On my 2/23/09 post, I mentioned that I did a Star Trek movie marathon a couple Thanksgivings ago. Previous to that, I had never seen a single Star Trek movie and only a handful of TV episodes. When I heard that the 11th movie was going into production, I decided I should what all the fuss was about. To tell the truth, I had no idea there were already 10 movies until I started seeing press on the Heroes actor playing a young Spock. I didn't even know there were multiple series after The Next Generation, much less how many. I've always been more of a Star Wars kinda guy, and even then I only like the original trilogy in their theatrical versions. As a kid, I couldn't buy that all Star Trek's alien races were humanoids capable of speaking English. I did the aforementioned movie marathon because I figured that nothing could be worse than Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace. I quickly realized that the rival franchises have more differences than similarities. I'm sorry if you disliked my best to worst "Marvel Movies" post the other day, because this is basically the same thing, except that the list is divided in the middle.
Movies with creator Gene Roddenberry as executive consultant, from best to worst:1. Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (1984) special effects finally catch up with Star Wars; pink uniforms; Planet Vulcan; police tape on Spock's door?
2. Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986) Nimoy directs; preachy; profanity for the first time; San Francisco in the '80s; the East Indian crew member made me realize there's not been a Native American, Middle Eastern, or Polynesian character(?)
3. Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (1989) Shatner directs; Uhura is an old lady; Jerry Goldsmith finally returns after doing the soundtrack to the first movie
4. Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982) the most personal because of Kirk's son and Spock's death; main cast has all gained weight; Kirstie Alley is not an emotionless Vulcan, she just acts angry; Khan's earbug almost makes up for his fake chest and the neon lighting
5. Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979) obviously for insiders, it's like a bloated TV episode; special effects look like a computer screen saver, but it's got the best soundtrack of the entire series; the bald chick is punk rock and sexy
Movies after the death of creator Gene Roddenberry, from best to worst: 1. Star Trek: Insurrection (1998) the best dialogue; romance; mostly outdoors; basic rescue mission; obvious good and bad guys
2. Star Trek: First Contact (1996) Data is the star; Jerry Goldsmith returns once more for the soundtrack; I just realized Wil Wheaton isn't in the movies; why is that?
3. Star Trek: Generations (1994) the best blend of action and comedy; Kirk's death and Sulu's daughter
4. Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (1991) a murder mystery; turtlenecks; Blue Man Group-looking monsters in the prison sequence; Christian Slater and Kim Cattrall; the soundtracks sounds like a Danny Elfman ripoff; the opening credits look like a TV show's; the bridge looks like ESPN Sportscenter
5. Star Trek: Nemesis (2002) dune buggy chase; Data's death and Picard's clone; good scary soundtrack
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