Star Trek The Next Generation - The Complete Seventh Season (Star Trek)

Star Trek The Next Generation - The Complete Seventh Season

B000063V8V

Paramount Home Video

31 December, 2002

The seventh and final season of Star Trek: The Next Generation will always remain a curiosity in TV sci-fi history. Despite the end being definite, despite Deep Space Nine taking over, despite knowing there'd be a movie six months after the series' end, and despite Babylon 5 starting that year with its predetermined story arc, there is nothing here to suggest things were coming to a close. Wesley finally gets dispatched ("Journey's End"), but everyone was waiting for that anyway. Some continuity was attempted: there's a sequel to season 1's "The Battle" ("Bloodlines"), Alexander follows the Klingon soap saga through ("Firstborn"), the Maquis and the Cardassians are mentioned several times, and there are final installments for Lwaxana Troi, Barclay, Lore, Guinan, and Ro Laren. None of this brings any form of resolution, however. The one-off story lines seem to throw out ideas that beg for development. "Force of Nature" suggests frequent high-warp travel is damaging the very fabric of space/time. "Parallels" has Worf experiencing multiple realities, including one in which the Borg won at Wolf 359. "Lower Decks" finally introduces some secondary crew from the more than a thousand supposedly supporting Picard and company. There are even hints at some romance at long last between Dr. Crusher and Picard as well as Worf and Troi. In the long run, even after terrific guest spots from Trek alumni Armin Shimerman and Robin Curtis, and from Paul Sorvino and Kirsten Dunst, there's one thing for which the final year is remembered: "All Good Things..." is a near-perfect denouement for the show. With terrific production values and FX, not to mention standout performances from all concerned, it was an amazing surprise to have Q suggest there'd been a story arc right from the get-go. If only this final script had been fully conceived earlier on, The Next Generation might not have been overshadowed by the glut of TV sci-fi that followed in its wake. --Paul Tonks

Nominated for 58 Emmys, including one for Outstanding Drama Series, Star Trek: The Next Generation fulfilled all the potential and promise anticipated of a long-awaited successor to the original 1960s series - Star Trek. Created by a former L.A. police officer, Gene Roddenberry, the Star Trek TV series morphed into a franchise famous for the unprecedented fanatical devotion of its audience. Lasting only three seasons during its original network run, Star Trek struck gold with its syndicated reruns, launching a number of motion pictures featuring the original cast as well as novels, comic books, collectibles, and reams of Star Trek-related memorabilia. Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987) became the first TV series to follow on the heels of the original, and its success would spark the creation of three additional series - Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993), Star Trek: Voyager (1995), and Star Trek: Enterprise (2001). But The Next Generation remained the most popular spin-off. Despite new characters and new episodes, the mission remained the same as before - "to boldly go where no man has gone before..." And to continue the rich tradition of the Star Trek name - a mission Star Trek: The Next Generation accomplishes with relative ease...
 
 Star Trek: The Next Generation takes place in the 24th Century, almost one-hundred years after Captain Kirk's crew set out to explore strange new worlds. Capt. Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart - I Claudius) commands the USS Enterprise-D and its diverse crew of humans, cyborgs, and varying life forms. Accompanying him on his voyage is an entirely new cast of passengers and crew including Commander William T. Riker (Jonathan Frakes - North & South), Lt. Commander Data (Brent Spiner), Lt. Commander Geordi La Forge (LeVar Burton), Lt. Tasha Yar (Denise Crosby), Lt. Worf (Michael Dorn), Dr. Beverly Crusher (Gates McFadden), and her son Ensign Wesley Crusher (Wil Wheaton)... Together, they struggle against numerous obstacles to carry out the mission of the USS Enterprise: "To explore strange new worlds... To seek out new life; new civilizations... To boldly go where no one has gone before!" This pioneering attitude, coupled with imaginative and brilliantly-produced alien worlds, provides Star Trek with its unique allure and special place within American pop culture - especially those episodes from the original series, widely regarded as the most popular of the Star Trek franchise...
 
 The Star Trek: The Next Generation (Season 7) DVD features a number of exciting episodes including the season premiere "Descent" in which, corrupted by the Borg, Data kidnaps Capt. Picard, Troi, and Geordi. Meanwhile, Dr. Crusher must command the USS Enterprise as it faces a potentially fatal attack by a Borg vessel... Other notable episodes from Season 7 include "Force of Nature" in which the theory is put forth that frequent high-warp travel by spacecraft may be causing irreparable damage to the space/time continuum, and "Genesis" in which the crew of the Enterprise stumbles upon a drifting spaceship, the crew of which is found to be slowly devolving into their animal ancestors...
 
