Why Star Trek: Insurrection Is Actually Not That Bad

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[@brianstiles1701]

Insurrection is a decent TNG two-parter with a better than TV budget. It's pretty solid.

[@FeedEgg]

Exactly!

[@nikkicoyotie8431]

I was about to type basicly this and then saw your comment

[@thisguy4505]

This is what I always tell people. If you ever want to give a non-trekkie a great taste of the series without it actually being the series, you put on Insurrection.

[@LordBloodraven]

Remember, Worf and Riker were quasi-romantic rivals for Troi at the end of TNG. Also, in the future Picard experienced thanks to Q, that rivalry had come to a head and severely damaged their friendship. It made sense that Worf was the one to validate Riker's feelings for Troi.

[@michaeljohnhalse]

I actually loved Insurrection! It was just like another fun episode of Star Trek!

[@aeonjoey3d]

yeah that was both the criticism and a reason so many ppl liked it, lol it definitely felt like an episode and i missed it so much at the time so i loved it

[@YooTubeSlave]

I don't necessarily disagree with you, but that is exactly the reason some people don't like the TNG movies. Some people say the TNG movies lack the scope of a major motion picture.

[@JDODify]

Yeah - I like it for exactly the same reason.

[@kevinshepardson1628]

Exactly! Insurrection was effectively a feature-length TNG episode, drawing on many of the things we loved about Star Trek rather than going the generic action-adventure route.

[@Lexivor]

I'm glad someone had fun watching this, I sure didn't.

[@ryougahibiki941]

Picard never left the Nexus. He's been living out a more realistic fantasy life ever since. He proved himself better than the borg, then he proved himself better than the Federation, and finally proved himself better than himself.

[@griffinshaffer83]

Dont forget the first thing he did. Proved himself better than Kirk.

[@whatthefish2082]

Eric Ferrey Kirk’s luck simply ran out.

[@TheSweetser69]

Cheers 🍻

[@DETHofMAN]

Proved himself better than Q

[@Jayenkai]

I've always enjoyed Insurrection, but it's definitely felt Episode more than Movie to me. I do like it, though.

[@OnTheNerdySide]

@@paulscott2037 They could have leaned harder into Data's emotion chip as a similar through-line. But, I think after it was played for laughs in Generations and revealed to be able to simply be disabled in First Contact, that possibility was thrown out the window.

[@MichaelJohnson82]

the episodic framing was exactly why I didn't care for Insurrection

[@kaicanyonellis]

Agree. But! I felt the same way about Star Trek Beyond, and it's probably my favorite Trek film.

[@Kastagaar]

Exactly this. It was always a big episode to me ... and I liked that.

[@Enfiare]

Myself also

[@JanetStarChild]

My favorite TNG movie is "All Good Things".

[@PeterBarnes2]

Why would you say something so controversial yet so brave?

[@curtisberard7831]

I don't really see that so much as a movie as a two part show. It *was* a great series ender though.

[@Enfiare]

That was the series, and yet I agree

[@drivingmemad7640]

Is saying your favourite TNG movie is "The Best of Both Worlds" the same as saying your favourite Nirvana song is "Smell Like Teen Spirit"? Because if it is, then I'm ok with that :) "All Good Things" is a good 2nd for me.

[@IronicTonic8]

I agree, All Good Things had a great plot and tied off the TNG story very well. The TNG movies never really captured the magic of TNG. I was disappointed with each movie for various reasons.

[@richardludwig3673]

I actually like Insurrection as well, but initially it was somewhat of a disappointment because the trailer hinted at a Federation Civil War... and it ended up being Picard and crew doing the right thing against a rogue Admiral (serious Starfleet needs to do a better job at screening potential Admiral candidates...).

[@lostbutfreesoul]

Come on, no one can defend against brain slugs....

[@supercode2825]

@MrSotiredofnewyoutub Enterprise

[@nythepremier]

Kirk told Picard to never get promoted to Admiral.

[@thevirtualjim]

Yea, its like they look for the worst of starfleet officers to promote to admiral.

[@MrColinWarde]

I've always been down for a Federation civil war movie. Or season. Something to really shake things up. Big time morals and such.

[@tkardaishou]

"And Ruafo's like 'Did I ever tell you I killed Mozart?'" OH MY GOD HE DID AND I JUST NOW NOTICED IT

[@Libbyyyyyyyyyy]

Tihs ym tae, Salieri!

[@hughmilner7013]

It's interesting you describe First Contact as being darker and grittier. While the Enterprise plot might focus on the Borg and on Picard's need for revenge, I'd argue that First Contact has a very positive and hopeful tone, with even a traumatized Picard ultimately realizing the goal is not "destroy the Borg" but "ensure first contact and humanity's bright future."

[@DocD173]

I 100% agree. I like this movie too. It’s one of only three Star Trek movies that actually have nothing to do with saving Earth/Federation from a Doomsday/Invasion (the only other two are Beyond and… Final Frontier)

[@Mallory-Malkovich]

Insurrection was a solid Star Trek movie. It's still low on my list of Star Trek movies, but I don't dislike it. Plus I can at least _remember what happened_ in Insurrection. I've seen Nemesis 4 times and I still can't remember anything about it other than it had Tom Hardy in a PVC suit and Buffyesque uber-vampire Romulans.

[@grumpyotter]

I literally recently forgot Data died in Nemesis. Only watched it once as it was so dull.

[@dereklbrink]

"Geordi's eyes finally grow in." That's the line that made me subscribe to your channel.

