# Star Trek movie poll: rank 'em **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 7, 2000, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-movie-poll-rank-em/32301 "2000-09-07T00:48:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![jab1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ee7513/32.png) [@jab1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jab1)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2000, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-movie-poll-rank-em/32301/21 "2000-09-07T17:47:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ptahlis \* > **STTMP: Basically a retelling of “The Changeling,” the episode with the probe Nomad, with a different ending.** Some have referred to the first film as _Where Nomad Had Gone Before._ \*\* > [@](#): > > The Final Frontier: An object lesson. The folks at Paramount have said that they would like to regard this one as apocryphal, and I can understand why.\*\* It was Roddenberry himself who said this film was apocryphal, though Gene was basically a non-entity by this time. Besides the problems you mentioned, think of this: They showed Spock’s birth. And it was a natural birth. Meaning a red-blooded Earth woman had given birth to a green-blooded baby. Illogical. \*\* > [@](#): > > Anybody that ever lets Shatner write or direct anything ever again deserves to have “moron” tattooed on their foreheads in neon letters.\*\* Would that include Pocket Books? Y’see, Shitner-- Uh, **Shat** ner has written a series of _Trek_ novels with a continuity of his own devising. The last one I read featured everyone from _TNG_, Sisko, Janeway, Scotty, McCoy and, yes, Kirk himself. Apparently, Shatner didn’t like the way Kirk was killed off either. The novel (can’t remember the title) ends with the return of the mirror-universe Kirk. I kid you not. ---
**Author:** ![Ptahlis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a8b319/32.png) [@Ptahlis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ptahlis)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2000, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-movie-poll-rank-em/32301/22 "2000-09-07T18:02:23Z")
Yeah, I have heard of Shatner’s “Tek” novels, and that he was writing in the Trek field these days. Generally, I avoid any Trek novels simply because they lie outside the “official history” of the Trek universe. I guess I should have said that they should keep him from scriptwriting specifically, since there are people who will buy his other stuff. In all fairness, I can’t judge his novels because I have never read them, but after seeing ST5, can you blame me for that? ---
**Author:** ![Ptahlis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a8b319/32.png) [@Ptahlis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ptahlis)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2000, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-movie-poll-rank-em/32301/23 "2000-09-07T18:17:48Z")
Oops! I forgot one rant about the Trek movies in general. The damn ship should NOT completely morph into something entirely different from one movie to the next! I can understand a _few_ changes when there is a lot of time passing between one movie and the next. Still, look at the bridge in “Wrath of Khan” and the one in “Search for Spock.” Totally different, yet the latter movie opens with Kirk on a very different bridge, on his way home from the Genesis planet with burn marks and battle damage from his fight with Khan! I hate that!!! I don’t think there are two Trek movies that use the same bridge from one to the other (obviously not counting times when they changed ships) except _possibly_ “Final Contact” and “Insurrection,” which I haven’t gotten round to buying yet. ---
**Author:** ![jab1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ee7513/32.png) [@jab1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jab1)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2000, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-movie-poll-rank-em/32301/24 "2000-09-07T18:36:06Z")
The bridge of the Klingon ship in _The Search for Spock_ was TOTALLY different in _The Voyage Home._ ---
**Author:** ![Phobos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Phobos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phobos)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2000, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-movie-poll-rank-em/32301/25 "2000-09-07T20:31:32Z")
these first 2 are kind of a toss-up for me… 1. Wrath of Khan – the best battle scene 2. First Contact – the Borg have done wonders for ST these next 3 rank about the same for me… 1. Undiscovered Country – good adventure (possible nominee for the best beginning of a movie? hmm, ok here we are…HEY! A MOON BLEW UP!) 2. The Voyage Home – good clean fun 3. Generations – Data was lame, and so was bringing back Kirk, but ya gotta love astrometrics & blowing up whole planets these just sucked…but I don’t know which is the worst… 1. Search for Spock – now what was the point of this? 2. The Final Frontier – just ick, man…ick. 3. The Motion Picture – aside from ripping off 2001 and being lame overall, the writers obviously had no clue about the Voyagers. Insurrection – haven’t seen it yet ---
