In many ways, the Abrams movie is following in the footsteps of 'Generations' – it’s introducing a new generation and legitimizing it by having an icon of the last generation show up to hand over the baton.

The problem with 'Generations', though, is that it’s solving problems that didn’t exist – Kirk had already had a magnificent send-off in the previous movie. The crew of 'The Next Generation' were the stars of one of the biggest shows on American TV (and the series had just ended on an all-time ratings high – the last episode was either the first- or second-most-watched thing on television that week). Worse still, the movie isn’t really about the generation gap – how could it be, really, when William Shatner’s not even ten years older than Patrick Stewart? There’s no real contrast of styles – either in terms of the different eras or the different captains.

The filmmakers do their best to make the TNG television sets look like movie sets – by turning down the lights, mainly, but Worf and Data both look like guys in make up. It wouldn’t be a huge problem with a stronger script, but the story just isn’t much cop – the threat doesn’t seem to warrant the team up between Kirk and Picard, let alone the death of Kirk. The death of David in 'The Search for Spock' has more impact, the destruction of the Enterprise in that movie is more dramatic than the one here. Kirk leaves the stage with about as much dignity and dramatic weight as Peter Sellars’ departure in 'Casino Royale'.

'Generations' feels more like a contractual obligation than a movie, and Patrick Stewart has never brought more weight to such flimsy material – which is saying something.

Lance Parkin