Star Trek Film Reviews:

Star Trek: The Motion Picture: C-

Star Trek: The Motion Picture is Star Trek’s version of 2001: A Space Odyssey. From start to finish you can see the influence of Stanley Kubrick and Arthur C. Clarke – from the design, to the pacing, to the visuals, to the final transcendent scenes. And with this film being the highly anticipated reunion of one of the most beloved casts in television history, it would seem to be a good formula for success. Unfortunately, the surface level story is almost entirely ripped from a previous Trek episode – the glacially paced “The Changeling.” What really proves to be a drag on this particular movie is not only its equally monotonous pace, but its inability to morph Star Trek into a kind of science fiction that is, tonally, quite different. The result is a film which is beautiful from a visual and thematic standpoint, but so plodding and obscure from a narrative standpoint that it ends up being, overall, a below average movie.

Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan: A+

Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan is a fantastic film. It is quite rightly lauded as the finest Star Trek film to date. From start to finish it enfolds at a vigorous pace, is filled with excellent character development and exploration, touches on a number of profound themes, features an iconic villain, and contains incredibly riveting action sequences. The best news of all is that you don’t even have to be a Star Trek fan to enjoy and appreciate this film. It easily transcends not only the franchise, but the genre as well. But if you do happen to be a Trekkie, this is the movie that you had been waiting for – a true continuation of the mission to boldly go where no one has gone before.

Star Trek III: The Search For Spock: C

Star Trek III: The Search For Spock is the inevitable continuation of the events that ended in the previous movie. But whereas The Wrath of Khan was movie that was nearly flawless, that was accessible to just about any moviegoer, The Search For Spock not only relies heavily on the previous movie, but also on the assumption that viewers are heavily invested in the characters. More critically, the movie is uneven and unfocused, suffering from some typical Hollywood sequel cliché. That isn’t to say that this is a terrible movie. There are in fact a number of iconic moments. But for the most part, it’s a significant step down from its predecessor.

Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home: B

Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home is quite a departure for the franchise. Without question, it features a relatively lightweight story, plenty of action, and takes place almost entirely away from the Enterprise. The acting and dialogue can sometimes be a bit hokey. Plus, the film drags just a little too much through its middle scenes. The environmentalist message doesn’t wear particularly well. And yet the film remains one of the most entertaining in the entire franchise. Rightfully so. There’s a spirited aura to the film that is simply unquantifiable. The result is a flawed, but classic movie.

Star Trek V: The Final Frontier: D

Star Trek V: The Final Frontier is almost unanimously labeled as the very worst Star Trek film ever produced. And, truth be told, it’s almost impossible to dispute such an assessment. It really is a disjointed, awkward, clumsy, campy affair that barely manages to accomplish anything. The film is, simply, mismanaged. But I will say this, I disagree that The Final Frontier is far and away the worst film of the franchise. Put alongside Nemesis, the two films are roughly comparable in their overall failures (and minor successes). The details of the failures and (minor) successes are, of course, slightly different. But the bottom line is that this film is no worse an overall experience than Nemesis.

Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country: B-

Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country is the final voyage of the original crew of the Starship Enterprise. That isn’t to say that the characters didn’t reappear again in other films or episodes of Trek. But this was the last time they were on a mission together. As such, the movie holds a great deal of nostalgia – for fans and actors alike. And in many respects, it is a worthy, proper sendoff for such an iconic cast, crew, and series. After three seasons of television and six films, this is quite literally the end. And the movie is quite self-aware of this fact, making the theme of the future, the “Undiscovered Country” central to the story, the characters, and the audience. Put simply, everyone is aware that they are passing on the torch and they strive to do so with dignity, grace, and a lot of adventure. That the movie isn’t especially very good hardly matters in light of how important it is in the vast canon of Star Trek.

Star Trek Generations: C

After watching Star Trek Generations, there is one undeniable fact: It is good to see the crew of the Enterprise-D back together again. After a hiatus (albeit an extremely brief one), the adventures of Star Trek: The Next Generation continue. And seeing the crew reunited, back on missions, is like seeing old friends after a long time apart. Add in the appearances of Scotty and Chekov, and the pivotal role of Captain James T. Kirk, and it becomes a bit like a family reunion — without the drama. There’s a comfort level and familiarity that helps Generations become an enjoyable experience — even if it isn’t a particularly good film.

Star Trek: First Contact: A

This is what a Star Trek movie should be like. Star Trek: First Contact is a true tour de force. If you were going to watch just one TNG-era film, this would have to be it. It’s epic. It’s funny. It takes the crew of the Enterprise-E where none of them have gone before. And it has The Borg in a plot that is plausible and compelling, and allows our characters to explore their own humanity. Suffice to say that not only is this is simply one of the best Star Trek movies ever made, it’s a worthwhile film for any movie fan.

Star Trek: Insurrection: C+

In spite of several action set pieces, Star Trek: Insurrection is, primarily, a slow moving, thoughtful, and contemplative film. By most accounts, it isn’t a typical Star Trek film – it plays a lot more like a ponderous mid-season, two-part episode. But the truth is, Insurrection is a largely underrated film. The problem is twofold: first, it loses the expectation game; second, it falls exceptionally flat by way of its oftentimes forced humor. Both elements tend to undercut what is, otherwise, a film that provokes deep moral and philosophical questions.

Star Trek Nemesis: D

I remember, long before Star Trek Nemesis was to be released, I read somewhere that the film’s screenwriter was using Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan as his inspiration for the film. Considering that The Wrath of Khan was the best Trek film ever made, even surpassing First Contact, this was good news. After a period of time passed, I heard that the script was leaked online. I read it, and immediately concluded that the whole thing was a hoax. It had to be. The entire premise, from the villain to the finale, were some of the absolute worst ideas I had ever heard of for a film – let alone for a film from a well-established, highly successful franchise. And as promotional materials began to appear, I continued to hold out hope that, somewhere along the line, someone had made drastic script changes and, somehow, had managed to salvage a respectable outing.

Sadly, such salvation was not to be had.

Star Trek: A-

Mission: Accomplished.

If J.J. Abrams wanted to revitalize the Star Trek franchise and update its mythos for a new generation, then there’s no question that Star Trek is an unmitigated success. From start to finish there’s a sheen, a bravado, a sensibility that is quite unlike anything Star Trek has seen before. This is nothing short of a high-end, well-produced and crafted, Hollywood blockbuster. It’s fun, it’s funny, and it’s thoroughly entertaining. What the film isn’t, however, is “majestic.” This film goes for flash and flair over subtlety or reflection. It’s an important point because when previous incarnations of Star Trek were at their best, they nearly always incorporated some higher commentary on the human condition. That sensibility is traded for a more visceral character exploration. And action.  And the difference may be a step too far for some Trek fans.

Otherwise, if you like big-budget action-adventure films, with a bit attitude thrown in, Star Trek should fit the bill just about as perfectly as you can get.