**Author:** ![kasuo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8c91f0/32.png) [@kasuo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kasuo)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2000, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-movie-poll-rank-em/32301/26 "2000-09-07T23:01:10Z")
I only consider these 3 really noteworthy and viewable: 1. First Contact 2. Undiscovered Country 3. Voyage Home The rest I could give a damn. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2000, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-movie-poll-rank-em/32301/27 "2000-09-07T23:22:49Z")
> [@](#): > > I can understand a few changes when there is a lot of time passing between one movie and the next. Still, look at the bridge in “Wrath of Khan” and the one in “Search for Spock.” Totally different, yet the latter movie opens with Kirk on a very different bridge, As SFX improved over the years, better looking (and fancier) bridges could be built. The explanation usually given is that the bridges on starships are modular. So this means they pop out the old bridge and pop in a new one as needed. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2000, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-movie-poll-rank-em/32301/28 "2000-09-07T23:34:01Z")
Ok I love the trilogy of 2, 3, and 4. I watch them back to back to back and it really is great that way. Six is great. Captain Von Trap shows his evil side and Sulu has his own command. First Contact is great. All the members of the ensemble are allowed to use their acting strengths. However the Phoenix looked more like the Penis and how did that thing land back on Earth anyway? And Picard should have at least kissed (aarrrrugh mind blank but you know who I mean) Also I realize that Data must swear in the movie once now but in this film it would have been much better just before he breaks the warp core coolant line. “Resistance is futile…BITCH!” Generations was great…for a little bit. The death of Kirk at the beginning of the film was fantastic and fitting for a hero like JTK. But after that the film goes straight to hell. Not to mention that on ST TNG Scotty “forgets” that JTK is dead. The Motion Picture was great in the theatre. Like a renion with an old friend but not to be watched ever again except to see the Riker/Troi prototype with the 7th Heaven guy. (The 7th Heaven woman is in ST 4) Star Trek Five is not that bad. I recently watched it again and the film does have some of the best Kirk/Spock/McCoy dialogue of all the films. Hearing the three of them argue (for me) is one of the joys of Trek. That leaves Insurrection. The $9.99 joystick from Circuit City was the straw that broke my back. I gasped and the entire house heard me. That was just plain stupid. As far as the music goes at my wedding I used the opening music from First Contact as a processional. Pretty cool huh? ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2000, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-movie-poll-rank-em/32301/29 "2000-09-12T13:16:33Z")
1. The Wrath of Khan 2. First Contact 3. The Voyage Home 4. The Undiscovered Country 5. The Search for Spock 6. The Motion Picture 7. Insurrection 8. Generations 9. The Final Frontier ---
**Author:** ![echidnasarf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e99b99/32.png) [@echidnasarf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/echidnasarf)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2000, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-movie-poll-rank-em/32301/30 "2000-09-12T15:25:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by lawoot \* > \*\*Wrath of Kahn: easily the best. Why couldn’t they just transport the Genesis Device off the _Reliant_ and scatter its atoms across the nebula? > > Undicovered Country: An acceptable apology for Final Frontier. Alarms go off if you fire a phaser on board the ship? Really? A safety reg brought up just to cover an OBVIOUS flaw in the plotline (Once again, why not just take the assassin away team and spread their atoms across the universe when you transport them back?) > \*\* I’ve always wondered about the transporter thing as well. I’m sure there’s probably a scene on the cutting room floor explaining