Movie Review: Star Trek: Nemesis

Story: To boldly go where no other Star Trek film has gone! Where's that you ask? To that special place where good films are actually made. No, really! My good buddy and fellow Trekkie, Carol, and I have been waiting patiently for this film to open. We boldly ventured to the newly reopened cineplex (across the street from the WTC site) to enjoy Nemesis the tenth Star Trek film in this long running franchise.

For this outing we get the familiar cast of Captain Picard (my favorite Starship captain), Will Riker, Data, Giordi, Troi and the whole gang. Whoopi Goldberg even reappears as Guinan and has a line of dialogue. This time the crew faces intergalactic dilemmas such as clones, good and evil, fate and free will. There is a detectable melancholy throughout the film as it looks like the franchise will end (at least with this crew) if the box office take is not boffo. However, the story is tight, the editing good and the special effects are out of this world.

Would you like this film if you were not a Star Trek fan? Absolutely! Make it so!

Acting: Stellar! Special kudos to British actor Tom Hardy who plays the young clone of Captain Picard.

Predilection: I am a Trekkie. I am proud to admit I love the whole franchise (the Next Generation is my favorite gang) and think there should be a Star Trek TV channel. 'TNN' comes close with a Star Trek every night - but I want more.

Critters: Spot, android Data's cat.

Food: The food replicator only has time for tea on this voyage.

Visual Art: Only the beautiful vista of the Alpha Quadrant.

Blatant Product Placement: Apparently none of our present day products make it through to the 24th century.

Soundtrack: The best theme song ever written.

Opening Titles: Simple and dramatic at the same time.

Theater Audience: A few loyal Trekkies. It was so cold in the theater Carol ended up wearing her hat. We decided it is really cold in outer space and perhaps it was the theaters' attempts to replicate that feeling. Brrrr!

Predictability Level: High - but who cares?

Tissue Usage: I admit to welling up at the finale.

Oscar Worthy: There are no Oscars in outer space.

Nit Picking: It is too hygienic aboard the USS Enterprise for nits to exist.

Big Screen or Rental: Big screen, for sure. If you are into Star Trek films, here are all of the others for you to rent: Star Trek: Insurrection - 1998, Star Trek: First Contact -1996, Star Trek Generation -1994, Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country -1991, Star Trek V: The Final Frontier -1989, Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home -1986, Star Trek III: The Search for Spock -1984, Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan -1982. Star Trek - The Motion Picture, 1979.

Length: Under 2 hours.

LOBO HOWLS: 8