Star Trek Generations Review "Sounds like fun!"

 

 

 

 

Right, well time for another post and this one is on a Star Trek film, which I've recently re-watched and is a very old post on this blog, Star Trek: Generations. So, I figured I would give it an overhaul and do a revisitation of the film, which is now almost 30 years old! 

So, after 29 years, let's see how Generations still fairs...

And the usual warning is coming...

PLOT SPOILERS ARE AHEAD!!!

STORY 

So, the film begins in the 23rd century with the now retired Captain Kirk (William Shatner) attending the maiden voyage of the newest model of the Enterprise, along with his former shipmates, Scotty (James Doohan) and Chekov (Walter Koenig).  However the ship soon receives a distress call and they are forced to respond to try and save two ships from a large energy ribbon in space which ultimately destroys the ships, but some of the crew are saved.  Kirk however in an effort to help save the Enterprise from being caught in the path of the ribbon goes to the lower decks to alter the deflector shields, however the ribbon passes over the hull of the ship and takes a section of it away into the vaccum of space and Krik with it.  From here Kirk is presumed dead and is never seen again.

The story then moves forward to the 24th century, where the current crew of the Enterprise, headed by Captain Jean Luc Picard (Stewart) receive a distress call from a solar observatory.  On arriving at the observatory they find only one survivor, Doctor Tolian Soran (Malcolm McDowell) who is taken back onboard the Enterprise.  Soran however is keen to get to back to the observatory and while the Enterprise crew members, Geordi La Forge (LeVar Burton) and the android Data (Brent Spiner) search it, Soran surprises them, knocking out Geordi, and Data having recently installed a new emotion chip, finds himself too afraid to retaliate.  

Soran is transported with Geordi to a Klingon bird of prey, which is under the command of the renegade Duras sisters (played by Barbara March and Gwynyth Walsh).  Soran plans to do business with them by giving them a compound called Trilithium which the sisters want so they can create a powerful weapon.  Picard speaks with the Enterprise's bartender, Guinan (Whoopi Goldberg) who tells him that Soran is trying to re-establish a link with the ribbon, which is called the Nexus.  Guinan describes the Nexus as being like inside joy, and that is what Soran is trying to do, however in order to do that he will use a nuclear missile to detonate a nearby sun on the planet Veridian III, but the impact while ultimately destroy the planet.

Picard soon tracks Soran to the planet and tries unsuccessfully, to reason with him, but soon enough Soran fires his missile just as the nexus ribbon arrives he is transported.  However while this is happening Geordi has been given back to the Enterprise crew, has unbeknownst to him, had his visor changed to allow the Duras sisters to see his vision, and they launch an attack on the Enterprise, but they are soon destroyed in the attack.  The enterprise however suffers a warp core breach, where the ship's saucer section is separated and it crash lands on Veridian III, and shortly after the nexus wave passes over the planet and it is destroyed.  

Picard meanwhile has been transported to the Nexus and he finds he has a wife and children, something he has always wanted beside his duty, but he soon realises it isn't real and speaks to an image of Guinan who explains he is in the Nexus and he can go anywhere from here.  Guinan also explains that another man has just arrived in the nexus as well, and as Picard goes to find him we see none other than Captain James T. Kirk chopping wood, who is caught up in his own fantasy of being at home, with a chance to reuinte with an old flame.  And from here its up to Picard to try and persuade Kirk to help him save the day....

THOUGHTS 

While its not the strongest entry in the Star Trek franchise, Generations still is quite a good effort and it brought in the Next Generation cast very well.  Although the Next Generation crew weren't quite as colourful or as fun the original crew, its still entertaining and they are introduced amusingly in the scene where the Enterprise crew are all dressed in a navy outfits, where Worf (Michael Dorn) is given promotion, but he has to walk the plank on an old ship to get his "hat of office", but they remove the plank and he falls into the water (however it turns out to be a holodeck!). And the ship's android, Data of course steals the show quite often in the film, who has an emotion chip installed that makes him behave well...emotionally(!) and provides quite a few laughs. 

