How would you fix Generations without a complete rewrite?

[Commishsleer]

Don't have the Enterprise B. Have the Enterprise-A caught in the Nexus at a farewell voyage with all the TOS crew aboard. Including Chapel, Rand, Sulu.
Have Soran's family (and every other El-aurian) caught in the Nexus. Soran is trying to catch up with the Nexus to free his family and the remainders of his entire race - at the cost of a planet full of people.
Don't have the Nexus fulfill your greatest fantasy nonsense unless you are confident you can show the greatest thing ever on the big screen. Have the Nexus be a sort of time trap so the ENT-A people, Soran's family are just frozen in time.Have Soran have some device he's manufactured to free everyone from the Nexus at the cost of the planet full of people but Picard grapels him for it and they all get trapped within the Nexus.
Picard gets aboard the ENT-A while Soran meets up with his family. Soran and Picard have a week/ a day before they too are permanently trapped.
Picard wakes up the ENT-A crew and everyone works together to alter the device not to destroy the planet but someone has to set the device off at the cost of their life. Kirk convinces Picard that it is the ENT-A responsibilty to set off the device as they don't belong in the TNG universe and he does.

 

[Khan 2.0]

Don't have the Enterprise B. Have the Enterprise-A caught in the Nexus at a farewell voyage with all the TOS crew aboard. Including Chapel, Rand, Sulu.
Have Soran's family (and every other El-aurian) caught in the Nexus. Soran is trying to catch up with the Nexus to free his family and the remainders of his entire race - at the cost of a planet full of people.
Don't have the Nexus fulfill your greatest fantasy nonsense unless you are confident you can show the greatest thing ever on the big screen. Have the Nexus be a sort of time trap so the ENT-A people, Soran's family are just frozen in time.Have Soran have some device he's manufactured to free everyone from the Nexus at the cost of the planet full of people but Picard grapels him for it and they all get trapped within the Nexus.
Picard gets aboard the ENT-A while Soran meets up with his family. Soran and Picard have a week/ a day before they too are permanently trapped.
Picard wakes up the ENT-A crew and everyone works together to alter the device not to destroy the planet but someone has to set the device off at the cost of their life. Kirk convinces Picard that it is the ENT-A responsibilty to set off the device as they don't belong in the TNG universe and he does.

That would've made for better crossover film, why couldn't they come up with stuff like that based around their nexus/timeportal plot to enable the crossover which would've been more in keeping with the hard 'science fiction' elements of TNG (as opposed to far out magic fantasy of the dreamworld nexus)

Have read that B&M said they had a list of stipulations for the 1st TNG movie..must include opening with some or all of TOS cast/a Khan like villain/Klingons/timetravel/Kirk and Picard together/EntD destruction/death of Kirk (and of course introducing TNG to big screen)..ok all great ingredients for the ultimate Trek movie, but needed to be something involving ALL the TOS cast (or at least the big 3) and probably EntA somehow too (even just a cameo as it was pretty much the star of the StarTrek movies), a more cohesive time travel element (not a magic wand waving plot device), Kirk on Picards Ent at some point (or vice versa), and a more worthy meaningful impactful death for Kirk (something on the same level as Spocks)

 

[Laura Cynthia Chambers]

Lotus eaters Nexus, or was "this side of paradise" sort of like that?

 

[Dukhat]

Don't have the Enterprise B. Have the Enterprise-A caught in the Nexus at a farewell voyage with all the TOS crew aboard. Including Chapel, Rand, Sulu.

I always thought using the Ent-A one last time would have been far better than seeing the new Ent-B with an incompetent captain and getting almost destroyed on her maiden voyage around the solar system. But I doubt that every TOS cast member would have been willing to participate. DeForrest Kelley definitely wouldn't have. But honestly, you don't need all those people. All you need is Kirk.

