Rating: 
Summary: More misses than hits, unfortunately....
Review: When I was fifteen, I was so excited to see my favorite Star Trek crew get their own shot at the big screen. I was disappointed to hear that the baton was not completely passed, and that this film would feature the not-so-eternally-young William Shatner as Captain Kirk. I watched the movie anyway with much anticipation and excitement. Back then, I thought it was the best movie I had ever seen. Now that I'm 22 (more grown up) and I've had a chance to view a more superior film in "First Contact," I must retract my initial reaction and say that "Generations" is only okay.
I don't know if anyone else has pointed it out, but this movie has many depressing moments. The Enterprise B has its problems, Picard faces tragedy, Data gets choked up in his worry about Geordi, the Enterprise D crashes and eventually is blown to bits, and Captain Kirk (as much as I disliked his place in this movie) meets his fate. There seemed to be no bright side to this movie, no resolution of good truly conquering evil in the end. The crew of the Enterprise D were left with a mess of wreckage in the end. Where is the hope in that?
As far as humor goes, it was misplaced all the way through. Data's first turns with an emotion chip should have been eye-opening, but here they are ridiculous and obnoxious. Mr. Tricorder? Oh dear. Data's character has delivered better funny moments in the television series when his confusion got the better of him. I think the strongest laugh, and the most brilliant one, comes when Data says a dirty word to become the first TNG character to truly swear. Nice little touch for shock value anyway.
Patrick Stewart and friends always do well in the acting department and Malcolm McDowell as Soren is a welcome villainous addition to this story. So I think the trouble lies in the script and the continued push for old Trek cast members. It was time (pardon the cliche) for a new generation to take over, and it still wasn't fully their turn (not fair). Giving TNG their own movie would pay off next with "First Contact," an obviously superior journey.
As always, Trek delivers great special effects, but they cannot carry "Generations." It needed more emotional variety, a more clever story (time travel is tired), and an exclusive showcase of TNG characters.
Rating:
Summary: When Captains Collide!
Review: Seems like there are two camps as far as "Star Trek: Generations" is concerned: you either groove on it or dis it. Well, I'm in with the last lot--here is a movie with a lot of potential that just didn't get fulfilled.Some seem unhappy with Picard's distress in the early part of the movie when he learns about his brother and nephew's deaths, calling him "wimpy". Now, that didn't bother me at all; I thought it was very good acting on Patrick Stewart's part, and since I thought his brother was a crotchety bore the last time I saw him, I wasn't personally grieved myself. NO, that's not where the problems lay. Problem 1: Data and his memory chip experiment. Why does having emotions have to make him silly? Irritating to watch such jerk behavior. Very un-funny. Problem 2: The set where Stewart (and later Shatner) battle it out with Malcolm MacDowell is hideous. It was a return to that most odious of Original Cast Trek places, the Rocks Outside the Studio. That's one reason why I hate "Arena" and "Friday's Child", because of those darn dusty dry-looking rocks that the cast had to scamper across, making an hour-long episode seem interminable. If you want to alienate women viewers in the audience, just place the action on those rocks again. Then, the apparatus the villain has set up seems like a cross between an Erector Set and a sub-grade Fire Escape. It was a very unfitting location for the much-heralded Death of Kirk. Really, when you compare this scene to Death of Spock in "Star Trek: Wrath of Khan", it comes up empty. Then, Spock died nobly in some sort of nuclear reactor room after fixing the core or something by hand(although I didn't like the potholders he was wearing)--years ago, I really did cry in the theatre! Since Shatner's egoism is well documented, I'm surprised he went with what happens here. Macho heroics lead to falling down fire escape. Hardly the end of a character of mythic proportions. I think it is also written all over Patrick Stewart's face that he had disdain for Shatner's ego, regardless of whatever he might have said in any interviews at the time. This Kirk was acting in a very self-indulgent way, which would have disgusted the duty-bound Picard, and I think did offend Stewart. Problem 3: The Nexus Fantasies of Picard and Kirk. Neither of these fantasies were as good as they should have been. Guinan (Whoopi Goldberg) explains that being inside the Nexus is like being inside Joy. Why does Picard fantasize about living in a setting suspiciously like "A Christmas Carol"? And why would such an adventurous individual like Kirk fantasize about cooking eggs? I mean, maybe Picard's has some romance to it, but cooking eggs is joy?! This is how he wants to spend eternity? Not any Kirk I ever saw, in the series or in the movies. Doesn't he usually stop at nothing just to sit on the bridge of the Enterprise?--hint to the screenwriters! No, "Generations" didn't generate what it ought to have for me, or anybody I know.
