Star Trek: Nemesis

Dir: Stuart Baird (U.S. Marshals, Executive Decision)
Regular Cast: Patrick Stuart, Jonathan Frakes, Brent Spiner, LeVar Burton, Michael Dorn, Gates McFadden, Marina Sirtis
Additional Cast: Tom Hardy, Ron Perlman, Shannon Cochran, Dina Meyer
USA, 2002

Originally Seen: At the Kingsway rep theatre after it's theatrical release

Revisited: April 26, 2009

Reason to Revisit: For the Countdown to Star Trek Movie Marathon

Out of all the Star Trek films, Nemesis is the one I'd seen the least, only one time I had in fact and speaking honestly I fell asleep when I saw this in the theatre. My opinion of it wasn't very high and after revisiting hasn't changed at all.

In terms of calender time line, it comes after Voyager Series concluded so I was surprized it was so dark. For me, it went too dark. The premise, location, and dreary and it even casts a dark light onto regular characters so we question them which is risky business considering that for fans doing so is questioning characters that the viewer could have been have spent 15 years of getting to know through the shows regluar season then afterwards in syndication and throguh films. As a fan, I wasn't buying the ideas that were presented that felt as if they contradicted what had been built up after so long. Also, there was a lof of putting the characters through harsh things which felt unnecessary but beyond that many of the conflicts or ideas that were presented as morale connundrums were already explored in "The Next Generation".

Overall, I found it too sinister. Star Trek has a great history of showing a hopeful, ideal oriented world so when it lets in the shadows I become less interested. That isn't why I watch and love Star Trek. I always felt that Nemesis was an odd way to end the series of films, being so dark and unlike the majority of the series that came before it.

Even after this viewing, I had no idea that Viceroy Vkruk was Ron Perlman. None.

Shannons's Overayll View:
I didn't love it
I'll rarely watch it again
I'd recommend it for those that like the darker side of Trek

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© Shannon Ridler, 2009