As for the reappearance of Kirk is a very welcome one and his two old crewmates, Scotty and Chekov and when you see them together you see the rapport they have which is a lot of fun.  However Picard is always pretty straight laced and a bit too goody goody and lacks the rebellious streak that Kirk had.

PERFORMANCES AND NOTABLE SCENES (Warning: this section may contain spoilers!) 

So, as for the performances in Generations, they are pretty good all around. 

Starting with Patrick Stewart in the role of Captain Picard, who has always played the part with a strong moral compass and seriousness about his duty as a starfleet officer and he does a fine job here in reprising the role. 

And Stewart does have some good scenes worth mentioning such as the one where Picard tearfully laments over the death of his brother and his nephew to the ship's counselor Deanna Troi even if his acting is a bit corny. 

And in the scene Picard looks over a family photo book and he tells Troi "You never met my brother and his wife, did you? He was always so pompous and arrogant, always had to have the last word. I was going to get together with them all next month. Rene has always wanted to see Starfleet academy" and Troi asks "Rene? Oh your nephew". Picard then says "Yes. He's so unlike his father...he's a dreamer, imaginative" and he breaks into tears and says "so very gentle!". Troi then asks "What's happened?" and Picard tearfully says "Robert and Rene they were burned to death in a fire". And he laments over Rene's death and missing out on life experiences and how no one will be left to carry on the Picard family name. So, he says to Troi "From being a small child, I can remember being told about the family line. The Picard who fought at Trafalgar. The Picard who won the Nobel Prize for Chemistry. The Picards who settled the first Martian colonies. And when Robert married and he had a son, I..." and Troi says "You felt it was no longer your responsibility to carry on the family line" and Picard says "Yes, that's it exactly. But now there will no longer be any Picards".

Then there is the scene where Picard meets with Data in a computer room where they chart the stars to work out what Soran is up to and Data becomes overwhelmed by his emotion chip.

So, Picard in the scene watches Data become anxious and asks him "Data, are you alright?" and Data says "No, sir. I'm finding it difficult to concentrate. I am overwhelmed with feelings of remorse from my actions on the observatory". Picard then asks Data "What do you mean?" and Data tells him "I wanted to save Gordi, but I felt something I never expected...fear. I was afraid". And then later Data stands up and tells Picard "I wish to be deactivated until Dr Crusher can remove the chip" and Picard asks "Are you experiencing some malfunction?" and Data tells him "No, sir. I simply do not have the ability to control these emotions" but Picard tells him "Data, I have nothing but sympathy for what you are going through right now...". Data however becomes angry and says "Sir, I no longer want these emotions! Deactivating is the only solution!". And then Picard tells Data "Part of having feelings, Data is integrating them into your life and learning to live with them no matter what the consequences...". Data says fearfully "Sir, I cannot..." but Picard firmly tells him "You will not be deactivated! You are an officer aboard this ship and I require you to do your duty! That is an order commander!". 

Then there is the scene where Picard comes around in the Nexus to find he is a home where he is greeted by his children and wife on Christmas day but then he speaks to an image of Guina when he realises its all not real as he looks at the gleaming lights in the Christmas tree.

So, Picard says to himself "This isn't right, this isn't real" and Guinan appears and tells Picard "Its as real as you want it to be" and Picard says to her "Guinan. What's going on? Why am I here?" and Guinan tells him "You're in the Nexus" and Picard asks "This is the Nexus?" and Guinan says "It is for you. Its what you wanted" and Picard says "But I never had a wife and children or a home like this. Guinan what are you doing here? I thought you were onboard the Enterprise?" and she tells him "I am but I am also here. Think of me as an echo of the person you already know". Picard then looks around at the warm sight of his family and smiles to himself and says "These are my children" but then realises he must leave and he tells one of his sons to go on without him. So, Picard says "Guinan, how can I get out of here?" and Guinan says "Well you can leave and go wherever you want" and Picard says "Well, I want to go back to before Soran destroyed a star. If you could come back with me..." and Guinan says to him "But I'm not here remember. But I know someone who can help you and from his point of view, he's just arrived here too". 