Rating:
Summary: Not horrible, but disappointing...
Review: A movie of this ilk leans heavily on history and continuity. David Carson, who directed, in my opinion, the best ST:TNG episode 'Yesterday's Enterprise', allowed continuity problems, and a weak script, to undercut what should have been a powerhouse story. On the continuity front:
We learn in season 2 that Guinan's home world was destroyed by the Borg and people were scattered around the galaxy; however, she said that she ?was not there personally?. Well then why is she there getting rescued by Enterprise B? Also, Picard and company had no idea who they were when they first encountered the Borg, why? Didn't Guinan tell the folks on the Enterprise B what happened and by whom? If she did, why did the NG crew take so long to figure this out? did the computer's log files expire after 20 years or something. And if she has a close relationship with Picard and tells him everything why not mention the Nexus when the topic of Starfleet hero/demigod James Kirk comes up? Everyone on stupid pills? Data's emotion chip convention/plot twist was just plain annoying. The character Data was, to me always the most intriguing trying to negotiate his way around the human world, yet this movie turns him into a positronic Jar Jar Binks. Picard's brother and nephew are killed in a fire? A fire? What, 24th century barns don't have fire suppression equipment, did the hire a bad contractor? Picard defeating a weapons grade force field around Sarin with a few well placed rocks is just dumb, too. More stupid pills. Killing off the Enterprise D was no big deal for me. No doubt that a more kickass Enterprise for the movie franchise makes sense. Malcolm McDowell playing homicidal Alex from Clockwork Orange as a grownup was inspired casting, I must admit. Shanter was very good as the 'life passages Kirk'. He was not too over the top and seemed to genuinely be enjoying himself. Stewart seemed to know that this script did not make a whole lot of sense but was being a pro. Ironically, the final TV episode 'All Good Things' would have made a much more satisfying finale for the fans. Maybe an enhanced DVD of that with interviews from the crew recounting the time they dropped stupid pills into the punch at the writer's wrap party.
Rating: 
Summary: Generational Gap
Review: NOTICE: I am a big fan of the Star Trek: The Next Generation (TNG) series, which means that I am seriously biased in my opinion. When this movie was being made, there was some serious conversation between Star Trek fans on how they would handle the changing of the guard between the characters of The Original Series (TOS) and the characters of TNG. Ultimately, the baton hand-off came between Captain Kirk and Captain Picard, the old and the new. Watching them together to save the day was well worth sweating through the worry. I don't think most Star Trek fans will be disappointed. So what if you are not a Star Trek fan? Well, it may be hard to watch this movie because it does draw on the history of the characters and the show. You can still enjoy the special effects and the action scenes, but you won't fully enjoy or appreciate the entire sub-plot of Data installing his emotion chip. (Fans, however, will apprecriate the humor of the movie's one single swear word, uttered by a now emtional Data.) If you are a non-fan, this movie might peak your curiosity enough for you to scan your TV Guide for reruns of the TNG series. After you have seen several episodes, then watch the movie again and see how much more you appreciate it.
Rating:
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:
Summary: Don't own it, Rent it...
Review: As a feature film... I won't lie to you. William Shatner did a better job in Star Trek V: The Final Spoof (aka the Final Frontier.) I didn't like the score, Kirk's death, Picard's storyline, or Data's jokes. I forcefully tried to accept this movie, on the grounds that I get to see the Enterprise-B, Kirk and Picard working together, and Malcolm McDowell doing his best as a semi-good enemy. The more I try, the more it doesn't work. The DVD may make everything look better. But that is as fas as it goes. No trailers, no behind the scenes. The only reason it is three star worthy is because I can watch it, and make fun of it, in other languages. Bottom line - Rent it to see it. Keep it to complete the collection. Own it... at your own risk.
