Star Trek: Insurrection MPAA Rating: PG Entertainment: +2 1/2 Content: +2

"This is the continuing voyage of the Starship Enterprise.." You Trekies know the routine. The cast of STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION climbs aboard a newly designed USS Enterprise in the new movie STAR TREK: INSURRECTION. The story begins on a paradise planet of youth where Commander Data(Brent Spiner) is on assignment with Star Fleet. For some reasons , he goes berserk and starts shooting at the inhabitants of the planet. When Star Fleet Admiral Dougherty (Anthony Zerbe) wants to terminate Data, Captain Picard(Patrick Stewart) and the Enterprise step in to save him. They uncover a covert Star Fleet operation headed by Admiral Dougherty who plans to relocate the planet's inhabitants and harness the regenerative qualities of this unique planet. This is strictly against Star Fleet non interference policy.The "insurrection" comes when Picard and his senior staff go against Star Fleet orders and form a team to save the inhabitants from "forced relocation". This brings on some fierce battles both on the planet and in space. Trekies will particularly appreciate the humor and character development of the Enterprise crew. The plot is a little slow, but even non - Trekies should find the blend of space age special effects, adventure, romance and humor fairly enjoyable.

Refreshingly, there is little offensive material in this film . It's humor is appropriate and language is free form obscenities and profanities, although a number of mild and moderate crude words are spoken. A man and woman are shown bathing together, but no nudity, and there are a couple of non sexual comments about female breasts. Some females are also shown in skin tight suggestive clothing. The violence is limited primarily to photon torpedoes and explosions in spectacular starship battles and phaser blasts in hand to hand combat. One graphic scene shows a man being killed by a skin stretching machine. The Star Trek television series promotes the idea that humanity will get better through technology, the elimination of poverty and a commitment to tolerance and non interference. But this new age ideal is not present in this film There is , in fact , a sense that technology may at times be more a detriment than a help to our lives. STAR TREK: INSURRECTION is appropriate, although not without flaws, for its intended audience of teenagers through young adults.

Preview Reviewer: Cliff McNeely
Distributor: Paramount Pictures, 5555 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90038