Have Soran's family (and every other El-aurian) caught in the Nexus. Soran is trying to catch up with the Nexus to free his family and the remainders of his entire race - at the cost of a planet full of people. Don't have the Nexus fulfill your greatest fantasy nonsense unless you are confident you can show the greatest thing ever on the big screen. Have the Nexus be a sort of time trap so the ENT-A people, Soran's family are just frozen in time. Have Soran have some device he's manufactured to free everyone from the Nexus at the cost of the planet full of people but Picard grapples him for it and they all get trapped within the Nexus.
Picard gets aboard the ENT-A while Soran meets up with his family. Soran and Picard have a week/ a day before they too are permanently trapped. Picard wakes up the ENT-A crew and everyone works together to alter the device not to destroy the planet but someone has to set the device off at the cost of their life. Kirk convinces Picard that it is the ENT-A's responsibility to set off the device as they don't belong in the TNG universe and he does.

I like this premise, but I think it still needs some tweaks. I like the idea of the Nexus being a time trap/loop (a la "Cause and Effect") rather than a fantasyland; it makes both Soran's motivation and the reasoning behind Kirk's being there (and Picard meeting him later) more realistic. But to me, it kind of falls apart as far as the motivation for destroying Soran's device goes. There's really no need for Kirk to die; that was just a stupid mandate from Paramount.

 

[Jonesy]

There's only one thing I would really do, and that would be to re-write/re-work what The Nexus actually is. I'd have it described better, at least in the sense of letting the audience have a bit more of a clue as to what it is. I also would get rid of Picards crying scene, and I would have chosen a more dynamic way for Kirk to die other than being thrown off of platform as he was pushing buttons on a remote control.

 

[Jayson1]

One thing I wouldn't have minded if you went with a realigious story were you explore the idea that the Nexus might be Heaven or a afterlife but I guess Trek 5 kind of ruined any chance of doing that kind of idea.

Jason

 

[Khan 2.0]

One thing I wouldn't have minded if you went with a realigious story were you explore the idea that the Nexus might be Heaven or a afterlife but I guess Trek 5 kind of ruined any chance of doing that kind of idea.

Jason

Picard wakes up in nexus to George Murdocks booming voice: 'Brave soul..welcome..'

 

[Janeway_74656]

If Kirk had to die, I would have given him a better death. Falling? Seriously? Kirk is more of a captain who would go down fighting if you ask me... and I would have given him a proper burial befitting of a renowned Starfleet captain.

 

[Jayson1]

Is it wrong that I have a kind of dark sense of humor and like the idea of Picard messed up when programing the missle and it launches and strikes Kirk, killing him. Then later he tells everyone that he defeated Soran all by himself and looks all gulity and nervous?


Jason

 

[Flowrellik]

Tbh I'd rather see Riker just tractor beam the bird of prey and ram it into the planet's surface rather than having the Enterprise-D get pwned by a measely D-12 Bird of Prey because they found a way to shoot through the Enterprise's shields.

 

[bolak]

I can't really get around the Nexus problem. It's a ribbon of energy that destroys ships but apparently not the physical bodies of those it consumes? What do they breath in there...?

OK how about instead the Nexus is a space-time rupture that joins two points in time anywhere along its length, like a rolling wormhole. Both Kirk and the E-D crew can therefore meet, but what would Soran's motivation be? Edit: perhaps it could be something quite noble, like saving the El Aurians of the past from the Borg. So now Picard has to weigh-up saving the primitive Viridians versus Guinan's people.

 

[Dukhat]

I can't really get around the Nexus problem. It's a ribbon of energy that destroys ships but apparently not the physical bodies of those it consumes? What do they breath in there...?

OK how about instead the Nexus is a space-time rupture that joins two points in time anywhere along its length, like a rolling wormhole. Both Kirk and the E-D crew can therefore meet, but what would Soran's motivation be? Edit: perhaps it could be something quite noble, like saving the El Aurians of the past from the Borg. So now Picard has to weigh-up saving the primitive Viridians versus Guinan's people.

