MOVIE - STAR TREK: NEMESIS - Review Rating $$$$$ $$1/2 (OUT OF 10)
STARRING - Patrick Stewart, Brent Spiner, Majel Barrett, LeVar Burton, Michael Dorn, Jonathan Frakes, Whoopi Goldberg, Tom Hardy (Shinzon), Gates McFadden, Dina Meyer (Romulan Commander), Kate Mulgrew, Marina Sirtis & Ron Perlman (Romulan Viceroy).
DIRECTED BY: Stuart Baird (U.S. Marshals, Executive Decision)
WRITTEN BY: John Logan (The Time Machine; cowriter of Gladiator, Any
Given Sunday)
Diverted to Romulus, on a supposed peace mission, Captain Picard and the crew of the Enterprise encounter a new enemy bent on destroying earth and this time its personal.
Legend has it that the even numbered movies, in the Star Trek movie franchise, are always better. Star Trek: Nemesis continues this tradition. In the spirit of, The Wrath of Khan, Nemesis is one of the better of the Star Trek films.
The irony, of Star Trek's creator Gene's Roddenberry's utopian vision of the future, is that the qualities he championed are best demonstrated when the very fabric of this future society is under mortal threat. The best Star Trek T.V. episodes also followed this formula and as a result we were treated to great villains in the form of Klingons, Romulans and the Borg.
The enemy this time comes from within. A secret clone of Captain Picard desires universal domination. In the Star Trek tradition this is another opportunity to argue the merits, and demonstrate the folly, of topical 21st Century issues. Nemesis explores the debate between genetic and environmental influence, the potential dangers associated with cloning and of course what separates good from evil. This sociological and scientific underpinning is what has always separated Star Trek from other run of the mill sci-fi and action adventures.
All of this is accomplished within an excellently paced script filled with action and increasing intensity. The story is good enough that even if you're not a Trekkie you should be able to enjoy Nemesis. For Trekkies, the opportunity to spend time with the crew of the Enterprise is enhanced, by Nemesis's adherence to another franchise tradition - thou shall poke fun at yourself where appropriate.
The cast, in recent interviews, have gushed enthusiasm for the director and screenwriter who are both Star Trek virgins. They do an excellent job of being mostly faithful to the Star Trek spirit. Unfortunately, fans of the series will recognize that the plot is treading on familar ground. Nemesis does not go where Star trek has not gone before. Furthermore, it was a bit disconcerting to see vulnerability exposed in Picard. More than once, in Nemesis, Picard seems hesitant and unsure of himself. This image of Picard, though occasionally explored in the T.V. series, is not the most complimentary.
There are a few other faults with Nemesis. The Romulans look sickly. Why they changed their appearance/make-up is unclear. The result is not convincing. There are also a few plot holes. The most notable is that just 40 minutes from the rest of the Federation fleet, and engaged in a lenthgy battle, the fleet fails to come to the aid of the Enterprise though others do. The battle itself stretches the boundaries of credibility as well.
The last curious aspect of Nemesis is its treatment of Data's ultimate sacrifice. Taken almost directly from the plot, in Wrath of Khan, it is executed with a lot less sentimentality and given short shrift in my opinion. What should have been a very emotional few moments passes without sufficient tugging at the heartstrings.
Nemesis will keep you "engaged" whether you're a Trekkie or not. Make it so, go see Nemesis and help the franchise live long and prosper.
Alternative Reviews:
http://www.suntimes.com/output/ebert1/wkp-news-startrek13f.html
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/StarTrekNemesis-1117268/
Official Website:
http://nemesis.startrek.com/
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