STAR TREK: NEMESIS

(December 2002, U.S.)

Well, this is the end of the line for STAR TREK on my blog. You'll notice that I skipped over STAR TREK: INSURRECTION (1998). The only thing I really remember about it anymore (other than just not liking it when I saw it) was that it was the second movie date I had with my wife when we first started dating (the first was LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL). To be perfectly honest, I've always been surprised that STAR TREK: NEMESIS did not fare better with audiences and critics upon its release (an even-numbered STAR TREK film that did not do well). I'd surely give it far more attention and credit than I would the J.J. Abrams reboots (leave it to me to repeatedly go against the norm).

So for the NEXT GENERATION'S final mission, the adventure begins on Romulus, where members of the Romulan senate have just been wiped out in an act of terrorism by an unknown enemy. Meanwhile, the crew of the Enterprise that we all know and love are attending the wedding of Will Riker and Deana Troi (I think was only barely aware of their romantic involvement from the original TV show). A mysterious positronic energy reading brings Picard, Data and Worf to the Korlaran system, where they encounter what remains of Data's identical android (or brother) called B-4, though not nearly as advanced. After the Romulan Empire is taken over in a military coup by a man called Shinzon (played outstandingly by Tom Hardy), we later learn that he's actually Picard's clone, secretly created by the Romulans to plant a high-ranking spy inside the Federation. Shinzon, while weak in the body and dying, is highly intelligent and is also the leader of the Remans.

While initially wanting to learn more about Picard and the family history, Shinzon is secretly planning an attack against all life form on Earth in the same manner in which he destroyed the Romulan senate at the beginning of the film (it wasn't pretty). As Shinzon rapidly ages due to the cloning process that took place when he was a child, his intention is to use Picard's blood in a transfusion that will save him. Picard is kidnapped, but soon rescued by Data who is actually pretending to be B-4 in order to pull it off. Their fight and eventual escape from Shinzon's war ship is quite exciting, as well as their little space ride within its corridors. Space battle follows (within very awesome looking special effects of green clouds in space)...

...and ultimately results in a head-on collision between two ships in space (I'll get into that one in a moment). Picard and Shinzon face off, and Shinzon is finally killed by impalement on a metal strut. Data, proving as always how loyal his is to his captain and his crew, saves Picard, but is killed himself when the enemy ship is destroyed. Yes, after fifteen years, our beloved Data is finally gone, but just may end up being replaced by B-4, as he continues to learn and grow. And as Picard and Riker bid each other farewell, it's time for us to do the same, as well.

While NEMESIS is generally considered the lowest-rated STAR TREK film since THE FINAL FRONTIER (1989), I've always found its premise original and interesting, at least enough to hold my interest for a tenth go-around. The action scenes are just what you'd expect in a high profile sci-fi franchise as this, but more than anything, it's the performance by Tom Hardy (in only his third film role) that really captures and holds my attention. There's an intense balance of good and evil within him as he not only tries to better what remains of his humanity by connecting with Picard, but is also hell-bent on destroying mankind at all costs. Though, like any other franchise (with perhaps the exception of James Bond), things inevitably reach a point when it all starts to run out of steam. We know from the movie poster that this is the final journey for the NEXT GENERATION crew, so we're meant to sit down and take it all in with a sense of ending and resolution, not too unlike THE UNDISCOVERED COUNTRY. The wit and dialogue from the Enterprise crew is unchanged from any of its previous films, which means it's just fine, in my opinion. Humanity continues to serve its proper function in a universe where hardware reigns supreme, particularly where the goodness of Picard and Data are concerned.

Now, with regard to that head-on collision in space - while I cannot account for the laws of physics (I never studied law, even in the world of space fantasy), it seems to me that the Enterprise ramming into another ship at high speed would very likely destroy both ships and everyone in them, don't you think? Well, if you can get past that and suspend your disbelief long enough, the slow motion action of sparks, debris and destruction is quite a cool thing to watch on screen. Besides, I doubt STAR TREK audiences would take too kindly to watching the entire crew of the Enterprise destroyed in a single act.

And so ends STAR TREK on my blog. It's been a long ride, despite having skipped over two out of ten films. Now it's time to move onto the bigger and better space fantasy franchise we've known since 1977. Sorry that I can't get it started today, on May the 4th, but such is life.

Live long and prosper!

Favorite line or dialogue:

Shinzon (to Picard upon his impalement): "I'm glad we're together now!"