Boo. Rigged. I'm not going to play this game again for 2 years mark my words.
The game isn't what is the best. It's the most disliked. Small distinction, but it does make things interesting.
Therefore, TMP, with all its flaws, is the least disliked movie while S31 is the most disliked.
I have a soft spot for Into Darkness. I'm a Cumberbatch fan, and although the film can get quite silly, it can also be rather fun.
I so far find nothing positive about Section 31 to grab me - so I go for that, as the worst.
Generations I also quite like. Nemesis - only, some of the time.
Depending on the fan, the Thing can run from Being an allegory that 9/11 was an inside job all the way to putting the Enterprise underwater.
Good list.
The villain, before the cringeworthy "My name is Khaaaan" reveal, was really good. The film descended into dumbery after that and was already pretty strong with the themes it was already covering. It didn't need to dig up Khan whatsoever. Never mind the role reversal with "the yell".
The Spock vs John Harrison fight... Nimoy once said he invented the neck pinch because he didn't want to do fisticuffs and punching. But the nuance here is that this is a parallel dimension where events can be played out differently, so it doesn't not work.
D'oh, I missed this written verbal shootout! Oh well, so here are my raisins for disliking them:
STAR TREK II: THE WRATH OF KHAN - the movie that sets up a pattern, it's the one that by far sells the revenge theme the best. It's done so well.
STAR TREK III: THE SEARCH FOR SPOCK - very Kirk-like themes that could not have been done in TOS overtake a few plot inconsistencies. Plus, while harder to iron out in-universe, Nimoy was right in doing a "last time on Star Trek" by bringing in a brief clip show, something he'd do for TVH as well. But the use of protomatter to lambaste Dr Marcus with doesn't hold up as Saavik knew enough of the device and how it was used grossly out of context (and unintentionally proving Kruge right).
STAR TREK: THE MOTION PICTURE - the only true sci-fi movie of the bunch, it still uses too many TOS episodes as springboards but uses them better than how TOS had, and that would be the goal since doing the same shtick worse is generally preferred if the goal is to drive viewers away. The scale of the ships is also phenomenal, adding a personal touch in a way that the other big movie series with their laser swords could not. Well, I like a lot of Star Wars but am still a Trekkie/Trekker/Trekadoozie at me core. There's something about the first three movies that feel more like movie-worthy Trek than everything following. How much is due to jokiness (self-aware or otherwise) or party-time frivolity or cut'n'paste plotting, or other, is up for speculation.
STAR TREK VI: THE UNDISCOVERED COUNTRY - Yeah, there's another revenge theme going on, but it's well-crafted and does the virtually impossible of setting up a new baddie from scratch, without relying on an old one, which then said revenge theme genuinely compelling. That's hard to do. This TOS finale is a solid entry for the TOS crew to go out on, and the near-overdone Shakespeare works more for me than for others.
STAR TREK: GENERATIONS - a mess of a plot despite some good ideas and themes, try not to analyze it and analyze it you will because of inconsistencies that needed a little more screen time to polish. It's too gimmicky to bring in Kirk and then they shove him under a bridge instead of a weightier demise (which the initially filmed ending had, despite everyong hating it.) Still, a messy plot with good ideas vs a well-produced plot that's a bucket full of horse hay, I'll always vote for the good ideas. If it weren't for Chang, GEN would likely be above TUC.
STAR TREK V: THE FINAL FRONTIER - too much needless comedy hampers a movie that tried hard to be grand, but still has some interesting set pieces. Also not cognizant to many at the time, this film recaptures the feel of TOS -- but in 1989, people were expecting the same feel and tone that II-IV had built up. So even if TFF otherwise had the tone of II and III, to inject IV's style of comedy still would not fit. TFF does feel more like a Trek movie than its predecessor and had more memorable-in-good-way moments, even if as a whole it flops.
STAR TREK BEYOND - Shades of "Into Darkness" but far more effective, Simon Pegg was lambasted by some of fandom* even before the flick came out and he didn't deserve it. Hell, I was surprised by the genuinely effective use of pop music in this one, where it felt corny the previous times it was attempted.
STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS - The biggest mistake by far is swapping the new and refreshing villain John Harriman with someone who claims to be Khan, but is completely unrecognizable and even in a parallel timeline/dimension/etc setting. That aside, the altered backstory is actually thoughtfully introduced for Khan Redux, but KhanRedux - in any form - simply isn't needed for this story whatsoever, and his only inclusion is to pander to a certain segment of fandom rather than being a purposeful part (he feels tacked on as a ratings grab). Wasn't the new movie series trying to rake in new audiences? Part of me wants to rank this one higher, especially as it starts with a fresh new plot aspect with terrorism.