 Below is a list of episodes included on the Star Trek: The Next Generation (Season 7) DVD:
 
 Episode 153 (Descent)
 Episode 154 (Liaisons)
 Episode 155 (Interface)
 Episode 156 (Gambit: Part 1)
 Episode 157 (Gambit: Part 2) 
 Episode 158 (Phantasms)
 Episode 159 (Dark Page)
 Episode 160 (Attached)
 Episode 161 (Force of Nature)
 Episode 162 (Inheritance)
 Episode 163 (Parallels)
 Episode 164 (The Pegasus)
 Episode 165 (Homeward)
 Episode 166 (Sub Rosa)
 Episode 167 (Lower Decks)
 Episode 168 (Thine Own Self)
 Episode 169 (Masks)
 Episode 170 (Eye of the Beholder)
 Episode 171 (Genesis)
 Episode 172 (Journey's End)
 Episode 173 (Firstborn)
 Episode 174 (Bloodlines)
 Episode 175 (Emergence)
 Episode 176 (Pre-emptive Strike)
 Episode 177 (All Good Things... Part 1)
 Episode 178 (All Good Things... Part 2)
 
 The DVD Report In order to rate season 7, you have to be aware of what you appreciate about Star Trek. Many people adore the complex, ongoing plot of Star Trek Deep Space 9 and introspective stories with strong character development. If you're one of these people, Season 7 probably isn't one of TNG's best -- try Season 4 instead or buy Deep Space 9. Many of TNG's writers departed at this time for Deep Space 9 so the episodes aren't as consistent as in past seasons.
 
 However, the acting in Season 7 is superb. By this time, the actors had perfected their characters in every way. Even Jonathan Frakes (in my opinion the worst actor in TNG besides the horrendous Will Weaton) had very few awkward or clumsy moments.
 
 I personally like all seasons of TNG because I believe that they follow the Star Trek formula that Gene Rodenberry originally created. I believe that Deep Space 9 and other Star Trek series gradually lost his vision -- eventually degrading into today's disaster "Enterprise". Star Trek Voyager recaptured some of his vision but it still couldn't achieve the magic of TNG.
 
 Truth be told, despite losing some writing talent, TNG Season 7 still delivers Rodenberry's creation as he intended it. Season 7 is still very entertaining and 20+ hours of entertainment for less than $110 is a good value. Definitely worth it! Dar Morons,
 
 
 My question for the Morons at Paramount is why do possibly glue the sticker seals the container with such strong stuff that you cannot avoid ruining the container when you remove it. May I remind that this a COLLETOR'S ITEM!!!!! Therefore if you damage it is WORTHLESS.

Star Trek IV - The Voyage Home (Special Edition)

B000083C49

Paramount Home Video

04 March, 2003

Widely considered the best movie in the "classic Trek" series of feature films, Star Trek IV returns to one of the favorite themes of the original TV series--time travel--to bring Kirk, Spock, McCoy, Scotty, Sulu, Uhura, and Chekov from the 23rd century to present-day San Francisco. In their own time, the Starfleet heroes encounter an alien probe emitting a mysterious message--a message delivered in the song of the now-extinct Earth species of humpback whales. Failure to respond to the probe will result in Earth's destruction, so Kirk and company time-travel to 20th-century Earth--in their captured Klingon starship--to transport a humpback whale to the future in an effort to peacefully communicate with the alien probe. The plot sounds somewhat absurd in description, but as executed by returning director Leonard Nimoy, this turned out to be a crowd-pleasing adventure, filled with humor and lively interaction among the favorite Star Trek characters. Catherine Hicks (from TV's 7th Heaven) plays the 20th-century whale expert who is finally convinced of Kirk's and Spock's benevolent intentions. With ample comedy taken from the clash of future heroes with 20th-century urban realities, Star Trek IV was a box-office smash, satisfying mainstream audiences and hardcore Trek fans alike. --Jeff Shannon