Well, the problem was that the Nexus was just a poorly thought out plot device to get Kirk and Picard together. Things about it were constantly contradicted (i.e. you can't get into it with a ship even though that's how Kirk, Soran and Guinan got there; you will never want to leave it even though Kirk and Picard leave it just fine, etc.). And Soran's motivation for wanting to go back didn't strike me as very believable (although I do think that Soran was probably the best Trek movie villain we've ever had.) He's been trying for 80 years to return to some fantasy because apparently the Nexus made him so addicted to it, and yet other people who had been there (i.e. Guinan, Kirk, Picard) have no addiction to it at all when they leave it.

I think the idea of the Nexus being more of a time loop where both Soran's family and Kirk have been trapped for 80 years, like the Bozeman and Scotty, rather than some silly fantasy world that also conveniently happens to be a time machine that can take you any place and time you want to go.

 

[jaime]

Well, the problem was that the Nexus was just a poorly thought out plot device to get Kirk and Picard together. Things about it were constantly contradicted (i.e. you can't get into it with a ship even though that's how Kirk, Soran and Guinan got there; you will never want to leave it even though Kirk and Picard leave it just fine, etc.). And Soran's motivation for wanting to go back didn't strike me as very believable (although I do think that Soran was probably the best Trek movie villain we've ever had.) He's been trying for 80 years to return to some fantasy because apparently the Nexus made him so addicted to it, and yet other people who had been there (i.e. Guinan, Kirk, Picard) have no addiction to it at all when they leave it.

I think the idea of the Nexus being more of a time loop where both Soran's family and Kirk have been trapped for 80 years, like the Bozeman and Scotty, rather than some silly fantasy world that also conveniently happens to be a time machine that can take you any place and time you want to go.

To be fair, Sorans specific addiction to it is that it’s the only place he can see his family. So it’s not so much the Nexus itself.

 

[Dukhat]

To be fair, Sorans specific addiction to it is that it’s the only place he can see his family. So it’s not so much the Nexus itself.

Oh, I get that. I just didn't think it was believable enough motivation for his actions just so he can see a fake family. I think it would have worked far better had he been trying to get back to his real family.

 

[jaime]

Oh, I get that. I just didn't think it was believable enough motivation for his actions just so he can see a fake family. I think it would have worked far better had he been trying to get back to his real family.

I think that was the tragic element on purpose. To him, they are the real family, and the universe is the nightmare he’s trying to get out of.

 

[pfontaine2]

I like the basic movie but never cared for Picard or Kirk's Nexus fantasies. Picard living out some sort of Dickensian Christmas seems very peculiar for the Picard we know, though it smacks as a "nod" to Patrick Stewart's one man performance of A Christmas Carol he was performing around this time. Given what we know, Picard's Nexus fantasy could have involved archeology, or returning to relive his memories from "Inner Light" or tending to his family's orchard in France (which would have been doubly resonant given the tragedy reported earlier in the film).

As for Kirk's Nexus fantasy, a cabin in the woods with a woman we've never heard of before doesn't ring true either. Had it been Carol Marcus or any of the other women Kirk loved during the original series, it would have made more sense. The obvious fantasy would have been for Kirk to be back on the bridge of the Enterprise, reliving his glory days as a starship captain. But instead we get Kirk chopping wood, making breakfast, riding his horses and waving to the woman he loves. And speaking of this woman, it would have made more sense to integrate her into the plot a bit more to give Kirk a greater sense of loss when leaving the Nexus.

Beyond that, I can pretty much accept the film as is though I would have preferred Kirk's death to be something more meaningful, regardless of the fact that Kirk always knew that he would die "alone" even if he dies while having a final moment with Picard.

 

[Khan 2.0]

I like the basic movie but never cared for Picard or Kirk's Nexus fantasies. Picard living out some sort of Dickensian Christmas seems very peculiar for the Picard we know, though it smacks as a "nod" to Patrick Stewart's one man performance of A Christmas Carol he was performing around this time. Given what we know, Picard's Nexus fantasy could have involved archeology, or returning to relive his memories from "Inner Light" or tending to his family's orchard in France (which would have been doubly resonant given the tragedy reported earlier in the film).

Yes PStew had done his one man Christmas Carol while he was doing TNG so maybe he snuck in a quick suggestion of what Picards nexus would be?