[@ConorCarlisle]

I am not ashamed to admit that I sang along to the Gilbert and Sullivan bit.

[@redshirtveteran5688]

As did I. : D

[@ConorCarlisle]

As such, who's up for a sing along in the comments? I'll start us off: 🎵A British tar is a soaring soul, as free as a mountain bird!🎵

[@redshirtveteran5688]

@@ConorCarlisle His energetic fist, should be ready to resist A dictatorial word. (Sing, Worf, sing.)

[@Videocannal]

His energetic fist should be ready to resist, a dictatorial word!

[@H4hT53]

It IS catchy

[@neoflox]

To be honest, while constantly rewatching all Trek for almost 30 years, I didn't miss Insurrection for a minute, until lately. I salute you Steve. Your depth of analysis and the comparison to Nemesis were actually eyeopening to me. Thank you!

[@CapriUni]

Two points: 1) My parents bonded and fell in love over a mutual appreciation of Gilbert and Sullivan while drinking each other under the table (according to my mother's stories); one of my father's favorite college memories was acting in a student production of H.M.S. Pinafore. I may have to check out this movie for that scene alone (I also grew up on TOS: the first season of its original run aired when I was two years old, and it was appointment viewing for my parents -- and, thus, me -- back in the day). 2) (and this is a comment I *almost* posted to "Why Geordi la Forge Actually Deserved Better" video): Growing up as a Disabled kid, I loved seeing evidence of Disabled people still existing in a future "Utopian" World (so often, "people like me" are unapologetically erased from the future)... But that didn't stop what I see, now, as the ableist trope of the Disabled Character being "Romantically Inappropriate / inept / needy / stalkery" (in short, "deviant"), so I am disappointed but not surprised that his character arc is centered around a miraculous "Disability Drop." And one day, can we please have a sci-fi show where the villain is *Not* motivated to commit evil against by the dread fear of decline and disability? 'Kay? Thanks. That would be great. (I've been growing more radical and angry in my middle age)

[@cayceh]

There's an awesome actual play Star Trek RPG show on Geek & Sundry called Shield of Tomorrow where a disabled player plays a disabled character.

[@CapriUni]

@@cayceh Cool!

[@kin2naruto]

Professor X from the X-man franchise? I mean, I can't really name a 2nd disabled hero - but that one is REALLY good. Daredevil, Rogue, and Echo from Marvel comics are awesome too! (But yeah, can't really think of a proper sci-fic disabled hero) If you don't mind book format - try Miles Vorkosigan series by Lois McMaster Bujold. It explores all kinds of 'disabled in the future' elements I've never seen other authors tackle. (It even takes on how infertality technology changes socities).

[@Ugly_German_Truths]

@@kin2naruto Well if we ignore ST and go with generic superheroes there's a few more... Daredevil is "blind" (if you ignore his super-sonar) Barbara Gordon was Paraplegic or quadruplegic and served as "Oracle" as research assistant of the heroes, but i think with the latest universe reboot they reversed that and she's back as batgirl??? Odin/Thor of Marvel fame have the eye patch... so do some incarnations of Nick Fury. Not 100% sure, but i think the young half of Firestorm is supposed to be like Forrest Gump (slow in the head that is)

[@Ugly_German_Truths]

@Capri-Omni btw there were several disabled characters in Trek TV episodes... the TOS Episode with the "Medusan Ambassador" (spock with the pink welding glases as eye protectors) had a blind Earth ambassador. TNG had the mute negotiator who used to "talk" through a choir of interpreters but when they were killed by an unreasonable freedom fighter he started to teach the hostile parties his sign language. And Nog may not have been born disabled, but he famously lost a leg and had to use a prosthesis in DS9. Arguably Nog was at least "extended main cast" Then of course there is Christopher Pike in his floating wheelchair, who only had two lights to "communicate"... both in TOS and the JJ movies...

[@sleepinglionarchives]

When Insurrection came out in theaters I was working at one during my college's Christmas break. This film was the 1st and only movie I got to start manually at one of the projectors and I have a soft spot for it. Your review was solid. I enjoyed this at the time and still do. It's, of all the TNG films, the one that feels the most like a TV 2-parter. In some ways the characters seemed to behave more like themselves during this story than in any other theatrical outing. A friend of mine writes scripts and we can both be pretty demanding of our pop culture, but he once asked me if a film I was critiquing entertained me. Not if it was award-winning or life-changing, but did I have a fun experience. In that sense, yes, I had a fun experience with Insurrection. It was better than the mega downer that followed. While TNG never got the proper send-off it earned, the upcoming Picard series has a chance to fix that.

[@MSGT_Johnson]

Am from the future unfortunately Picard ended up being a horrible show.

[@tyrreloneal5178]

I'm glad somebody finally said it! Insurrection is not that bad! I'd watch it over The Final Frontier and Nemesis ANY DAY!

[@ITSBRYINDY74]

I can’t say that I love Insurrection, but agree that it does have some great moments and is more like TNG than any of the other movies. The scene where Geordi is looking at the sunset makes me tear up every time.

[@lasercatsproductions]

For me, this movie has the most mileage out of any that I have ever watched then re-watched. It's my favourite movie of all time. That's right folks. I've watched Star Trek for so long that I can't even remember what my first episode was. However, one of my first memories that I can actually recall is watching this movie with my dad when I was an infant. As far as I'm concerned, this is my first instance of Star Trek and watching the movie just brings back so many memories of my childhood. True, some could say that I'm simply nostalgic, but that's not the case. I genuinely love this movie and despite the countless number of times that I've re-watched this movie, I've never, ever gotten bored of it.

