Star Trek: Insurrection
Dec/095
Amazon.com
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 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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8:35 am on December 17th, 2009
Subject says it all really… pants, total pants with an extra lashing of pants!
Rating: 1 / 5
11:16 am on December 17th, 2009
I wish that you could give no stars. This movie is exactly what is wrong with Star Trek. No plot, just an excuse for location shooting. No character buildup, you are expected to believe that picard would just leave Starfleet without a fight. He takes everything at Adm. Dougherty’s word. Maybe he should check it out with hq? No, being to bootlicker that picard is, he just takes authority’s word on it. Kirk would have had the guts to find out on his own. Now that the bald frenchman’s fans are mad, Stewart’s performance seems like he’s sleepwalking through it. Like it’s giving him a check, but little else. Maybe it’s time to retire the TNG crew, unless paramount can do better than this dreck. Where’s the Final Frontier when you need it? Unimspired script, lackluster performances, stupid excuses to make fun of characters, I think frakes (riker)does not like Micheal Dorn (Worf).
Rating: 1 / 5
1:40 pm on December 17th, 2009
This seller is a THIEF! He will take your money and you will never get the item. I purchased a CD on Jan 12 05. I never recieved the CD. I sent 6 emails with out any response.
BEWARE!!!!!!!!!!
Rating: 1 / 5
4:35 pm on December 17th, 2009
I have always thought that there is a difference between Star Trek fans (myself and others like me) who simply enjoy watching the TV shows and movies, and the sort of people who confuse it with reality. The prior reviews pretty much prove I am right. Any objective analysis of this film leads to the inescapable conclusion that it is awful. The plot is weak, the characters more clowns than heroes, and the script preachy and unrealistic, even by ST standards. It is a shame to see such a great actor as Patrick Stewart acting like a feminized buffon, but that is essentially how Captain Picard behaves in this piece of tripe. Worf stumbles through his scenes more confused than anything, and the old “Data goes nuts” theme has been used so much it reeks of decay. The piece with Troi and Riker in the tub together might have been nice 10 years ago when they were in their prime. By the time this film was done, though, it reminded me of the scene from “Friends” where the gang sees their neighbor,Ugly Naked Guy, being intimate with his equally ugly girlfriend. Middle age paunches and wrinkles do not a sultry scene make. It is almost unbelievable that this film followed “First Contact,” which by my estimation was the best ST film ever. I must give it one star because I cannot assign it a lower rating, otherwise it would have a big fat zero next to it. Trust me on this one – just let it die; just let it die.
Rating: 1 / 5
7:04 pm on December 17th, 2009
Insurrection was the worest movie over Star trek. What i liked about Star trek, It was the peaceful exploration mission Enterprise crew do. That’s what Star trek is all about and thats what Gene would have wanted it. Leave the fighting to Star Wars, Star Trek is peaceful. I feel Star trek is dieing out so start collecting. They ruined the chance to make DS9 Movies by splitting crew up at the end. I hated it when they took Star trek themes out of the shows. “…To Boldly Go Where No man Has gone before” Gene would not be happy.
Rating: 1 / 5