Then there is the scene where Picard and Kirk ride together on horseback and Kirk realises the Nexus isn't real either. So, Kirk says to Picard "Captain of the Enterprise?" and Picard says "Yes" and Kirk says "You thinking of retiring?" and Picard says "I wasn't planning on it" and Kirk tells him "Well don't! Don't let them promote you, transfer you, don't let them take you off that bridge because when you are on it, you can make a difference" and Picard pleads with him "Come back with me! Help me stop Soran and make a difference again". 

And last of all is the final scene where Picard and Riker survey the damage of the saucer of the Enterprise and Picard tells Riker what Soran once said to him about time being a predator. So, Picard tells Riker "You know someone once told me that time is a like a predator that stalks us throughout our lives. But I'd rather think of time as a companion that lives with us through a journey. What's important is not what we leave behind but how we lived. After all, No.1, we're only mortal" and Riker jokes "Speak for yourself, sir. I plan to live forever!". And Picard on his comms says "Two to beam up!" and they are teleported away. 

William Shatner is great once again in his role as the retired Captain Kirk, who goes missing after saving the Enterprise B from being destroyed by the Nexus and is presumed dead until Picard meets him later on. 

And Shatner has plenty of good moments in the film that include his first scene where Kirk inspects the new Enterprise and he meets Sulu's daughter. And Kirk amazed asks Scotty "How did Sulu find the time for a family" and Scotty says "Well as you say, if something is important you make the time. Oh, is that the problem? Finding retirement a little lonely are we?" and Kirk annoyed says "You know, I'm glad your an engineer. With tact like that, you'd make a lousy psychiatrist!".

This is then followed by the moment in the same sequence where the Nexus destroys one of the ships in a distress call and the inexperience Enterprise B Captain Harriman (played by Alan Ruck) asks Kirk for help. So, Harriman in the scene says "Captain Kirk, I would appreciate any suggestions you might have" and Kirk goes up to him and says "First, move us within transporter range and beam those people onboard the Enterprise" and Harriman asks "What about the gravimetric distortions? They'll tear us apart" and Kirk smiles and says "Risk is part of the game if you want to sit in that chair" and one of the press people too near Kirk annoys him with a light in his eyes and Kirk says "Second, turn that damn thing off!".

And then there is the scene where Picard and Kirk meet in the Nexus and Kirk has made breakfast for his ex-girlfriend, Antonia (who is off screen) as he relives his past in the Nexus. And as Picard tries to persuade Kirk to come with him to stop Soran, Kirk rebuffs him. So, Picard says "You are a Starfleet officer and you have a duty!" and Kirk says "I don't need to be lectured by you! I was out saving the galaxy while your grandfather was wearing diapiers, besides I think the galaxy owes me one! And what did it get me? An empty house? Not this time. This time I'm gonna march up into that bedroom and tell Antonia I want to marry her. This time its going to be different!". 

However not long after, both men ride on horseback and Kirk makes a tricky jump on his horse which makes him realise the Nexus isn't real. So, Kirk says Picard after the jump "You know, I must have made that jump 50 times, scared the hell out of me each time, except this time...because it wasn't real. Nothing is real here, nothing matters. Maybe its not about an empty house, maybe its about that empty seat on the Enterprise". And Kirk approaches Picard on his horse and asks him "Captain of the Enterprise?" and Picard says "That's right" and Kirk asks him "Close to retirement?" and Picard says "I'm not planning on it" and Kirk tells him "Don't! Don't let them promote you. Don't let them transfer you. Don't let them do ANYTHING that takes you off the bridge of that ship, because while you're there... you can make a difference". Picard then asks him to come back with him to help stop Soran and Kirk says "Who am I to argue with the Captain of the Enterprise? I take it the odds are against us and the situation is grim?" and Picard says "You could say that". Kirk then says "You know if Spock were here, he would say I'm an illogical human being for taking on such a mission. Sounds like fun!". 

