Underappreciated & Overated Movies
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Underrated: Star Trek: The Motion Picture
Overrated: Star Trek: First Contact
Overrated: Star Trek: First Contact
First Contact is overrated - it's a glossy, action-packed affair, but far from perfect.
Final Froniter is massively underrated. One of the best directed films, with some outstanding handheld stuff, and excellent cinematography. It's got a superb score, the best characterisation of Kirk, Spock and Bones, and some wonderfully lofty ideas behind it. More thought went into that movie than any other - except perhaps the first. When you take into account the difficulties shooting it, it's a minor miracle it's so good.
Final Froniter is massively underrated. One of the best directed films, with some outstanding handheld stuff, and excellent cinematography. It's got a superb score, the best characterisation of Kirk, Spock and Bones, and some wonderfully lofty ideas behind it. More thought went into that movie than any other - except perhaps the first. When you take into account the difficulties shooting it, it's a minor miracle it's so good.
Underrated: TMP definitely. That movie had the most difficult job of all, translating a ten-year old cancelled TV show into a major motion picture, promoting TV actors to major film actors, selling Trek to a major film audience, and all that with basically NOTHING to build on, but the assumption that all the Trekkies that had been coming to conventions would come in droves. Plus, it was rushed into release before Wise was satisfied, there had been battles royale over the script, etc etc etc. It was a miracle that it worked as well as it did, and set the stage for future movies and series. It was not a perfect film, but it was much better than it's generally given credit for being.
It was directed by Robert Wise, for crying out loud! I always wonder what he could have done with it if he had been more than director, and also been writer/producer, and it could have really reflected his vision, rather than just being a hired-gun, so to speak.
Overrated: TVH. Not that I don't like the movie, it's rather enjoyable to me. It's just that it has a pretty shallow feel to it. I liken it to one of the mid-range TV episodes, like Piece of the Action. Fun to watch, but not "big" or "epic" in feel, not really about anything (unless you consider "save the whales" a big idea. A laudible and noble goal, perhaps, but hardly original or groundbreaking.)
It was directed by Robert Wise, for crying out loud! I always wonder what he could have done with it if he had been more than director, and also been writer/producer, and it could have really reflected his vision, rather than just being a hired-gun, so to speak.
Overrated: TVH. Not that I don't like the movie, it's rather enjoyable to me. It's just that it has a pretty shallow feel to it. I liken it to one of the mid-range TV episodes, like Piece of the Action. Fun to watch, but not "big" or "epic" in feel, not really about anything (unless you consider "save the whales" a big idea. A laudible and noble goal, perhaps, but hardly original or groundbreaking.)
Underappreciated: Since a lot of folks have already gone with TMP, I'll go with "The Search for Spock". It defies the 'Odd Number Curse' BS that so many claim and thus gets a bad rap. The story is about friendship and sacrifice. I think the actors and writers found the perfect blend between drama and humor. TSFS is probably one of my top Trek movies along with TWOK.
Overrated: Star Trek: First Contact. A great popcorn flick. Some really cool action and concepts. But the 'Picard as Ahab' was very forced (as though the events of 'I, Borg' never happened) and the ending wrapped up just to quickly and nicely at the end in a big 'ole bow. I actually felt a bit let down when the credits rolled. Did anyone else think it was very similar to 'The Final Frontier'? Plus, the look of the film was too much like television Trek: too much neon and Okudagrams. Looks good on the small screen, but looks cheesy on the big screen.
Overrated: Star Trek: First Contact. A great popcorn flick. Some really cool action and concepts. But the 'Picard as Ahab' was very forced (as though the events of 'I, Borg' never happened) and the ending wrapped up just to quickly and nicely at the end in a big 'ole bow. I actually felt a bit let down when the credits rolled. Did anyone else think it was very similar to 'The Final Frontier'? Plus, the look of the film was too much like television Trek: too much neon and Okudagrams. Looks good on the small screen, but looks cheesy on the big screen.
Underappreciated: A lot of people went with TMP, and I agree that it's very underappreciated. I've always liked it, though, so there's nothing wrong with my opinion on it. 
So instead, I will say Generations is underappreciated. Its burden was similar to TMP: it had to both make the jump from TV series to movie, and bridge the gap between TOS and TNG. It's also the only TNG movie in which they were willing to make serious stabs at character development--Data's emotion chip, Picard's family, and then there was the destruction of the E-D. Future TNG movies played it pretty safe with the characters and situations. So, I think Generations is underappreciated just because of that.
