Insurrection is a good film
- Thread starter ConRefit79
- Start date
I'll never understand the hate Insurrection gets. The most common criticism of it being, "it's like a long episode of TNG," always makes me roll my eyes. Yes. That's why I like it!
Insurrection is much better than either Generations or Nemesis, and it isn't even close.
Insurrection is much better than either Generations or Nemesis, and it isn't even close.
I understand what your'e saying (sincerely), but the problem is that it's NOT a long episode of TNG. It's a major motion picture that the studio sunk $70M dollars into.
Television episodes of TNG cost about $1.5M each, and have a much different set of expectations (both audience and studio) in terms of their scope and success.
As I've said before, INS is a multi-million dollar wide-release film from a tentpole, highly recognizable sci-fi action/adventure franchise. It needs to be more than just "a longer episode." INS isn't even as good/exciting/original as a full two-thirds of the regular 1-hour episodes produced for the series nearly a decade earlier. That, to me, is a huge problem. When I can turn on a standard run-of-the-mill episode of TNG like "Power Play," "11001001" or "The Wounded" and those episodes that cost 1/45th the amount of money to produce are better, more original, more memorable, and more entertaining than a major sci-fi motion picture..that's all kinds of not good.
You can't take "The Ensigns of Command" and just add some fluff to it to pad it out, spend 68 million extra dollars on it, and put it out there as a major studio release and expect people to be happy or general audiences to care. INS is the only Star Trek film I actively dislike, and it's because it's so unremarkable and mediocre and "safe" that it's not even really worth the time. At least Nemesis TRIES to be a movie...something special and epic and worth the time. INS just attempted to be lukewarm, and nothing more. That's its fatal flaw with regard to my personal tastes.
Of course, mileage always varies, and I am genuinely happy that other people enjoy the film. As I noted earlier in this thread, it does have several redeeming qualities.
I don't hate it.
I just have a lot of questions regarding the premise, story logic, and morality, including the morality as presented.
It literally makes no sense. The Son'a want to follow the ways of "The Offlanders." The Ba'ku reject technology. So, what do the Ba'ku do? The banish the Son'a offworld, with the technology they rejected, effectively giving the Son'a exactly what they wanted (and pissing the Son'a off)
Indeed. It presents a dilemma but there's no debate. No one questions Picard's decision and the fact that 150 people can rule an entire planet.
^I think I'd have more respect for the film if I thought it was the intention that we be left with questions regarding the morality of our protagonists, but rather I think we're supposed to accept that they're entirely on the side of good here, and I just don't buy it.
Heck, I'd even give it more respect if they hadn't gone for Good Guys Beautiful, Bad Guys Ugly. Even the old Thundercats cartoon wasn't afraid to flip that trope on its head.
Heck, I'd even give it more respect if they hadn't gone for Good Guys Beautiful, Bad Guys Ugly. Even the old Thundercats cartoon wasn't afraid to flip that trope on its head.
Indeed. This is a film filled with opportunity to actually explore a conflict, and all sides of it. An opportunity to not bend in to the "good/evil" dynamic but actually play with a moral question. An opportunity to possibly live up to the idea that Star Trek challenges and brings up good ideas and is the thinking person's Scifi (unlike Star Wars). And it failed at almost every level to do so.
Picard is right; Doughtery and the So'na are wrong and no one questions it.
Michael Piller's "Fade In" is a great read. Not just for Insurrection but his journey as a Trek writer.
Well the alternative presented, and opposed, was stealing the planet away from them.
But yes there should have been more shades of grey, like if there could only be two main Sona characters make Ruaffo more conflicted and less bad, the second in command outright likeable, cut the Artim character and have at least one of the main Baku be more hostile to outsiders generally and particularly the Sona, make Picard still defend the Baku but not be such a complete admirer of them.
And we should have at least seen how Riker was able to convince the authorities to stop their plans.
Which is short sighted on everyone's parts.
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I've got a soft spot for Insurrection. There are no perfect movies, none whatsoever, but I can overlook it's flaws, that cut from "Was I doing something to your neck?" to the arrival of the Son'a ship is so sharp it stings the eyes Likewise, when Riker summons the Quickshot II joystick from the 1980s to pilot the ship always makes me smirk.
But the positives far outweigh the negatives for me. Abraham creates a believable villain, the cinematography is beautiful and Frakes really nails the scene where Gallatin reverts back to Gul'na. Some nice acting by Gregg Henry again.
It's true the movie isn't very well regarded but, meh, I watch and enjoy Star Trek for me not what others think.
Likewise, when Riker summons the Quickshot II joystick from the 1980s to pilot the ship always makes me smirk.But the positives far outweigh the negatives for me. Abraham creates a believable villain, the cinematography is beautiful and Frakes really nails the scene where Gallatin reverts back to Gul'na. Some nice acting by Gregg Henry again.
It's true the movie isn't very well regarded but, meh, I watch and enjoy Star Trek for me not what others think.
For me it ties with Generations. Both really feel like TNG and Star Trek to me. Nemesis got close, but had many issues. First Contact, despite being better produced and directed, often feels like a huge action movie with Star Trek elements in it, instead of a Star Trek movie. Same goes for TWOK if you ask me. Both are movies I enjoy, but will never be 'the best' Star Trek movie to me.
The question of "The Needs of the Many vs. The Needs of the Few" is recurrent in Star Trek. And I think a lot of your opinion of this movie lies in how you regard it. Some other examples...
"Star Trek II and III" - Spock's sacrifice is this principle personified. He even says it, as he's dying in ST II. And Kirk says the opposite in ST III. Because, well, Kirk.
"Tuvix" - Janeway is faced with a collision of utilitarianism (needs of the many) vs. principle (rights of the one). Whether you like her choice or not, you can at least understand it.
"Man of the People" - In this oft-reviled episode, Picard is ready to allow a war that is killing thousands to continue to save one person. The conflict is sidestepped; Alcar is able to finish his work before Picard can end his career as a negotiator... but what if not? Would Picard have made some grandiose remark as the war raged on, like he did in "Homeward" as an entire planet asphyxiated?
"In the Pale Moonlight" - Where Picard upholds his principles, in both Insurrection and Man of the People... Sisko sacrifices his.
"Star Trek II and III" - Spock's sacrifice is this principle personified. He even says it, as he's dying in ST II. And Kirk says the opposite in ST III. Because, well, Kirk.
"Tuvix" - Janeway is faced with a collision of utilitarianism (needs of the many) vs. principle (rights of the one). Whether you like her choice or not, you can at least understand it.
"Man of the People" - In this oft-reviled episode, Picard is ready to allow a war that is killing thousands to continue to save one person. The conflict is sidestepped; Alcar is able to finish his work before Picard can end his career as a negotiator... but what if not? Would Picard have made some grandiose remark as the war raged on, like he did in "Homeward" as an entire planet asphyxiated?
"In the Pale Moonlight" - Where Picard upholds his principles, in both Insurrection and Man of the People... Sisko sacrifices his.
I'd just like to add that Insurrection has a more positive ending than it's more popular older sibling, First Contact. At the end of Insurrection, as you'll remember, the Ba'ku are allowed to live on unmolested and Picard is making plans to get it on with Anij (well, when he has the time to, total player!).
At the end of First Contact, the main characters wave goodbye to all the new friends they've made WHO ARE DEFINITELY DEAD WHEN THEY GET HOME. Worra a buzzkill.
At the end of First Contact, the main characters wave goodbye to all the new friends they've made WHO ARE DEFINITELY DEAD WHEN THEY GET HOME. Worra a buzzkill.