Star Trek - Generations (1994)
Two captains. One destiny.
Starring: William Shatner, Patrick Stewart, Jonathan Frakes, Brent Spiner, LeVar Burton, Michael Dorn, Gates McFadden, Marina Sirtis, Malcolm McDowell, James Doohan, Walter Koenig, Alan Ruck, Jacqueline Kim, Patti Yasutake
Director: David Carson
Running Time: 118 minutes
US MPAA rating: N/AUK BBFC rating: PG
Action, Adventure, Science Fiction
On DVD William Shatner returns for the final time to play James T Kirk, now retired and something of a legend. With fellow members of his old crew including Montgomery Scott (James Doohan) and Pavel Chekov (Walter Koenig) he is the guest of honour aboard the newly-christened Enterprise-B - the third starship Enterprise to take on the challenges of space. A shakedown run becomes a deadly crisis when the starship attempts to rescue two vessels trapped inside the Nexus - a mysterious ribbon of energy drifting through space. During a dangerous rescue attempt, a bulkhead is breached and Kirk is swept out into space.
More than seven decades later, Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) is Kirk's successor at the helm of the latest in the line - the Enterprise-D. With his crew, he rescues an El-Aurian named Soran (Malcolm McDowell) from a Federation Space Station under attack, not knowing that Soran was in that region of space because he has deadly plans that include the destruction of a star and the annihilation of millions. Now Picard needs to enlist the help of the one man who can help him - but he's been dead for 78 years.
The transitional film between the two crews was always going to be a challenge given the time gap between the two, and some of weaknesses in this film are clearly introduced in the attempt to make a meeting between the two captains feasible. However, all in all the story is reasonably sound and it does achieve what it sets out to do in terms of passing the baton from one captain to the next. As a story of two captains, it does unfortunately tend to overlook the other supporting crewmembers to a degree. Credit is due to both Shatner and Stewart for their handling of the captains' roles - surprisingly, there is real chemistry between the two and their different styles are shown to be not as diverse as they might appear at first sight.
Also features appearances by Whoopi Goldberg and the voice of Majel Barrett Roddenberry.
DVD Extras: Without doubt this will eventually get the Special Edition treatment, but it is disappointing to see a comparatively recent film such as this one with no extras.
Extras: None.
It's Got: Picard and Kirk impressing with their teamwork.
It Needs: More use of the popular supporting crewmembers.
Alternatives: Star Trek - First Contact, Star Wars, Titan AE, Independence Day
Summary: Given the limitations placed on the film by what it has to achieve, it holds up reasonably well as a transitional story. Certainly worth seeing by Next Generation fans and by those who have watched the previous films.
Review by Andrea Chee
Review Date: 17th May 2003
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External Links
Star Trek - Generations at the IMDB