Overrated: The Voyage Home. Yeah, it's cute and heartwarming, but the tone shift from previous two installments is very noticeable, and in the end, it resets Kirk's sacrifice of the Enterprise. It's basically STIII in reverse, without the reanimated corpse of David Marcus. And whales.
So instead, I will say Generations is underappreciated. Its burden was similar to TMP: it had to both make the jump from TV series to movie, and bridge the gap between TOS and TNG. It's also the only TNG movie in which they were willing to make serious stabs at character development--Data's emotion chip, Picard's family, and then there was the destruction of the E-D. Future TNG movies played it pretty safe with the characters and situations. So, I think Generations is underappreciated just because of that.Overrated: The Voyage Home. Yeah, it's cute and heartwarming, but the tone shift from previous two installments is very noticeable, and in the end, it resets Kirk's sacrifice of the Enterprise. It's basically STIII in reverse, without the reanimated corpse of David Marcus. And whales.
Production problems are completely irrelevant. The final product shown to the paying public is how a film should be judged. Not by what was accomplished despite setbacks.
--Ted
Overrated: The Undiscovered Country - A movie made of plotholes and continuity errors, not to mention a horrible performance by Kim Cattrall.
Underrated: Generations - Most people seem to hate it, but I love it. And Malcom McDowell was just great!
Underrated: Generations - Most people seem to hate it, but I love it. And Malcom McDowell was just great!
Underappreciated: There can be only one that desverve this title Star Trek: The Motion Picture its was an still is most sucessful Star Trek movie on big screen who lead to 9 sequells :thumbsup:. It receives good remarks on this site but on Star Trek.com rating its consider 2 worst Star Trek movie 
Overrated: TSFS and TVH are weak with stupid plots thow TVH is funny they are both overrrated speiallly TSFS
Overrated: TSFS and TVH are weak with stupid plots thow TVH is funny they are both overrrated speiallly TSFS
^They consider it one of the worst?
They're crazy, IMO!
They're crazy, IMO!
Underappreciated: Tie Between TMP and TFF
Overrated: TUC
Regarding the discussion of TFF, I think the film's lousy visual effects tend to distract people from the other technical aspects of the film that are absolutely dazzling.
The cinematography and production design are both above pretty much every other Trek film and -- to give Shatner directorial credit -- this is the only film that feels like it was shot like a film and not a TV show. Even the masterful Robert Wise's work in TMP just doesn't feel that great to me. It's only the visual effects work of Trumbull and Dykstra that make that film feel big and epic. The score for TFF is one of the best.
With regards to the "meat" of the film, I think it has a decent plot with some very serious ideas being discussed. As others have pointed out, the characterizations of Kirk, Spock and McCoy are dead on, moreso than in any other film effort. Issues about improperly placed comedy aside, TFF does an excellent job of also using the secondary characters and making the crew feel like a big family. Even the underappreciated Chekov gets his moment to shine!
My only real problems with TFF lie in the editing and the visual effects. I'm not dismissing them as unimportant or trying to be an apologist. I agree they tarnish the film to a degree that makes it hard for many to enjoy. But I feel had a few better decisions been made in the editing room, and the film had the competent visual effects necessary to execute the originally scripted ending, we would have a superior Trek film.
Overrated: TUC
Regarding the discussion of TFF, I think the film's lousy visual effects tend to distract people from the other technical aspects of the film that are absolutely dazzling.
The cinematography and production design are both above pretty much every other Trek film and -- to give Shatner directorial credit -- this is the only film that feels like it was shot like a film and not a TV show. Even the masterful Robert Wise's work in TMP just doesn't feel that great to me. It's only the visual effects work of Trumbull and Dykstra that make that film feel big and epic. The score for TFF is one of the best.
With regards to the "meat" of the film, I think it has a decent plot with some very serious ideas being discussed. As others have pointed out, the characterizations of Kirk, Spock and McCoy are dead on, moreso than in any other film effort. Issues about improperly placed comedy aside, TFF does an excellent job of also using the secondary characters and making the crew feel like a big family. Even the underappreciated Chekov gets his moment to shine!
My only real problems with TFF lie in the editing and the visual effects. I'm not dismissing them as unimportant or trying to be an apologist. I agree they tarnish the film to a degree that makes it hard for many to enjoy. But I feel had a few better decisions been made in the editing room, and the film had the competent visual effects necessary to execute the originally scripted ending, we would have a superior Trek film.
^I've always had a real soft spot for TFF. It's funny, and it does make people ask the question, "If God exists, would He be living on a planet somewhere?"
Underappreciated: Star Trek: Generations
Overrated: Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
Overrated: Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
