BrianKoller's Full Review: Star Trek: Insurrection
The ninth in an apparently endless series of films based upon the television series "Star Trek", this is also the third film to use the "Next Generation" cast. "Insurrection" gives us the answer to the question, what would happen if a one-hour show is stretched to a two-hour film? While the cinematography is better and the budget is bigger, it seems that we have been down this road before, and too many times. Special effects, techno-babble, and makeup that looks like uncomfortable rubber scarecrows take the place of plot, dialogue and character development.
Midway through "Insurrection", there are attempts
to add some warmth to the formulaic sci-fi
fantasy action plot. Fearless captain Picard
(Patrick Stewart) gets a platonic love interest
with uninteresting Donna Murphy, while the
android Data (Brent Spiner) is taught how to play
by an uninteresting pre-adolescent. Romance is
rekindled between director/second banana Riker
(Jonathan Frakes) and counselor Troi (Marina
Sirtis), both of whom are unbearably smug as a
result. There's also some kind of moral about the
evils of technology, and that it is wrong to
steal planets from people.
Then, it is back to the fantasy action adventure,
with Picard and his heroic crew rescuing the
gentle, peace-abiding villagers from the ugly
mutants attempting to dislocate them. The plot is
reconciled in wholly predictable fashion, with
nothing being done to prevent Star Trek X from
appearing in theaters two years hence.
Since the formula has run aground, I have a
suggestion for Frakes and Rick Berman. Why not
make "Star Trek X" a musical? Picard can perform
"MacArthur Park". Frakes can sing "You're So
Vain". LaForge would sing "I Can See Clearly
Now". Data will perform "Hooked on a Feeling".
Troi can warble "Torn Between Two Lovers" while
Whorf tackles "In the Year 2525". Sure, Trekkie
fans would feel alien-ated, but perhaps it would
be a cult film classic, like "Rocky Horror
Picture Show". (28/100)
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