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Star Trek: Nemesis |
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A recent Time magazine story said that
our culture’s fascination with science fiction is
being replaced by an interest in "fantasy, a
nostalgic, sentimental, magical vision of a
medieval age." In other words: space travel
out, Tolkien in. Paramount
hopes there’s at least enough interest left in
laser blasts and warp speed star-hopping to
sustain Star Trek: Nemesis, which is
billed as the final theatrical adventure for
Captain Picard (Stewart) and his Next
Generation crew.
In Nemesis, Riker and Troi’s
honeymoon is interrupted by a political crisis.
The Enterprise must intervene when Shinzon,
an embittered clone Picard never knew he
had, threatens to destroy earth. Caveats are
minor for a PG-13, while the sci-fi subtext
speaks volumes about our world today.
The action violence is typical of Star
Trek films (a lot of shootouts, explosions
and hand-to-hand combat), though one villain
gets run through with a steel rod. A scene of
the married couple kissing in bed is short of
explicit, but is unsettling when Mrs. Riker
suddenly sees Shinzon in her husband’s
place. Just four mild profanities beam into the
dialogue.
Nemesis raises questions about
destiny and free moral will, while valuing our
desire for self-improvement. As always,
friendship, loyalty and duty rule—leading one
beloved character to make the ultimate
sacrifice. When Picard urges a galactic
terrorist to set aside hate and realize his
potential, it sounds like the civilized world
appealing to the humanity of Saddam. As
science fiction uses that cultural mirror
effectively, the genre will live long and prosper.
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