STTNG.)

This is one is nice to have after you have already baught Star Trek 2, 4, 6 and 8. Slow to Warp Three!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Making Generations Better!!
Review: If your a Star Trek Fan, you will enjoy this film. This flim is a blending of the old to the new generation. It seems that at first William Shatner has a Cameo in the film's first half, but becomes a full member of the cast in the last half.
If your a TRUE Star Trek Fan, and want to enjoy this film even more, you MUST get the three books written by William Shatner. The first book is "Ashes of Eden." It takes place just before "Generations" and has Jim Kirk battling between his long Star Fleet Career and the lack of action in any retirement. In it Capt. Kirk find that he is still called to save worlds, even in his retirement. It fills the gap leading up to the first part of the film. It is true Captian Kirk in action. This book could have been made into a Star Trek movie by itself and can stand alone.
The second book, "The Return", takes place right after the death of Jim Kirk with Spock at his best friend's grave. As from the title, we all want Jim Kirk to live and he does "Return."
You can stop after this book too, if you want to have Jim Kirk dead. (Yes, he dies at the end) But, hold the phone, he will live again in the next book, "Avenger" to save the universe again. This time he has new friends. It's Captain Jean-Luc Picard and the Enterprise TNG crew. Yes, Spock is logicly there to help Kirk(RET) save the universe again.
Read this and enjoy the movie even more.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Excellent Bridge Between The Old & The New...
Review: STAR TREK GENERATIONS (1994) took on a monumentally difficult task---namely, the passing of the legendary STAR TREK torch from the original cast to the "Next Generation" cast---and does it almost seamlessly. Despite what many self-professed "Star Trek experts" may say, there was no perfect way to accomplish this. Having recently viewed this film for approximately the 10th time, I am as impressed as ever at the job that director David Carson and screenwriter Rick Berman (who took over as head of the STAR TREK franchise after creator Gene Roddenberry died in 1991) did. I can honestly say that I couldn't have done as good a job at bridging the two generations---and neither could have any of these "experts" who choose to pick apart at it.

If you're reading this review and others, you undoubtedly know what this film's about, so I'm not going into a rundown of plot here. I will, however, put in my two-cents worth of opinion about this film: it is a well-paced, fully realized cinematic vision, with great special effects, a compelling main plot, a humorous subplot and some excellent acting on the part of Patrick Stewart, Brent Spiner and Malcolm McDowell. Even William Shatner is pretty good here---his acting *has* improved with age and experience! As Dr. Tolian Soren, Malcolm McDowell creates a villain for whom we can actually care; although we don't agree with what he does, we can certainly relate to the reasons why he does what he does. However, this does not make it any less compelling for Capts. Kirk and Picard to stop him from carrying out his destructive methods, leading to the extremely suspenseful---and, ultimately, sad---scene which is as inevitable as it is fateful.

I really love STAR TREK GENERATIONS. It has a winning combination of intelligent storyline mixed in with action, suspense and---surprisingly---humor, and plays fair with the rules of the game and the legacy of the series. I really can't imagine any true STAR TREK fan not loving it. It may require some patience on first viewing, perhaps, but the rewards are great for sticking with it. Plus, it only gets better on repeated viewings. I can vouch for that!

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A great transition!
Review: Star Trek Generations is simply a great transition movie, handing the torch from Captain Kirk and crew to Captain Picard and crew. While not living up completely to what we the fans wanted, that doesn't really matter. That is the case in most of the movies. Especially the odd numbered ones for some strange cosmic reason. We all knew the Galaxy Class Enterprise 1701-D had to go. It was simply not made for the silver screen. I was personally hoping that more of the original series crew could've made it for the opening sequence. The scenes between Kirk and Picard were very well done. If I remember correctly, this was also the first time that we'd heard Captain Sulu's first name. Patrick Stewart once again showed the depth of his acting abilities with the death of his character's brother and nephew. It's a little disturbing to see Captain Picard basically recieve a beating from Soren. After watching Kirk fight many a people and win over the years. Malcolm McDowell, Soren played a very good, tortured villain. And yes, Captain Kirk said in Star Trek V The Final Frontier that he always knew he'd die alone. And that was the case, he was alone in the sense the Spock and McCoy weren't there. The way Kirk died did seem a little melodramatic for the character. Overall though, a very good transition movie. I would suggest that if you'd like a few more of the details, I believe you can still get a copy of the book. It does bring to light some of the things that were glossed over on the screen.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Two Captains, One Destiny....and a pretty good movie....
Review: Star Trek Generations, the seventh of 10 feature films based on the two series created by Gene Roddenberry, is the final passing of the torch from the Original Series to the Next Generation crew as Capt. Jean-Luc Picard and his crew takes the Enterprise-D on its continuining trek across the stars.

