Star Trek Generations

[Mr. Atoz]

"Generations" was on the WGN channel this weekend. This isn't one of my favorite movies. In fact, I've only seen it once or twice. I hate to just pick movies apart, but I couldn't help noticing all the things that are wrong with it.

For instance, right off the bat, Kirk, Scotty and Chekov are taking a tour of the Enterprise B just before her launch, and these obnoxious reporters are in their faces. In the first place, it's hard to imagine a Starfleet captain, even Kirk as a media celebrity. In the second place, the thing I had always liked about Star Trek is that it portrays the future as better than now. People are smarter, wiser, more disciplined. It was really annoying to see these paparazzi mobbing them like idiots.

[andrewlee]

I would hate to think there are paparazzi in the late 23rd century!! This isn't my favorite Star Trek movie either. Kirk was killed in this one which is something I didn't like!! At least he died for a good cause.

[Mr. Atoz]

Yes, Kirk died in this, in a fall off a cliff of all things! The problem is, we knew it was going to happen, so there was no real suspense. It's another of the things I didn't like -- not that he died, but that it wasn't a really spectacular death. And his last words were, "It was the least I could do for the captain of the Enterprise. It was... fun." They could have done without that last bit.

Another thing I thought was entirely unnecessary was the whole bit with Data's emotion chip. At first it was a little funny, but then it just painful to watch.

[andrewlee]

Kirk's death wasn't much of a surprise and Data's emotion chip scenes were kind of goofy at best!

I thought the Nexis was kind of bazaar and interesting!

[Mr. Atoz]

If there were some explanation for what it was, it might have been interesting. But as it was, it was just a plot device. Isn't it strange that Picard is the only person in the history of the universe with the strength of will to fight off its effects? Even Guinan admitted that she didn't want to leave it.

Then there was the promotion party they had on the holodeck. It didn't make a whole lot of sense, to force somebody to walk the plank as an initiation. And what kind of uniforms were those? They didn't even look like navy uniforms. Can you imagine walking a soaking wet, tilting deck during a storm wear those big, clod-hopping boots?

[andrewlee]

now that you mention it, what you have posted makes sense. I would have thought that Guinan would have been better able to resist the appeal of the Nexis than Picard or Kirk. I remember now that part of her never left.

As far as that silly tradition of walking the plank and jumping for his hat, I thought that was the stupidest part of the movie! There were a lot of other things that were bad on old sailing ships, some of which Riker mentioned like bad food and brutal discipline!

[Mr. Atoz]

I would have thought that any El Aurigan could resist it, with the long life spans that they have.

Okay, I'm tired of picking on things I didn't like. Let me think of one thing about the movie I did like....

Demora Sulu, helmsman of the Enterprise B!

[andrewlee]

Demora...yes. It came as a surprise that Sulu had a child....a daughter. It was suggested he made time when there wasn't much time to have a family.

I would like to have seen more relatives, children, and descendent's of the characters in general !!!

[Niemz]

Me too.

[andrewlee]

There are many possibilities for plots with family members of main characters in Star Trek!!

[Mr. Atoz]

And as far as I know, wasn't this the first time Sulu's first name (Hikaru) was mentioned?

[Mr. Atoz]

Another thing I wanted to mention about this -- early on, when the two passenger ships are caught in the Nexus, it was clear that the captain of the Enterprise B was inexperienced and didn't have the slightest idea what to do (which strikes me as a little odd in itself, that they would pick such a clueless dweeb for the Enterprise). But Kirk was standing there twiddling his thumbs, as if to say, "I'm not going to give you the benefit of my vast experience unless you come over here on your hands and knees and beg me for it." That seemed very awkward.

Of course, the reason for it has to do with Naval custom. The captain of a ship has sole authority. Another officer, even one who technically outranks him, has no business giving orders. It would be a great insult to offer your advice to the captain unless he specifically asks you for it. This made sense to me, but I'm wondering how many people watching the movie would have realized that.

[andrewlee]

Jan 19, 2010 9:20:37 GMT -6 Mr. Atoz said:

Another thing I wanted to mention about this -- early on, when the two passenger ships are caught in the Nexus, it was clear that the captain of the Enterprise B was inexperienced and didn't have the slightest idea what to do (which strikes me as a little odd in itself, that they would pick such a clueless dweeb for the Enterprise). But Kirk was standing there twiddling his thumbs, as if to say, "I'm not going to give you the benefit of my vast experience unless you come over here on your hands and knees and beg me for it." That seemed very awkward. Mr Atoz, I never realized this before, but it does make sense! Violating this tradition could save the ship or lives in certain situations , but cause a lot of problems in most others.

Of course, the reason for it has to do with Naval custom. The captain of a ship has sole authority. Another officer, even one who technically outranks him, has no business giving orders. It would be a great insult to offer your advice to the captain unless he specifically asks you for it. This made sense to me, but I'm wondering how many people watching the movie would have realized that.

[andrewlee]

Jan 19, 2010 9:20:37 GMT -6 Mr. Atoz said:

Another thing I wanted to mention about this -- early on, when the two passenger ships are caught in the Nexus, it was clear that the captain of the Enterprise B was inexperienced and didn't have the slightest idea what to do (which strikes me as a little odd in itself, that they would pick such a clueless dweeb for the Enterprise). But Kirk was standing there twiddling his thumbs, as if to say, "I'm not going to give you the benefit of my vast experience unless you come over here on your hands and knees and beg me for it." That seemed very awkward.

Of course, the reason for it has to do with Naval custom. The captain of a ship has sole authority. Another officer, even one who technically outranks him, has no business giving orders. It would be a great insult to offer your advice to the captain unless he specifically asks you for it. This made sense to me, but I'm wondering how many people watching the movie would have realized that.

I didn't even think of this before, but it does make a lot of sense! I wonder how many Captains would be able to swallow their pride to save their ship if they had to ask a more experienced officer??

[Thallassa]

Dec 28, 2009 9:00:19 GMT -6 Mr. Atoz said:

And as far as I know, wasn't this the first time Sulu's first name (Hikaru) was mentioned?

The first time was the novel "The Entropy Effect" by Vonda McIntyre. In that novel, he had a romantic relationship with the ship's new security chief, and he had to tell her his first name.