[@grumpyotter]

Awwww. That's a sweet story. :-)

[@Atrox151]

I like how you compared the similarity between Insurrection and Nemesis. I never would've thought until you mentioned it.

[@SergeantC2]

What I always liked about "Insurrection" was that it took another look at Star Trek's moral philosophy about the needs of the many. I saw the makes asking, "What if the many are wrong?"

[@VanGarrett]

I really liked Insurrection. As you pointed out, it ties together some themes from several quite memorable episodes of the series. It's very much like an episode from the series, but by tying together multiple themes, they're simultaneously calling back to the series and increasing the scale to that of a movie. As good as First Contact is, Insurrection might in fact, be my favorite TNG movie.

[@Aqweius]

As the third TNG movie, it's middle of the road for me, but my god there are some moments where you can tell the cast is phoning it in (the "list" dialogue when the crew confronts the captain as he is prepping to start his little Insurrection--Worf alone just "lists" the weapons he is taking as if he is bored or has had to delivery the line for the thousandth time) and as big of a fan as I am, the shoe-horning of Worf into this movie was a bit much. Again, he is one of my all time favorite TNG characters, but they could of had a "guest star" be the new security chief/tactical officer without much concern for "establishing his character" considering that Worf really had nothing more than a supportive role in this third installment. Plus, in retrospective (looking back after these years) it appeared to me that they were rehashing the formula that became prevalent in the four TNG films: Picard is the star (the action man/hero) who had to solve some dilemma that Data was involved in. In Generations Data was the comic relief with his emotions chip while Picard battled Soren from weaponizing the Nexus; in First Contact, Picard faced down his "Hyde-persona" in preventing the Borg from assimilating pre-Contact Earth while Data flirted with the Borg Queen operating as a double-agent to later foil her ultimate plan; to now in Insurrection Picard comes in like "John Wayne" to right a wrong that the bad guys were undertaking--and Data was the catalyst of said dilemma. Now I get it, Data is the "Spock analog" of TNG (emotionless, logical, etc. etc.), just a spin or tweak on a character archetype, but I feel like by the third movie, the poor TNG cast was ranked into this hierarchy of the "Picard and Data Show" where Picard was the headliner, Data became the deuteragonist, Riker got to be Picard's dutiful "deputy", while Geordi and Worf were relegated to "mechanic" and "gunslinger", with poor Beverly and Deanna left in the lowest rung as "the women" who took on supportive roles. Now I am all for the "assemble" cast in movie franchises, but the token character growth we get over four movies is a bit insulting to the viewer and lazy (of my own opinion) on the behalf of the producers/writers. TOS movies were guilty of it from Search For Spock to Undiscovered Country. Now I digress; I enjoyed this movie (the opening sequence and sweeping musical score was brilliant) but similar to Generations this third TNG movie really felt like it was a beefed-up TNG episode from a hypothetical 8th season of ST:TNG. The Sona came across of aliens-of-the-week, although I do appreciate they branching out and having new enemies rather than recycle the already established antagonists from TNG/DS9.

[@TheMacKosh]

Totally agree

[@SpaceCase1701]

This is actually a pretty compelling perspective on Insurrection. And I'm with you on the point of "as long as I care about the broad outcome of the story and care about the characters, I'm pretty happy". I often am able to overlook quite a lot of technical script or filmmaking issues if I'm enjoying myself and like and care enough about the characters. If I'm having a good time, that's at least *as* important to me (if not more) as watching something that's technically well made.

[@seanhillman1016]

On Insurrection: All the things you mention are good points, though I think the humor falls flat in some spots that should have been obvious. My gripe is that they had a chance to go deeper, in character development and didn't. Crusher got boob jokes. They had a chance to show actual rifts in the Federation instead of merely another corrupt admiral who hoodwinked the Federation Council. Again. How about some tension and jealousy between Picard and Crusher? And the movie could have been tighter, no offense to Frakes. The lost potential sours me on the movie. On the other hand no one is asking why God needs a starship. As for Nemesis being a rehash of Insurrection - yeah. And Nemesis is even more of a lost opportunity than Insurrection. Who needs a new villain? There are at least.. six or seven bad guys who could have been brought together as a Legion of Doom to go after Enterprise from the series. And Q could have been smack dab in the middle. All of it academic, I suppose. Both movies could have been hits and a lack of vision prevented it.

[@grumpyotter]

Fair points all. I love it simply because it exists, and we won't have anymore, but the lost potential definitely hurts a bit. And yeah--when Data makes a "joke" about his boobs i was "Seriously? You've been living among humans for decades and you don't know it is women who have boobs? And men have moobs?"

[@neophobicnyctophile8264]

I want to hear Shives describe Star Trek: The Motion Picture!

[@katpiercemusic]

I noticed a few years ago that the opening music from Koyaanisquatsi synchs up pretty well with Spock's space walk in that movie. Improves the pacing of the movie by at least 10%.

[@michaelhannell4083]

Also get one of the best quotes/scenes in star trek when riker is walking with data after shaving and saying as smooth as an androids bottom. Data touches rikers chin and shakes his head no.

[@endorbr]

I use this quote constantly with my wife, pretty much every time I shave after having not for a few weeks.

