Star Trek: Nemesis (2002)
Okay, you got me. I like "Star Trek."
I'm a low-level "Trekkie." So what? I have seen all
the movies but the last one, most of the 60's episodes,
all of the "Next Gen" episodes and about half of the
"Voyager" shows. I wasn't big into "Deep Space Nine"
and, truth be told, I haven't seen one episode of
the new Scot Bakula "Trek" series. Hell. I don't even
remember what it is called. I'd like to watch it,
but I have no idea when its on. Chances are I'm busy
that night anyway.
So, it was with much anticipation
that I viewed "Star Trek: Nemesis." Not only is it
being hailed ("on screen") (God, I'm funny) as the
"Final Journey" of the Next Gen crew, but the trailers
looked cool as hell. There's a really "Matrix"-like,
black leather sleekness to the way the film looks.
And the villain is hot as hell. Damn, yes I'm in!
Look, I'm a Next Gen guy. That's
the series of the "Star Trek" franchise that speaks
most directly to me. It is classy, elegant, thoughtful
and intelligent. I love the honor of Picard, the curiosity
of Data, the hot-blooded reactions of Number One,
the sexiness of Troi, and, well, that damn cute little
smile of Will Wheaton. This is MY "Star Trek" and,
without a doubt, this is the best film of the series
since it became Next Gen oriented.
Now, are you going to like "Nemesis"
if you're not into "Trek?" Doubtful. There's some
really awesome special effects and the film looks
cool as hell, just as the trailer promised. But if
you are not versed in Next Gen lore, you will find
little to pique your interests in this film. You'd
probably find its plot far too cryptic to decipher
if you are uninitiated.
And if you are into "Trek?" Well,
you have to be into Next Gen. Those who are more well
versed in the original series will see this is nothing
but a knock-off of "Star Trek 2: The Wrath of Khan."
It isn't, but that's the easiest comparison. Others,
of course, will find the mind-melding approach of
the original series and Next Gen combo featured in
"Star Trek: Generations" to be more to their liking.
Not me. I like the subtleties of this latter series,
the earlier films with Kirk and crew are usually a
bit too over-the-top.
So what if "Nemesis" is for fans
only type stuff. It's my favorite of films from the
Next Gen franchise (second only overall to the humor
of "Star Trek 4" where the original cast comes back
to our modern day San Francisco for the whales) and
leads me to hope that the true end of this film franchise
is in another decade, far, far away.
Note:
With Patrick Stewart, Brent Spiner,
Jonathan Frakes, LeVar Burton, Gates McFadden, Marina
Sirtis, and Michael Dorn of the original cast. Cameos
by Whoopi Goldberg (a few lines), Kate Mulgrew (a
few lines), and Will Wheaton (you see that smile!).
The new villains are played by Tom Hardy and Ron Perlman,
the later unrecognizable in make-up and costume making
him into a lizard-like alien.
Directed by Stuart Baird ("Executive
Decision"). Written by John Logan ("Gladiator"). Rick
Berman, the original series producer and Brent Spiner
(Data) contributed to the story. In fact, Spiner gets
a lot of clout here portraying two characters, contributing
to story, and even singing (as is his wont in real
life) in one scene.
Bryan Singer, who directed Stewart
in "X-Men" and the upcoming sequel to that film apparently
has a cameo. Jere Ryan (7 of 9 from "ST: Voyager")
was at one time set to have a cameo but had to drop
out due to her role on TV's "Boston Public." Denise
Crosby wanted to come back but the writers could not
find a way to work her character in. Wheaton apparently
had a larger role in this film which was cut.
The four years between this film
and the last "ST" film "ST: Insurrection" is the longest
time period between movies in the series of films.