Star Trek IV plays as a fish-out-of-water story, with Kirk and his crew from the 23rd century going back to 1986 San Francisco. The visual effects are not too great, but the story does not need them. Giving this movie a more comedic value than the others was a risk, especially after the dramatic Star Trek II and the moody Star Trek III. Leonard Nimoy returns to direct after directing the previous movie, although this time, he is also acting as Spock. It is an understandably grueling task to alternate between acting and directing the movie, but Mr. Nimoy pulled it off, paving the way for future Star Trek actors to direct future installments on the television series and movies.
 A lot of the movie involves Spock trying to rediscover what it means to be human, after his mind has been retrained as a Vulcan. This leads to some of the movie's comedy, such as the fact that he takes Kirk's advice that in the 20th century, you have to swear a lot to be taken seriously.
 I have seen a non-Trekker watch this movie and enjoy it, so I can reccomend this movie freely. Foregoing the heavy drama of the first 3 films, Star Trek 4 is actually more or less a comedy classic due to its hilariously anachronistic nature: folks from the future trying to get through a "modern" world and all of its quirks. 
 The ultimate message of the film--save the planet for future generations to enjoy--could have been heavy handed but is beautifully covered by ample doses of seriously laugh-out-loud humor which even non-trekkies would enjoy. This is one of the best "fish out of water" (pun intended) films ever created.
 Previous reviews cover the storyline well enough so we don't need a rehash of that. I'd rather like to focus on the humor present in this ostensibly light-hearted look at a serious matter. Imagine Spock trying his best to sound "modern" by swearing, or watching Scotty try to use a "modern" computer. The laughs do not stop. McCoy and Spock's dialogues are gut-wrenchingly funny. Here are some examples:
 [McCoy trying to discuss what death was like with Spock]
 McCoy: Perhaps we can cover a little philosophical ground. Life, death, life. Things of that nature.
 Spock: I did not have time on Vulcan to review the philosophical disciplines. 
 McCoy: C'mon Spock, it's me, McCoy. You really have gone where no man's gone before. Can't you tell me what it felt like? 
 Spock: It would be impossible to discuss the subject without a common frame of reference
 McCoy: You're joking.
 Spock: A joke...is...a story with a humorous climax.
 McCoy: You mean I have to die to discuss your insights on death?
 Spock: Forgive me Doctor. I'm receiving a number of distress calls.
 McCoy: I don't doubt it.
 .........................
 
 Spock: Your use of language has altered since our arrival. It is currently laced with, shall we say, more colorful metaphors--"double dumb-ass on you" and so forth. 
 Kirk: Oh, you mean the profanity. 
 Spock: Yes. 
 Kirk: Well that's simply the way they talk here. Nobody pays any attention to you unless you swear every other word. 
 ...................
 
 [Spock is still learning how to use profanity correctly] 
 Spock: They like you very much, but they are not the hell "your" whales. 
 Dr. Gillian Taylor: I suppose they told you that. 
 Spock: The hell they did. 
 ...........................
 Kirk: Spock, where the hell's the power you promised? 
 Spock: One damn minute, Admiral. 
 ........................... 
 [After deciding to travel back in time--much to McCoy's distress--Kirk asks Scotty about the possibility of customizing a room in their Klingon ship to contain water for the whales]
 Kirk: Can you enclose it to hold water?
 Scotty: I suppose I could. You planning to take a swim?
 McCoy: Off the deep end, Mr. Scott!
 Kirk. We've got to find some Humpbacks.
 Scotty: Humpbacked...people?
 Kirk: Whales, Mr. Scott. Whales!
 
 The anachronistic comedy is used ingeniously here, and makes this one hilarious, but ultimately serious, film. An absolute classic. Personally, I feel that "The Wrath of Khan" is the most fulfilling film in the series, but you simply can't go wrong with "The Voyage Home" for non-stop laughs.
 And you don't need any "LDS" to enjoy it.
 
 Picking up where Star Trek III ended, our familiar space heroes are forced to use a Klingon Rust-bucket to once again fool Father Time. A space probe that looks like an upside down mechanical whale - from where-abouts unknown - threatens to annihilate Earth, and maybe Starfleet itself, unless the Earthen creature "Hump-back Whale" can adequately respond to the probe's emissions. Thus, go back in time to the late 20th c., return with a Hump-back whale in hopes of satisfying the probe, and order will be preserved. Captian Spock remains a bit under the weather, having died in Star Trek II, only to be resurected in Star Trek III, and seems rather confused by all the goings on. On Earth, the Enterprise officers, split into teams, each with a different task. When the tasks are completed, the crew returns to thier home century having once again saved the world. THOUGHTS: no one has ever belived the Premise of the Star Trek franchise has anything to do with science, or even science fiction. Star Trek is phantasmogorical at best. Spock results from his Vulcan father, and Earthen mother, marrying each other and biologically producing Spock. This is as likely as a horse succsessfully mating with a mermaid. Then again, Star Trek has never pretended to be what it's not. Very pretty actress Catherine Hicks plays a 20th c. Marine biologist, and that character provides the solvent to keep the plot together. In the first Star Trek film, one of the lead characters is "Decker". Both of these actors show up later in 7th Heaven. In ST-IV, Scotty tells Kirk that the Klingon food reproducer is giving him a belly-ache. Kirk responds by whispering to no one, "Oh so that's what it is". This clearly is a slam at James Doohan who, along with Nichele Nichols, have claimed that Shatner had been selfish, dictatorial, and treated the lesser stars like they were nothing more than props. None-the-less, Voyage Home is cute funny, and tense.