Star Trek Nemesis

Despite the fact that Star Trek, as an institution, has lost much of its momentum, especially after 1998's muddled Insurrection, the Trek still holds a special place in the hearts of geeks. And Star Trek Nemesis is, surprisingly, probably the second-best Next Generation film, after the Borg-heavy First Contact. After the initial "flogging a dead Targ" feel of seeing the old, and I do mean old, gang reunited (the wedding of Deanna and Riker, the futuristic dune buggy away mission with Picard, Data and Worf), Nemesis quickly and efficiently introduces its antagonist (Shinzon, a young clone of Picard who now rules the Romulan and Reman empire) and starts exploring its themes of duality. Of course, there's a lot of action as well. Nemesis is closest in its feel to the Star Trek oeuvre's best offering, The Wrath of Khan, especially with its climactic battle between Shinzon's flagship and the Enterprise, the "selfless" sacrifice towards the end and the evolving animosity between Picard and Shinzon, although the film stops itself from having Picard scream, "Shinzoooooooon!!!" Non-trekkie director Baird gives a Ridley Scott-like commentary, although his lack of knowledge of the Trek universe outside of Nemesis is obvious, and a more inspired choice may have been the writing team of legendary producer Rick Berman, Brent Spiner (Data) and John Logan. The featurettes give a sense of the reinvigoration Baird brought to the project and the camaraderie of the film's cast, who look at this as their goodbye, hopefully, as Jonathan Frakes (Riker) points out half-jokingly, he's too old to be an action hero. At least they end on a high note. Extras: director commentary; exclusive documentaries; deleted scenes; photo gallery. (Paramount)