Which movies do I need to see?

[Guitarded]

I'm a relatively new Star Trek fan; I was brought into the original series by the 2009 movie. I own seasons one and two of TOS, Wrath of Khan, and The Voyage Home. From what I understand, some movies (especially STV) aren't worth watching. I've also heard of an "odd-numbered" curse, stating that only the even-numbered movies are good.

Which other movies are pretty much "required viewing?"

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

Everyone has their preferences, as far as what movies are good or not. Nemesis was #10, and many people think it was the worst of them all, which blows the "even #'s are good" theory.

I own the 10 DVD set of the movies, plus XI/2009.

I still haven't bought the TV series' on DVD or Blu-Ray, but I hope to do so at some point. I want to own everything, though some episodes and some parts of the movies aren't "as good".

If anything is required of the TOS movies, the trilogy of II, III & IV would fit that bill.

 

[ClawsThatCatch]

You're going to hear a lot of different opinions, but I'll give you the general consensus (even though I don't always agree with it.)

My short answer: 2, 3, and 4 are considered the must-sees.

My long answer:

The first movie (the motion picture) is considered long and boring. Most people would tell you to skip it. (though i have to mention as a side note that it's personally my favorite ST movie, and if you are a fan of slow, but philosophical science fiction it might be worth a shot. hard to know your tastes. if you like action or fast/exciting then skip it.)

The second movie (the wrath of khan) is considered the best of all the star trek movies. This is a definite must-see. most famous line is "khaaaaan!"

The third movie (the search for spock) isn't considered very good for various reasons including cheap special effects and some controversial decisions in the plot (though I refuse to spoil these controversial things for you). It's nowhere near the worst one though. Even though it's not a favorite, I'm going to list it under "must-see" just so you better understand the plot between two and four.

The fourth movie (the voyage home or "the one with the whales") is a favorite and also a must-see. It's a very hokey, corny story that involves the crew going to earth in the past during the 1980s to try to find humpback whales. There's no real villain in the story. It's just a very relaxed, funny movie with a great conservation message.

The fifth movie (the final frontier) is considered one of the worst, if not the worst star trek movie. One reason is because of a lot of dumb hokey moments involving campfire songs. Another reason is that the plot is lame and involves Spock's half-brother's quest to find God. Best quote is "uh, excuse me, what does god need with a starship?" Some trek fans like to pretend this movie never existed.

The sixth movie (the undiscovered country) is generally considered okay. It has an upbeat plot involving kirk and mccoy getting imprisoned by a klingon court. It's a fun movie, though there are silly bits, such as the amount of time that the camera spends focused on floating bubblegum pink klingon blood (someone in the graphics department was overly proud of this effect :P) Not a must-see but it's pretty good.

I'll stop there since it sounds like you haven't been introduced to The Next Generation yet.

I'm having trouble ascertaining how much Star Trek you've already watched, so I feel like I ought to advise you to watch a few episode of the tv show before you watch the movies. They're all available for free via youtube. You need to have a sense of the show before you can watch the movies in their proper context. In particular, I advise you watch the episode "Space Seed" before watching the second movie, The Wrath of Khan.

 

[Christopher]

Forgive me, but I'm always puzzled when people cast questions about viewing or reading choices in terms of what they "need" to see. That makes it sound like a chore or a compulsion rather than a recreational experience. It should be about what you want, what you'd enjoy, not what you need. Relax; there's no test at the end.

The first movie (the motion picture) is considered long and boring. Most people would tell you to skip it.

And I think that would be a mistake. Yes, it's a slow-paced and contemplative movie, but nowhere near as much as, say, 2001: A Space Odyssey. And the Director's Cut improves the pacing. It's a flawed movie, but it's the one ST movie that works best as pure cinema, and the one ST movie that aspired to be epic science fiction rather than a 2-hour episode or an action blockbuster. It also has arguably the finest musical score of any Trek movie. And if you want to cast it in terms of "need," it does include some elements that have a direct bearing on what came after. Spock's personality in his later appearances is hard to reconcile with his TOS personality if you miss TMP and don't see the transition. And the film introduced many conceptual and design elements that have influenced the Trek universe ever since.