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 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.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: An uneven, but ambitious and touching high-concept Trek
Review: The second half-hour rambles, and they should have ditched the subplot with Data's emotions chip, but this film was still vastly more ambitious and emotionally moving than the Borg-based shoot-em-up that followed. Such moments as Ensign Sulu's shock and grief as she realizes that Kirk is gone, Picard's bereavement, and the grave moment in which Picard realizes the choice he has to make (stay in an illusion of the joyous family he always wanted, and allow 200 million to die in the "real" world, or leave to try again to save them), are intensely moving. For those who need a lot of white-knuckler explosions and crewmen flying over the railing, the half-destruction and crash landing of the Enterprise-D more than delivers. The cinematography is at times quite beautiful (Troi comforting Picard, the astral cartography room, and Picard's Christmas home), and even Dennis McCarthy's often subdued scoring seems appropriate to this more subtle installment. This movie requires an attention span and an interest in high-concept science fiction (the Nexus is a welcome derivative of P. Jose Farmer's "Riverworld"), and so bored to tears those for whom Star Trek only means space dogfights at warp speed and sparring characters. The planet in peril (Veridian 4) should have been something we saw and cared about (e.g., why not Vulcan?), the producers lost a great opportunity to have Riker, Troi and Worf standing on the surface of the ruined Enterprise, watching resignedly as the deadly shock wave rips across the planet to envelop them, and Kirk's death needed more bit more blaze-of-glory, but I still found myself dearly sorry for him as he muttered his last, "Oh, my..." For a fleeting moment, I held onto a touch of hope that the rumors were false. All told, an uneven but admirable, ambitious and touching adventure. As we left, my companion said, "I think I liked that one the best." I wouldn't go that far, but plot irregularities and all, it was science fiction for grown-ups.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Mixed Blessings For A Too-Tough Crowd.
Review: The trouble with Star Trek films is that the franchise has some of the hardest-to-please customers in the world. Even if a Trek film is very good, some fans cannot ever be satisfied. If I used one word to describe 'Generations' it would be 'courage'. Courage from the producers to make bold changes to the Star Trek universe by killing off a major, iconic character and major supporting characters, and destroying the starship Enterprise. There is a sub-text of honor and sacrifice within the story and the strong message that time and change need not be an enemy to fear, but a journey to embrace. Phew! That's the metaphysical aspect done. What's the movie like? You know, 'Generations' has an epic, sweeping feel to it that a lot of the other Star Trek films lack. Oh sure, there is the creaky 'space anomaly/time travel' chestnut again that contrives to unite Kirk and Picard, but once you get over that there is the elegiac quality of their joint odyssey and quest to 'save the galaxy' ... AGAIN! And the film makes the powerful point that no matter how much we want it, an illusory paradise is just that: An illusion. And that perhaps paradise can only be earned after a well-lived life. So here we come to Bill Shatner's Captain Kirk: a character who thrives on making a difference whether its saving one planet or millions. And that when someone has discovered new worlds and new civilisations, then the only country left to discover is the Undiscovered Country of death. Some have accused Generations of being an overblown TV episode. I'll allow that only if you consider that THAT criticism has been levelled at nearly ALL the Star Trek films. So BULLDUST I say to that accusation! I say to you that NO other Trek film is as well-photographed, has as many locations, makes so many changes to it's own folklore and asks for your loyalty like this one. Generations looks like a much bigger budget film than it is, do you hear? A MOTION PICTURE in every sense of the word and if you keep seeing 'TV' then you're stuck someplace you shouldn't be. But in momentary defense of that opinion, with the exception of 'The Wrath Of Khan' and 'The Voyage Home' I've yet to see a Trek movie as good as the best 'Next Generation' or 'Deep Space Nine' episodes. Paramount should be making movies as good as 'The Best Of Both Worlds' or The Dominion War story arc. 'Generations' succeeds on it's own terms with fine performances from Patrick Stewart, Brent Spiner, Malcolm McDowell and William Shatner. I would say, though, that Kirk's death scene was a bit underwhelming, unlike Spock's which was near-operatic. Another criticism is that Kirk's last chance for an epic fist-fight was blown with a far too-brief clash between Kirk and Soran. Best bits of the film: Lovely cinematography, special effects, music score and Jonathan Frakes as Riker having the good sense to look frightened stiff during the crash of the Enterprise!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: I Love This Movie
Review: This Movie is very good it is one of my favorite STAR TREK MOVIES

Patrick Stewart as Jean-Luc Picard™ Jonathan Frakes as William Thomas Riker™ Brent Spiner as Data™ LeVar Burton as Geordi La Forge™ Gates McFadden as Beverly Crusher™ Marina Sirtis as Deanna Troi™ William Shatner as James Tiberius Kirk™

Guest Cast:

James Doohan as Captain Montgomery Scott Walter Koenig as Commander Pavel Chekov Malcolm McDowell as Dr. Tolian Soran Alan Ruck as Capt. Harriman Jacqueline Kim as Helmsman Demora Sulu Tim Russ as Lieutenant Majel Barrett as Computer voice

Creative Staff:

Story By: Rick Berman, Ronald D. Moore, Brannon Braga Screen Play By: Ronald D. Moore, Brannon Braga Director: David Carson

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: TNG has finally reached the theatres...
Review: Whether you're a Trekker, Trekkie or just an occasional fan of Startrek TNG, This movie basically bridged the gap between the original crew and the next generation crew...

If you buy this movie hoping that it will be equal parts, Original and the next generation cast, you'll be dissapointed in that aspect... There is really only about 10 minutes worth of footage with William Shatner(James T. Kirk), James Doohan(Scotty), and Walter Koenig (checkov)

However with that aside, the movie itself has a very strong plot and a nicely written storyline. Add in the Duras sisters, Lursa and B'Etor, Malcolm McDowell as Dr. Soran and the entire crew of the next generation, with all of that you have yourself an All-star cast...

Although the film had a few minor problems, a few unanswered questions, it was still made very well and in fine fashion. From beginning to end, there is enough action and intrigue to keep you securely fastened to your seat...

It has already become a classic in my opinion...


<< 1 >>

© 2004, ReviewFocus or its affiliates