Star Trek: Generations (1994)

MOVIE SUMMARY

Captain Picard, with the help of supposedly dead Captain Kirk, must stop a madman willing to murder on a planetary scale in order to enter an energy ribbon.

MOVIE THEMES

The True Source of Joy

In this film, Kirk and Picard meet in an extra-dimensional realm known as the Nexus, where dreams and thoughts can become reality. An energy ribbon that orbits through the galaxy is the only known gateway into this Nexus. Kirk enters this Nexus while trying to save the Enterprise-B. (The Enterprise-B was in the process of trying to save a race known as the El-Aurians, including Soran and Guinan.) Picard enters the Nexus while confronting Soran. Soran has spent seventy-five years trying to return to the Nexus. Picard meets an “echo” of Guinan while in the Nexus. Guinan explains to Picard that the Nexus is the source of pure joy:

“It was like being inside joy. As if joy were something tangible and you could wrap yourself up in it like a blanket.”

While Guinan explains the Nexus as true joy, Picard (and Kirk) discover that the Nexus is an illusion. Both discover that the Nexus may be a nice place experience potential dreams, relive the past, and even change history. Yet, in the end, the Nexus is just a false sense of reality.

The Bible teaches that God is the true source of joy (Psalm 16:11). God resides in Heaven. Therefore, Heaven is a place of joy. Unlike the Nexus, Heaven is a place where true joy exists (Luke 15:7). Even Jesus, who suffered the torture and death on the cross, looked forward to the joy in Heaven that He would soon see (Hebrews 12:1-3).

Regrets of not Raising a Family

Kirk regrets that he did not have a family. He meets Hikaru Sulu‘s daughter Demora, who manned the helm of the Enterprise-B. While in the Nexus, Kirk desires to stay with his wife Antonia, implying that it was the day that he said he would go out of retirement to return to Starfleet.

Picard, early in the film, learns that his brother Robert and his family were burned in a fire. As Picard is reflecting on this with Counselor Troi, he mentions the regret of not having a family. When Picard enters the Nexus, he is enticed to enjoy the experience of having a family during a Christmas scene. Christmas is used as the scene primarily to enhance the importance of having a family.

Interestingly, this film explores the specific regret of not raising a family. The Bible encourages people to make family a priority in their lives. God encouraged Adam and Eve to start a family (Genesis 1:28). There is time to have a family (Ecclesiastes 3:1). The Bible states that those who raise families are just as honorable as those who choose a career (Psalm 127:3-5).

Making a Difference

The tension between fulfilling work and raising a family is a very timely conflict. People have to deal with time for work and time for family. This film explores the regrets that tension brings. In the end, the movie concludes with the idea that while family is important, making a difference in life is more important. God has prepared us to make a difference in this world (Ephesians 2:8-10). We do this when we offer ourselves to God’s service (Romans 12:1).

QUESTIONS:

The Nexus was a place of true joy for Guinan and she always wanted to go back there. However, Kirk and Picard realized that the Nexus was an illusion which presented them with a false sense of joy. What are some false sources of joy?
The Bible teaches that God is the source of true joy. Heaven is the place of true joy. How has God been the source of joy in your life?
How important is your family? Are there any regrets that you have about how you raised or did not raise your family?
Star Trek: Generations stresses the importance of making a difference. In the case of the movie, it was to stop a person from destroying a planet’s population. In the case of Christianity, how does God want you to make a difference? How has He prepared you to do that?