And last of all is the scene where Kirk has his last moment in the film as he lies among the collapsed bridge remains, mortally wounded he says his farewell to Picard. So, in the scene Kirk says to Picard softly "Did we do it? Did we make a difference?" and Picard says "Oh yes we did" and Kirk softly says "Least I could do for the Captain of the Enterprise" but then he says his last words "It was fun....oh my" and dies and we then later see Picard bury Kirk. RIP Kirk! 

Malcolm MacDowell is excellent in his role as Dr Soran, the main villain of the film, who is desperate to get to the Nexus no matter at what cost to anyone else and is in cahoots with the renegade Klingon Dursa sisters. 

And MacDowell his some notable scenes such as the one where Soran meets with Picard and he asks for his help to get back to the observatory he was picked up on. So, in the scene Picard tells Soran "We are still conducting our investigation of the observatory, as soon as that is complete then you can return until then there is nothing I can do!". Soran however grabs Picard before he can go and tells him "They say time is the fire in which we burn. Right now, Captain, my time is running out. We leave so many things unfinished in our lives. I know you understand" and Picard affected clearly by his words says eventually "I'll see what I can do". 

Another good scene is when Soran has captured the Enterprise's engineer, La Forge and is onboard the Klingon vessel and he questions him. So, Soran says to La Forge "Wouldn't you consider a prosthesis that would make you look, how shall I put it, more normal?" and La Forge says "What's normal?" and Soran says "That's a good question. Normal is what everyone else is and you aren't". Le Forge however says "Can we just get down to it. What do you want?" and Soran tells him "As you may or may not be aware, I am an El-Aurian. Some people call us a race of listeners. We listen. Right now, Mr. La Forge, you have my complete attention. I want to listen to everything you know about trilithium".

Then there is the scene where Picard tries to dissuade Soran from launching his rocket to destroy the Veridian sun, unsuccessfully. So, Picard says to Soran "What you are doing now is no different than when the Borg destroyed your world, your wife and children". Soran takes a moment to consider Picard's words but then smiles at Picard and says "Nice try! You know there was a time, I would never hurt a fly and then the Borg and if they taught me one thing that if there one constant in the universe, its death. Oh, you can try and slow it down with doctors and medicines but in the end, time will close in and make the kill". Soran then asks Picard "Don't you feel time, Captain? Its like a predator, its stalking you!" and Picard says "Time is what defines us, its the truth of our existence" and Soran then says "What if I told you, I found a new truth?" and Picard says "The Nexus" and Soran says "Time has no meaning there, the predator has no teeth!". 

And last of all is the scene where Soran is confronted by Picard and Kirk and Soran asks Kirk "Just who the hell are you?" and Picard says "He's James T. Kirk. Don't you read history?" and Soran scarpers from them. However as Kirk tries to follow Soran, Soran springs on him and points his gun at him and says "Actually I am familiar with history, Captain, and if I'm not mistaken, you're dead!". And in his last moments, Soran catches Picard up at his missile launcher pad and points his gun at him and yells "PICARD! Get away from that launcher! NOW!!!". And Picard runs away only for Soran to arrive at his launcher and find Picard has put on the locking clamps for the missile and it explodes taking Soran with it. 

Brent Spiner next is great as Data, the Enterprise's android crew member, who installs an emotion chip with both humorous and dramatic consequences and Spiner steals the show at times throughout the film when he's in it.

And Spiner has his share of notable scenes that include the one where Data fails to understand why Worf being dropped into water when walking the plank, is funny, so he asks Dr Crusher to explain to him with amusing consequences. So, Data says to Crusher "Doctor, I fail to understand how dropping someone into water is funny" and Crusher says "Oh, its all in fun, Data" and Data asks "Fun?" and Crusher "You have to be spontaneous, live in the moment. Got it?" and Data says "Got it" and he pushes Crusher into the water and Data looks over amused only to see no one else is laughing. And Geordi says to Data "Data..." and Data says "that was..." and Geordi says "not funny!". 

