Rating: ***
Release Date: 12/11/98
Director: Jonathan Frakes
Music: Jerry Goldsmith
Cast: Patrick Stewart, Brent Spiner, Levar Burton, Jonathan Frakes,
Marina Sirtis, Gates McFadden, Michael Dorn, F. Murray Abraham, Donna Murphy
A pleasant surprise after all of the horrible things I'd heard about it (and no, Marina Sirtis thankfully DOES NOT get naked). Still, it wasn't any "Wrath Of Khan" (1982) either. Captain Jean-Luc Picard and his command crew decide to stand up to a dastardly Federation plan to relocate a race of humanoids so that the natural resources of their planet can be pillaged. Naturally, complications arise and chaos ensues. It's good to see the crew more in character this time around - it feels more like the TV series than either of the last two films did. The addition of tragically beautiful Donna Murphy helped keep my interest up when things got slow, despite the painfully gratuitous low cut outfits she wore. The effects work varies from fair to very good. The battle sequences are well staged, but the choreography of the smaller crafts is awkward and noticeably off. The blatant usage of silly and stupid humor works to lighten the tone of the overly heavy handed moral message of the film, which is quite clearly about the plight of the Native American. But overall, it's a fun and exciting no-brainer, and a chance to catch up with old friends.