The sixth movie (the undiscovered country) is generally considered okay. It has an upbeat plot involving kirk and mccoy getting imprisoned by a klingon court. It's a fun movie, though there are silly bits, such as the amount of time that the camera spends focused on floating bubblegum pink klingon blood (someone in the graphics department was overly proud of this effect :P)

Actually they had to make the blood pink to avoid an R rating.

TUC is flawed, but in many ways it's one of the best and most important of the TOS movies.

 

[LOKAI of CHERON]

Other than Nemesis I enjoy/love all the movies to a greater or lesser degree - IMO they're all terrific entertainment and each have their outstanding qualities. Even with Nemesis, I can't say I actively dislike it - it's technically well executed, the performances are adequate for the most part, but for me, it's just not engaging and I can't help feeling... umm, bored when I'm watching it.

I'll get completely lynched for this, but TMP is the finest film of the eleven, and First Contact - although an excellent and thoroughly enjoyable outing - is hugely overated IMO.

 

[Christopher]

I'm actually rather fond of Nemesis. It has some serious flaws that come mainly from the studio insistence on a fast-paced action film (a pivotal character scene was cut for "pacing" while a totally gratuitous chase/fight sequence was left in), but I think it's an intelligent story that does better than most Trek movies at exploring the kinds of themes and philosophical questions that are the hallmark of good Trek.

 

[PsychoPere]

The fifth movie (the final frontier) is considered one of the worst, if not the worst star trek movie. One reason is because of a lot of dumb hokey moments involving campfire songs. Another reason is that the plot is lame and involves Spock's half-brother's quest to find God. Best quote is "uh, excuse me, what does god need with a starship?" Some trek fans like to pretend this movie never existed.

It may not be a great movie, but I rewatched The Final Frontier recently, and I think it has some very nice character moments throughout.

 

[sonak]

why not watch them all and make up your own mind? Even though I consider TMP, TFF, INS, and NEM to be weaker entries, there are still things in each of those films to make it worthwhile to watch them.


None of the Trek films come anywhere close to the "so bad they're almost unwatchable" category. I wouldn't consider even the poorest of them to be any lower than maybe two-star movies.

 

[JWD75]

Nemesis, while being far from perfect, is an underrated movie. As far as the TNG movies are concerned, I think that it is the best of a mediocre quadrilogy.

TMP is worth checking out. Yes it moves at a glacial pace, but you can fastforward through some of the more tedious sections like the infamous cloud penetration sequence and not miss anything important to the plot.

All of the movies are worth watching at least once.

 

[Mr Silver]

I'd recommend you watch them all, but, you only really need to see the following

The Motion Picture (Important)
The Wrath Of Khan (Must See)
The Search For Spock (Must See)
The Voyage Home (Very Important)
The Undiscovered Country (Important)
First Contact (Must See)

 

[Captain Mike]

Forgive me, but I'm always puzzled when people cast questions about viewing or reading choices in terms of what they "need" to see. That makes it sound like a chore or a compulsion rather than a recreational experience. It should be about what you want, what you'd enjoy, not what you need. Relax; there's no test at the end

I agree, Christopher.
What I might suggest is watch all the TOS movies in order, then rent or watch a season or two of TNG on television if you can (I recomend seasons 3 and beyond), just to get a reference on what the show and characters are about. Then watch all the TNG movies,again in order.

 

[Christopher]

TMP is worth checking out. Yes it moves at a glacial pace, but you can fastforward through some of the more tedious sections like the infamous cloud penetration sequence and not miss anything important to the plot.