Then there is the scene where after just having installed the emotion chip, Data goes into a bar with Geordi and Guinan offers him a drink which he reacts to. So, Geordi asks him "What's wrong?" and Data flinches on drinking it and says "I believe this beverage has provoked an emotional response" and Geordi asks "What is it?" and Data says "Because I have so little experience with emotion, I find it hard to articulate the sensation" and Guinan says "Well it looks like he hates it" and Data says "That's it! I hate this!" and he drinks more of it and flinches again and says "I hate this! This is revolting!" and Guinan asks him "More?" and Data smiles and says "Please!".

And then there is the scene where Data and Geordi look around the observatory and Data laughs out loud at a joke from years ago that Geordi told. So, Data laughs loudly and he says "I get it! I get it! When you said "the clown can stay but the Ferengi in the gorilla suit has to go". Geordi then asks "Data what are you talking about?" and Data says "During the farpoint mission: we were on the the bridge and you told a joke and that was the punchline". And Geordi says "Farpoint. Data, that was seven years ago" and Data says "I know I just got it! Very funny!" and he laughs more.

And then there is the scene where Data struggles to control his emotions when he is doing some stellar cartography with Picard as he feels tremendous guilty and remorse for not helping Geordi. So, in the scene Picard asks Data "Data, are you alright?" and Data shaken says "No, sir. I'm finding it difficult to concentrate. I am overwhelmed with feelings of remorse from my actions on the observatory". Picard then asks Data "What do you mean?" and Data tells him "I wanted to save Gordi, but I felt something I never expected...fear. I was afraid". And then later Data stands up and tells Picard "I wish to be deactivated until Dr Crusher can remove the chip" and Picard asks "Are you experiencing some malfunction?" and Data tells him "No, sir. I simply do not have the ability to control these emotions" but Picard tells him "Data, I have nothing but sympathy for what you are going through right now...". Data however becomes angry and says "Sir, I no longer want these emotions! Deactivating is the only solution!". And then Picard tells Data feelings are learning to live with them and integrate them into his life and he will not be deactivated and firmly says he must perform his duty and Data says "Yes, sir. I'll try sir". 

Then there is of course the funny scene where Data having gotten over his guilt and controlled himself, cheerily walks back onboard the Enterprise bridge and Riker asks him to scan for life forms. So, Riker says to Data "Data, would you scan for lifeforms?" and Data cheerily says "I would be happy to, sir. I just love scanning for life forms" and then he sings as he types on a keypad "Life forms, you tiny little life forms, where are you?" and snaps his fingers in a Samba-esque manner leaving Riker wide-eyed. 

Another good scene is when Data works out how he can make the Dursa sisters Klingon vessel decloak when they are being fired on. So, as Data successfully manages to use the Klingon's plasma coils against them, Riker orders to open fire on the Klingon ship, which blows up and afterwards we see Data stand up and with a clenched fist shout "YES!" victoriously. But this is then followed by the news that the Enterprise suffers a warp core breach and they separate the saucer section, which hurtles towards a nearby planet and as we see the planet nearer on the screen, Data says "Ohhhh shit!". 

And last of all is Spiner's last scene where Data finds his cat, Spot while he talks to Counselor Troi and he says beforehand to her "I believe having experienced 261 distinct emotional states, I am in control of my emotions and they will never longer control me". However as he uses his scanner to find signals of life, he soon discovers his cat underneath some rubble and as Data hugs Spot, he begins to cry and Troi asks "Data, what's wrong?" and Data sobs and says "I don't know, Counselor. I am happy to see Spot yet I am crying, maybe the chip isn't working" and Troi reassures him "I think its working perfectly".

Jonathan Frakes next is also very good in his role as Commander Riker, Picard's second in command on the Enterprise. 