As for Kirk's Nexus fantasy, a cabin in the woods with a woman we've never heard of before doesn't ring true either. Had it been Carol Marcus or any of the other women Kirk loved during the original series, it would have made more sense. The obvious fantasy would have been for Kirk to be back on the bridge of the Enterprise, reliving his glory days as a starship captain. But instead we get Kirk chopping wood, making breakfast, riding his horses and waving to the woman he loves. And speaking of this woman, it would have made more sense to integrate her into the plot a bit more to give Kirk a greater sense of loss when leaving the Nexus.

Picard appearing on the original movie Ent bridge (redressed Ent B bridge) with Kirk would've at least been cool to see (TOS bridge too hokey for big screen) or even Kirks Trek II/III apartment.. maybe it could've been an opportunity to revisit certain scenes from the previous movies BTTF2 style? (or Christmas Carol style) e.g.Trek III the Ents destruction (countdown on the bridge) or preventing Davids death on Genesis could've made sense as in wish fulfilment? (wouldn't be too expensive to recreate that set) . Love interest could've been Carol (either Bibi Besch or a younger Alice Eve type if they wanted to go younger for how Kirk remembered her when they together) or even Edith (although non fans unfamiliar with COTEOF would wonder why Kirks all time love was Alexis)

Beyond that, I can pretty much accept the film as is though I would have preferred Kirk's death to be something more meaningful, regardless of the fact that Kirk always knew that he would die "alone" even if he dies while having a final moment with Picard.

After TFF its was easy to imagine Kirks 'lone' death as something along the lines of being on the Enterprise alone Captain going down with his ship thing - This Side Paradise meets Trek III Ent destruction meets end of Yesterdays Enterprise Picard (& ST09 opening) ..so perhaps something whereby Kirk would end up going down on the Ent D? (recalling the start on the EntB?) but then people have stated theres no way Kirk would ever go out on the Enterprise as he's too shrewd, hed have to be in unfamiliar surroundings (like Veridian 3 in 24th century)

 

[Admiral Archer]

I would actually remove the time travel element altogether. Keep the opening Enterprise-B scene intact (only without the lines regarding "phasing in and out of our space time continuum). Make the Nexus appear to be purely a force of nature, a random energy ribbon, one that literally kills Kirk, instead of transporting him to the future. Then fast forward to the Enterprise-D scenes, keeping much of the exposition the same (Worf's promotion, Data's emotion chip, Soran and the observatory) all up until the time when Soran detonates the star. Erase that. Make the Klingons (who don't have to be the Duras Sisters, but can be) realize that the ribbon is heading for Klingon space, destroying everything in its path. An uneasy truce is put in place between Soran, the Duras Sisters and the Enterprise-D crew, with Picard recreating the Enterprise-B incident over and over on the holodeck, altering the course of the holographic events each time to see what went wrong. Have THAT be where he and Kirk interact, and where Picard realizes that Soran is the connection between the two events (maybe the record of Soran on the Enterprise-B was lost to history). We discover Soran is more than what he seems, and can control the ribbon much like the Phoenix from X-Men. With the ribbon bearing down towards the klingon homeworld, the Duras Sisters capture Soran to kill him, and an intense battle ensues between the Duras Sisters and the Enterprise-D. Soran summons the Nexus, which destroys the Duras Sister's ship, and Soran "enters" the Nexus. Picard then faces his only option: repeat history, and take the Enteprise-D into the same ribbon of energy that nearly destroyed her predecessor. The ship is indeed destroyed, but as in the end of "All Good Things...", Picard finds he is still alive somewhere else. It is revealed that Soran is a highly advanced being, who was merely posing as an El-Aurian. Due to Picard's sacrifice to save the universe, Soran realizes his own wanton path of destruction had no purpose. He transcends into another plane of existence, and restores the timeline, the Enterprise-D, and Picard back to normal, with one exception: he also brings Kirk back to life. As the two men meet face to face for the first time on the Enterprise-D bridge, Picard lets Kirk assume command for one last time, and the Enterprise-D warps off into the sunset above the Klingon Homeworld. Roll end credits.