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Posted: 11:25:31 on June 20 2002
By: Steve Krutzler
Dept: Star Trek: Nemesis

Movie rumor site Ain't It Cool News has posted a new review today of what a new insider to the site claims is a rough cut of STAR TREK: NEMESIS.

The short review proclaims that NEMESIS is the TNG film fans have been waiting for, charged with action and solid storytelling that even manages to defeat STAR TREK II's famous finale battle.

"The climax battle has been abbreviated slightly, probably due to budget problems, but it is still easily the longest and most impressive space dogfight of all the Star Trek films, beating the living hell out of 'The Wrath of Khan' finale ... and this was a rough cut," 'CaptTrekkie' told the rumor site.

The phantom reviewer also says that several "awkward" comedic lines from the film's script -- online and reviewed in its entirety over a year ago -- have been excised, at least from this early draft of the film.

"For those that hated the online draft of the script, I must inform you that most of the dumb jokes in that draft ("Is that your final answer?") have been obliterated."

Tom Hardy is praised for what the reviewer calls his "breakout performance" as the film's villain, Shinzon.

"When he's being confronted by Picard via holotransmition during a comma in the climax, you can just see him emotionally tearing apart as Picard tells him what he could be if he was good."

He says Patrick Stewart turns in an excellent performance minus a couple corny lines of dialogue and with the exception of a "too weepy" Marina Sirtis as Counselor Troi, the rest of the cast shines as well. The review sums up by saying, "The plot and pacing are perfect to rescue the franchise from it's stereotype of being slow and talky, though this film might have come too late to change that. The action is abundant, and there is enough substance to keep the story from becoming brainless. From what I could tell, the special effects will be eye openers once they are finished."

No bootleg review is complete without a few nits, and here the main concern is with similarities to past genre classics and STAR TREK itself, issues long-acknowledged even by screenwriter John Logan.

Perhaps the most glowing endorsement comes from this statement: "This is the Next Generation film we've all been waiting for. This is the film First Contact never managed to be. This is the first Star Trek film since #6 that does not look cheap and made for television."

With regard to authenticity of this article, there is little to validate it. AICN has a mixed reputation as most are well aware, but based on how much of NEMESIS has been leaked over the last two years, it's certainly within reason that this is a legitimate review. In addition, as principle photography wrapped nearly three months ago it's also entirely possible that such a rough cut exists.

You can reach the rest of the review here and if anyone would like to send TrekWeb a rough cut of NEMESIS, please contact me (anonymity assured).

UPDATE 6/21: In the second online review of what is termed a "rough cut" of STAR TREK: NEMESIS, 'The Facer' at FilmJerk says the film is a missed opportunity and spends a good portion of his review rehashing prior complaints about John Logan's screenplay for the movie.

Learning that the cut we're talking about has no music track, some scene markers, no credits, and "maybe someone camming a video monitor" the reviewer proceeds to attack the picture for everything from relegating characters other than Picard and Data to mediocrity to wasting the appearances of the Romulans by introducing new villains in the Remans and Shinzon.

This newest review again praises Tom Hardy but as the description above makes it clear that the print is in a horrible preliminary state, it's not surprising that most of the review falls to critizing the script to the movie in the same way that this reviewer did with an "Annotated" comedic version of it several months ago.

"But the stolen scenes (perhaps a new Star Trek Canon Drinking Game can be invented where you name the movie or episode that each scene of Nemesis is taken from?), pirated ending, dopey Data/B-9 plot (complete with singing), the destruction of the cast's interpersonal dynamic, and silly villain all detract, detract, detract."

To read the rest of this review check out this page.

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