STAR TREK: NEMESIS - many plot beats from TWOK are templated, plus the usual TNG flick problem of contrived elements that don't make sense. Not to mention dialogue from TSFS lifted for a cod emotional moment. The worst of it was the alleged conflux of failed genetic clone put into a heavy security prison where the most superdeeduper ship could be made with nobody noticing anywhere. Nix the Remans, nix Shinzon being a Picard clone but a Romulan wanting to take over with a band of followers who would be more likely to conceal their big ship building and voila: Most problems solved.
STAR TREK: INSURRECTION - regurgitating a handful of TNG episodes, but the result is not to TNG what "The Motion Picture" was for TOS.
STAR TREK (2009) - I remember some skydivers and a big CGI woozywhutzit with a laser beam hitting a planet's surface, some beer ads, and caricatures of the old crew with their memes attributes sans context. Yet, I'd rather rewatch this over:
STAR TREK IV: THE VOYAGE HOME - A lot of people liked it, but some of us didn't have a whale of a time with it, and not to mention it's not just using glossy sledgehammer tactics, it's not dated well either. Plus, the comedy only works because of the "fish out of water" trope and comparing their futureworld to our 1986 present day (a typical Trek staple that TNG somehow avoided partaking in, but became hokey by the time VOY got there as no new spin was added compared to the previous times Trek did it, and by VOY umpteen ways to time travel burnt out the trope and then some.) Wish they had kept to the Klingon intrigue buildup over the last couple of movies instead of the one-liner "You pompous ass!" yelled out by someone who forgot he's 23rd century fodder, not 20th. Amazed I've not played this one any lower, but if I do you'll likely not notice...
STAR TREK: FIRST CONTACT - Dumb jokes, continuity gaffes, pee jokes, the Borg queen needed better dialogue (despite the acting) and inconsistencies galore (e.g. wanting to blend in so beam down the robot in front of a person shooting pounds of ammunition into it... One didn't need to be Plinkett to notice how many things the movie trips over in an attempt to be all epic and fails. As Khan would say, "Don't insult my asparagus". Oh, wait, that's the Jolly Green Giant who said that when people looked at him in the singles bar...
STAR TREK: SECTION 31 -- I recognize many of the cast and they're good, but the material, feel, and tone of the piece is just not working (IMHO anyway, the Trek universe is big enough for those who will put it above the others.)
STAR TREK II: THE WRATH OF KHAN - the movie that sets up a pattern, it's the one that by far sells the revenge theme the best. It's done so well.
STAR TREK III: THE SEARCH FOR SPOCK - very Kirk-like themes that could not have been done in TOS overtake a few plot inconsistencies. Plus, while harder to iron out in-universe, Nimoy was right in doing a "last time on Star Trek" by bringing in a brief clip show, something he'd do for TVH as well. But the use of protomatter to lambaste Dr Marcus with doesn't hold up as Saavik knew enough of the device and how it was used grossly out of context (and unintentionally proving Kruge right).
STAR TREK: THE MOTION PICTURE - the only true sci-fi movie of the bunch, it still uses too many TOS episodes as springboards but uses them better than how TOS had, and that would be the goal since doing the same shtick worse is generally preferred if the goal is to drive viewers away. The scale of the ships is also phenomenal, adding a personal touch in a way that the other big movie series with their laser swords could not. Well, I like a lot of Star Wars but am still a Trekkie/Trekker/Trekadoozie at me core. There's something about the first three movies that feel more like movie-worthy Trek than everything following. How much is due to jokiness (self-aware or otherwise) or party-time frivolity or cut'n'paste plotting, or other, is up for speculation.
STAR TREK VI: THE UNDISCOVERED COUNTRY - Yeah, there's another revenge theme going on, but it's well-crafted and does the virtually impossible of setting up a new baddie from scratch, without relying on an old one, which then said revenge theme genuinely compelling. That's hard to do. This TOS finale is a solid entry for the TOS crew to go out on, and the near-overdone Shakespeare works more for me than for others.
STAR TREK: GENERATIONS - a mess of a plot despite some good ideas and themes, try not to analyze it and analyze it you will because of inconsistencies that needed a little more screen time to polish. It's too gimmicky to bring in Kirk and then they shove him under a bridge instead of a weightier demise (which the initially filmed ending had, despite everyong hating it.) Still, a messy plot with good ideas vs a well-produced plot that's a bucket full of horse hay, I'll always vote for the good ideas. If it weren't for Chang, GEN would likely be above TUC.
STAR TREK V: THE FINAL FRONTIER - too much needless comedy hampers a movie that tried hard to be grand, but still has some interesting set pieces. Also not cognizant to many at the time, this film recaptures the feel of TOS -- but in 1989, people were expecting the same feel and tone that II-IV had built up. So even if TFF otherwise had the tone of II and III, to inject IV's style of comedy still would not fit. TFF does feel more like a Trek movie than its predecessor and had more memorable-in-good-way moments, even if as a whole it flops.
