Tom Gillispie: Trek movies, worst to first

Wednesday, July 27, 2016

Trek movies, worst to first

I read an article yesterday giving one person's list of the Star Trek movies, from worst to first.

I think he listed "Nemesis" as worst, with "The Voyage Home" first. "Wrath of Khan" was fifth. "Insurrection" was down the list. I'm watching it now, and it's one of my favorites.

With my own list, I'd pick "Generations" as my least favorite. James T. Kirk got killed in that one, and I hated the mundane way they killed him off. I have a copy of that video, but I have not watched it in years.

I'd put "The Final Frontier" and "The Undiscovered Country" in 10th and 11th place, respectively. "Star Trek: The Motion Picture" is probably ninth; too slow. They spent more time with graphics than they did with story and characters.

Next comes "Star Trek Into Darkness", the one where Benedict Cumberbatch plays Khan. I hate the reboots, and "Wrath of Khan" was enough for me. I didn't need another Khan.

"Nemesis" is seventh among the 12 Star Treks I've seen. They wasted a great opportunity, and Data deserved a better grand finale than that.

The first J.J. Abrams movie, "Star Trek", was OK in some ways and terrible in others. Abrams played fast and loose with the Trek mythos (I hated that), and, frankly, I wouldn't have that James T. Kirk pilot a wheelbarrow, much less a starship.

"First Contact" and "Insurrection" come next. I actually liked James Cromwell as Zefram Cochrane in "First Contact"; he was interesting, and Glenn Corbett was boring in the original series. I hated it, however, when Picard went nuts with the machine gun in "Contact"; out of character. I liked "Insurrection" because of F. Murray Abraham, plus Data's relationship with the kid. And I liked Picard's lady.

I actually like "Search for Spock", and it comes just after my No. 2 pick, "Wrath of Khan". I think the latter movie is the best Trek movie ever, but I'm picking MY favorites.

And, frankly, "The Voyage Home" is my favorite. The story line — going back in time to get to humpback whales to save the future — is implausible, but I can get past that. This is the funniest and most human of all the Treks. I love the part where they broke Chekov out of the hospital.

I just saw "Star Trek Beyond", and I'm not sure where I'd rank it between "The Voyage Home" and "Generations". I need to think about it.

I will say, though, that the part where Enterprise was ruined was torture.

Live long and prosper... And let me know what YOU think.

VIDEO ON YOUTUBE

Top 5 Worst Star Trek The Original Series Episodes