And Frakes has some good moments that include his first scene where the Enterprise crew are all dressed in historical sea navy outfits and Worf is given his promotion in a formal manner of the time. So, in the scene Riker reads from a scroll to Worf ""We, the officers and crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise, being of sound mind and judgment, hereby make the following charges against Lieutenant Worf. One, that he did knowingly and willfully perform above and beyond the call of duty on countless occasions. Two, most seriously, that he has earned the admiration and respect of the entire crew." And as Worf is made to walk the plank to get his hat of "office" he successfully jumps to get it without falling in the water. So, afterward Riker says "Computer, remove the plank!" and the plank vanishes and Worf goes in the water and Picard corrects him and says "No.1, that's retract the plank not remove the plank" and Riker says "Of course, sir" and he shouts to Worf "Sorry!". And as the two men stand together Picard smiles and says how he feels free being at sea (even though its a holodeck!) "This was freedom, Will" and Riker says "Bad food, brutal discpline, no women!". 

And then there is the scene where Riker tells Picard his findings on investigating the observatory but Picard is clearly still upset over the deaths of his brother and nephew, which Riker is unaware. So, in the scene Riker says to Picard "Oh, a Doctor Solan asked to speak to you, I said you were very busy and couldn't see him but he said it was absolutely imperative that you speak to him" and Picard says "Understood. Thank you, Number One that will be all". And Riker before he goes, stops at the door and asks Picard "Sir, is there something else...?" and Picard interrupts and says "No thank you" and Riker walks out. 

And last of all is the scene at the end where Riker and Picard walk around the wreckage of the Enterprise bridge. And Riker says "I'm going to miss this ship, she went before her time". And Picard reflects on what Soran said to him about time being a predator but he considers time to be a companion on a journey. And then Picard turns to Riker and says "After all, number one, we're only mortal" and Riker smiles and says "Speak for yourself, sir. I plan to live forever". 

As for the other cast members of the Next Generation they all do well enough with their respective roles of which I will quickly say something about:

Gates McFadden is pretty good (and pretty!) as Doctor Crusher, who is the ship's medical officer and she has an amusing scene where Data pushes her in the water at the start of the film. And Data says to her "So, Data says to Crusher "Doctor, I fail to understand how dropping someone into water is funny" and Crusher says "Oh, its all in fun, Data" and Data asks "Fun?" and Crusher "You have to be spontaneous, live in the moment. Got it?" and Data says "Got it" and he pushes Crusher into the water and Data looks over amused only to see no one else is laughing. 

Marina Sirtis is also good as the ship's Counselor, Troi, who's main part in the film comes when Troi helps Picard come to terms with the death of his brother and nephew. And in the scene, Troi asks Picard "Captain, what happened?" as Picard breaks down in tears as he talks of his nephew and Picard says "They burned to death in a fire" and Troi says "I'm sorry" and Picard says "No, its alright, these things happen" and Troi says "Captain, it is NOT alright!". Picard laments over his nephew not growing up and Troi asks him "I didn't realise he meant so much to you" and Picard says "He was the closest I had come to having a son" and Troi asks Picard "Family is very important to you, isn't it?". And Picard tells her how his family name has always been important and once his brother was married and had a son, the family line could carry on, Troi says to him "It was no longer your responsibility to carry the family line". 

Levar Burton is also pretty good as Geordi La Forge, the Enterprise's chief engineer who installs Geordi's emotion chip for him and is later captured by Soran. 

And Levar has two scenes of note starting the one where Data asks Geordi to install the emotion chip for him. And as Data approaches the chip that sits in an electric housing, Geordi says to him "Data, you're not actually thinking of using that thing are you?". And Data says to him "I had considered it for many months" and Geordi says "I thought you were worried about it overloading your neural net" and Data says "That is true but in light of my previous encounter with Doctor Crusher, now might be the appropriate time". Data then takes the chip and holds it towards Geordi and says quietly "Geordi..." and Geordi sighs and says "Alright" and he takes the chip and Data goes over to sit down and Geordi removes Data's hair covering to reveal the electrical components of his brain and Geordi says "Listen, the first sign I see of a malfunction, I'm deactivating it. Agreed?" and Data says "Agreed".

