Star Trek: Insurrection (Widescreen)

 

 

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Star Trek: Insurrection plays a lot like an unusually long episode of the original TNG series - for some (myself included) this is a good thing, but for others it is a source of disappointment. The television series was popular for good reason, so I can't see the reinvoking of that atmosphere as a bad thing, especially following on the heels of the rather dark Star Trek: First Contact. All of the cast seem to be enjoying themselves here, and the film still has plenty of great special effects (all digital, by the way) on land as well as in space - and I think the story is quite good, as well. Best of all, there's no over-the-top buffoonery such as Data trying to function with his emotions implant installed. It's true that this film does open with a Data malfunction, but there's nothing remotely silly about it, as it sets the stage for the crew of the Enterprise to defy the orders of a Starfleet admiral.

After receiving a communication informing him that Lt. Commander Data has gone berserk while helping observe the inhabitants of an alien world, Picard and the Enterprise head into an area of space dubbed the Briar Patch to capture Data and find out what went wrong. Ignoring all of his Starfleet protocols, Data had revealed the presence of a joint Federation and Son'a taskforce to the Ba'ku people, refused to let team members leave the planet, and even fired upon the starship carrying the Son'a captain and Admiral Matthew Dougherty of Starfleet. Clearly charmed by the nature of the Ba'ku and their peaceful nature, Picard refuses Admiral Dougherty's order to leave the system until he finds out what is really going on there. The increasingly evident rejuvenating effects among crew members of time spent on the planet give him a pretty good clue. What Picard ultimately discovers is a conspiracy that leads him and his officers to defy orders and commit themselves to defending the planet's people and culture from exploitation by the Son'a and Federation central command.

When the Son'a aren't getting their old and decrepit skin stretched by weirdly alluring alien females, they are grouching about the Federation bureaucracy that keeps getting in the way of their getting what they want. The Son'a aren't' that intimidating at first glance, but F. Murray Abraham does a great job of giving the race a sinister edge through his performance as Son'a leader Ru'afo - he even gives vent to what is possibly the second most memorable scream in Star Trek franchise history. The Ba'ku, in turn, are epitomized by the graceful and elegant Anji (Donna Murphy), a woman whose charms are not lost on Captain Picard. I think Michael Piller's script doesn't get the respect it deserves, as it tells quite a good story that includes a nice little surprise or two along the way - and lends itself to philosophical debate for any viewers so inclined. Star Trek: Insurrection may not have the extra wow factor some seem to expect in a Star Trek motion picture, but it plays out like a delightful reunion of characters from a show that millions of us loved. That is more than enough to satisfy this TNG fan.

This has to be the worst Star Trek movie that I have ever seen, and I have seen all of them. It closly ties as the worst movie ever with Star Trek V, the final frontier.

For STAR TREK: INSURRECTION (1998), unfortunately famous for Data saying the ultimate cheesy one-liner, "Lock & Load" (*cringe*), Jonathan "Two-Takes" Frakes, back in the director's chair, makes the atmosphere decidedly lighter. That's a good thing; however, after all is said and done in this, the ninth installment in the legendary STAR TREK film saga (and the third one featuring the "Next Generation" cast of characters), there is really not much meat on the bone. In this episode, which begins jarringly with a sudden murderous rampage by a malfunctioning android Lt. Commander Data (Brent Spiner, in not one of his finer moments as an actor here), the crew of the Enterprise "E" have beamed down to Planet Ba'ku and rather quickly become familiar with the peaceful residents of this planet. This planet is nicknamed "Paradise," correctly so because it has magical regenerative powers which prevent its people from aging and dying. These people, numbering only 600, are peaceful and seem to have a kind of neo-religious quality to their personalities, as they live in total harmony with nature and openly reject any kind of technology. (This leads to what is probably the best scene in the entire movie, as the Enterprise is revealed to be camouflaged to blend in with the lush surroundings!)

