Editing Star Trek Generations (section)

==Reception==
''Star Trek Generations'' earned mixed reviews from critics and fans. The film holds a 47% rating on [[Rotten Tomatoes]] based on 57 reviews, with an average rating of 5.50/10.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/star_trek_generations/ |title= Star Trek Generations (1994) |publisher= [[Fandango Media]] |website= [[Rotten Tomatoes]] |access-date= January 5, 2019 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20181023145902/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/star_trek_generations/ |archive-date= October 23, 2018 |url-status= live }}</ref> On [[Metacritic]], the film has a score of 55 out of 100 based on 22 critics, indicating average reviews.<ref name="MCst7">{{cite web |url= http://www.metacritic.com/movie/star-trek-generations |title= Star Trek: Generations (1994) |website= [[Metacritic]] |access-date= January 5, 2019 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180709174507/http://www.metacritic.com/movie/star-trek-generations |archive-date= July 9, 2018 |url-status= live }}</ref> Audiences surveyed by [[CinemaScore]] gave the film a grade B+.<ref name="STcs">{{cite web | url= https://cinemascore.com/publicsearch/index/title/ | title= CinemaScore Public Index| access-date= January 5, 2019 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20181220122629/https://cinemascore.com/publicsearch/index/title/ | archive-date= December 20, 2018 | url-status= dead|website=[[CinemaScore]]}}</ref> Writing about the film decades later, ''[[Den of Geek]]'' described the film as divisive, and ''[[Tor.com]]'' noted the film had been picked apart for years by fans and the film's own writers.<ref name="den of geek-generations retrospective">{{cite web|last=Cummins|first=Chris|date=November 18, 2019|url=https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/does-star-trek-generations-deserve-another-chance/|title=Does Star Trek: Generations Deserve Another Chance?|website=[[Den of Geek]]|publisher=Den of Geek World Ltd.|access-date=November 11, 2020|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201118042326/https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/does-star-trek-generations-deserve-another-chance/|archive-date=November 18, 2020}}</ref><ref name="tor-generations review">{{cite web|last=Asher-Perrin|first=Emmet|date=April 9, 2013|url=https://www.tor.com/2013/04/09/star-trek-generations/|title='You're right! I hate this!' Star Trek: Generations|website=[[Tor.com]]|publisher=Tor Books|access-date=November 11, 2020|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201118042356/https://www.tor.com/2013/04/09/star-trek-generations/|archive-date=November 18, 2020}}</ref> In 2001, the BBC gave it 2 of 5 stars, summarizing, "Devotees may find it necessary (if depressing) viewing."<ref name=review>{{Cite web|title=BBC – Films – review – Star Trek: Generations|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2001/09/04/star_trek_generations_1994_review.shtml|access-date=2021-02-26|website=www.bbc.co.uk|archive-date=December 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201201143800/http://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2001/09/04/star_trek_generations_1994_review.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref>