STAR TREK BEYOND - Shades of "Into Darkness" but far more effective, Simon Pegg was lambasted by some of fandom* even before the flick came out and he didn't deserve it. Hell, I was surprised by the genuinely effective use of pop music in this one, where it felt corny the previous times it was attempted.
* Which wasn't me. I wonder how many premature detractors eventually sat down to see it and, more, if they actually liked (any of) it
STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS - The biggest mistake by far is swapping the new and refreshing villain John Harriman with someone who claims to be Khan, but is completely unrecognizable and even in a parallel timeline/dimension/etc setting. That aside, the altered backstory is actually thoughtfully introduced for Khan Redux, but KhanRedux - in any form - simply isn't needed for this story whatsoever, and his only inclusion is to pander to a certain segment of fandom rather than being a purposeful part (he feels tacked on as a ratings grab). Wasn't the new movie series trying to rake in new audiences? Part of me wants to rank this one higher, especially as it starts with a fresh new plot aspect with terrorism.
STAR TREK: NEMESIS - many plot beats from TWOK are templated, plus the usual TNG flick problem of contrived elements that don't make sense. Not to mention dialogue from TSFS lifted for a cod emotional moment. The worst of it was the alleged conflux of failed genetic clone put into a heavy security prison where the most superdeeduper ship could be made with nobody noticing anywhere. Nix the Remans, nix Shinzon being a Picard clone but a Romulan wanting to take over with a band of followers who would be more likely to conceal their big ship building and voila: Most problems solved.
STAR TREK: INSURRECTION - regurgitating a handful of TNG episodes, but the result is not to TNG what "The Motion Picture" was for TOS.
STAR TREK (2009) - I remember some skydivers and a big CGI woozywhutzit with a laser beam hitting a planet's surface, some beer ads, and caricatures of the old crew with their memes attributes sans context. Yet, I'd rather rewatch this over:
STAR TREK IV: THE VOYAGE HOME - A lot of people liked it, but some of us didn't have a whale of a time with it, and not to mention it's not just using glossy sledgehammer tactics, it's not dated well either. Plus, the comedy only works because of the "fish out of water" trope and comparing their futureworld to our 1986 present day (a typical Trek staple that TNG somehow avoided partaking in, but became hokey by the time VOY got there as no new spin was added compared to the previous times Trek did it, and by VOY umpteen ways to time travel burnt out the trope and then some.) Wish they had kept to the Klingon intrigue buildup over the last couple of movies instead of the one-liner "You pompous ass!" yelled out by someone who forgot he's 23rd century fodder, not 20th. Amazed I've not played this one any lower, but if I do you'll likely not notice...
STAR TREK: FIRST CONTACT - Dumb jokes, continuity gaffes, pee jokes, the Borg queen needed better dialogue (despite the acting) and inconsistencies galore (e.g. wanting to blend in so beam down the robot in front of a person shooting pounds of ammunition into it... One didn't need to be Plinkett to notice how many things the movie trips over in an attempt to be all epic and fails. As Khan would say, "Don't insult my asparagus". Oh, wait, that's the Jolly Green Giant who said that when people looked at him in the singles bar...
STAR TREK: SECTION 31 -- I recognize many of the cast and they're good, but the material, feel, and tone of the piece is just not working (IMHO anyway, the Trek universe is big enough for those who will put it above the others.)
The Trek equivalent of Young Alex's aversion therapy. Haven't watched any of the Jar-Jar Abrams flicks more than once. I liked how Mad Magazine called STID 'Into Dumbness'.
Good point. But almost every "bad" movie that I watch I think "Hey... This wasn't as bad as I thought." That happens every time I watch Nemesis. I like Insurrection WAY more than I usually think. Star Trek V is... Rough. But not entirely unrewarding. (The Undiscovered Country I think "That wasn't as good as I thought." But it isn't terrible.)
The only one that kicks me in the nuts is Into Darkness. And it doesn't start really going at it until about forty-five minutes in? I LOVE the scene where Uhura and Spock argue in the shuttle and Kirk just tries to not be there. I love Pine's Kirk. Everyone is so good in that scene. It doesn't really go in the toilet until Cumberbatch shows up for real.
I suppose I can see how people can love this film. If the good scenes matter to you more than the bad ones there are a lot of good scenes. (Which is why I still like 2009 and The Rise of Skywalker.) But in STID the bad scenes are movie ruining bad. The whole ending collapses. AND I despise the premise.
The only two Trek movies I truly despise are the fan favorite TWOK, because Khan is a horrible augment with no redeeming features, I truly despise him, and STID by extension because they had to ruin an interesting, if irredeemably evil character (Harrison) with the whole Khan twist.
The first Trek movie I ever saw in the theater was TVH in 1986 when I was 10 years old. Since that point, I saw every Trek movie in the theater, many on opening day, right up through STID. And that was the point at which I just kind of gave up on modern Trek. To this day, I have never even seen Beyond, neither in the theater nor via streaming.