Anyway, as Capt. Jean-Luc Picard (the always-wonderful Patrick Stewart) begins to get friendly with one of the eligible female Ba'ku residents, and Commander Will Riker (Frakes) and Counselor Deanna Troi (Marina Sirtis) get friendlier with each other (leading to a surprisingly sensual hot-tub scene), there is trouble brewing in Paradise: an incredibly ugly band of aliens known as the So'na, led by the especially monstrous Ru'afo (F. Murray Abraham), who intends to displace the peace-loving Ba'ku residents and take over the planet for themselves, so as to de-uglify themselves (I'm not making this up). Not only that, but they are given full authority to do so by a suspicious Federation admiral (Anthony Zerbe, in his final film role). Because this order clearly violates the Prime Directive (which forbids the interfering of any sovereign planetary civilization), this puts Capt. Picard & crew into a conundrum: do they follow orders like good little Starfleet soldiers or do they uphold the Prime Directive to protect these peacemongers? Put it to you this way: Based on the title alone, plus what you know about the Next Generation characters, what do you THINK they will do??? Duh...Lock & Load!!!

Jonathan Frakes had an obviously daunting task: following up the incredible STAR TREK: FIRST CONTACT (1996), one of the very best in the entire STAR TREK film saga. STAR TREK: INSURRECTION looks really nice (the visuals are, once again, truly amazing), but alas, there is not really much to care about here. F. Murray Abraham is one of the finest actors of our time, but he must have really needed the money in order to agree to fill a role in which he's not only unrecognizable, but also the recipient of the worst movie makeover in recent big-screen history. STAR TREK: INSURRECTION is certainly not the worst STAR TREK film ever made (that honor would unquestioningly go to the William Shatner-directed misfire STAR TREK V: THE FINAL FRONTIER), but it's definitely not among the best. See it if you're a fan.

MODERATELY RECOMMENDED; AGES 10 & UP

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4.0 out of 5 stars It Takes Six...
The rule of odds and evens continues to apply in Star Trek Insurrection. Being the second true Next Generation film it is a must-see for fans. Read more

Published on May 28 2004 by Joshua Koppel

2.0 out of 5 stars Star Trek Takes a Nap
Star Trek:
Insurrection

If your looking for a movie to watch in your spare time, Star Trek Insurrection is a decent movie but definitely not one of my favorites. Read more

Published on April 30 2004

5.0 out of 5 stars Underrated
While this movie does not have the cinematic gravitas of ST VIII First Contact or ST VI The Undiscovered Country it is still a really good time. Read more

Published on April 11 2004 by LA Mamma

4.0 out of 5 stars Curse, what curse? Almost as good as First Contact!
Curse, what curse? Almost as good as First Contact!

A number of movie reviewers in the past have talked about a curse on the even numbered Star Trek movies, I think this all... Read more

Published on April 8 2004 by Chris Jackson

5.0 out of 5 stars Star Trek: Insurrection
This is may favorite 'Star Trek: The Next Generation' movie. Great acting and an interesting story with superb special effects make this a must have not just for a Star Trek fan... Read more

Published on Feb 1 2004 by Henry

5.0 out of 5 stars Great for hardcore Star Trek fans!
I have to say that this film would probably only appeal to the more intense Star Trek fans. I myself think it was great! Read more

Published on Dec 19 2003 by Patrick Lemaster

4.0 out of 5 stars Stop Complaining and Start Enjoying Simple Pleasures
Ok, from what I have heard, the main gripe about this film, is that it could have been a TV episode. Read more

Published on Oct 19 2003 by earthhugger

3.0 out of 5 stars Perfection is overrated...
Most of these reviews of Insurrection damn the film with faint praise. It wasn't this, it wasn't that. The Federation wouldn't do this. Read more

Published on Sep 16 2003 by WTDK

5.0 out of 5 stars An evolved SF movie
I was really pleasantly surprised when I saw Star Trek developing into a higher level of story lines and incorporating new age ideals. Read more

Published on Sep 9 2003 by L. Blaser

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Star Trek with poor ending
Somtimes it feels that the franchise is getting tired. I first detected this with First Contact, although it was fun watching it, but with this film I don't know what they are... Read more

Published on Sep 8 2003 by Michel Jacques Tremblay Guillot

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