Although my passion for the subject has waned, I’ve always been a big Star Trek fan. You know those kids in the 1970’s who made Star Trek, well, “STAR TREK”? Â I was one of them. I watched the show on TV in the afternoons. I watched the animated series. And every day when I was in third grade we played “Star Trek” on the playground. Each kid had their part. Mark was always Captain Kirk. Ariel was always Mr. Spock. Greg was Scotty. Me? I played the alien who would stand behind a tree until the gang “beamed down to the planet.” Then I’d jump out from behind the tree and scream and yell before being blasted in a haze of phaser fire.
Yep, that was me. I was Mugatu 25 years before Will Ferrell made the role famous for avid Trekker Ben Stiller.
Of course I have seen all the movies. But, importantly, I’ve seen them all on opening day. Which means that you get to see the movies with all the rest of the hardcore “Trekkies” (my preferred term). It’s a streak I’ve kept alive since the first film in 1979 and continued to the last one in 2002 or whatever year it was (can you tell when my interest in the franchise waned?). It was good for Star Trek to take a break. But I’m glad it’s back.
Cut to the best TV ad I’ve ever seen for a movie.
Â
Not. Your Father’s. Star Trek.
Perfect.
Of course, I’m keen to see the new Star Trek movie and it looks great. And I’ll be there on the first day.
It just so happened that I’ve started to rewatch some of the old movies, including Star Trek: The Motion Picture that I haven’t seen since it first came out in 1979. Not a great movie, and I was watching the updated DVD version with improved special effects.Â
So, here’s my list of the best Star Trek movies:
- Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan – anyone who says this isn’t the best Star Trek movie is a Star Wars fan
- Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country
- Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home – (yes, the one with the whales)
- Star Trek: First Contact – best “Next Generation” movie (and, yes, an “even numbered” Trek film)
- Star Trek III: The Search for Spock
- Star Trek V: The Final Frontier – not as bad as it’s rep, and would be really good if they could redo the effects in act three.
- Free Enterprise – the comedy film about two Trek fans who befriend “Bill Shatner”. Way more of a “Star Trek” film than many real Star Trek films
- Star Trek: Generations
- Star Trek: Insurrection
- Star Trek: Nemesis
- Star Trek: The Motion Picture
- Trekkies – lots of fun
We’ll see where this year’s Star Trek film fits in when it opens on May 7th.
Update: I’ve rewatched Nemesis and TMP and have switched their positions in the list.