Star Trek: Insurrection (1998)

Director:

Jonathan Frakes

Writers (WGA):

Gene Roddenberry (creator: "Star Trek")
Rick Berman (story) ...

Release Date:

11 December 1998 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Tagline:

The Battle For Paradise Has Begun

Plot:

When the crew of the Enterprise learn of a Federation plot against the inhabitants of a unique planet, Capt. Picard begins an open rebellion.

Plot Keywords:

Kidnapping | Space Travel | Burned To Death | Tense | Humor

Awards:

2 wins & 5 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Fri. Aug. 1	10:35 AM	TMC
Fri. Aug. 1	6:05 PM	TMC

Cast

Patrick Stewart	...	Captain Jean-Luc Picard
Jonathan Frakes	...	Commander William T. Riker
Brent Spiner	...	Lt. Commander Data
LeVar Burton	...	Lt. Cmdr. Geordi La Forge (as Levar Burton)
Michael Dorn	...	Lt. Cmdr. Worf
Gates McFadden	...	Dr. Beverly Crusher
Marina Sirtis	...	Commander Deanna Troi
F. Murray Abraham	...	Ad'har Ru'afo
Donna Murphy	...	Anij
Anthony Zerbe	...	Vice-Adm. Dougherty
Gregg Henry	...	Gallatin
Daniel Hugh Kelly	...	Sojef
Michael Welch	...	Artim
Mark Deakins	...	Tournel
Stephanie Niznik	...	Perim

Also Known As:

Star Trek 9 (USA) (informal alternative title)
Star Trek IX (USA) (working title)
Star Trek: Nemesis (USA) (working title)
Star Trek: Prime Directive (USA) (working title)
Star Trek: Rebellion (USA) (working title)
Star Trek: Stardust (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated PG for sci-fi action violence, mild language and sensuality.

Runtime:

103 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

South Korea:12 | Iceland:L | Brazil:Livre | Canada:PG (Ontario) | Italy:T | Australia:PG | Denmark:15 | Finland:K-12/9 | France:U | Germany:12 | Netherlands:12 | Portugal:M/6 | Spain:T | Sweden:11 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | UK:PG | USA:PG | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Bishop, California, USA

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

Scenes involving Quark (Armin Shimerman) from "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" (1993) were filmed, but cut.

Goofs:

Audio/visual unsynchronized: When Ru'afo socks Dougherty in the face, he obviously misses, yet we hear a punch effect.

Quotes:

[first lines]
[children playing hide and seek]
child: There he is. Let's get him, come on!

Movie Connections:

References Platoon (1986)

Soundtrack:

Sonata No. 8 in C Minor. Opus 13. 'Pathétique'

Whoever said this was the worst Star Trek film is so wrong!

In my personal opinion, and as an avid Next Generation fan, without a doubt "Insurrection" is one of the best Star Trek films, and the third outing for Picard, Riker, Deanna and the rest of the Next Generation crew stays most true to their esteemed television series. This time round, the crew are faced with a violation of the Prime Directive and whether or not the 600 people who live on a literal planet-of-youth are more important than the millions of other people that could benefit from the planet's regenerative powers. Action, drama, comedy and romance follow in true Star Trek spectacular.

As always Patrick Stewart is in top form as Captain Picard who leads the Star Trek resistance to save the innocents from one of his own corrupt superiors Vice Admiral Dougherty (played terrifically by Anthony Zerbe) who are involved with some aliens (including F. Murray Abraham's Ad'har). Along the way Picard finds a new friend in Anij (played by the lovely Donna Murphy), one of the Ba'ku, and a little romance follows.

Jonathan Frakes once again directs and does an outstanding job, though it does mean his character Commander Riker gets a bit less screen time, though he is always a pleasure to watch. Riker's relationship with Commander / Counsellor Deanna Troi heats up in this film (and it's about time too!) Marina Sirtis of course returns as the lovely Troi and gets a fairly good amount of screen time this time round, and certainly most of the comical moments. Frakes and Sirtis have great chemistry together.

Brent Spinter's Data gets (as usual) too much screen time, again his story consists of his quest to become more human and the like, though he does befriend a Ba'ku child which was done quite well. As usual Gates McFadden (Dr. Beverly Crusher), Michael Dorn (Lt. Commander Worf) and LeVar Burton (Lt. Commander LaForge) are given very little to do in the Star Trek films, and this one is no exception, though at least Worf and LaForge got their own small story lines - Worf had to go through puberty again and LaForge found himself with the ability to see. Beverly however only gets a "storyline" involving her boobs firming up. Terrific. Poor Gates must be the most under-appreciated actress in all of Star Trek, but also the most gracious for returning each time.

The special effects of "Star Trek: Insurrection" are above average, and the music score is really well done. Often its the small moments in the Next Generation films that are the best, and this one is no different, but at least the big moments are good too. I think the "Star Trek the Next Generation" films are probably the only action-type films in which the heroes are all (with the exception of Marina Sirtis) in their 50's and people still want to watch them. Quite interesting too that a main theme of the movie was the eternal youth. At least when the sad time comes that the Next Generation cast are no longer alive, they will be immortalised in history by their much loved characters and beautiful stories, just like "Insurrection".