`Star Trek: Insurrection' - A Familiar Frontier by Homer Yen (c) 1998
Something odd has happened to Commander Data (Brent Spiner). He was apart of an observation team that was sent to secretly observe a peaceful colony known as the Baku. But he exhibits insubordinate behavior by making his presence known to the villagers (a severe violation of a non-interference clause known to watchers of the series as the Prime Directive) and also attacks his fellow officers. What has caused Data to act this way? Captain Picard (Patrick Stewart) and the rest of the Enterprise crew, who have always entrusted their lives to Data, comes to his aid and subsequently launch an investigation to determine the motivation behind his actions. As a result, they uncover a secret plot that could forever affect the lives of the Baku. And although the Enterprise crew would be quick to defend the peaceful colonists against mighty oppressors, their actions may jeopardize a newfound alliance as well as their own future. It seems that an incredible phenomenon makes this planet something of a Fountain of Youth. Secrets learned from this planet may help humanity survive the ongoing challenges from hostile alien factions of the Star Trek universe. The wizened Picard, however, can not justify the forced removal of a people. He must find a way to protect them.
Unfortunately, Picard seemed like the only one that exhibited any kind of convictions. His Shakespearean background allowed him to inject a believable pathos into his role. The rest of the crew and even the tone of the movie, however, seemed to lack any kind of fervor, excitement or wit, which made the previous Star Trek movie (First Contact) so enjoyable. Much can be blamed on the subject material, which centers more on a moral battle rather than a life-or-death struggle. The goal of Picard's crusade didn't seem all that compelling, which made the whole movie experience somewhat uninteresting. One thing that I've always admired about many of the Star Trek storylines is that it frequently presents a plot that has some educational value - whether the episode is intended to impart a lesson or whether it reflects on a significant chapter of humanity's history. The drawback, however, is that the presentation can be somewhat sobering, and in a 2-hour, feature-length film, the message can wear thin rather quickly. So, as a fan of Star Trek, I enjoyed seeing the crew reassemble for another mission. But I was disappointed to a degree because this latest installment offered an all-to-familiar premise that amounted to a slightly better-than-average episode.
Grade: C+ if you're a Trek fan C if you're not.
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