OneStar Trek: The Next Generationmovie should have been better thanFirst Contact, but actually turned out to be the worst in the series. Following a string of successful films starring the original crew of the USSEnterprise, it was finally time for the cast ofThe Next Generationto continue theStar Trekfranchise on the big screen.
Star Trek Generationswas a misstep, but it was a necessary growing pain as the beloved sci-fi universe transitioned from the old to the new. 1996’sStar Trek: First Contacttook a turn toward action, and was a massive success. Unfortunately, it would be the only high point for the rest of the ill-fatedTNGera ofStar Trekmovies.
Two more movies followed in 2002, but Captain Picard and the rest of theEnterprisecrew would never get a send-off as strong as their predecessors. Even thoughFirst Contactforgot the themes ofStar Trek, it was still a great movie that proved the then-30-year-old franchise still had energy left.
OneTNGmovie in particular was a massive disappointment, largely because of how close it came to capturing the same magic as the TV show it was based on. Action is a nice addition whenTrekhits the big screen, but strong writing and complex moral dilemmas are the parts that were lacking.
The Plot Of Star Trek: Insurrection Is Perfect For The TNG Crew
It Bears A Striking Resemblance To A Classic Two-Part Episode Of TNG
Following the high-stakes thrills ofFirst Contact,1998’sStar Trek: Insurrectionwas a much-needed step back. Instead of endless action, the movie pits Picard and his crew against a moral problem, and they must stick to their Federation principles to win the day. Upon release, the movie was compared toa two-part episode ofTNG.
The comparison was quite apt, and it even borrowed some elements from the season three episode, “Who Watches the Watchers”. Parts of the movie’s setup were somewhat poorly plotted, butInsurrectionfelt more like an adventure from the series than its predecessor, andit seemingly strove to maintain theStar Trekthemes and ideals.
Picard is forced to go against the infrastructure he loves so much, that being Starfleet, to do what is right.
Picard is forced to go against the infrastructure he loves so much, that being Starfleet, to do what is right. Picard is a notorious rule follower, butthe movie was the perfect time for him to grow and violate an order. The pieces were there for a strong film, but things just didn’t come together.
1994
47%
1996
93%
1998
55%
2002
38%
Insurrection Ultimately Forgot To Be An Interesting Movie
A Star Trek Movie Is Supposed To Be Grander Than The TV Show
Though there are a ton ofgreat episodes inStar Trek: The Next Generation, the movies were supposed to be larger and grander than their TV counterparts. Unfortunately,Insurrectionmissed that memo and fell somewhere in the middle between an elevated two-part episode, and a big-budget feature film.
Insurrectiongrossed $112 million (viaBox Office Mojo)
The CGI visuals were an impressive first for the franchise, but they were in service of very little in the long run. As for the characters,Picard’s decision to violate a direct order from a superior officer feels unearned, especially since he’s previously been shown to remain loyal even when he disagrees.
Admiral Dougherty makes little sense as a villain, since he is shown to be both ruthless enough to carry out the forced removal of the Ba’ku, but also naive enough to be surprised about the Son’a.Star Trekhad already done the evil admiral bit before, butDougherty’s “I did it for the Federation” ending is confusing.
Overlooking plotholes and inconsistencies is easy when a movie is exciting, likeFirst Contact, butInsurrectionforgot to be an entertaining project. It doesn’t move the characters forward meaningfully, and it doesn’t thrill with action. The result is a largely boring story that feels like one of the biggest missed opportunities in the entireStar Trekfranchise.
