Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country review

44 Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country
Rewatch. The sixth Star Trek movie. The last starring all the members of the Original Series cast. A very good send off for the original cast. The motivations of the conspirators are well developed, as well as Kirk's lack of forgiveness regarding David's death. It is good that Sulu had got command of the Excelsior. However it is the explosion of Praxis that is important, rather than the Excelsior's mapping of 'gaseous anomalies' (although that does come back later). This is sets up the main plot of the Klingons seeking peace with the Federation.
Not only that, but also the conspiracy to stop the peace process. It is not revealed until well into the film that there was a conspiracy. Not until after Gorkon's assassination and the capture of Kirk and McCoy. That the Klingons would seek peace after such a disaster is quite plausible. If there are any quibbles with the plot, it would be with Spock's logic in vouching for Kirk, given the latter's history with Klingons. (It also gives an 'in' for the conspirators, in particular, Valeris). However that's important to the plot.
The characterization of Gorkon is what one would expect from a Klingon leader who is seeking to end hostilities that had lasted over a century. The portrayal of him as hopeful of reaching dente with the Federation was rather good. He is willing to face the difficulties that dente with the Federation would pose to the Empire and the dominant Klingon culture. The use of Shakespeare (the line from Hamlet) by the Klingons in this is well conceived. First by Gorkon during the dinner with the Enterprise officers, and later by General Chang as he admitted defeat by the Enterprise and Excelsior above Khitomer.
The detective work by Spock (and the rest of the Enterprise crew) in uncovering the plot is also rather well done. It is an excellent send off for the original cast of Star Trek. 9.5/10.

Star Trek: Generations review

45 Star Trek: Generations
Rewatch. The seventh Star Trek movie. The first based on The Next Generation. (Although not entirely). The film 'passes the torch' from the original cast to the Next Generation cast. Albeit not perfectly. It wasn't necessary to kill Kirk off. More on that later. But first, the scenes on the Enterprise B. These scenes are presented rather well. The nature (and existence) of the Nexus Ribbon is established, with Soran demanding to 'go back' there, from the start (and Guinan being one of the refugees).
The fact of the Enterprise B being ill-equipped to handle the rescue is well established. There is a feeling of peril as the ship rescues the El-Aurians and then gets stuck. The stress of the crew as they fight to get free is well portrayed. And Scotty's sadness at Kirk's (apparent) death is also well portrayed. In the 24th Century, the reasons for Data wanting to install his emotion chip are well developed. His wanting to become more human was a major theme in the tv series, so it is continued here.
The consequences of this action, resonate through the film, and show Brent Spiner's range as an actor. He was able to present the wide range of emotions rather well. Soran's plan is developed (not well, but it is developed) in away that doesn't cause problems with suspension of disbelief. The actions of the Duras Sisters are similarly developed, their reasons for what they are doing were established in the series. The crash of the Enterprise saucer was rather good, but I don't think it was necessary to destroy the Enterprise D.
It could have been used in the future movies. The scenes with Picard and Kirk were rather good, although Kirk could have had a more heroic death. Despite these quibbles it was a good beginning for the TNG crew. 8/10.

Star Trek: First Contact review

46 Star Trek: First Contact
Rewatch. The eighth Star Trek movie. The second based on The Next Generation. The Borg are back, and Picard is the only one who can stop them. Following up on the episodes where the Borg appeared in The Next Generation, the movie shows the Borg attacking the Federation again. Picard's distaste at Starfleet's attempt at keeping him from fighting the Borg is well presented (especially when he explains it to Riker in his ready room). The loyalty of his crew is shown when they are willing to follow his disobedience of Starfleet's orders.
The battle against the Cube in the Sol System is also shown rather well. The introduction of Worf on the Defiant is done rather well (with a brief return of the Klingon theme from The Motion Picture) in a way that establishes his character. The way the cube is defeated, with Picard 'hearing' the Collective and using it to the fleet's advantage is also done in a believable way. The progression from this to the Sphere traveling to the past is quite good. Picard is right to order the Enterprise to persue the Borg into the past, to change what they had done.
The situation caused by the Borg attack on the settlement around the Pheonix launch site is well presented. Cochrane's characterization as a reluctant figure, inventing the warp drive not to travel to the stars, but to get rich, is well done. He's more relatable than the 24th Century characters (who, as Picard tells Lily, more altruistic). The situation on the Enterprise, after the Borg begin to assimilate the ship, is suitably suspensive. In relation to this, the sequence on the deflector dish is well shot, with the stakes suitably high for such a sequence.
Data's experiences with the Borg Queen are also quite well done, building on his character development from the previous film. The launch of the Pheonix and the Borg Queen's attempt at destroying it are done well too. Overall it is a great film. 9/10.