By Chris Snellgrove | Published
When Star Trek: The Next Generation came to the big screen, following very much in the footsteps of the movies that came before. Supported films The Original Series it formed a strange pattern where odd-numbered films were weak and even-numbered films were strong. The Motion Picture was slow and choppy, for example, during Wrath of Khan it was fun and action packed. As for the TNG team films, Generations was an imbalance, a nostalgic chaos, while First Contact it was an unqualified banger. When Rebellion it just turned out to be a long episode The Next Generationfans console themselves that the next film, with even numbers, will blow us all away.
Sadly, Star Trek: Nemesis was the train wreck that stopped the TNG movies and almost killed the franchise. Now, almost a quarter of a century later, fans are still debating where that film's quest for fame (Picard fighting a bad guy played by Tom Hardy!) went wrong. However, we don't have to wonder anymore. On Jonathan Frakes and Brent Spiner's podcast, they recently had Nemesis alumnus Ron Perlman as a guest. They all took turns blaming the failure of that film on director Stuart Baird, whom Perlman criticized bluntly: “He wasn't a director, he didn't like an editor and the studio owes him a favor.”
The Head-to-Head Podcast
In case you don't know, Jonathan Frakes and Brent Spiner have a new podcast, Dropping Words With Brent and Jonny. It's not designed as a Star Trek podcast, but both continue to host guests from the franchise that made them both famous. In the latest episode, they brought Ron Perlman, i Hellboy actor who appeared in Star Trek: Nemesis like the dreaded Reman. Once it turned into a conversation NemesisPerlman didn't pull any punches about director Stuart Baird, someone said Star Trek: Nemesis The actors admitted that they “had no human skills.”
After this, Perlman continued, announcing that Baird “wasn't a director, he was a happy editor to whom the studio owes a favor.” Explaining, Perlman said that Baird “saved a lot of their turkeys. They would bring him in if they had a turkey, and he would cut it up and make it look. So he was a very good editor, but he wasn't a director … He's not a filmmaker.” This is in reference to Baird as a respected editor who has worked on fan-favorite movies like this one. Lethal Weapon and the first one Superman. Later, he worked on two of the best modern James Bond films: Casino Royale again sky fall.
When Hell Meets Boy
As for these two Star Trek: The Next Generation actors, Brent Spiner was moderate in his criticism: he admitted that Bair was “not a director” but gave the man his props as an editor. This is correct, really: Baird may have been the worst directorial choice Nemesisbut his killer editing work for some of the coolest franchises in the world earns him a place in the hall of fame. Frakes was direct in his criticism, noting that Baird rejected advice from him and Patrick Stewart “because we did 182 episodes and three movies together.” However, the director “had absolutely no interest in talking to us about the way we rolled.”
Almost everyone in the room agreed that Baird was a very talented organizer. However, Ron Perlman was convinced that an inexperienced director getting the job was a sign that Paramount had it. there is no respect for Star Trek: Nemesis or the skills it would take to bring that movie to life. “[It’s] that attitude, like, 'anyone can do this, you know, let's just give that guy to you.'”
I hear Bad Director, Captain
No matter who you blame, Nemesis It was arguably the worst movie in Star Trek history. Its critical and commercial failure spelled the end of films including the The Next Generation employees. When the franchise returned, it was in the form of Star Trek (2009), a complete reconstruction of the The Original Series. Ironically, that film also featured the Enterprise fighting an advanced Romulan warship led by a bald, charismatic commander. Such lies would make you wonder if JJ Abrams (A journeyFilmmaker) was once a very good director. But at least you're a good editor, right?
I mean, the one who forgot to remove all those lens flares. Oh, and forget to do Rise of Skywalker make any sense. But, uh, otherwise, we promise!