And lastly there is the scene where Geordi having recovered from his capture onboard the Klingon vessel is paid a visit by Data, who is still guilt ridden over leaving him on the observatory. So, Data says to Geordi who is lying on a bed in sick bay "I am sorry I let you down. I have not been behaving like myself lately" and Geordi says to him as he get's off the bed onto his feet "No, Data, you haven't. You've been behaving like a human" and he walks off leaving Data with a little smile. 

As for the other cast members, Gwynth Walsh and Barbara March are both good in their roles as the Duras sisters, the renegade Klingons who are after the Enterprise and in cahoots with Soran. And I will quickly mention them one by one starting with March who plays B'Etor and she has a couple of funny lines such as the one where we first see her as Soran boards their vessel and he hits her and her men pin him down and she takes out her knife and puts some of her blood on his sip and says "I do hope for your sake, you are not trying to propose some form of mating ritual?!". And then there is the funny line where Soran having hacked Geordi's visor, they can see what he sees on the Enterprise on their screen and they see Doctor Crusher's face and B'Etor recoils at seeing her and says "Human females are so repulsive!".  March sadly doesn't have as many notable lines in the film but she does well enough with what she is given to work with here.

And last of all are the two actors form the original crew, Walter Koenig as Chekov and James Doohan as Scotty who are on the Enterprise B with Kirk at the start of the film. 

And I will start with Walter's scene where Chekov introduces Kirk to Sulu's daughter and says "I'd like you to meet the helmsman of the Enterprise. Demora. Ensign Demora Sulu" and Kirk looks at her amazed. And Kirk asks her "Your father is Hikaru Sulu?" and she says "Yes, sir" and Chekov says "Oh, you've met her before but she was..." and he indicates a small child size and Kirk says "It couldn't have been that long enough ago, it was..." and Chekov says "12 years ago, sir" and Kirk shakes her hand and says "Incredible!". And after Demora leaves, Chekov says to Kirk "I was never that young" and Kirk says "No, you were younger". And later on when Kirk vanishes from the Enterprise deck while rescuing the ship, Chekov and Scotty arrived on the deck as they look out into the open space and Chekov says "My God! Was someone in here?!" and Scotty grimly says "Aye".

And then onto James Doohan, he also has some funny lines in his main scene particularly where Kirk is amazed at Demora being Sulu's daughter. And in the scene as Scotty looks around he says of the Enterprise B "Damn fine ship if you ask me" and Kirk says "Scotty, it amazes me?" and Scotty asks "And what would that be sir?" and Kirk says "Sulu. When did he find the time for a family?" and Scotty says to him "Well, like you say, sir, if something's important you make the time". Scotty then teases him and says "Oh, that's it? Finding retirement a little lonely are we?" and Kirk says "You know I'm glad your an engineer, with tact like that you'd make a lousy psychiatrist!". 

And then there is the moment where Scotty tries to beam people off the ship that is being destroyed by the Nexus energy ribbon. So, Scotty says as one of the crew says "I am having trouble locking onto them" Scotty says "What the hell? Their life signs are phasing in and out of our space time continium?" and as one of the crew says "Sir, their hull is collapsing" Kirk shouts "Beam them out of there, Scotty!" and Scotty does so and he says grimly "Transport complete. I got 47 out of 150".  

DIRECTOR 

As for the director, David Carson does the duties here and he does a fine job overall as he was already an experienced director on the Next Generation TV show. Carson also does a pretty good job at pacing the film's dialogue and action scenes with my main critcism in terms of his pacing only comes with the sequence of the Enterprise's saucer crashing onto Veridian III as its a very lengthy drawn out scene that goes a bit too long. That aside though, Carson does very well here with the film.