Whereas I quite enjoy those sequences. Several minutes of gorgeous Jerry Goldsmith music and gorgeous John Dykstra/Douglas Trumbull visuals without a lot of dialogue and sound effects getting in the way -- it's a rare opportunity just to sit back and experience pure cinema. Although I'm sure they're more effective in the immersive environment of a movie theater than on a DVD being watched in one's living room or (heaven forbid) on a laptop.

 

[ClawsThatCatch]

And I think that would be a mistake. Yes, it's a slow-paced and contemplative movie, but nowhere near as much as, say, 2001: A Space Odyssey. And the Director's Cut improves the pacing. It's a flawed movie, but it's the one ST movie that works best as pure cinema, and the one ST movie that aspired to be epic science fiction rather than a 2-hour episode or an action blockbuster. It also has arguably the finest musical score of any Trek movie. And if you want to cast it in terms of "need," it does include some elements that have a direct bearing on what came after. Spock's personality in his later appearances is hard to reconcile with his TOS personality if you miss TMP and don't see the transition. And the film introduced many conceptual and design elements that have influenced the Trek universe ever since.

I agree. I just worry about scaring off a person who may be expecting a movie like Star Trek 2009 hehe.

Actually they had to make the blood pink to avoid an R rating.

That's crazy that they had to make the blood pink. How does that make it less graphic?

 

[Christopher]

Actually they had to make the blood pink to avoid an R rating.

That's crazy that they had to make the blood pink. How does that make it less graphic?

Because it doesn't look like blood. Intellectually you know it is, but it isn't as viscerally disturbing.

 

[Destructor]

I'd recommend you watch them all, but, you only really need to see the following

The Motion Picture (Important)
The Wrath Of Khan (Must See)
The Search For Spock (Must See)
The Voyage Home (Very Important)
The Undiscovered Country (Important)
First Contact (Must See)

Pretty much nailed it.

 

[Guitarded]

Forgive me, but I'm always puzzled when people cast questions about viewing or reading choices in terms of what they "need" to see. That makes it sound like a chore or a compulsion rather than a recreational experience. It should be about what you want, what you'd enjoy, not what you need. Relax; there's no test at the end.

I plan on seeing them all eventually (at this point I've only seen II and IV). I just wanted to get the idea of a "general consensus." Usually, I don't rent movies because I tend to return them late enough that I end up buying them, so I just buy them to begin with.

Also, my budget's pretty tight, so if I plan on buying another movie or two, I don't want to get something like STV before STIII.

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

II, III & IV would be the only ones you'd necessarily want to watch in order I think.

 

[LOKAI of CHERON]

Whereas I quite enjoy those sequences. Several minutes of gorgeous Jerry Goldsmith music and gorgeous John Dykstra/Douglas Trumbull visuals without a lot of dialogue and sound effects getting in the way -- it's a rare opportunity just to sit back and experience pure cinema. Although I'm sure they're more effective in the immersive environment of a movie theater than on a DVD being watched in one's living room or (heaven forbid) on a laptop.

It is possible to re-create that experience in the home, Christopher. I'm not trying to be boastful in any way here, but home cinema has been a passion of mine for the last twenty years. I do have quite an elaborate set-up, and you're so right, those sequences are immensely enjoyable with the lights off and the sound pumped up. TMP is easily the most cinematic outing of the eleven.

 

[Captain Worf]

There are only two Trek movies that I would suggest you avoid, Trek V and Insurrection. But even those have their moments. I would just save them for last.

Based on what you've seen so far, you should definitely see Trek III next, then VI since it basically provides an epilogue to the trilogy. After that, you can pretty much go in any order. I wouldn't bother with any of the TNG movies until you've seen some of the TV series.

 

[Utopianvista]

All TOS movies are better than the Abrams Trek disaster.

TNG movies...eh. I enjoy Generations for what it is. First Contact is awful, Insurection is forgettable and Nemesis is pretty equal to Abrams Trek. So if you love Abrams Trek you'll probably enjoy Nemesis.