STAR TREK: GENERATIONS
US, 1994, 118 minutes, Colour.
Patrick Stewart, William Shatner, Jonathan Frakes, Malcolm McDowell, Brent Spiner, Lavar Burton, James Dohan, Walter Koenig, Alan Ruck, Jacqueline Kim, Whoopi Goldberg.
Directed by David Carson.
In its time, 1992, this film was highly significant. It was a transition film from the command of Capt James T Kirk to Capt Picard.
William Shatner had appeared as Kirk since the 1960s in many seasons of Star Trek on television. In 1979, Robert Wise directed a cinema version and this series continued in cinemas until 1991, six films in the series. This was the era of Spock, Scotty and many other members of the Start Trek team who had become popular over the decades. And it showed the conflict with the Klingons.
However, in the 1980s, a television series had begun with Patrick Stewart as the captain of the Enterprise, Picard.
With Generations, the film opens with a new generation, Alan Ruck is the commander of the Enterprise, going on mission, but ill-prepared with equipment, coming into conflict, the entry of a mad scientist villain played by Malcolm McDowell, Captain Kirk and some of the veterans coming to inspect the Enterprise but having to become involved with the action, and its seeming that Kirk died in action.
The film goes ahead in years, quite unexpectedly leading to a recreation of 18th and 19th centuries British Navy, ships, uniforms, styles – especially the re-enactment of an accusation and walking the plank, a prank when somebody was promoted. So, Patrick Stewart at home in this context, with Jonathan Frakes as his assistant. However, going further into the Enterprise, there was all the technology of the space ship as well as various members of the crew including LeVar Burton with his special machine on his eyes. And, and kind of replacement for Spock, the android Data, played by Brent Spiner.
There is quite some humour in this film with the character of Data, his being inserted with a human chip and his having to deal with it, understanding jokes after many years, a sense of humour, a prank being explained and then his launching one of the staff into the ocean, his doing his job but being tangled emotionally.
Then the Klingons reappear threatening the enterprise.
However, it is the mad scientist who is the focus of the drama, finding his place in the Enterprise, trying to manipulate the technology so that he can find what is called the Nexus. The crew of the Enterprise have to stop him, especially Picard going personally to confront him on vast cliffs.
However, the scientist seems to succeed and Picard finds himself in some bewilderment in the past, finding himself with the wife and family, their warmth towards him, celebrating Christmas. He also encounters Kirk working in a forest house, chopping wood. The mystery is explained by Whoopi Goldberg who had appeared on the Enterprise, genial wisdom, able to explain the Nexus and the challenge to both Kirk and Picard.
Which leads then to stepping back in time, the possibility of changing history, Kirk and Picard fighting the scientist, getting control of his technology and power, fights and falls, Kirk being wounded – and going out honourably from the series, leading Picard back to the Enterprise and further adventures.
There were three more films sequels in this Picard series.