Critics complained the film felt like an overly-long episode of the television series.<ref name="bbc-generations review">{{cite web|last=Coates|first=Tom|date=September 4, 2001|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2001/09/04/star_trek_generations_1994_review.shtml|title=Star Trek: Generations (1994)|website=[[BBC]]|access-date=November 10, 2020|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201118042313/http://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2001/09/04/star_trek_generations_1994_review.shtml|archive-date=November 18, 2020}}</ref><ref name="bernadelli-1994">{{cite web |url=http://preview.reelviews.net/movies/s/st7.html |title=Star Trek Generations Review |last=Berardinelli|first=James |work=ReelViews |year=1994 |access-date=February 2, 2009 |author-link=James Berardinelli |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191116032649/http://preview.reelviews.net/movies/s/st7.html |archive-date=November 16, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="people-generations review">{{cite news|author=Novak, Ralph|date=December 5, 1994|title=Star Trek Generations|work=[[People (magazine)|People]]|volume=42|issue=23|page=18}}</ref> The ''[[Orlando Sentinel]]''{{'s}} Jay Boyar agreed, but said the film minimized the television series' tendency to "bog down" by moving to the next scene before boredom could set in.<ref name="sentinel-generations review">{{cite web|last=Boyar|first=Jay|date=November 18, 1994|url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-xpm-1994-11-18-9411170507-story.html|title=At Its Best, 'Star Trek' Doesn't Forget to Laugh|website=[[Orlando Sentinel]]|publisher=Tribune Publishing|access-date=November 11, 2020|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201118042321/https://www.orlandosentinel.com/|archive-date=November 18, 2020}}</ref> [[Kenneth Turan]] called the film safe, and said that it relied heavily on viewers' appreciation for the ''Star Trek'' television series.<ref name="latimes-generations review">{{cite web|author=Turan, Kenneth|author-link=Kenneth Turan|date=November 17, 1994|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-11-17-ca-63576-story.html|title=Movie Review: 'Star Trek': We've Gone This Way Before : 'Generations' Relies Heavily on Audience Appreciation of the First Two TV Series|work=[[The Los Angeles Times]]|access-date=November 18, 2019|url-status=live|archive-date=November 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201118042328/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-11-17-ca-63576-story.html}}</ref> Jay Carr of ''[[The Boston Globe]]'' described the film as "reassuringly predictable", saying that it featured elements that would be recognizable by the fans of both series but that the lack of surprises was a benefit.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Carr|first1=Jay|title='Trek': steady as she goes|url=https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-8304546.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160911173005/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-8304546.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 11, 2016|access-date=July 27, 2016|work=The Boston Globe|date=November 18, 1994|url-access=subscription }}</ref>

''[[Cinefantastique]]''{{'s}} Steve Biodrowski praised some of the big-budget touches the film brought to the franchise, but wrote that most of the attempts such as John Alonzo's cinematography seemed to backfire.<ref name="cinefantastique-generations review"/> In contrast, Carrie Rickey of ''[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]]'' and ''Den of Geek''{{'}}s Chris Cummins praised Alonzo's work as one of the few bright spots of the film; "[Alonzo] makes the ''Enterprise'' look like an actual lived-in starship," Cummins wrote, and "for the first time ever, the crew of the Enterprise-D looked like they were truly in outer space".<ref name="inquirer-generations review">{{cite web|last=Rickey|first=Carrie|date=May 6, 2009|url=https://www.inquirer.com/philly/entertainment/movies/reviews/A_couple_of_captains_trekking_together_boldy_going_where_no_plot_has_gone_before.html|title=A couple of captains, trekking together boldy going where no plot has gone before.|website=[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]]|publisher=The Lenfest Institute|access-date=November 11, 2020|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201118042400/https://www.inquirer.com/philly/entertainment/movies/reviews/A_couple_of_captains_trekking_together_boldy_going_where_no_plot_has_gone_before.html|archive-date=November 18, 2020}}</ref> Elizabeth Renzetti from ''The Globe and Mail'' praised the film for its special effects, but felt they were not strong enough to cover the weak plotting.<ref>{{Cite news |first=Elizabeth |last=Renzetti |date=November 18, 1994 |title=Film Review Star Trek Generations |work=The Globe and Mail |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/385091216|id={{ProQuest|385091216}} }}</ref>

