Ranking the Star Trek movie directors... - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 09-11-2009, 10:17 PM

http://blogs.amctv.com/scifi-scanner...-directors.php

1. Nicholas Meyer
Meyer was brought in to save the Trek franchise after the bloated snoozer that was Star Trek: The Motion Picture, and was given just $11 million (less than $30 million in today's dollars) to do it. He whipped up The Wrath of Khan (the actual best Star Trek movie). Well done him. Then for good measure he wrote the screenplay for Trek IV, the second best Trek flick, and closed out the original cast movies with the better than average Star Trek VI, which he wrote and directed. Face it, if Meyer hadn't been around, there wouldn't have been a franchise for Abrams to resurrect.

2. Leonard Nimoy
For someone who plays a presumably emotionless character, Nimoy had a surprisingly light touch as a director; it's worth noting that his most successful movie as a director was not a Trek flick but the comedy Three Men and a Baby. Nimoy's lightness made Star Trek IV the most fun Trek to watch, and also made Trek III -- which he also directed -- click by at an agreeable pace.

3. Jonathan Frakes
Frakes directed Star Trek: First Contact, inarguably the best of the Next Generation movies, and did it with a rather more cinematic style than most of the Trek flicks had to date. He also helmed Star Trek: Insurrection, for which he did as well as anyone could have done with a script that felt like a leftover from the series slushpile. Yes, making silk out of a sow's ear counts.

4. J.J. Abrams
Granted, he did reboot the franchise and make people love it again, for which geeks everywhere owe him huge thanks. But, you know: Give me $150 million and license to do whatever the hell I want with Trek continuity, and I probably could have managed it, too -- without argin' fargin' "Red Matter." He deserves props, but I'm waiting to see what he does with the follow-up before moving him past Frakes.

5. Robert Wise
The only actual Oscar-winning director in the batch, Wise had directed the seminal The Day the Earth Stood Still, so on paper, having him try his hand at Star Trek: The Motion Picture didn't seem like a bad idea. But, man. Was that movie ever slow. I'm inclined to think it's not all Wise's fault, but in truth his somnolent direction didn't help.

6. David Carson
Yes, I know: Who? He directed Star Trek: Generations with the faceless competence of television direction, from whence he had sprung prior to this, and to which he'd return afterwards.

7. William Shatner
Admit it: You're surprised he's not last on the list. But to his (weak) defense, the dude's an actor. No one seriously expected him to direct Trek V competently. To which you say, "Yeah, but what about Nimoy and Frakes? They were actors, too." To which I say, "Huh? What? Come again? I'm sorry, I can't seem to hear you." Moving on.

8. Stuart Baird
Stuart Baird, on the other hand, had directed movies before: U.S. Marshals and Executive Decision, which were blandly cromulent. So his complete faceplant on Star Trek: Nemesis earns him the anchor position here. Not only did it kill Trek movies for seven years, but also Baird's directing career; he's not directed since.

TJL · 09-11-2009, 11:25 PM

I agree with Micholas Myer at #1. His contributions to the Trek movie franchise were pretty darn good.

I don't care what anyone thinks, Star Trek The Motion Picture is a fine movie.

Marvo301 · 09-11-2009, 11:46 PM

They should of let Jonathon Frakes direct Nemesis. He already had a good track record directing Trek movies with First Contact and Insurrection.

Nighthawk76 · 10-09-2009, 02:42 AM

Nick Meyer deserves the top spot. I also agree with Tom that TMP is a good film, well directed by Wise.

09-11-2009, 10:17 PM	#1
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	Ranking the Star Trek movie directors... http://blogs.amctv.com/scifi-scanner...-directors.php 1. Nicholas Meyer Meyer was brought in to save the Trek franchise after the bloated snoozer that was Star Trek: The Motion Picture, and was given just $11 million (less than $30 million in today's dollars) to do it. He whipped up The Wrath of Khan (the actual best Star Trek movie). Well done him. Then for good measure he wrote the screenplay for Trek IV, the second best Trek flick, and closed out the original cast movies with the better than average Star Trek VI, which he wrote and directed. Face it, if Meyer hadn't been around, there wouldn't have been a franchise for Abrams to resurrect. 2. Leonard Nimoy For someone who plays a presumably emotionless character, Nimoy had a surprisingly light touch as a director; it's worth noting that his most successful movie as a director was not a Trek flick but the comedy Three Men and a Baby. Nimoy's lightness made Star Trek IV the most fun Trek to watch, and also made Trek III -- which he also directed -- click by at an agreeable pace. 3. Jonathan Frakes Frakes directed Star Trek: First Contact, inarguably the best of the Next Generation movies, and did it with a rather more cinematic style than most of the Trek flicks had to date. He also helmed Star Trek: Insurrection, for which he did as well as anyone could have done with a script that felt like a leftover from the series slushpile. Yes, making silk out of a sow's ear counts. 4. J.J. Abrams Granted, he did reboot the franchise and make people love it again, for which geeks everywhere owe him huge thanks. But, you know: Give me $150 million and license to do whatever the hell I want with Trek continuity, and I probably could have managed it, too -- without argin' fargin' "Red Matter." He deserves props, but I'm waiting to see what he does with the follow-up before moving him past Frakes. 5. Robert Wise The only actual Oscar-winning director in the batch, Wise had directed the seminal The Day the Earth Stood Still, so on paper, having him try his hand at Star Trek: The Motion Picture didn't seem like a bad idea. But, man. Was that movie ever slow. I'm inclined to think it's not all Wise's fault, but in truth his somnolent direction didn't help. 6. David Carson Yes, I know: Who? He directed Star Trek: Generations with the faceless competence of television direction, from whence he had sprung prior to this, and to which he'd return afterwards. 7. William Shatner Admit it: You're surprised he's not last on the list. But to his (weak) defense, the dude's an actor. No one seriously expected him to direct Trek V competently. To which you say, "Yeah, but what about Nimoy and Frakes? They were actors, too." To which I say, "Huh? What? Come again? I'm sorry, I can't seem to hear you." Moving on. 8. Stuart Baird Stuart Baird, on the other hand, had directed movies before: U.S. Marshals and Executive Decision, which were blandly cromulent. So his complete faceplant on Star Trek: Nemesis earns him the anchor position here. Not only did it kill Trek movies for seven years, but also Baird's directing career; he's not directed since.
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09-11-2009, 11:25 PM	#2
TJL Suburbanite Extrordinaire Forum Star Join Date: Dec 29, 2001 Location: New Jersey - the cradle of civilization Posts: 16,591	I agree with Micholas Myer at #1. His contributions to the Trek movie franchise were pretty darn good. I don't care what anyone thinks, Star Trek The Motion Picture is a fine movie.
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09-11-2009, 11:46 PM	#3
Marvo301 I'm NOT a Blockhead! Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 17, 2002 Location: The Great White North Posts: 21,453	They should of let Jonathon Frakes direct Nemesis. He already had a good track record directing Trek movies with First Contact and Insurrection.
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10-09-2009, 02:42 AM	#4
Nighthawk76 Rachel Berry Forum Celebrity Join Date: Feb 28, 2003 Location: Illinois Posts: 23,254	Nick Meyer deserves the top spot. I also agree with Tom that TMP is a good film, well directed by Wise.