Summer Binge Watch — Star Trekking


Patrick Stewart — otherwise known as Capt. Jean-Luc Picard — has a new show, "Blunt Talk," which debuts on Saturday. In the first scene, there's a "Star Trek The Next Generation" reunion as Stewart shares the screen with Brent Spinner.

Given that, and the fact J.J. Abrams — who helped reboot "Star Trek" on the big screen in 2009 — will now do the same for "Star Wars." So it seems like now's a good time to binge your way through "Star Trek." There are 12 films, three different casts, and plenty of space adventures.

1. Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982)
About: This is the best of "Star Trek" on the big screen. It features and iconic villain, a great story, and the best flow of the "Star Trek" films. It also features the greatest moment in the films, when Kirk (William Shatner) and Spock (Leonard Nimoy) have to say goodbye to one another. "The needs of the many are greater than the needs of the few, or the one." It's an iconic moment that helps this film stand out.
Rating: PG for violence and language
Verdict: Four stars out of four

2. Star Trek (2009)
About: The J.J. Abrams re-boot gives "Star Trek" new life. I love the new cast, the storyline, and the way this first film is put together. It features familiar characters, but manages to flip the script and pave the way for the next generation of "Star Trek" films.
Rating: PG-13 for sci-fi action and violence, and brief sexual content
Verdict: Four stars out of four

3. Star Trek: Into Darkness (2013)
About: It's ballsy to re-make the greatest "Star Trek" story of all time and put a twist on it. But this follow up to the re-boot continued to build the world and these characters, tackled a story we know well and did it in a new way. Sure, you could quibble with that idea. But I liked the way it was done. It's the same and different all at once, which makes it interesting. Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto are great as the new Kirk and Spock.
Rating: PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi action and violence.
Verdict: Four stars out of four.

4. Star Trek: First Contact (1996)
About: THis is the best of the four films made by the cast of "Star Trek The Next Generation." The TNG group had easily the best series of the group, but that didn't always translate into movies, for some reason. This film — the second made by the TNG cast — is a time traveling adventure that brings back their greatest enemy — The Borg — and features a fascinating story. It has good performances and is more of what made the show so great.
Rating: PG-13 for some sci-fi adventure violence.
Verdict: Three stars out of four.

5. Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986)
About: This is probably the most period specific of all the "Star Trek" films. It's another time-traveling adventure — this time with the crew of the Enterprise circling the sun aboard a Klingon Bird of Prey to travel back to the 1980s to get a Humpback Whale to save the future. It's convoluted, but it works. The time-traveling, and seeing our heroes in 1980s San Francisco is a lot of fun.
Rating: PG
Verdict: Three stars out of four.

6. Star Trek Generations (1994)
About: This film is the cinematic bridge from the original heroes to The Next Generation, and it's a good one. The seventh "Star Trek" film, it's memorable for featuring Captain Picard (Stewart) and Captain Kirk (Shatner) in the same scene, as they team up to save the world. This marked a new era for "Star Trek" films and is one of the better entries.
Rating: PG for sci-fi action and some mild language.
Verdict: Three stars out of four.

7. Star Trek III: The Search For Spock (1984)
About: After the emotional high of "Star Trek II," anything that followed was going to be a bit of a fall off. That's certainly the case for "The Search For Spock," which necessarily brings Spock back while, at the same time, sort of undoing the emotional high point of the greatest "Star Trek" film. It's a good film on its own, and features a brutal scene in which Kirk's son is killed. It's one of the better original cast films, but it's certainly a step down from "Wrath of Khan."
Rating: PG
Verdict: Three stars out of four.

8. Star Trek: Insurrection (1998)
About: This is the third film from the TNG crew, and it's not terrible, but it's not as good as their other entries. It is a more philosophical take on a story — something the show was great at — but that doesn't translate as well when it comes to the big screen. Still, it's an enjoyable watch.
Rating: PG for sci-fi action violence, mild language and sensuality.
Verdict: Three stars out of four.

9. Star Trek: Nemesis (2002)
About: After eight years and four movies, it was clear with "Nemesis" that the TNG crew was ready to move on. This isn't a terrible movie, but it's not a particularly compelling movie. It's the weakest of the TNG films and one of the weaker movies in the "Star Trek" cinematic universe.
Rating: PG-13 for sci-fi action violence and peril and a scene of sexual content.
Verdict: Two stars out of four.

10. Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (1991)
About: We've entered the stretch of original cast films that are only so-so. "The Undiscovered Country," the last of the six films made by the original cast, is the best of the also rans. It features the most interesting story — Kirk being framed for nearly starting a war — and some interesting sequences. It's OK, not great or compelling.
Rating: PG
Verdict: Two stars out of four.

11. Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (1989)
About: It's not that this is a bad film, per se, just an odd one. This is, in some ways, the weirdest of the "Star Trek" films and one of the least fun to watch. It's not THE worst, but it's pretty close. It's a quest to find God, I guess, and it's a very strange journey.
Rating: PG
Rating: One star out of four.

12. Star Trek The Motion Picture (1979)
About: It's hard to believe this is the movie that started a 12-movie franchise that's still going nearly 40 years after its release. It came well after the show was cancelled and gets the gang back together, sort of. It features an odd story and a prominent role for Stephen Collins. This is the weakest of all the movies. Fortunately, it was followed three years later by the greatest of all "Star Trek" movies. It's part of the cannon, so you should watch it, I guess, but be prepared to be underwhelmed.
Rating:  PG for sci-fi action and mild language.
Verdict: One star out of four.

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