(Not including the reboot trilogy as that’s a different altogether topic)
I was recently in a mood to binge the first ten Star Trek films as I hadn’t seen any of them in several years, and I notice that the TOS films are better than the TNG films. Which is weird because when it comes to the tv series, I far prefer TNG and its spin-offs over TOS but when it came to the films, it’s the opposite. I love First Contact, and like Generations but Insurrection and Nemesis are pretty bad IMO, whereas the only TOS film I truly dislike is V. (My favorites are IV and VI) Was wondering what others here thought, I think this may be the standard opinion in fact.
As for why they’re better, I think for whatever reason the TOS movies feel more cinematic, whereas the TNG films were mostly trying to capture the TNG feeling and not as much be cinematic?
I was like you once. Then, one day I realized that i really enjoyed watching first contact. It may even be my favourite of all of the start trek movies, original and TNG.
Eventually, I even appreciated insurrection. It is a little more light hearted than the other TNG movies. When the old crew began to feel younger, it just makes you happy.
That being said, I also watched the first star trek movie again recently, which is easily the one I’ve watched the least of all of them, and I will say I really enjoyed it. Maybe my tastes are just changing. Maybe my mind is going. Who knows.
A lot of people criticized Insurrection for being like a two-part episode of TNG (as in: doesn’t feel like a movie). But isn’t that … good? It’s TNG. We got more of TNG. 🤷🏻♂️ I like Insurrection. It’s not my favourite Star Trek movie but it’s a damn good movie for being Star Trek. Except, you know, when Picard beams off the exploding vessel and lets the villain die because that’s what Movie Picard does.
They cut the scene of Picard offering to save the villain, because…I guess it’s cooler to just let him die.
Anyway, I don’t think Insurrection is bad because it feels like a TNG episode, I think it’s bad because its shot in a tv movie style with a plot that makes no sense and even kinda craps all over Star Trek’s philosophy. I do appreciate they tried to create a Star Trek style moral dilemma though. Generations feels more like a theatrical version of a TNG two parter and is better for it IMO.
Oh I love First Contact, and it’s my favorite of all the films still. But that’s just one film out of four. Most of the TOS movies I like, whereas most of the TNG films not so much. But I don’t begrudge anyone who disagrees.
Yeah I love Star Trek 1 now, I hated it so much as a kid though. But either its just better for adults or the Directors Cut is just that much better, because I really enjoy the film.