Star Trek The Next Generation - Jean-Luc Picard Collection (DVD)

Author's product rating:   

Did you enjoy it?	Loved it
Story	Outstanding
Characters / Performances	Outstanding
Special Effects	Outstanding
How does it compare to similar films?	Outstanding

Advantages:	Patrick Stewart, 7 great mixed episodes
Disadvantages:	None from me or Hubby

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

I am going to start this review with a confession! I do Patrick Stewart extremely sexy and so this is why I bought hubby this DVD collection as a present!

The DVD contains 2 disks and comes in a nice cardboard sleeve. On the first disk there are 4 episodes of the Star Trek The Next Generation series. The Second Disk contains 3 episodes and Special Features. The episodes are as follows:-

Disk 1

1 - Allegiance

Whilst on the Enterprise Captain Picard is kidnapped by aliens who send a replica of the Captain back to the Enterprise. Picard is locked away with 3 other hostages and they all believe they are part of an experiment. The crew of the Enterprise are becoming suspicious of the replica Captain but how long will it take them to realise he is not the real Captain and will the real Captain Picard find out just what the Aliens experiment is?

2 - Captains Holiday

Captain Picard has been working very hard on the Enterprise and he is told he should take a holiday. He is reluctant to do so but at the Doctors insistence he finally agrees. He goes to the island of Risa where he meets a Ferengi who accuses him of working with Vash. Vash is in possession of a strange artefact which the Ferengi are trying to get but will she be able to keep it safe and just what part will the Captain have to play to keep the peace when he is supposed to be resting on holiday?

3 - Darmok

The crew of the Enterprise along with the Captain are trying to establish contact between themselves and a new race who speak a language which they are unable to translate. As a consequence Captain Picard asks to be sent down to the Planet to make contact with them. He goes in peace so is unarmed but he soon discovers that the alien he meets is armed with blades and wants to fight him. Will Captain Picard be able to make contact and peace with this new race and will they ever be able to work out their language?

4- The Inner Light

N this episode the Enterprise comes across a mysterious probe which suddenly fires a red light onto the Captain which sees him falling to the floor unconscious, the crew are trying to find what is the matter with him but we soon find Captain Picard waking up on a strange planet surrounded by people he does not know but for some reason they all know him. He soon finds out he is called Kamin and he sets about trying to find a way to get back to the Enterprise but he soon realises that he is aging very quickly and living out his entire life in this strange place. Will Picard ever make it back to the Enterprise and just what did the probe want with him?

Disk 2

1- Star ship Mine

The enterprise is docked at the Remmler Array as is need to be evacuated so that a routine but deadly baryon - purging sweep can take place on it. As the crew are being entertained by Starfleet Captain Picard heads back to the ship only to find that it is being ransacked by criminals who are trying to steel toxic materials. Will Captain Picard be able to stop the thieves and what will happen if they do get their hands on the toxic materials?

2 - Lessons

In this episode we meet a new member of the crew on the Enterprise, the Head of Stellar Cartography called Neela Daren. Captain Picard soon becomes attracted to her and finds he has to think long and hard about his image as the Captain before making any move on his feelings. After a lot of consideration he finally gives in and they start a relationship but things take a turn for the worst hen Captain Picard has to send Neela out on a mission which may end up with her death. Will Neela return to the Captain safely or his Picard destined to be alone?

3 - Bloodlines

We learn that Bok has been released from prison, he is an enemy of Captain Picard and he soon sets about getting back at the Captain. He decided that he will hit the Captain where it will hurt the most by going after his son and killing him. Captain Picard is not aware that he has a son so when he finds out it is somewhat of a shock for him. Picard tells his son, Jason that he will do all he can to protect him and sets of in search of Bok. Will Picard be able to save his new found son and is it in fact his child?

On the second disk there are also some special feature which include:-

Selected Crew Analysis - Year Three (season 3)
Mission Overview - Year 6 (season 6)
A Captains Tribute (season 7)
DS9 on DVD Trailer

OPINON

As you now know I am a big fan of Patrick Stewart and think he does a wonderful job in the role of Captain jean Luc Picard. He reluctantly agreed to take the role but he did not want to become tpecast as the Captain as he wanted to be able to do other things. I think he is the best Captain the Enterprise has ev3er had and he did manage to bring a whole new life back to the flagging series. He manages to bring a lot to each episode he made and he portrays the Captain extremely well. A well educated and loving man which is what I feel the Captain should be. I do like all of the episodes which are included on this DVD and think that they are all very different and enjoyable in their own light. I like how you don’t have to watch them in any particular order as the stories do not follow on from each other.

My personal favourite is definitely the Captains Holiday as it shows us the Captain away from the ship and out of uniform and I think it brings a different side of him out. I personally enjoyed seeing him n his very small and skin tight shorts!

The other actors which are featured in the Star Trek episodes are all very good and they do bring a lot to the whole Star Trek series. I like how different they all are and how they all manage to get on despite being from so many different races and planets. I do like Data as he brings some wit and humour to the series and I think Brent Spinner plays this role extremely well.

I think I like watching Star Trek so much more than Star Wars at it seems so much more real and it leaves me thinking that this could actually happen where as it Star Wars it is so much more fantasy and make believe. I think they have paid a lot of time and attention to the equipment and special tools which the crew all use and they all look great. The setting for each series do change as the Enterprise travels around in space but I think all of the different sets and especially the costumes are all well made and well thought of. I do find at times that some of the aliens are a bit strange looking.

The detail and special effects in the episode called the Inner Light were very good and I think that they put a lot of effort into the aging of the Captain and I liked how this episode touched more on family that work and it did bring a whole new side of the Captain for us all to see and reflect on as to why he is and does what he does in later episodes.

The Bonus material is interesting but I only glanced over this as I have no real interest in it. Hubby really did enjoy it and says that if you are a fan of the show then it is one to definitely watch.

Inside the DVD case there is a little booklet which is very interesting. Inside it gives us loads of info on the Captain and his Star Fleet Career. There is a brief run down on each of the episodes and then there is a fact page about the Enterprise NCC-1701-D which was enjoyable and interesting to read.

INFO

I managed to get this DVD in the sale many months ago for just £12 which I felt was a bargain. Hubby was thrilled with is present, little did he know I bought it for myself really! It is currently available on Amazon for around £17, do try and get it for less if you can.

If you would like any further information on this DVD or anything to do with Start Trek then please check out www.startrekuk.co.uk