Okay, here's the deal. As I've mentioned before, I'm admittedly a fan of Star Trek. I don't live the show though. I don't wear Vulcan ears, I can't recite episode titles like Books of the Bible, and I dang sure don't spend time in chat rooms debating age-old questions, like "Could Kirk beat up Spock in a fair fight?" Sorry, my fandom ends with just being a fan, not a religious fanatic.
I do, though, think Gene Roddenberry would be proud to know that his creation has maintained the popularity in all its incarnations since that first episode. I really questioned the nerve behind the Next Generation crew shutting down a successful TV show to forge ahead on the big screen. Not that I doubted they could do it, mind you. Hey, I saw that movie that Shatner directed, and, lemme tell you, as long as you don't get another one of those glory hounds going, all will be well, right? I just hated to think that they might fall short, and the whole universe suffers because of it.
Gotta tell you, the first two movies proved to me that somebody knew what they were doing. Generations was very cool, especially the blending of the two captains into a solid story. Helped close one door and open another. First Contact was darn good too, and, finally, they let Patrick Stewart hold the control for himself. He more than filled the bill as the strong leader, and, interestingly enough, his second-in-command, Jonathan Frakes, did an admirable job of directing, too. So, I was kinda looking forward to this new entry into the universe.
And, now we have Star Trek: Insurrection. Folks, it ain't the strongest dog in the race, but even when Star Trek movies are only semi-perfect, they're still a fun ride and better than most things unreeling.
This particular edition sends the Enterprise crew off to defend a tribe known as the Ba'ku. These gentle folks are a farming people, simple, and, well, a little dullsville, but they happen to live on a planet that fosters eternal youth. Think Amish Country with better clothes. Well, seems there's this really dogged-out looking guy named Ru'afo (F. Murray Abraham) who leads a tribe known as the Son'a, and they're ticked that the Ba'ku won't share the wealth, so to speak. Ru'afo has plotted with a nasty Starfleet admiral, played by Anthony Zerbe (who, by the way, has never been a good guy in a movie, as far as I know...) to ship the Ba'ku off their home planet, destroy it, and sell the Fountain of Youth to the highest bidders. And, yes, friends and neighbors, it's up to Picard (Stewart), Riker (Frakes), and Lt. Data (Brent Spiner) to save the Space Amish. Wanna guess who wins?
Look, this is standard formula stuff, for the most part. The Trek movies are basically designed so even the non-Trekkers can follow them (which is a good thing), but they also shoot their detailed appeal to the hardcore followers (also a good thing). Funny thing is, though, this episode harkens dangerously close to an episode of the original TV show, in which the crew finds an Eden planet and almost bolts from Starfleet to live giddy and happy in this wonderland under the influence of some kind of spore from a Spitting Space Tulip, or something. NO, I don't know the name of the episode, or the number of it, or the stardate it was released, so don't ask.
Not that there's anything wrong with that (apologies to Seinfeld), but well, as a moviegoer, I just expected more. I mean, we get some space battles for action and some comedy relief from Data, who's still trying to learn how to be human. All that's well and good, but it's not quite enough to sustain a movie. Worf, the Klingon foreign-exchange student at Starfleet Academy, gets to throw some more teeth into his time onscreen, and, finally, finally, finally, we get some appetizing looks at Lt. Commander Troi (Marina Sirtis), who's basically been a Space Nun for two movies now. But there's no real challenge to anybody's talent or acting ability. Granted, given the first crew's staggering rendition of a redwood tree for most of the life of the first series of movies, anything with timing is a blessing. But I was a little disappointed not to see more glitz and puffing of chests and such. You've made the move to movie stars, guys, feel free to emote a little bit. If Shatner can get away with it, you guys can too.
No apologies for the away team, but I do think they needed something a bit lighter with this outing, and this might be that relief. The last movie was dark and heavy, with Stewart getting the most camera-time with his obsession over the Borg and their pillaging of all civilization (ask somebody, I'll never be able to explain the Borg....). For the record, that's what Star Trek 4 was, a more lighthearted approach after two script-heavy sequels. Nothing wrong with that at all, but let's not make a habit out of it, shall we?
If there's one person to watch in particular here, it's Abraham. I was just tickled to see him, period, after his repeating vanishing act over the last few years. He makes a film, POOF, he's gone. Another film, POOF, gone. Well, he gets to chew some scenery here, and he revels in it. Shades of Amadeus' Salieri at times, albeit buried under some butt-ugly make-up that'll remind you of the Surgeon General's mansion in Escape From L.A., if that tips you to anything. I hope Ol' F. Murray will hang around for a while this time, because he's a dang good actor, if he could get some help picking a few hardcore scripts and less mess. By the way, I still want to see him play Dracula, if any Hollywood type is out there reading this. Look at his eyes, man... he has a stare that could cut glass. Go back and watch the scene in Amadeus where he flips through Mozart's portfolio of compositions. His eyes are full of hate, fear, admiration, and pure loathing, all at once. Amazing guy... His villain here, Ru'afo, is nowhere near the evil of Ricardo Montalban's Kahn, or the sick seductive Borg Queen that Alice Krige gave us in First Contact, but he's one of the better baddies in the series.
If I had a Christmas wish for the Star Trek movies, it would be that they go all out with the next one. No slight to Frakes, but pull the creative team from Star Trek II: The Wrath of Kahn back together and throw one hay-ull of a meeting for the end of the century. Kahn is still the best of these movies, by far, because it was tight from first to last. It had surprising acting strength from Shatner, Nimoy, et. al, it had some great allusions to Moby Dick and the obsession of evil minds, and, best of all, it had a VERY COOL bad guy with Kahn. Ricardo was on like he's never been on in that movie. He was a wild man! They've never gotten that strong since, with First Contact being the closest.
Whether you're a fan of Star Trek or not, you should enjoy this movie. It's not particularly taxing to watch, it has a little something for everyone, and it does offer some fun for your coin. It's just not as perfect as it could have been. In a year where lost potential has been more common than it should have been, Star Trek: Insurrection goes an extra step or two. It just needed three or four, though.
Image copyright Paramount Pictures.
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in for observation