The most popular episode of "Star Trek: The Next Generation" is likely the two-parter "The Best of Both Worlds" which served as the season finale for the show's third season and the premiere of its fourth. That's the episode wherein Captain Picard (Patrick Stewart) was assimilated by the all-consuming semi-mechanical beings called the Borg. It was up to Commander Riker (Jonathan Frakes) to take command of the Enterprise and fight the Picard-influenced Borg in what turned out to be a disastrous cosmic conflagration. At the end of the episode's second part, Picard was extracted from the Borg's influence and put back in command of the Enterprise.
The episode's penetrating final shot was Picard, wearing medical plates on his face where the Borg machinery had been implanted, staring out of the window of his ready room, pondering the harrowing experience he survived. The galaxy is no longer an exciting frontier to explore.
The episode's penetrating final shot was Picard, wearing medical plates on his face where the Borg machinery had been implanted, staring out of the window of his ready room, pondering the harrowing experience he survived. The galaxy is no longer an exciting frontier to explore.
- 12/8/2023
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
This article contains spoilers for "Star Trek: Picard." It also contains references to domestic and child abuse, so reader discretion is advised.
Art often imitates life, but in the case of "Star Trek: Picard," that seems completely intentional. The series has completely blurred the lines between Jean-Luc Picard, the Starfleet officer who likes his Earl Grey hot, and Patrick Stewart, the British actor who has become a worldwide treasure. The series deals heavily with the idea of legacy, and the third season has dug into the concept even further as Picard reconciles the fact that he has a long-lost son, Jack Crusher (Ed Speelers). Picard had a difficult childhood and contentious relationship with his own father (as detailed in season 2 of "Picard"), and it's clear that the idea of fatherhood makes him uneasy as a result. Stewart has been honest about his own struggles in childhood as well, revealing that...
Art often imitates life, but in the case of "Star Trek: Picard," that seems completely intentional. The series has completely blurred the lines between Jean-Luc Picard, the Starfleet officer who likes his Earl Grey hot, and Patrick Stewart, the British actor who has become a worldwide treasure. The series deals heavily with the idea of legacy, and the third season has dug into the concept even further as Picard reconciles the fact that he has a long-lost son, Jack Crusher (Ed Speelers). Picard had a difficult childhood and contentious relationship with his own father (as detailed in season 2 of "Picard"), and it's clear that the idea of fatherhood makes him uneasy as a result. Stewart has been honest about his own struggles in childhood as well, revealing that...
- 3/9/2023
- by Danielle Ryan
- Slash Film
Running for 178 episodes over seven years, "Star Trek: The Next Generation" deservedly picked up plenty of awards on its ongoing mission, and it's not difficult to pick out episodes that truly stood out as exemplary. There were some absolute stinkers, too like the lazy budget-saving clip show "Shades of Gray," and "Code of Honor" and "Up the Long Ladder," which form a double-bill of offensive cultural insensitivity.
However, there are those stories that often get overlooked, brushed under the space carpet in favor of award-winning episodes — stories that still hold up today but didn't make a particular impact on release. This article is a celebration of the "Next Generation" stories that flew under the radar yet are more than worthy of a rewatch.
To be fair, any episode in which a character delivers the line, "I believe you will also de-evolve into an earlier form of primate — possibly similar to...
However, there are those stories that often get overlooked, brushed under the space carpet in favor of award-winning episodes — stories that still hold up today but didn't make a particular impact on release. This article is a celebration of the "Next Generation" stories that flew under the radar yet are more than worthy of a rewatch.
To be fair, any episode in which a character delivers the line, "I believe you will also de-evolve into an earlier form of primate — possibly similar to...
- 8/22/2022
- by David Court
- Slash Film
Star Trek: The Next Generation goes way off template with shore leave/parental visit episode, Family...
Warning: this review contains spoilers.
The Enterprise is in drydock (well, space-drydock), getting repairs following the Borg attack, when the crew decides to take some well-earned shore leave.
