"Star Trek: Insurrection"
Review by Jerrold Reber
CAST
Capt. Picard- Patrick Stewart Rated PG= Violence, Adult Content
Cmdr. Riker- Jonathon Frakes Running Time= 1 Hour 51 Minutes
Lt. Cmdr Data- Brent Spiner
Lt. Cmdr. Worf- Michael Dorn
Lt. Cmdr. LaForge- Levar Burton
Counselor Troi- Marina Sirtis
Doctor Crusher- Gates McFadden
Anij- Dona Murphy Jerrold Reber's Opinion
Ru'afu- F. Murray Abraham ***
Admiral Dougherty- Andrew Zebre 1=Awful 2=Fair 3=Good 4=Great
Good Points: This installment doesn't disappoint you. With a touch of humor and suspense, "Insurrection" never leaves you hanging around like a puppet.
In the world of Star Trek, there are good movies and great movies, but never any that are truly poor.
Well, if you are a major Trekkie, I recommend you see the new movie "Star Trek: Insurrection," the ninth chapter in the Star Trek movie franchise. This episode pits the crew of the Enterprise-E against Ru'afu, a member of the race called the Son'a. He wants to ensure that the Ba'ku, an alien race that they despise, will be eliminated.
Most of the film deals with Captain Picard trying to discover why the Son'a want the Ba'ku erased from existence. Though, there are times that really touch your heart. For example, when Captain Picard and Lieutenant LaForge are conversing before a sunrise, Geordi admits
that he "has never seen a sunrise the way you guys do." It got me, for you see, Geordi is blind and has to see using implants.
Another good side of "Insurrection" is that humor is a major factor. For example, about half- way through the movie, Counselor Troi tells Doctor Crusher, "Doctor Crusher, your boobs are firming up."(On the planet the Ba'ku live on, its rings keep them looking young and, well, it is affecting the crew.) Yet another great example is when Jean-Luc rescues Anij (she is 309-years-old, she never learned how to swim). Data bravely jumps into the water and proclaims, "In case of a water landing, I am also equipped as a flotation device." With that, he swells up like a balloon. Other gags and jokes follow, including the dreaded Klingon zit(?!).
For those of you who saw "First Contact," you have noticed that romance was NOT a very big issue. But, don't despair! That secret little thing has returned, spreading its beautiful touch into four people. The first couple is Commander Riker and Counselor Troi. For you "Next Generation" fans, they had some "tension" back in the days of old. Well, it has finally resurfaced, and, WHOA, it's great to see them together! In one scene, Troi and Riker are in a bathtub....NAKED!(THERE IS NO NUDITY!!) Well, if that's too racy for you, then there's the relationship between Anij and Captain Picard. Throughout the film, Jean-Luc is staring her angelic hair and her lush lips. She doesn't fall in love with him, however, until about the middle of the movie.
Before I went to see "Insurrection," I asked my friends what they thought it would be like. My best friend, fellow reporter Ray McCann, said that it looked pretty cool and that he wouldn't mind seeing it. Another person said he would refuse to see it. Yet someone else, a fellow "Trekkie", said it would be #1 at the box office its first weekend. Well, it did, reaching $22.5 million dollars.
While half the population despises "Star Trek," most people love its charm and thrills. In my opinion, this movie earned four stars for finally adding humor to the popular movie franchise. Also, the plot has been improved and the computer-rendered graphics are wonderful. My spies have told me that this entire movie was shot in the Rocky Mountains and sound stages. If there is one good sci-fi movie you want to see soon, make it "Star Trek: Insurrection." Trust me, you'll be laughing AND hanging on the edge of your seat.