Customer Reviews

Star Trek: Insurrection (Widescreen)

5 star:		(98)
4 star:		(85)
3 star:		(56)
2 star:		(36)
1 star:		(46)

 

 

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

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.

The film opens with scenes on a tranquil, agricultural planet. Then things heat up as we run into Data and some Federation personnel. It seems they are observing the tranquil society in what is called Operation Duck Blind (the inhabitants don't know they are being looked at). From there we run into the rest of the main cast and the plot begins to develop. It involves a malfunction Data experiences while assisting at Operation Duck Blind that results in the mission being compromised.

As the crew of the Enterprise investigate what went wrong with Data they begin to raise more and more questions. As the main plot is revealed the crew must band together and stand up for what they feel is right. In the end the crew triumphs (did we really think it would be otherwise?).

This is really not a film for people who are not already fans of the show as it is the way the characters act and their personal interactions that makes the film so entertaining. Brent Spiner, Jonathan Frakes and Marina Sirtis seem to have a tremendously fun time with this film. Fans are treated to some great scenes of their favorite characters (although Gates McFadden was not particularly important). We even learn some more about Data's design and operation. But do not be misled by the title and the trailer, the scenes are all there but in the trailer they tell a much different story.

There are a few technical problems in the movie but you don't really think about them until afterwards. These include small things like not being able to count (claiming two slave races and showing three), the Federation is pretty stupid (giving membership to a race that has just managed warpdrive but only has been around for less than a hundred years, has only six members and seems to have better ships). There is the inevitable total ignorance of nebulae and what they are and just how not dense they are. But these are all minor things that don't jump out as the movie progresses.

So if you are a Next Generation fan and want to see the crew back together in a story that is really just a long, but very good, episode, then you really should take the opportunity to see this one. On a final note it passes Lynch's Law for a successful Next Generation episode in that it does not rely on techno-babble to drive or advance the plot but uses situation, character and emotion for fuel instead.

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. Starring Patrick Stewart as Jean Luc Picard and directed by Jonathan Frakes, this movie goes face first into face stretching action,literally.

Though not as exciting as First Contact, it still provides the cheesy action of an old guy [ Jean Luc] climbing in dangerous places with a big phaser rifle shooting aliens. I think it's funny because in this movie, two gramps meet and fight to the finish. One's got a facial problem [the bad guy], the other a mental problem, what kind of 70 year old man would think himself strong enough to fight wars?

I might suggest this movie to people who like to watch people from a nursing home duke it out. They never learned not to play with guns either. It's pure entertainment for people that like to watch strange movies and laugh at them.

The camera work could have been better. Towards the end, it doesn't show much of the enemy ship, there isn't much of an inside of a ship to see though. The special effects were all right, but the phasers looked kind of fake to me.

One scene made the movie purely messed up to me. Jean Luc runs around an enemy ship firing a phaser, right after that he says, " If you fire your phaser, you risk igniting your ship, you wouldn't risk that would you?" [The guy he was chasing is one of the old gramps I mentioned earlier]. Isn't that stupidly cheesy?

I don't under stand why everybody except the captain always wears the same stuff. The captain wears a dress suit and regular clothes but the rest of the crew always wears the same old red suit. All the Ba'ku wear different stuff.

Star Trek Insurrection is rated PG-13. I say a lot of people would like this movie. For other people though, it gets really annoying.

Anomynous

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. I thoroughly enjoy watching this movie on my home entertainment center because it is just like a really upscale two part episode from TNG's glory days. Many people complain about the "warm fuzzy feeling" the movie has but it was not too sweet for my taste and maybe not for yours either.

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 started with Star Trek V: The Final Frontier, but this movie breaks that curse!

The storyline concerns a race of peaceful people, the Baku, on a planet capable of rejuvenating life and keeping it's inhabitants eternally youthful, but a group of Federation officers want to remove them from their planet "for the greater good of millions who would benefit from Baku's fountain of youth-like powers" However, the Federation has a Prime Directive, forbidding the Federation from becoming involved with the planet's inhabitants and when Picard is ordered by a representative, Admiral Dougherty, to allow the removal of these people, effectively breaking the Prime Directive, Picard and crew rebel against this order and take matters into their own hands to help the citizens of the planet . As well, there is Ru'afo (F. Murray Abraham), who presents a threat to the Baku and the crew of the Enterprise-E..

The Special effects, as in the last movie, are outstanding. The action scenes are plentiful and the film's "embarrassing sequences" often referred to in other movie reviews I've read are actually very humorous, especially Deanna Troi's remark about Dr. Crusher's "boobs" firming up nicely and Worf's Klingon "puberty". It was a little annoying that the relationship between Anij (Donna Murphy) and Capt. Picard (Patrick Stewart) didn't go as far it could have, especially in light of the romances Capt. Kirk had on the original Star Trek series. As well, the friendship that developed between the boy and Data was cute, serving it's purpose in eliminating the boy's fear of androids, after Data goes haywire in the beginning of the movie. It was good to see Commander Riker without his beard for once ( he shaves it off for Deanna early on), as he's had it since the 1988-89 season of Star Trek: The Next Generation. The picture and sound quality of this DVD is excellent.

Extras -- The DVD has two trailers and a five minute behind the scenes look at the movie, but nothing much else, still it's a pleasant little timewaster.

In the end, I enjoyed Star Trek: Insurrection, and unlike what some other movie reviewers have noted, it seemed very theatrical doesn't play like a TV Movie at all. In fact, I would have to say that there was as much action in this movie as there was in First Contact. In conclusion, it's as good as First Contact, highly recommended to all Star Trek fans.

This review refers to the Widescreen DVD, which is enhanced for 16 x 9 viewing.

To everyone who reads this, remember to keep in mind that this is only my opinion, don't take it to heart. In the final equation all that really matters is what YOU thought of the movie! If you enjoyed it, that's all that matters!

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 but any Sci-Fi fan!

This is another film I am looking forwad to the two disc treatment!

Buy this movie now!

I have to say that this film would probably only appeal to the more intense Star Trek fans. I myself think it was great! Lots of humor, great acting, awesome special effects, everything that we've come to expect in Star Trek movies. However, the story was more of a classic Star Trek story, almost like something you'd see in a tv episode, which I don't think would appeal to many fans, but again it is most definetly a great Star Trek movie.

Ok, from what I have heard, the main gripe about this film, is that it could have been a TV episode. But when it comes to being a film, I think that this movie hits it right on the mark.

The humor in it adds some bubbly fun to a film that could have been all syrup and saddness. And unlike some sci-fi films, the humor isn't contrived and it actually makes sense. Who doesn't get a kick out of Worf's wart or Data's ability to be a flotation device?

Another thing that made this Star Trek film great, was that it didn't center on Captain Picard, like many of the other films (and TV episodes) have a tendency to do. You get to hear about how other people are reacting to and experiencing this latest adventure. Yes, this film does give Patrick Stewart an ample amount of screen time, but it also allows the viewers to enjoy little quirks about the rest of the characters we have grown to love over the years.

Complaints about plot holes and such I think are reading too much into the film. This is sci-fi, ok? Give the writers, directors, and producers a little leg room!

Overall, I believe this to be an excellent addition to the Star Trek family of movies. A little bit of fun, adventure, intensity, and the well placed moral at the end. So grab some popcorn, a pillow, and your phaser shaped remote control, as Insurrection takes you boldly into a different style for this crew, and has a bunch of fun doing it.