[@joearnold6881]

Despite growing up a tng fan, I somehow was completely unaware of this (and only this) Star Trek movie until just several years ago. I was so confused, and then delighted, when I found out about it.

[@c4spar0v]

Are we not gonna talk about the "perfect moment in time" Steve? Seriously though, I agree - Insurrection isn't great, but it isn't terrible. Good video.

[@grumpyotter]

Do you like that or hate it? I loved it, and thought Patrick and Donna had wonderful chemistry.

[@c4spar0v]

@@grumpyotter As a plot device and a scene in general, it was good - but either I missed something entirely; or they simply never touched upon how the Baku can slow down time at will.

[@kaitlyn__L]

@@c4spar0v It's not just the Baku, Picard learns how to do it. It's a power of love/mind thing. Along the lines of Wesley/Traveller things, or how Kes talks about evolving to a higher plane of existence. One of those TOS flavoured things that TNG-era Trek occasionally leaned into.

[@chrissonofpear1384]

Q probably would have had things to say about it... it's also vaguely Buddhist style, but in a more cod philosophical way.

[@Ugly_German_Truths]

@@c4spar0v Living on a farm with nothing to do all day but talk and watch the kids jumping into haystacks makes you feel like every second of the day takes HOURS to pass :D

[@The-Blurst-Of-Times]

I do get what you're saying, and having read Michael Pillar's "Fade In", I can definitely at least appreciate that he was trying to give a more "classic" type of Trek tale on the big screen. So the thing is, I actually don't have a problem with most of the things you listed- a "lighter" story with no huge stakes, having a moral dilemma, having more character moments...these are all fine. My problem has more to do with how the movie handled the story. Nobody is going to argue that forced relocation isn't bad (though I feel the need to point out that stuff like the Trail of Tears was motivated by pure racism and expansionism, whereas the dilemma in Insurrection was about...the needs of the many, which Trek has said a few words about before), but one thing that always stuck out to me is how nobody in the movie brings up to the Baku that what Dougherty was trying (or at least appearing) to do was try to save billions of people by harnessing the radiation- because there's just no way the Baku characters could answer that with a "no" without sounding like assholes. If someone had just directly asked them, "We feel bad about forcibly relocating you guys, but we're trying to save billions of people", there's little reason these seemingly decent people wouldn't just say, "ok" and then the movie ends. Why is the main moral dilemma essentially kept a secret from the Baku if that's supposed to be what the whole movie is about? Because then they couldn't have the movie be the way it was, so instead they just don't mention it. That's just lazy writing. You can still have Picard and co. standing on the side of not moving them because of the details involved. You could show the people having trouble uprooting themselves, people who would die without the radiation, the fact that the Baku had too small a population to be sustainable (something a producer actually pointed out as noted in "Fade In" I believe). If they really got into the nitty gritty of the moral dilemma I thought it would've been far more interesting. This isn't even getting into a huge problem I had with Pillar as a writer late in his life, which is that he had some real "noble savage" kind of tendencies in his idealized view of man returning to nature. This really showed with the character Chakotay especially, and it lightly permeates this movie as well.

[@Ugly_German_Truths]

I like the movie itself, i just loathe that they went such a primitive Snidely Whiplash route with the "villains"... selfish, ugly, unhealthy and in the end also traitorous as it's their old homeworld and now they risk killing their last relatives in the universe... And the farmlife idyll with the Baku just swearing off technology for the peace of it and not trying to do anything positive with the technology of the rings... that also smacks me as a bit forced and irresponsible. The idea is okay, the characters, dialogue and interaction are mostly good, but this central bit of the story feels halfbaked and unsophisticated.

[@BioGoji-zm5ph]

I think one of the biggest issues with this movie's plot is the fact that it took a concept that was already handled and executed with much better and long-lasting results in the TV series, IE the attempted relocation of Federation citizens from newly-given-away planets to the Cardassians... which eventually led to the birth of the Maquis movement featured in DS9, Voyager, and the later seasons of TNG. And since the Baku are already fully capable of space travel and simply chose to get rid of that technology and basically casting out the members of their society who wanted to keep using technology (the So'na)... I can't really find myself sympathizing with them.

[@ryanedwards7487]

I liked Insurrection too. Seriously, it gets alot of hate for no reason. I always look at it as a way to show that sometimes, you have to speak out, and maybe even rebel, to show the system that it's disgracing / willfully ignoring it's ideals, promises, and standards.

[@gordonlong3095]

I love Insurrection. It’s my second fav of the Next Gen films. I greatly enjoyed the humor. But more than that, character moments were wonderful (except for Beverly, but at least she made the crucial discovery about the Sona and the Baku). We did get to see that Beverly and Deanna have a good character moment disguised as humor (have you noticed your boobs are firming up?). Hey, at least this film passes the Bechdel test (I think). And they are each other’s best female friend. I was happiest with the developing relationship between Will and Deanna, and Picard and his new friend. Disappointed that neither that relationship nor his totally blocked thing with Beverly was followed up on. The morality of the storyline is pretty solid. It’s definitely in the same mold as the ‘crazy captains and admirals plots’ (something you should do a couple of videos on, both TOS and TNG era), and Into Darkness really copies Insurrection hard in this matter. Yes, it is a good film. I rank the films as 2, 6, 8, 4, 2009, Insurrection, Beyond, (good cutoff), 3, Generations, TMP, Into Darkness (I like these), 5, Nemesis (little desire to ever watch again except when binging).

