Μύ Captains Kirk (William Shatner) and Picard (Patrick Stuart) join forces in Star Trek: Generations, a modest hit at the box office in 1994 despite being "thinly-drawn and badly-played". Whatever the criticisms levelled against it, trekkies revelled in the notion of the two captains united to thwart mad scientist Soran (Malcolm McDowell) and his plans for murderous multi-planetary mayhem.
Going Boldly Forth
In the ten years since the film was released, visual effects technology has made leaps and bounds, although the science behind creating the Nexus Ribbon is still rather complicated - as revealed in one of three scene deconstructions. Inside ILM takes a close-up look at the various models and miniatures - from building to filming - and Crashing The Enterprise goes on location to the middle of the California desert where effects bods give the Roswell Conspiracy theorists something to talk about.
Captain Picard's Family Album is a prized object in Star Trek lore and enthusiasts will relish the attention to detail as art coordinator Penny Juday flicks through its pages to explain Picard's family history throughout the centuries. Similarly The Enterprise Lineage follows the evolution of the famous Starship, which has its roots in an 18th Century frigate of Her Majesty's Royal Navy. Designer of the Enterprise, Matt Jeffries, also gets his own forum and talks at length about his working relationship with series creator Gene Roddenberry.
Life, But Not As We Know It
If you know what a bat'leth is you'll be enraptured by the featurette Creating 24th Century Weapons in which props designer Gil Hibben confesses, "I'm just a crazy little knife maker!" You can also hear from the stars of the film in Uniting Two Legends, where William Shatner gracelessly admits that he was "sorry" about having to play second fiddle to Patrick Stewart. Classy.
Shatner is on better form in Strange New Worlds as he marvels at The Valley Of Fire in Nevada where the crew prepare to shoot the film's climactic scenes. Ultimately this sequence was shot twice because, as director David Carson explains, after test screenings it was decided the showdown between Soran and the two captains "didn't have enough action and adventure". If you're curious as to what went wrong the first time, the original ending is included in a selection of four (very grainy) deleted scenes.
Disappointingly Carson doesn't offer an audio commentary for the film although screenwriters Brannon Braga and Ronald D Moore are on hand to talk you through it. A photo gallery and storyboards complete what is a generously detailed package of extras that's sure to keep trekkies in seventh heaven.
EXTRA FEATURES
Star Trek: Generations Special Edition DVD is out to buy on 20th December 2004.