Opinions were divided on whether or not the film was accessible to non-''Star Trek'' fans. Critics such as ''[[The New York Times]]''{{'}} [[Janet Maslin]] suggested that despite being "predictably flabby and impenetrable in places" and suffering from [[technobabble]], there was enough action and spectacle to engage others.<ref name="nytimes-generations review">{{cite news |url=https://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9B05E5DD1031F93BA25752C1A962958260 |title=Star Trek Generations Review |last=Maslin|first=Janet |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=November 18, 1994 |access-date=February 2, 2009 |author-link=Janet Maslin|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181023145945/https://www.nytimes.com/1994/11/18/movies/film-review-a-major-star-date-in-enterprise-history.html|archive-date=October 23, 2018}}</ref><ref name="baltimore sun-generations review"/> Boyar felt that specific plot beats would fly over the heads of casual viewers, but the film's innate sense of fun would keep them engaged.<ref name="sentinel-generations review"/> Others considered the film inaccessible to neophytes, and too preoccupied with fan-focused elements that detracted from the overall story,<ref name="bernadelli-1994"/><ref name="latimes-generations review"/> with [[Roger Ebert]] critiquing the movie as being "...so concerned with in-jokes and updates for Trekkers that it [could] barely tear itself away long enough to tell a story".<ref name="Roger Ebert">{{cite web |url=http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/star-trek-generations-1994 |title=Star Trek: Generations Review |last=Ebert|first=Roger |work=Chicago Sun-Times |year=1994 |access-date=November 3, 2013 |author-link=Roger Ebert |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140709033608/http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/star-trek-generations-1994 |archive-date=July 9, 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The meeting of Kirk and Picard prompted comparisons between the two respective actors; Stewart's performance was often considered superior.<ref name="people-generations review"/><ref name="nytimes-generations review"/><ref name="baltimore sun-generations review"/><ref name="newsweek-generations review">{{cite news|author=Marriott, Michel|date=November 21, 1994|title=When time stands still|work=[[Newsweek]]|volume=124|issue=21|page=88}}</ref> [[James Berardinelli]] and Ebert wrote that Kirk's lack of presence through much of the film was still keenly felt.<ref name="bernadelli-1994"/><ref name="Roger Ebert"/> Biodrowski, in contrast, wrote that Shatner's hammy acting was a better fit for the film than Stewart's subtle delivery.<ref name="cinefantastique-generations review"/> Boyar thought Shatner did a good job playing a straight man in the final sequences and injecting more fun into the film.<ref name="sentinel-generations review"/> ''[[The Baltimore Sun]]''{{'s}} Stephen Hunter considered Shatner and Stewart emblematic of two different eras of stardom, and that Stewart's commanding presence "wipes poor, saintly old Shatner off the screen".<ref name="baltimore sun-generations review">{{cite web|last=Hunter|first=Stephen|date=November 18, 1994|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-1994-11-18-1994322078-story.html|title='Generations' has gaps, but Picard and Co. are stellar|website=[[The Baltimore Sun]]|publisher=Tribune Publishing|access-date=November 11, 2020|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201118042329/https://www.baltimoresun.com/|archive-date=November 18, 2020}}</ref> ''Cinefantastique'' and others criticized the scenes between Kirk and Picard as lacking.<ref name="cinefantastique-generations review">{{cite web|last=Biodrowski|first=Steve|date=May 15, 2009|url=http://cinefantastiqueonline.com/2009/05/15/star-trek-generations-1994-retrospective-science-fiction-film-review/|title=Star Trek Generations Retrospective Film Review|website=[[Cinefantastique]]|publisher=Fourth Castle Micromedia|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090603093854/http://cinefantastiqueonline.com/2009/05/15/star-trek-generations-1994-retrospective-science-fiction-film-review/|archive-date=June 3, 2009}}</ref>

McDowell's turn as Soran received differing opinions. Berardinelli and Rickey called Soran a weak and ill-defined villain,<ref name="bernadelli-1994"/> and Hunter dismissed Soran as a nemesis unworthy of the titanic meeting of Kirk and Picard.<ref name="baltimore sun-generations review"/> ''People''{{'s}} Ralph Novak called Soran a "standard-issue ''Trek'' villain",<ref name="newsweek-generations review"/> while Maslin, ''[[Newsweek]]''{{'s}} Michel Marriott, and ''Entertainment Weekly''{{'s}} [[Lisa Schwarzbaum]] enjoyed the performance.<ref name="nytimes-generations review"/><ref name="newsweek-generations review"/><ref name="ew-generations review">{{cite magazine|author=Schwarzbaum, Lisa|date=November 25, 1994|url=https://ew.com/article/1994/11/25/star-trek-generations/|title=Star Trek: Generations|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|issue=250|access-date=November 19, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200224135932/https://ew.com/article/1994/11/25/star-trek-generations/|archive-date=February 24, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> Novak wrote that Data's subplot of learning about emotions was a highlight and probably the most enjoyable part of the film for non-fans,<ref name="newsweek-generations review"/> while Ebert said that the premise "could have led to some funny scenes, but doesn't".<ref name="Roger Ebert"/> Coates summed up the subplot as "dreary".<ref name="bbc-generations review"/>