My Favorite 'Star Trek' Movie Scenes from the Next Generation

Generations - Kirk and Picard do battle together

Sounds like fun… Yes, it does, and Kirk and Picard going into battle together, Hollywood makes a pretty good Nexus itself. Still, Kirk does need some convincing. “I think the galaxy owes me one,” Kirk is sure he’s done his bit for king and country.

A horse race not so much, James T just needs to get his facts straight and let his gut do the rest. After taking phony flight with his filly, the retiree is ready to engage. “Don’t let them do anything that takes you off that bridge,” the Captain of the Enterprise has regained his bearings.

The disparate styles are now ready to forge their shared destiny, and poor Soran is literally caught in the middle. Of course, the war of words must be won first and Kirk lets Picard get the first laugh. “Don’t you read history,” Picard drops the mic.

No need for Kirk to double down, and with a look, we know it is on. But the villain doesn’t shrink. Soran puts the moves on and gets the drop on Kirk. “I do read history, and if I’m not too much mistaken, you’re dead,” says the would-be planet killer.

So the captains juxtaposing again, Picard lands the haymaker to bail out the action captain. But Shatner is done stepping aside and sends Soran flying over the cliff.

On a roll now, Kirk brings the one liners. “We are working together,” and “Call me Jim” assures that Kirk hasn’t missed a beat after 70 years in mothballs.

Unfortunately, all good things, and despite the successful tag team, the next generation must remain. “It was fun,” Kirk bows out.

Yes it was.

First Contact - Lily Brings Picard Back

So Captain Picard is a human being after all. In fact, the captain’s PTSD puts the human race’s very existence in peril, and he has no idea. “In my century, we don’t succumb to revenge,” Picard believes his own false narrative.

Of course, Lily doesn’t require a degree in psychology or literature to call BS, and doesn’t hesitate to take the captain’s chair. “Jean-Luc, blow up the damn ship.”

Oh my, all the suppressed rage of the past six years finally springs a lead. “The line must be drawn here, no farther,” Picard means business.

Not done yet, the gasket blows. “And I will make them pay for what they’ve done.”

Who is the man, and adding in all the facial intensity and voice inflection, I’m pretty sure they call that acting.

So Lily takes one out of Scotty’s playbook. “The more they overthink the plumbing, the easier it is to stop up the drain.”

Of course, Picard is the vessel in question. "You broke your little ship,” she stings Picard’s inner child and then brings it home.

“See you around Ahab.”

Picard’s complexity is no match. “In the end, it destroyed him and his ship,” Jean-Luc Picard returns.

Thank you Lily, we’re glad you didn’t know when to quit.

Insurrection - Number 1 in the Captain’s Chair

Commander Riker in the captain’s chair, he really kicks ass. A photon torpedo begins the fray and Riker is ready to go to town. Decisive and fearless with the ship-a-shakin, he goes headlong into the Briar Patch and confronted with banned subspace weapons doesn’t knock number one off his game. “Remind me to lodge a formal protest,” his bravado would make Jim Kirk proud.

The core ejected in response, Riker revels in the uncertainty. Nothing but a pleased smirk, he wills the upper hand. Only temporary, though, risk is his business and utilizing volatile pockets of metreon gas might be one of the history books. “I’m going to ram it down their throats,” Riker doesn’t shrink.

Two ships down and F. Murray coming into the fold, Riker goes Corbomite light. “Set a collision course,” the acting captain goes full steam.

Locked in, Ru'afo gives pause. “He wouldn’t,” and Worf knocks the set up out of the park.

“Yes, he would.”

The rest is preordained, and there’s only one thing left unanswered. Why doesn’t this guy have his own ship?

Nemesis - Never See the Sun

We haven’t felt this much hurt since Spock was killed in the Wrath of Khan. On the other hand, it’s nothing compared to what Picard feels. An act of desperation needed, he sends the Enterprise head long into the Scimitar. Not enough, Picard takes the last transport to save the Federation, and actually gets it done.

His sacrifice is the supreme one, though. But not if Data can help it, and before we consider who we can’t do without, the eyes have it. Data and Geordi share a last, remorseful look that begs an outcome we know isn’t coming.

Still, the ingenuity of the maneuver has us hoping that Data has something other than the mini transporter up his sleeve. Sorry, Data’s neural net got nothin, and no help, the resolve in the android’s eyes doesn’t alleviate the burden.

The sentiment is resoundingly reaffirmed by Picard’s broken glare, and safety aboard the Enterprise is little consolation. Yes, we’ve finally faced death, and despite what remains before us, will never see the sun.