[@martynbealing79]

I like it too, I always thought nemesis was the black sheep.

[@Stoppskylten]

They main problem is Nemesis is basically the same story as Generations.

[@dschehutinefer5627]

Literally black. Back when I watched Nemesis for the first time I always wondered why half the lights on the Enterprise were broken.

[@grumpyotter]

Oh yes. All the other Star Trek movies I have watched numerous times each as they all have something of value--or at least a sense of fun. Nemesis i watched once. So depressing--and not in a good way. (Oh--I don't count the post 2009 movies. Those aren't Star Trek)

[@grumpyotter]

@JohnnyTheWolf I wrote my reply to darth bane before I read your comment, lol -- GMTA!

[@jordanbauer5843]

@@davecam4863 nemesis killed data insurrection reinvigorated his character but i gotta admit data was great in nemesis before he met his end

[@ijb4815]

This has to be the best description of Star Trek Insurrection I have heard 😁.... Thanks Steve

[@simplesimonspeaks1115]

All my friend's liked Nemisis and made fun of my like for Insurrection. Guess i can show them this huh? Never thought of how similar the two movies were.

[@Will-eh6xe]

Ya i didnt notice that either

[@fdthornton62]

You're right, I always enjoyed the Insurrection for it's simplicity and how it mostly related to the TNG series. I saw it in the theater and left very satisfied.

[@Khelemvor]

Insurrection is my favorite TNG movie. Not my favorite Star Trek movie, but I would never say no to watching it.

[@dwaynejeffers1632]

You actually liked it better than First Contact?

[@benjaminclark4030]

@@dwaynejeffers1632 I do. It feels more like what watching TNG did, and still does, for seven years. Actual Star Trek.

[@Stephen-Fox]

Totally agree with you about the lower stakes not being a problem - The stakes could be as low as a single character and if the writer, director, and performances are strong enough it will work. Not necessarily their life, either - I'd have been here for a Voyager film that's a courtroom drama with the Doctor trying to free the EMH Mark I miners we see in Author Author. Lower than that, in some cases.

[@plpowner]

I ensure my fish is always deboned before I text and drive.

[@TheVideomaster64Reborn]

Star Trek V the final frontier and Star Trek insurrection are my favorite Star Trek Movies I am dead serious

[@drschonify]

I have always felt like it should have been maybe a good two-parter in a later season of the show.

[@EMSpdx]

A major part of the reason why I liked is that it IS a two parter from like season 5 or 6!

[@KuraIthys]

Most likely it was. I mean, if Voyager recycled TNG's leftover scripts (and in fact TNG recyled unused Scripts, and DS9 and even Enterprise adapted scripts written for TNG), then why wouldn't they use one of the two-parter scripts they had lying around for a feature film? I mean, if they apparently had dozens if not hundreds of episode scripts lying around, it makes sense, as long as it more or less works as a film..

[@paradoxmo]

I mean it’s the same basic plot as season 7’s Homeward, so much that when I first saw this movie I thought I must have seen it before and forgot. I still can’t remember which one is which sometimes.

[@aaronsugar7228]

Insurrection is one of my second tier favorites. It's not as good as II, IV, or VI, but it is in that second tier which for me also includes, First Contact, The Search for Spock and Beyond. I enjoy the "episodic" feel to the film - I always feel Trek is better on the "small screen" telling smaller stories. One of my favorite themes in the movie is the ability to slow time and "live in the moment". It it something I tried very hard to do at my wedding- which resulted in me looking like a deer caught in the headlights on the video. Also, thank you for your channel. I enjoy rational criticisms of Trek, rather than the toxic fandom videos that seem to be everywhere.

[@rmeddy]

This movie isn't anywhere near as offensive as say Generations or Nemesis but it just felt like a squandered opportunity, I think like with Chain of Command, it should've been a crossover with DS9 The plot had a scenario that could've fit with both styles of TNG and DS9 Straight forward deontic (naive) values of TNG vs grey compromising nuanced utilitarianism of DS9 A clash of values manifested through Sisko and Picard and much like how Picard vented over the Borg in First Contact, Sisko could've had a moment or two like that Two bald Captains with deep voices enunciating and speechifying against each other with well-written dialogue would've moistened our federation jammies.

[@The280TimesTriviaChannel]

.I think if DS9 had debuted a year.. or even 3 months sooner it could have been a fun cross over.. but DS9 didn't premier until a week after the second part of COCpII aired .

[@jesusreignsforever2561]

Star Trek: Insurrection is one of my favorite Star trek films, I like it alot.

[@GuntherRommel]

I loved "Insurrection". Thank you for this, Steve.

[@jimd385]

All of the Star Trek movies are enjoyable (for me) what I like most about Insurrection is the sense of unity/family from the cast, the exterior shots look great and the music is brilliant.

[@timtonruben359]

I actually think Insurrection holds up better over time. About a year ago, I watched again for the first time in about twenty years and I actually really enjoyed it. I think Insurrection is kind of a nostalgia movie now because it's funny seeing the TNG cast together again and having a bit of fun.

[@megavide0]

11:49!? BSG? Only the 1st season? The Battlestar Galactica Reboot is so frackin' good! You should see more of it!

[@bcwest619]

Insurrection is my favorite TNG movie and one of my favorite Star Trek movies overall. Like you said, far from perfect, but it most reminded me of the feel and themes of the actual show.

