Frank Ochieng is a guest critic who also writes reviews for his own personal website, located here.

To become a Guest Critic for CINEMA 2000, please notify David Keyes.

Review Uploaded
12/27/02

1 hr. 57 mins.
Starring: Patrick Stewart, Brent Spiner, Jonathan Frakes, Levar Burton, Michael Dorn, Marina Sirtis, Gates McFadden, Tom Hardy, Ron Perlman, Shannon Cochran, Dina Meyer, Wil Wheaton, Majel Barrett Roddenberry
Directed by: Stuart Baird

Rating: ** ½ stars (out of 4 stars)

So the golden question remains: will diehard and casual Trekkers come out the woodwork to check out the tenth Star Trek feature at the local box office? Does a Klingon need a facelift? Or is it difficult to buy a Vulcan a pair of comfortable headsets? Somehow there’s a sense of urgency for sci-fi fans to revel in the experience that is the legendary Star Trek franchise. And most likely folks will turn out for “Nemesis”, the latest installment that reunites the “Next Generation” cast led by the stoical presence of USS Enterprise’s head honcho Capt. Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart).

Star Trek: Nemesis may be considered enticing for a couple of main reasons. First, it’s been approximately four years since the movie series’ last outing. Secondly, there’s a definitive hint that this showcase may be the final entry in the popular chain of sequels (the movie’s tagline says it best: “a generation’s final journey begins”). Quite frankly, there’s a unique consideration about Nemesis that suggests an ambitious and earnest attempt to continue to explore worlds and seek out new adventures.

Granted the Star Trek motion pictures are on the verge of losing their luster despite the continued interest by loyal enthusiasts worldwide. And some may question the staying power of the late Gene Roddenberry’s beloved sci-fi dinosaur in a millennium age where there are more progressive and varied fare that make the technology and trusty concept of the Star Trek franchise seem blatantly passé.

But for the most part, Nemesis is off to a slow start and has not benefited from an auspiciously grand opening as compared to its predecessors. The good news: Star Trek: Nemesis translates well for the mainstream audience to appreciate its old-fashioned approach to good triumphing over the realm of evil forces. The not-so-good news: director Stuart Baird’s starry-eyed adventure is a derivative offering that boasts gloriously shadowy set pieces while regaling in the nostalgia of familiar characters we’ve come to cherish over the years. This sentiment is quite evident in that the Federation doesn’t seem to have much stream to challenge the voracious appetite of intuitive Trekkers. Could the consensus be that the Star Trek crew have finally overstayed their welcome?

The premise of this movie finds the once dastardly Romulans wanting peace. Yes, that’s right-this bloodshed bunch want to encourage tranquility between them and the Federation. After years of engaging in war, the Romulans desire a different role. However, before this “newfound” epiphany, the Romulans schemed to devise a clone of Captain Picard in the form of the devious Shinzon (Tom Hardy). The plan was to replace the real Picard hence have Shinzon work as an operative within the confines of the Federation. Since that time, the plan was abolished and Shinzon was sent packing to soak up the hellish atmosphere in the unkind dilithium mines of a Romulan companion piece planet.

Unfortunately for everyone involved, the “nemesis” is back to wreak some havoc. Now aided by the vicious Viceroy (Ron Perlman), Shinzon is determined to carry off his sinister plot in convincing fashion. The agenda: to conquer Picard, the Enterprise and eventually Earth in the anxious effort of satisfying his demented little heart. Shinzon literally wants to be the master of his own universe and Picard and his crew is his main focus. In addition, Shinzon’s existence is depended upon the transfusion of Picard’s blood (it’s explained that some mutant strand of his cloned DNA will kill him unless he transfuses himself with Picard’s blood as soon as possible). Hmmm, very interesting…

While the movie has its key moments, Star Trek: Nemesis occasionally feels like an over-produced showcase of planetary patchwork. Baird (who helmed the woeful sequel to The Fugitive known as U.S. Marshals) serves up the rudimentary presentation that resembles more of its Star Trek: The Next Generation boob tube incarnation from years past. As a big screen vehicle, Nemesis comes off as slight therefore depriving fans of its trademark exuberance for taking its audiences to intriguing and exotic locations. In fact, we’re lucky if we even get a glimpse of such obvious hangouts we’ve come to treasure (for all you thirsty Trekkers out there, you must yearn for the Ten-Forward lounge, right?)

Sad to say, this film could be tagged as an exaggerated (if not extended) episode of The Next Generation. Case in point, the dragged-out subplot involving the wedding of lunar lovebirds First Officer Will Riker (Jonathan Frakes) and Counselor Deanna Troi (Marina Sirtis) is a mere clumsy diversion of domestic bliss. This bit pretty much waters down the film’s progression and reduces the proceedings to a space station version of The Love Boat (okay, more appropriately…The Love Ship). The movie’s romantic vibes seem way out of whack with what is supposed to be a riveting Trekker treat of boisterous proportions.

Star Trek: Nemesis works effectively when concentrating on the durable confrontations of Stewart’s no nonsense Picard and Hardy’s devilish Shinzon. It is the character conflict between Picard’s sophisticated, regal older self and his younger, aggressive demonic alter ego that practically steals the show. Stewart energizes the film with his commanding presence that otherwise gives life to a by-the-numbers Star Trek edition that barely registers. Hardy is roguish and vile enough to make his villainous impact seem quite respectable since the days of Ricardo Montalban’s memorable turn as cunning adversary Kahn in Star Trek: The Wrath of Kahn.

It’s nice to see lovable android Data (Brent Spiner) get into the act as he has his own entanglement with an earlier copycat of himself in the prototype of the annoying B-4 (get it?) that’s also played by Spiner. In fact, Spiner has a noted role in helping to conceive the storyline for Nemesis. And it’s refreshing to see the gang back together for another go-around as they face the thrills of their so-called animated encounters. Supporting players such as Geordi La Forge (LeVar Burton), Worf (Michael Dorn), Beverly Crusher (Gates McFadden) and Wesley Crusher (Wil Wheaton) crowd up the joint as the recognizable crew The Next Generation fans reminisce about with abandoned glee. It’s just too bad that the aforementioned cast members have convincingly limited screen time for us to notice their contribution to the goings-on aboard the Enterprise.

In a nutshell, Nemesis has the lethal bite of a baby alligator. Clearly, this is the weakest one of the legendary lot. But it’s still Star Trek entertainment that dares one to predictably revisit a formula that has resonated in the minds of avid Trekkers all over the place. When the film aptly finds its frenzied inspiration by tapping into the Picard/Shinzon conflict, it’s a snappy getaway for all to cherish. And by displaying the colorful carnage of spaceships blasting into every which way but loose, we automatically embrace this happening as business as usual. Normally, that’s a palatable afterthought.

If the Star Trek movie series is coming to a close with Nemesis, it should go out with a bang…not in a shadow of its brilliant former shell. For what it’s worth, this resilient movie franchise did indeed live long and prosperous. Somehow, the Federation and its allies/foes alike should consider their legacy before embarking on another tired journey that we all have already traveled for nearly four decades now. Alas, it’s time for the filmmakers to stay home and avoid the exhaustive trappings of being their own worse enemy…ah, in this case…nemesis!