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Year:   1998
Studio: Paramount Pictures
Movie:  4/5
DVD:    1/5

Teaser

Surveying a pre-contact civilization, Data (Brent Spiner) runs amok and exposes the Federation/So'na survey team and then holds them hostage. Admiral Dougherty (Anthony Zerbe) doesn't want the Enterprise's involvement but like hell if Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) is going to let Starfleet dismantle his second officer. But once the Enterprise crew is involved they discover a heinous plot to steal the world from right under the peaceful Ba'ku.

Movie

When I first saw Insurrection I thought "this is just another episode made into a movie" and was a bit disappointed. After a couple of years I realize the big-concept save-the-Earth/save-the-Federation movies are not any more Star Trek than save-the-defenseless-civilization movies are. It's always been about ideals and what people are willing to do to keep those ideals. As such this is a fine movie and I enjoyed it more this time around.

Actors

Jonathan Frakes directed the movie, hence why Riker is not around much. The rest of the cast get to reprise their long-familiar roles so there aren't any surprises there. F Murray Abraham (playing Ru'afo) portrayed a wonderful villain who is into it for revenge more than anything else. Donna Murphy as Anij was ok though it was more of a "idiot, you should go after Beverly!" romance subplot from my perspective. Daniel Hugh Kelly (playing Sojef) will never be anybody other than Mark McCormick.

DVD

As seems to be the usual fare for Star Trek DVDs, there are precious few extras. The theatrical trailer, (I think) a television commercial, and a five-minute behind-the-scenes featurette are it. The movie is in wide-screen with no commentary. Disappointing and yet not a surprise.

Recommendations

If you like Star Trek you have to watch this movie. It's not really a big action movie nor is it a suspenseful science fiction movie. It's Star Trek, The Next Generation style and that should tell you what you need to know.
Copyright (c) 2003 Kevin C. Wong
Page Created: November 30, 2003 Page Last Updated: November 30, 2003