[@olivermaddox555]

LOVED that moment with Worf at the beginning! Picard goes, "Mr. Worf! What the devil are you doing here?" Then turns away before he can even respond. We never get an answer! Great joke by the writers. Also Insurrection has always been a good movie for me too. It was like a feature-film episode of TNG, not perfect, but deep and insightful, funny as hell, and beautifully realised in settings and graphics.

[@SlevinKalevera]

You made good points here, and now I have to revisit it and enjoy it in that frame of mind. Thanks, man!

[@adriftandatpeace]

Over the years, Insurrection has become my favourite of the TNG movies. It's the closest they came to capturing the spirit of the show.

[@underwaterlaser1687]

Also liked this movie and Picard looked great in that greyish t-shirt.

[@ggonzale69]

You know, it amazes me sometimes how different my likes and dislikes are at odds with the greater Star Trek fan base. For example: I am a raving DS9 fan. I, as well, did not particularly care for Voyager. And, “pocket-pet” And “Riker’s-Stick” aside, I found Insurrection to be, in my own opinion of course, among my favorite Trek films. I had no idea that it was so disliked by the masses. (Also, the scene where the Ba’ku snipes at Picard and Anju in the holoship is the only scene in a Trek movie that’s better than Sulu’s teacup in The Undiscovered Country for testing a new home theater speaker setup... if you don’t jump an look behind you for where the phaser-fire came from, something’s wrong with either you or your speakers.)

[@jonturbett87]

I always enjoyed it as well. The jokes, while full of cheese, make my heart happy. 🖖

[@grumpyotter]

I get happy just watching Picard's little salsa moves--I use the gif of that all the time, lol

[@SanjayMerchant]

Funny you mentioned the joystick. For me, what made that moment downright immersion breaking was that my brother had the exact same model joystick the set designers used. Like, they didn't even paint it. (I guess, in fairness, he bought it for flight/dogfight sims so....)

[@toddsaskatchewan]

I always just found it kind of meh. Since I was a kid growing up with the TNG cast, it was disappointing that this was one of the few outings for this set of characters (save Worf) after loving them for seven years. I remember comparing it to episodes of TNG that aren't particularly memorable. It has beats that are important, but overall not much in the way of important events. But it being a film made it more important, and so it is going to be seen in a different light. For me it was also harmed because it came out during the run of DS9's final season, where nearly every story really mattered. It was a meh romp of the TNG crew during the middle of the Dominion War.

[@DylanMadd]

Totally agree. Insurrection was a nice check-in with everyone. Like a 2-part episode.

[@RedGeist]

"Did I tell you I killed Mozart?" "What?" "What?" *shifty eyes*

[@mattk5858]

I LOVED that reference. Great Easter Egg

[@Philbert-s2c]

"Danny says you killed Mo Zart." "I dunno, Jack. I've killed a lot of people over the years."

[@andrewxc1335]

Love that reference. How many people here are way too young to have watched Amadeus? Them: "What? I saw that Falco music video" Me: «SIGH...»

[@AzaleaJane]

I *just* rewatched this for the first time probably since it came out. I was pleasantly surprised! I'm salty about the women not having much to do (and the "boobs firmer" joke is cringe as hell), but that's not just on this film. TNG always had that problem (thanks Rick Berman). I thought it was solid for a double episode, perhaps a bit underwhelming for a feature film, but also nice to have lower stakes than the other films. One reviewer pointed out that it's quite beautiful, kind of an art film, and I agree. I'm impressed with Frakes' range as a director. I wish we could have seen more of the Enterprise-E than just three films. I also thought it helps set the stage a bit for ST: Picard, in that it shows the moral decline of the Federation. This film takes place just 10 years before the synth attack on Mars, and already we're seeing a Federation/Starfleet compromising its values. Some say that's blasphemy, but to me, shining, spotless heroes get a little boring after a while.

[@johansmallberries9874]

The duck blind thing just starts this off so badly. I know they’re immortal, but how much can be learned watching them stack fruit carts all day.

[@angrybatvoice]

I do enjoy Insurrection a lot. I loved the humor, and to me, it felt like an episode of TNG, only longer, which was great. The derivative plot was a bit of a stumble for me, as when I first saw the movie I was constantly fighting a sense of dejavu. But at the same time, it kind of feels like the episodes this plot draws from helped craft Picard and the crew so that they could handle this scenario the way they do. Good video.

[@davida.m.wilensky8182]

YES. I agree with everything here. Except, I'm surprised you didn't mention Anij's ability to slow time (or whatever). It's my only big complaint about the film. Like, what is that? (I'm also not wild about ignoring Data's character progression in First Contact. In this outing, he suddenly returns to his Pinocchio shtick from the show. But they do it in a fun way, so I forgive it.) I'm hoping one of the books you mentioned at the end is Trekonomics, which I absolutely adore!

[@DrTssha]

I feel like Data's change in characterization is a response to the emotion chip Data in Generations. "That was terrible, the fans hated it, so let's say he left his emotion chip behind when he went on this mission". Wish I was a fly on the wall for that production meeting. Also, I don't think Anij had the ability to slow time? Aside from being breathtakingly beautiful and Picard being on a totally excellent date with her. I mean, time would stand still for me too. Perfect moment indeed. :)

[@techwiz81]

My biggest problem with this movie is Picard’s 180 on non-native people having a right to live on a planet. In the TNG episode Journey’s End he rips Wesley a new one for not going along with the plan to resettle the native Americans, but now he’s the Wesley

[@redshirtveteran5688]

Well, the Cardassians weren't going to wreck the planet?