As Picard prepares to visit home, Troi stands around doing what is basically a parody of Freudian psychoanalysis ("Going home? Interesting choice. How does that make you feel?") to the point where it's almost a miracle he doesn’t fire her there and then. And as if that level of badgering wasn't improper enough, she kisses him on the cheek before wishing him a good trip. Counsellor, your position has been upgraded to inappropriate.
On Earth, Picard has arrived in France, or as it is known in the future, RoboFrance 29. As he walks up to the Picard residence, Picard bumps into his nephew, Rene, and then his sister-in-law Marie.
Warning: this review contains spoilers.
The Enterprise is in drydock (well, space-drydock), getting repairs following the Borg attack, when the crew decides to take some well-earned shore leave.
As Picard prepares to visit home, Troi stands around doing what is basically a parody of Freudian psychoanalysis ("Going home? Interesting choice. How does that make you feel?") to the point where it's almost a miracle he doesn’t fire her there and then. And as if that level of badgering wasn't improper enough, she kisses him on the cheek before wishing him a good trip. Counsellor, your position has been upgraded to inappropriate.
On Earth, Picard has arrived in France, or as it is known in the future, RoboFrance 29. As he walks up to the Picard residence, Picard bumps into his nephew, Rene, and then his sister-in-law Marie.
- 1/15/2015
- by louisamellor
- Den of Geek
"All the Queen's Men", which premiered at the 24th annual Mill Valley (Calif.) Film Festival, has several things going for it. "Friends" star Matt LeBlanc appears ready to assume the mantle of action-adventure star, and cinematographer Wedigo von Schultzendorff ("The Thirteenth Floor") brings bright comic beauty to the photography.
LeBlanc hasn't displayed much boxoffice potential in the past, but most of his roles have been dopey, ill-conceived extensions of his TV persona. Here, he's a man of action, a natural leader and a romantic figure, and he handles these duties surprisingly well. Co-star Eddie Izzard also possesses a loyal fan base from his drag comedy shows.
But "Queen"'s is a movie with a small imagination. It doesn't take many chances, and its payoffs are few. Timed right, it could earn a respectable opening-weekend boxoffice take, but it doesn't figure to have much staying power.
Based loosely on attempts by the Allies to steal the secrets of Germany's Enigma device during World War II, "Queen"'s follows failed American special agent Steven O'Rourke (LeBlanc) as he's given one last chance with a squad assigned to steal the coding machine. They're to infiltrate the Berlin factory where the devices are made. The catch? Only women are employed at the plant; the men must dress in drag.
So it is that Tony Parker (Izzard), kicked out of the military for his bisexuality and transvestitism, is recalled to service. Also along are the young linguist-cryptographer Johnno (David Birkin) and the old, by-the-book "temporary major" (James Cosmo) appointed to keep a check on O'Rourke's excesses.
The opening sequence of LeBlanc exiting a German stronghold in Nazi regalia, Enigma tucked confidently under his arm, has the freewheeling derring-do of an Indiana Jones movie. But the film trots out the predictable cliches. Will the macho O'Rourke learn to respect his eccentric squadmates, especially Parker? Will the team succeed against all odds?
There's further trouble in that none of the foursome (except possibly Birkin) looks remotely female in drag. Although this is explained by a twist near the end of the film, it's too late to be satisfactory. Izzard, too, is rather disappointing. He tries too hard to be average, and he succeeds.
German actress Nicolette Krebitz exhibits feisty intelligence as an anti-Nazi agent who helps the boys out. Stefan Ruzowitsky directs competently but unimaginatively until the climactic factory scenes. Then it's difficult to figure out each character's location and direction.
The script has undergone several rewrites, and you can feel the homogenizing effects of the repeated retoolings.
Although LeBlanc demonstrates leading-man capability and von Schultzendorff paints some mighty pretty pictures, the film ultimately lets you down. Despite its credentials, "Queen"'s ends up feeling like another by-the-numbers Hollywood job.