why it can’t be used. ---
**Author:** ![JosephFinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3bc359/32.png) [@JosephFinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JosephFinn)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2000, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-movie-poll-rank-em/32301/31 "2000-09-12T16:39:24Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ptahlis \* > \*\*Yeah, I have heard of Shatner’s “Tek” novels, and that he was writing in the Trek field these days. Generally, I avoid any Trek novels simply because they lie outside the “official history” of the Trek universe. I guess I should have said that they should keep him from scriptwriting specifically, since there are people who will buy his other stuff. In all fairness, I can’t judge his novels because I have never read them, but after seeing ST5, can you blame me for that? \*\* To tell the truth, I did like the ghostwriters use of Voyager and Captain Janeway from the mirror universe (the Cardassians stole plans for Voyager, gathered together every human slave they could find who matched Voyagers crew roster, and then pretended to by Voyager coming home in order to trick the Enterprise). ---
**Author:** ![Joe\_Cool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ecb155/32.png) [@Joe\_Cool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joe_Cool)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2000, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-movie-poll-rank-em/32301/32 "2000-09-12T18:25:04Z")
[Here](http://www.brunching.com/selfmade/selfmade-startrekinsurrection.html), along with a review of Insurrection, you can find an objective (sort of) point system for rating Star Trek movies. Here it is: > [@](#): > > Start with 50 Points, then add or subtract accordingly: > > The Film was based on a TV episode: +20 > > The Film featured one of the stars of 7th Heaven: +10 > > The Film featured Spock’s Father as Spock’s Father: +5 > > The Film featured Spock’s Father as a Klingon: +10 > > A major member of the series was died during the film (either permanently or temporarily): -15 > > The captain had some kind of new love interest (ex-wives do not count): +10 > > The main story nothing to do with anyone related to a crew member: +10 > > Star Trek got religion: -20 > > There were extensive ship-to-ship battle scenes: +15 > > The Enterprise was destroyed: -10 > > The Film was directed by the first officer: +10 > > The Film was directed by the captain: -10 > > A guest star was once nominated for a Golden Globe Award: +5 > > The film featured a minor actor in a minor role who would eventually become a regular cast member on a Star Trek series: + 5 > > The crew of the Enterprise saved earth: +10 > > The Film was really an allegorical allusion to how we, as a people, need to be nicer to each other: -15 > > There was something weird going on with the all-logical/non-feeling character of Spock and/or Data: +5 > > The crew of the Enterprise broke a direct order from Starfleet: -5 > > Someone traveled through time: +5 > > The Villain was a machine, a bunch of pansy whales, or God: -15 > > The Villain was Mr. Roarke: +15 Using this system, he came up with the following scores: Star Trek I: The Motion Picture: 75 Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan: 90 Star Trek III: The Search For Spock: 50 Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home: 85 Star Trek V: The Final Frontier: 5 Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country: 90 Star Trek VII: Generations: 70 Star Trek VIII: First Contact: 120 Star Trek IX: Insurrection: 70 I more or less agree. But I can’t quite bring myself to rank them in order. Like others here, I have groups, listed in numerical order for each group: GREAT (coincidentally all of and ONLY the even numbers) [aka I’d go out of my way to watch it]: II: The Wrath of Khan IV: The Voyage Home VI: The Undiscovered Country VIII: First Contact GOOD or ACCEPTABLE [aka I’ll probably watch it if it’s on]: III: The Search for Spock (this one really belongs in GREAT. I think it’s the only real exception to the even-odd rule) V: The Final Frontier (Hi, my name is Joe Cool and I enjoyed Star Trek V. [all: Hi, Joe!]) VII: Generations IX: Insurrection BAD [aka I’ll go out of my way to avoid it, or watch it if my only alternative is a Police Academy movie]: I: The Motion Picture (did we really need a 20 minute montage of the outside of the Enterprise, then another one of V-ger???) Ok, maybe I’m a little too lenient. But what can I say? I like Shatner, I like cheesiness when it’s intentional (and I sincerely believe ST5 was cheesy intentionally), [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-movie-poll-rank-em/32301.md?page=1)