Rating: 
Summary: The movie to bridge the gulf
Review: Finally, the Next Generation crew comes onto the big screen, and their appearance is impressive. However, is this the best Star Trek movie? Definately not, but sure worth seeing. Here are some things I don't like about the movie though:
1. Picard is acting too whimpy at first, but eventually he firms up a bit
2. The movie is incredibly dark, and almost all of the scenes are dreary and almost lifeless, nothing like TNG
3. The Enterprise D, that's right, the Enterprise D, the flag ship of the Federation, is destroyed by the stupid Klingons, one of my least favorite Star Trek races. Even when they do it, it's done so cowardly... At least the Bird of Prey went boom-boom with one shot (thank God) Anyway, it's a worthwhile movie.
Rating:
Summary: Breaking the mold... or at least bending it
Review: Star Trek and Final Fantasy share two things in common, only the even numbered ones are any good, and number seven breaks that mold, even though thier even numbered counterparts are still better. In this case Generations has a great deal of comedic elements that make this movie very enjoyable, even if the film a little short, and lacking in action sequences. The premise is pretty lame as well. I never was akin to the idea of a Kirk/Picard team up because they are two very different characters, whith two very different styles, and I grew up in the Picard era (I think I was 7 when the show premiered.) I have a deep love of Star Trek TNG, and DS9 and to be honest I detest the Original for its bad acting and cheesy sound effects. I understand that the show is older than dirt, but still... The Trek movies were pretty good though.. Shatner's bad acting was still present, but he actually did pretty good in this film. What was the most enjoyable part of this movie was Data, as he installs the emotion chip and begins to experiment with humor. Even though a lot of the silliness wouldn't fly in real life it works for this movie because... it doesn't fly in Trek either. The reactions of Data's peers are just as humorous as Data himself. And to be honest Data's overall silliness really make this film. While the story is neither sweeping, nor epic it is engaging and entertaining. This could have been longer, and better but it is still a lot better than other odd numbered Trek films.
Rating: 
Summary: And I might be being generous
Review: This is the first Star Trek movie where the people of the Next Generation are featured. Also a few of the original characters are involved. That is where it starts going downhill. We are introduced to the substance tri-lithium, which can kill suns. Data at last gets human emotions, and the two Captains get to work side by side.
However, they turn the 1701-D into a weakling of a ship, by having it taken out by a single strike(not even a salvo, really) from an obsolete, delapidated klingon bird-of-prey/scout-class wessel (as Mr. Chekov would have called it)that was flawed while it was in service. I realize they wanted a knew set, but she should have died harder. And Admiral Kirk's death was not enough to do him justice. This was supposed to be a transitional movie, but the first generation, while not really going out with a whimper, certainly did not go out with a bang. It was more like a groan.
Rating:
Summary: what can be said that hasn't already been said ?
Review: Generations is the passing of the torch between the original cast, and the Next Generation Cast. It is the feature film debut for the cast of the successful, and then just finished, sequel to the original television series. Scotty, Checov and Kirk represent the original cast. There's so much potential here, and they blew it. Imagine Kirk putting Picard in his place on the Enterprise bridge: "Prime Directive-Smime Directive, let's go..." Instead, this clumsy film seems to go out of its way to devise a plausable (at least Star Trek-plausable) reason for the two generations to collide. They should have gone back to the glowing donut from the original series, where Kirk met Joan Collins, and written a kicking story, rather than this lame mess.Picard and company cross paths with a diabolical villan (a menacing Malcolm McDowell) who will stop at nothing to return to the Nexus: ... metaphor with a convenient time travelling element. Kirk and Co. are affected by him too, and no one in the audience really cares. If Generations has a saving grace it's watching Kirk and Picard interact, and save the day.The Generations DVD suffers from the fact that it was released on the heels of the amazing First Contact disc. Paramount skimped here and didn't produce an anamorphic transfer. The detail is obviously missing. Also, there's noticable film grain on the footage recycled from past films and from the television series. The film is presented in 2.35:1 aspect ratio. The disc is THX ertified, and the colors are brighter than those on the Generations Laser Disc.Where the film falls short in the visual department, it more than redeems itself in the sound department. The 5.1 mix is quite remarkable, especially in a scene where the Enterprise suffers a catestrophic blow. Also, the Dennis McCarthy score, which obviously evolved into the Voyager theme, is beautifully incorporated into the mix.Special features are slim, including scene selection and subtitles.
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