ALL THE QUEEN'S MEN
Constantin Film
Atlantic Streamline
Credits:
Producer: Marco Weber
Director: Stefan Ruzowitsky
Screenwriter: David Schneider
Story: Digby Wolfe & Joseph Manduke and June Roberts
Executive producers: Phil Alden Robinson, Rainer Virnich
Director of photography: Wedigo von Schultzendorff
Production designer: Frank Bollinger
Music: Joern-Uwe Fahrenkrog-Petersen
Co-producer: Danny Krausz
Costume designer: Nicole Fischnaller
Editors: Nick Moore, Andrea Schumacher, Britta Nahler
Cast:
O'Rourke: Matt LeBlanc
Parker: Eddie Izzard
Archie: James Cosmo
Romy: Nicolette Krebitz
Gen. Lansdorf: Udo Kier
Johnno: David Birkin
Franz: Oliver Korittke
Col. Aiken: Edward Fox
No MPAA rating
Color/Dolby Digital
Running time -- 105 minutes...
LeBlanc hasn't displayed much boxoffice potential in the past, but most of his roles have been dopey, ill-conceived extensions of his TV persona. Here, he's a man of action, a natural leader and a romantic figure, and he handles these duties surprisingly well. Co-star Eddie Izzard also possesses a loyal fan base from his drag comedy shows.
But "Queen"'s is a movie with a small imagination. It doesn't take many chances, and its payoffs are few. Timed right, it could earn a respectable opening-weekend boxoffice take, but it doesn't figure to have much staying power.
Based loosely on attempts by the Allies to steal the secrets of Germany's Enigma device during World War II, "Queen"'s follows failed American special agent Steven O'Rourke (LeBlanc) as he's given one last chance with a squad assigned to steal the coding machine. They're to infiltrate the Berlin factory where the devices are made. The catch? Only women are employed at the plant; the men must dress in drag.
So it is that Tony Parker (Izzard), kicked out of the military for his bisexuality and transvestitism, is recalled to service. Also along are the young linguist-cryptographer Johnno (David Birkin) and the old, by-the-book "temporary major" (James Cosmo) appointed to keep a check on O'Rourke's excesses.
The opening sequence of LeBlanc exiting a German stronghold in Nazi regalia, Enigma tucked confidently under his arm, has the freewheeling derring-do of an Indiana Jones movie. But the film trots out the predictable cliches. Will the macho O'Rourke learn to respect his eccentric squadmates, especially Parker? Will the team succeed against all odds?
There's further trouble in that none of the foursome (except possibly Birkin) looks remotely female in drag. Although this is explained by a twist near the end of the film, it's too late to be satisfactory. Izzard, too, is rather disappointing. He tries too hard to be average, and he succeeds.
German actress Nicolette Krebitz exhibits feisty intelligence as an anti-Nazi agent who helps the boys out. Stefan Ruzowitsky directs competently but unimaginatively until the climactic factory scenes. Then it's difficult to figure out each character's location and direction.
The script has undergone several rewrites, and you can feel the homogenizing effects of the repeated retoolings.
Although LeBlanc demonstrates leading-man capability and von Schultzendorff paints some mighty pretty pictures, the film ultimately lets you down. Despite its credentials, "Queen"'s ends up feeling like another by-the-numbers Hollywood job.
ALL THE QUEEN'S MEN
Constantin Film
Atlantic Streamline
Credits:
Producer: Marco Weber
Director: Stefan Ruzowitsky
Screenwriter: David Schneider
Story: Digby Wolfe & Joseph Manduke and June Roberts
Executive producers: Phil Alden Robinson, Rainer Virnich
Director of photography: Wedigo von Schultzendorff
Production designer: Frank Bollinger
Music: Joern-Uwe Fahrenkrog-Petersen
Co-producer: Danny Krausz
Costume designer: Nicole Fischnaller
Editors: Nick Moore, Andrea Schumacher, Britta Nahler
Cast:
O'Rourke: Matt LeBlanc
Parker: Eddie Izzard
Archie: James Cosmo
Romy: Nicolette Krebitz
Gen. Lansdorf: Udo Kier
Johnno: David Birkin
Franz: Oliver Korittke
Col. Aiken: Edward Fox
No MPAA rating
Color/Dolby Digital
Running time -- 105 minutes...
- 10/16/2001
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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