Despite the fact that Star Trek, as an institution, has lost much of its momentum, especially after 1998’s muddled Insurrection, the Trek still holds a special place in the hearts of geeks. And Star Trek Nemesis is, surprisingly, probably the second-best Next Generation film, after the Borg-heavy First Contact. After the initial “flogging a dead Targ” feel of seeing the old, and I do mean old, gang reunited (the wedding of Deanna and Riker, the futuristic dune buggy away mission with Picard, Data and Worf), Nemesis quickly and efficiently introduces its antagonist (Shinzon, a young clone of Picard who now rules the Romulan and Reman empire) and starts exploring its themes of duality. Of course, there’s a lot of action as well. Nemesis is closest in its feel to the Star Trek oeuvre’s best offering, The Wrath of Khan, especially with its climactic battle between Shinzon’s flagship and the Enterprise, the “selfless” sacrifice towards the end and the evolving animosity between Picard and Shinzon, although the film stops itself from having Picard scream, “Shinzoooooooon!!!
There, now I've edited out my snarkiness in the post above.
