Thoughts and Conclusions

Carolina's Rankings and Final Thoughts

II
Beyond
IV
VI
ST’09
First Contact
Into Darkness
Insurrection
III
V
Generations
Nemesis
I

This was a very interesting marathon. I found that the rumor of the even number films being good and the odd number movies being bad were mostly true, with some exceptions.

The biggest merit this franchise has is that the acting is never bad. Everyone knows their characters well enough that even with a bad script they will try their best to deliver lines in the best way possible, and are always willing to sprinkle in their charisma, I never saw a movie and thought “god that was some bad acting”. I can see why people love these characters, they make you want to go on a starship and explore the galaxy with them.

There are terrible movies in this franchise that should be avoided. However, there are also fantastic movies that I know I’ll be revisiting a few times in the future. They’re just good sci-fi features.

Personally, I came into this universe only knowing basic things and watching a few episodes and three movies. In general, I came here with fresh eyes, no bias, just a geeky filmmaker wanting to see great sci-fi. Now that this marathon is over I consider myself a fan. I'll be watching the new show coming up next year.

Geoff’s Rankings and Final Thoughts

II
IV
VI
Beyond
First Contact
ST’09
Insurrection
Into Darkness
Generations
III
V
Nemesis
I

I hadn’t really focused on how much Star Trek has shaped not just my taste in fiction, but my entire worldview. Hope for the future, strength in diversity, belief that science can and will solve our myriad problems… it’d be easy to make a case these stem directly from all the Star Trek I watched as a kid.

We’re all shaped by the world around us. Not just our friends and family, but the world we’re born into and the media with which we choose to entertain ourselves. I was a nerdy, only child. The characters on TNG were my friends. As a kid I got to watch them every week, glued to my family’s 19-inch Sony. As a young adult, I watched reruns every night and frequently devoured the movies on VHS over and over.

In many ways, it’s our choice how to interact with the world. It’s our choice how to spend time in it. Some use that time to spew hatred. Some use that time to make the people around them feel worse. Maybe this is why, right now, it’s IV that I most connect with. No hate, lots of humor. An idealized universe where a group of multicultural and multi-talented friends work together to save the world. To make the future better. I still have hope that will be our future too.

We’re not there yet, Gene, but maybe someday.