The Star Trek: The Next Generation movies were like clockwork; we got one every two years from 1994 to 1998. However, Star Trek: Insurrection did not do quite as well, so a bit more time was taken, and in 2002, we got Star Trek: Nemesis. This was one of the Star Trek movies that I was very excited to watch again, as it was one that I remembered really enjoying. This would also be the ending of Star Trek: The Next Generation, well, until Picard a few decades later. It would also be the last Star Trek movie for many years until the J.J. Abrams reboot.
How to Download Star Trek: Nemesis
Star Trek: Nemesis was released on December 13, 2002. You can download or stream the film from a digital platform. Click on the Download button at the end of this review and make your choice.
The Movie Review
The thing here is that at the time Star Trek: Nemesis was released, people were not all that into it. I remember this movie getting pummeled by critics, but I still enjoyed it. What I think is interesting is that to me, Star Trek: First Contact is a tremendous sci-fi movie that anyone can enjoy, but Star Trek: Insurrection is very much a “for Star Trek fans only kind of movie”. With Star Trek: Nemesis, I feel like they were trying to make a sci-fi action movie that everyone could love, even those who are not huge fans of Star Trek.
The story here is centered around the Romulans. The Romulans created a clone of Picard called Shinzon, but plans are abandoned and he is sent to a prison planet to pretty much die. However, Shinzon rises up and forms a rebel group and takes control of the Romulans and manages to convince Starfleet to come and have “peace talks”. Of course, this is a setup.
I think that the premise of the story here is great, and the idea of this clone of Picard rising up from nothing and taking control was really cool, also, I completely forgot that Shinzon was played by a young Tom Hardy. However, the movie makes a core mistake, and it is something I never realized until this recent rewatch. This is not a Picard movie; it is a Shinzon one, as he truly does feel like the main focus. Hey, he is a fun villain, but not strong enough to build a whole movie around.
There are some great action scenes here, and the special effects still look great to this day. My favorite aspect of Star Trek: Nemesis is the stuff with Data. No spoilers, but we get an insight into how Data came to be, and the ending of the movie leaves a big smile on your face, and I do think it was a nice way to bring the Star Trek: The Next Generation saga to a close.
Back in 2002, DVDs were a huge deal; a movie would have its box office run and then it would get a second life on DVD, and I remember Star Trek: Nemesis being a big deal when it was released on DVD. It was one of those movies that I had to have day one when the DVD was released. While streaming is way more convenient, I do miss the days when you would watch a movie in the theatre and then be excited to add it to your collection on DVD. Granted, I still collect physical media, but it just does not feel as special as it did back then.
If you had asked me a few months ago what was better, Star Trek: Insurrection or Star Trek: Nemesis, I would have said Nemesis without a second thought. However, I would say that while these are very different movies, I think that they are equal to me in regards to how much I enjoyed them. Insurrection is a Star Trek movie first and foremost where whereas Nemesis is a sci-fi action movie first and then a Star Trek movie secondly. I still do not think this is as bad as many people make out, but I was a little bummed out that it was not as awesome as I remembered it being.