MUSIC 

As for the music score, it was composed by Dennis McCarthy who does a pretty good job with the soundtrack, which closely resembles his work from the Next Generation TV show he worked on. The score has plenty of good moments and even manages to be quite emotional and poignant in places thanks to the film's more emotional moments as Kirk and Picard are in the Nexus. It does however have a kind of TV movie feel to it though as it is much the same sound as one of the scores from a Next Generation episode but that aside, its pretty good. 

FLAWS (Warning: this section may contain spoilers!) 

As for flaws, yes Generations does have some worth mentioning.

First of all, there is the controversial decision to kill off Kirk and its not so much that but more the nature of Kirk's death in the end is a bit lame as he lies in the wreckage of the broken bridge that Soran shot down, and he says quietly "Oh my...." as his last line before he passes on, which is pretty feeble to say the least! I mean if they had to kill off Kirk here surely they should have given him a better send-off line than just "oh my". Its a pretty feeble send-off. 

I also felt that while I enjoyed Malcolm McDowell's performance, his character was poorly written  mainly because he talks in cliches and some of his dialogue is pretty cringe worthy. And this is especially notable in the scene where he turns to Picard and says "Now do excuse me, Captain, because I have an appointment with eternity and I don't want to be late!" and another example being "Don't you feel time gaining on you, Captain. Its like a predator, stalking you!". So, yeah his lines definitely left much to be deserved at times but ah well that's things go.

Another issue I had with the film is the inclusion of the Klingon Dursa sisters because their appearance would not really be known by any casual watchers of the franchise films and most likely only by actual fans of the TV show itself. And the way in which they are introduced to the film is a bit off as well with a rushed scene with Soran and later we see that Picard knows who they are but beyond that, unless you've watched the TV show then its bound to be less clear what they are really about and their intentions beyond the loose explanation given by Soran for them to reclaim the Klingon empire. 

Another thing that bothered me was when Picard arrived in the Nexus and met with his wife and children, why the hell where they all in Victorian clothes????  I mean they lived in the 24th century and not the 19th!  It just seemed to be a very peculiar choice for them to be wearing clothes like they belong in some period drama! Or maybe just perhaps in Picard's subconscious perhaps he wants everyone to dress like that and get back to Victorian values! ;-) 

I also found it a bit incredible that Picard was able to somehow drag Kirk's dead body out of the broken bridge rubble to actually bury him under some rocks. I mean for starters, the guy is pretty heavy and secondly, the broken bridge parts he was trapped in looked pretty heavy also. So, I don't quite buy that Picard was able to manage both of these things here as he doesn't appear to possess great strength and we know that as Soran kicked his ass quite easily! 

And last of all, I have to say I found the concept of the holodeck to be a bit stupid because if they are on a holodeck of an old sea ship, how exactly then can Worf actually fall into water and get wet?! I mean are they in a deck that has pool in it of sorts? I just can't understand how he actually does get wet in the first place in that instance, the other stuff of seeing holograms of historical ship workers of that time walking around is fine but actual water I don't quite get.

Anyway that's it for the flaws. 

SUM UP 

So, to sum up Star Trek Generations is still a worthy and entertaining addition to the Star Trek franchise and while its not one of the best film in the series overall it has plenty going for it with the inclusion of William Shatner as Kirk in his final performance being a highlight. The main cast of the TV show are also all pretty good for the most part even if Picard's character is a lot more square and serious than Kirk ever was but Patrick Stewart still does a fine job with the role. However its Brent Spiner that steals the show here as he is often funny here as Data especially as he discovers the highs and lows of his emotion chip. 

And yes its not the best film in the franchise as I said although I would still put it as my favourite out of the Next Generation films in all honesty (yep controversial I know!) with First Contact in second place but its certainly not a patch on the finest films from the original cast and crew. However any flaws aside, this is still a very enjoyable film and worth a look almost 30 years onward from its release.

And I will give Star Trek: Generations...

8 out of 10 

So, that's it for this one and I will be back soon with another post.

Until then its bye for now and engage warp!