[@michaellangwaller]

I liked Insurrection, I am glad I am not alone. Now if I can find someone that enjoys watching the extended version of Star Trek The Motion Picture as much as I do, not great but I enjoyed TMP.

[@KayleighBourquin]

I enjoy the Director's Cut of TMP, it's just so very pretty, and the story is interesting, despite not being very compelling. Hell I even enjoy The Final Frontier, and Insurrection is far better than either of those films

[@leeheinrich9661]

I have a Soft Spot of STTMP Since I start watch TOS in 1966 at age 7 To me it was and always will be like going home after being gone for a long time. I know the film is slow and not the best but I will watch It over again

[@alanpennie8013]

@@leeheinrich9661 There's no doubt it has a slow start but the actual story is remarkably compelling.

[@Kiyoshi_9606]

You are incredibly obsessed. Thank you for being that way.

[@smartroadbiker]

I liked Insurrection. The humor really made me think that this is a crew who have been working together long enough to have their little in-jokes and idiosyncrasies. It made then feel human to me rather than just characters on the screen. I also felt it was in keeping with their characters as well. Unlike Picard at the end of Nemesis...

[@VegetaLF7]

I honestly enjoy Insurrection. It's not the best film, but not the worst either. I love that it's basically an episode in movie form. It's a fun film to just sit back and watch the TNG crew go on an adventure. Also bonus points for finally giving Starfleet a dress uniform I'd actually wear.

[@emersonmacintosh7673]

"It's perfect! I'll get what I want and they'll all die and I'll get what I want." XD

[@molin1]

I highly recommend Michael Pillar's book Fade In, lots of great information about TNG in general and the process of birthing this particular film. It's aimed at writers, but should fascinating to any TNG fan.

[@teslavoltagames3208]

"Did I ever tell you I killed Mozart?" Great line.

[@FoxDragon]

The 'floatation device' gag still makes me cackle in mad delight. I LOVED how seriously this movie didn't take itself.

[@leftunity8627]

awesome! love your channel.

[@ThePorpoisepower]

Star Trek: Nemesis is better titled as Star Trek: Attack of the Clones

[@JarvisBrodie]

In any case, both movies were bad. Lol

[@GamePlay-ds1ew]

There’s a moment in this movie that has always bothered me: When the crew first beam down to the planet, Picard is introducing everybody and when he gets to Crusher and Troi, Troi nods her head when Picard says, “Dr. Crusher”, and Crusher nods her head when Picard says, “Counselor Troi”. It sticks out like a sore thumb lol.

[@pdahandyman]

Subtle John Candy reference from SCTV. "We done blowed 'em up, REAL good!" Good work.

[@grumpyotter]

I like this one too--mostly because I really like Donna Murphy, and I love the Ba'ku village. I'd love to live that way. Can you imagine having enough time in life to devote to your passions that you could spend 40 years as an apprentice? Heavenly. Human life is so short. But then I stop watching once it turns into shooting and Dr. Beverly Dingbat picks up a blaster. Good lord.

[@philiponeill6903]

I've heard people complain "It's just like a two-part episode of TNG," to which I respond "You say that like it's a bad thing." Honestly, "Insurrection" is my favourite of the TNG movies. I love "First Contact," but it does too many things to make non-Trek audiences happy, one of them being "movie" Picard being the main character rather than "series" Picard. Movie Picard is an action hero who forgets that he dealt with a lot of his Borg issues when he refused to wipe them out using Hugh. Suddenly, he's back to not dealing with them and wanting to kill them all again. "Insurrection" was more like Series Picard. A little action hero-ey, but thoughtful and ethical.

[@alexanderbirch4026]

This video is very good and I have thought Insurrection is a great Star Trek movie for years and I hope other people enjoy this video and Insurrection

[@michaellarocca1435]

OMG! “Did I ever tell you I killed Mozart!” LOL 😂!!!

[@SechristCircus]

Thank you for this. I've always said Insurrection is a good movie, but a great episode.

[@patrickdodds7162]

"Does anyone remember when we used to be explorers?" -- Picard. (Bless you, Michael Piller for this line. May you forever Rest In Peace, oh savior of modern Star Trek.)

[@Yateball]

Worf's "explanation" is one of the worst parts for me. Trek was always SO good at explaining everything even if the explanation was just making up tech based jargon shit. With the Worf explanation of why he's there Riker just ends up talking over him so we can't hear what he says.... Blah Oh, and Riker's joystick too... other than that, movie is fine

[@SteveShives]

It was also the last time they even attempted to explain Worf's presence despite no longer being assigned to the Enterprise. In Nemesis, which takes place after the end of DS9, which saw Worf apparently leave Starfleet altogether and accept an ambassadorship, Worf is just back in uniform and once again on the Enterprise with no explanation whatsoever. I think there was a line about it in the script that was cut from the film, but even that was just a token "Nah, being a diplomat just wasn't for me" thing.

[@Yateball]

@@SteveShives I guess Targ hunting with Martok was a bust

[@richardludwig3673]

Steve Shives I just assumed he was there for the wedding and in uniform because he was a member of Starfleet.

[@Steffs]

I always just assumed the reason Worf was back is because Michael Dorn had the same contract as the rest of the cast and wanted to buy a new airplane. And that’s why Worf is here! No wonder Riker spoke over that explanation... I also think I had that “manual steering column” on my PC back in the day.

[@DrTssha]

Don't play around with your joystick Riker, you'll go blind.

