Star Trek: Insurrection Is Better Than You Remember & Here Are 7 Reasons Why

Geordi takes the helm of the Enterprise in Insurrection, for the first time (on screen) since TNG season 1, episode 26, "The Neutral Zone."

After experiencing trouble with his ocular implants, Geordi discovers that his eyes have been temporarily healed. With no idea how long his new eyesight will last, Geordi takes the time to view a sunrise, sharing the moment with Captain Picard. It's a lovely scene, and it speaks to La Forge's integrity that he still fights for the Ba'ku people even knowing it could cost him the ability to view another sunrise.

5Data Forms A Sweet Friendship With A Ba'ku Boy

Artim Teaches Data The Importance Of Playing

Lt. Commander Data (Brent Spiner) spent much of his time on Star Trek: The Next Generation striving to discover his own humanity. While Star Trek Generations and Star Trek: First Contact used the emotion chip to give Data feelings, Insurrection abandoned that storyline in favor of a more organic exploration of Data's character. When Data first went rogue and revealed Starfleet's plan to relocate the Ba'ku, the sudden appearance of the android frightened many of the villagers, including the young Artim (Michael Welch).

Over the course of the film, however, Artim warms up to Data, eventually teaching the android something about what it means to be a child. After he overcomes his fear, Artim expresses genuine curiosity about Data, peppering him with questions as only a child can. Data reveals that he has imagined what it would be like to be a child, and Artim points out the importance of playing. This conversation leads to a cute scene at the end of Insurrection, when Data finally gets a chance to play with Artim in some hay bales.

4Picard & Anij Is Jean-Luc's Only Star Trek Movie Romance

Picard & Anji Work Well Together

While I wish Star Trek: Insurrection had allowed Jean-Luc Picard's romance with Beverly Crusher to bloom, his relationship with Anij (Donna Murphy) still has its moments. Anij comes across as likable and genuinely kind as she speaks for the Ba'ku. Like Picard, Anij has an adventurous spirit and approaches new situations without fear. She also cares deeply for her people, something that Picard undoubtedly admires.

As the Ba'ku planet is essentially a fountain of youth, Anij is more than 300 years old, and she has found a certain contentment with her life that Picard lacks. Anij isn't afraid to speak her mind and is more than able to keep up with Picard. The two make a lovely pair, and it would have been nice to see more of them together in a later Star Trek project, but unfortunately, Anij never appears again.

3Star Trek: Insurrection Is Genuinely Funny

Most Of The Film's Humor Works Well

If I had to use one word to describe Star Trek: Insurrection, it would be charming. The film understands its characters better than some of the other TNG films, allowing their friendship and humor to shine through. While some of the humor is a bit juvenile (the joke about Data serving as a "flotation device" comes to mind), a lot of it works. Insurrection makes the Enterprise-E crew feel like a family again, allowing them to joke and laugh with one another.

One particularly funny moment comes after Troi helps Riker shave off his facial hair. As Data observes Riker's newly clean-shaven face, Riker remarks, "Smooth as an android's bottom, eh, Data?." Data later gets to feel Riker's chin and concludes that it is not, in fact, as smooth as an android's bottom. While this could also have come across as juvenile, Jonathan Frakes and Brent Spiner make it work. The subplot involving Lt. Worf's (Michael Dorn) Jak'tahla (aka Klingon puberty) also has some funny moments.