13 points- TWOK
12 points- TSFS
11 points- TMP
10 points- TUC
9 points- TFF
8 points-GEN
7 points- BEY
6 points- TVH
5 points- NEM
4 points- FC
3 points- STID
2 points- INS
1 point- 2009
My anecdotes:
What
@Vger23 said about the first three is a solid "ditto" for me. They build and expand the universe, take risks (and succeed, which only helps.)
I put mine into three IMHO-tiers. The exemplary, the very good-to-decent, and the bad-utter drivel categories.
The oldest ones don't do postmodernism, they are modern but build up and create something that's at risk of being postmodernism fodder later on, even if TSFS does a callback to a password they never change despite the function in question being a biggie (auto destruct, naturally...) They also don't engage in comedy aimed at the audience (as opposed to plot-driven humor) though TVH-onward do the winking-nudging stuff far more often (and/or, those movies take themselves seriously but know when to be lighter in tone without resorting to gimmicks or even aiming at the audience - those just don't feel natural to the proceedings...)
One thing that many of the movies do is to take plot elements from the TV episodes are regurgitate aspects of those. Of those that do, TMP still has an aura of expansiveness and real stakes that the others often lack. If reusing old plot elements, the new mix really has to come off as fresh and interesting. Not an easy task but when it succeeds it's awesome. Granted, "The Changeling" is a low bar and I suspect the movie's writers noted that back in 1978 as well.
I never saw TMP or TWOK in the theater, though if I had at the time I'd probably have hung out in the theater gawking at video game screens.
While, decades later, TSTS and TVH's reuse of old movie scene footage begs narrative questions on how they fit into canon and so on -- but home video was in its infancy, the movies weren't out, and a sufficient recap was necessary. Movies being "part one" and "part two" didn't exist either. Kept to their original context and reason, they are passable and set the stage for what is to follow. TFF-onward wisely ditched the practice.
In 1986, TVH started out great and the "fish out of water" routine is the only reason why any of the jokes worked (and many are now badly dated.) That also started a trend of how Trek movies must also be comedy acts, unfortunately... At least we get Madge Sinclair, NCC-1701-A, and what I presume is a font generated by a Commodore Amiga for Spock to answer to since we've all been at a computer screen, it asks how we feel, and we don't understand because we don't think the box of silicon is sincere because it has zero sense of empathy. And if it did... /nerdMode Actually, the Amiga asking would have been cool in real life, but Amiga users have all felt the same way... (Oh, the later scene involving Scotty and his pet mouse were supposed to be an Amiga but they got a Macintosh instead because Commodore demanded a sale rather than product placement... boo!! /superNerdMode)
In 1989, TFF had its silliness to cash in on TVH, but it still felt like a fun ride. Cheesy aspects aside, Klaa is the latest Klingon Commander who, along with Kor, Koloth, and Kang (By the Kseasahore where the K is silent; just what is it with the 11th letter of the alphabet, anyhow?!) are in a group of Kirk's more noteworthy opponents who are used once but nevermore... save for Koloth in TAS but some say that's not canonical, some say he doesn't count because William Campbell didn't do the voice, both, either, neither, snausages... Heck, Klaa is better than Koloth despite the latter's multiple appearances. Arguably for Kang as well, since Kang didn't have much to do. He didn't even talk about his sister Kodos...
TUC holds a special place. A good sendoff, and while some of the comedy bits have not stood up very well at all, as a whole it was an effective way to close the Kirk era... until they decided to do GEN where Kirk would be killed just so they can focus on the next generation exclusively. Whether or not it was a good decision to do, they should have kept the original ending where there was an actual dramatic impact instead of what they did as a result of test-screening audiences not liking the fact he got killed.
GEN - okay, they don't use Kirk well at all then they kill him off. They reuse ST6 effects. Those aside, the 1701-D's demise is the only other time one could really feel sorrow over the ship being destroyed because every later ship stopped feeling like a character but a prop instead. The "D" looked awesome on the big screen anyway. The movie's saving grace is a solid exploration of mortality - arguably better than TWOK in some ways as it's a new and fresh take that works in its own right. The movie may be flawed, but it was rushed - and it's by far the movie that comes closest to Q's statement to Picard in ATG. It's a bit of an underdog when all is said and done.
BEY holds a special place. It's discussing the start of the Federation, but the setup and execution of its main villain is pretty wonderful.
NEM shoveled too much and ripped off too many TV episodes (even more than INS and TMP combined) - a few plot tweaks and massaging could have made for a lot better outing. Tom Hardy is also the standout for his performance and it's easy to see why he became such a success. Brownie points for not doing the comedy routines, too. But with more time after INS to craft a finale and
that is what audiences got... it doesn't hold a candle compared to TUC. A shame...
TMP - the first movie that delved into fanservice, and be thankful fans couldn't get enough beauty shots of the ship - clearly borrows from old TV episodes, but puts them together in a refreshing way - and knows what from those same episodes to stay away from. It's pretty much "The Changeling, Done Right". So it can be done, reusing old plot fodder successfully, if it can be done in a way that doesn't screech "obvious rehash" - something NEM was criticized for... but plot beats aside, VGER was refreshingly original. How many more times can they have a backup Data family android?
The TNG movies never did well for me. After "All Good Things" and Q's promising to us via proxy what is truly "out there" and what do we get? a quick script rushed revolving around Picard's plot hole-ridden family tree wrapped up in a ribbon and Kirk via "It's impossible to get into the nexus but if you do go in you'll never want to leave but we know you will anyway" (all in the same scene that's expositioned away by Guinan too), a plasticky cast reunion frat party with fan favorite baddies and an obligatory out-of-place joke involving urination (and people think TNG was all intellectual and nerdy and stuff?!), a forgettable and lame mess, and a jumbled mess but at least has a cool battle scene despite its contrivances that easily could have been better had they not overstuffed it like those hot dogs containing lots of those little bits of cheese along with the usual jumble of ingredients packed inside some former animal's small intestine and sold at sporting events -
yum!! At least GEN was written under a tight deadline - the subsequent movies hadn't those stressors and somehow ended up being lesser as a result.
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