[@telemarkaeology]

While I do think that "First Contact" is still the best TNG film, "Insurrection" feels most like a TNG . And that's good! If it had come as the first TNG film, I might have been more kindly disposed towards it. But it really does like the show.

[@sobertillnoon]

"Good" is strong language. I prefer "Star Trek Insurrection is a perfectly serviceable movie."

[@theonlymatthew.l]

Couldn't agree more, serviceable definitely. But with this stereotypical villains, over the top acting, and junior high level script I would hesitate to call it good

[@Lexivor]

I prefer "only mostly horrible".

[@DumblyDorr]

This is exactly what I've said about Insurrection ever since it ran in cinemas - it's the closes to TNG we ever got in the movies. It's about values, the action is not at the center, and Picard is the eloquent, principled leader.

[@Will-eh6xe]

Picard:worf are u familier with gilbert and sulivan Wirf: no captain i didnt look at the crew roster Picard: the look Lol best scene in the film

[@gambar]

Worf is a bloody Klingon. How on earth could anyone expect him to know terran music composers? Little bit far-fetched...

[@thomasschepers2318]

@@gambar worf is raised on earth by human foster parents.

[@samanthaharris2837]

@@thomasschepers2318 Actually he was raised on Gault. His human parents moved to Earth later.

[@gambar]

@@thomasschepers2318 fair enough, but still :) asking a crew member of a starship specialised on security and combat a question like that... dunno, maybe because i'm just a pre-24th century neanderthal xD

[@ajayrious]

I like Insurrection too. I don't think it makes for a brilliant blockbuster cinema experience, but if it was an episode of the TV series, it would be above average and kind of speaks to the fact that Star Trek belongs on TV and not on the movie screen.

[@paladin677]

For some reason I thought you were defending Nemesis. I was hurting in my soul. Don't judge me. I haven't had coffee yet.

[@GrinningSmile]

I always forget Insurrection is a movie and just remember it as a good 2 parter lol

[@AlisaScholl]

Actually this was always my favourite Star Trek movie!

[@wezul]

"Sing Worf, sing." Followed by that little head shake is legit THE example I point to as "my kind of humor." I LOVE that scene.

[@ZombieFood1337]

Nemesis is very clearly a remake a Wrath of Khan. A dangerous foe in possession of a planet-killing weapon is obsessed with the killing the captain. After the bad guy's ship is crippled, he activates the doomsday weapon. The crew member without emotions sacrifices himself to save the Enterprise, but the door is left open for the character's possible return.

[@dboymax1]

And elements of Star Trek 6 The Undiscovered Country...

[@StudentGamer47]

I recently rewatched this movie a month or so ago for the first time in years and ended up loving it way more than when I first watched it. Probably because back then I had only seen a handful of episodes of TNG and DS9, so I was very out of context about all the background stuff. After watching both series and getting to know the cast more intimately, I can't believe this didn't do better at the box office. Here you have Picard essentially going rogue, against the very system he's fought for for decades, to do the right thing and his crew stands with him against this admiral and the villain. What I also see is that it's not another case of a rogue, evil admiral; he's under direct orders from Starfleet itself to do this relocation. The Dominion War was absolutely horrible and Starfleet was willing to compromise one of it's core beliefs in order to have a chance to win. Even though Picard understood their reasoning, he knew that morally it was wrong. I actually really loved this movie. Except for the part where Riker shaves his beard. He looked so wrong with it off. Lol And I love how Picard and Worf save Data. Definitely a highlight of the movie.

[@NewYork975]

Other than maybe First Contact, these Next Generation movies were all pretty average. Insurrection was a glorified high budget TV episode, nothing epic about it, it could have been just a series plot.

[@Mintylight]

About the smaller stakes: I'd love a Trek film that focuses on say, Picard's relationship with his crew due to being borgified. Or a film about Picard and Crusher and their struggles w their feelings after falling in love after having been part of a group of friends. I think many of the actors could have pulled some amazing emotional storytelling with the right scripts ad directions. I don't see why it always have to be about the whole of Earth or whatever to get you invested in sci fi? People care about Alien 1 and that's just like the initial fates of like 5-7 people? Even if the alien might travel. Same with Blade Runner, it's not even about humans, they are already fu_ked more or less, but about the androids and what it means to be alive. The Shining is just about a single family unit of people, and one outsider, and people sill care. Why does sci fi always have to be to bloated nowadays?

[@Enfiare]

Love Insurrection. Great char dev, brilliant callbacks, top notch acting, amazing production values, and adorable heart and soul and a solid reminder that life is important.

[@shibolinemress8913]

I've always enjoyed the humour of Insurrection, and was surprised that the film got so much flak. Thanks for a great video!

[@thegreatbaolmagician3032]

You have never seen BSG reboot past first season??? Heresy!! Joke aside, i think it's really good and it's the tv series which i always recommend to anyone, even if they don't like sci-fi stories, because it's a story which everyone can like. I think DS9, BSG and now The Expanse are the top 3 best sci-fi series ever made Back in the topic, IMO Insurrection it's a good movie, maybe because when i have seen it, it was before i actually saw TNG (or any other Star Trek series) and i have never really understood all the hate, all in all it feels more like a long episode of TNG than a movie

[@jonathonwhitington402]

I'm actually quite surprised to find out he hasn't watched it all. Seems right up his alley.

[@dcsignal5241]

I always liked it and Generations too. Don't care if the masses can't appreciate these movies, their loss.