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'Star Trek' on the big screen, worst to best

Fifty years, 697 TV episodes and, as of this weekend, 13 feature films.

“Star Trek” has been part of our lives for a half-century, and it shows no signs of going away. A new TV series arrives in January, and a 14th feature film co-starring Chris Hemsworth has already been announced by Paramount Pictures.

As “Star Trek Beyond” opens this weekend, let's take a look back at the previous 12 films, ranked worst to best in the opinion of this fan:

<b>12. “Star Trek: Nemesis” (2002) </b>- The “Next Generation” crew led by Capt. Picard (Patrick Stewart) ends their voyage with the worst film of the series, a dull, ugly dud that wastes Tom Hardy in the role of Picard's evil, younger clone and subjects Counselor Troi (Marina Sirtis) to a cringe-inducing mind-rape scene. This crew, especially the beloved android Data (Brent Spiner), deserved a better send-off.

<b>11. “Star Trek V: The Final Frontier” (1989) </b>- William Shatner directed this cheap-looking mess about Sybok (Laurence Luckinbill), half brother to Spock (Leonard Nimoy), hijacking the Enterprise to find God. (Spoiler alert: He doesn't.) Some nice character moments in an opening scene at Yosemite National Park are undone by the lackluster script and effects.

<b>10. “Star Trek: Insurrection” (1998) </b>- An attempt to make a lighter, funnier “Trek” about a planet whose inhabitants are eternally young results in a lot of eye-rolling, especially when the “Next Gen” crew starts feeling the planet's effects. Worf (Michael Dorn) gets a zit, Picard does the Mambo, and Data overhears a conversation between Troi and Dr. Crusher (Gates McFadden) about certain parts of their anatomy. Kudos to F. Murray Abraham, though, who hams it up as grotesque villain Ru'afo.

<b>9. “Star Trek: The Motion Picture” (1979) </b>- The crew's first big-screen adventure tries very hard to be “2001: A Star Trek Odyssey.” It looks fabulous, thanks to director Robert Wise and a gorgeous visual effects sequence in which the Enterprise flies through a massive alien vessel. It sounds even better, thanks to Jerry Goldsmith's iconic score. Too bad it moves slower than a space slug.

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Benedict Cumberbatch, center, played villain to Zachary Quinto and Chris Pine in 2013's "Star Trek Into Darkness." Associated Press

8. “Star Trek Into Darkness” (2013) </b>- For its first hour, J.J. Abrams' second installment in the rejuvenated franchise is as bright, fast and fun as the 2009 reboot. But then we learn the true identity of villain John Harrison (Benedict Cumberbatch) in a reveal that means nothing to the characters, and the script decides to make a marginalized sex object out of new crew member Carol Marcus (Alice Eve). An exhilarating film at times, but ultimately frustrating.

<b>7. “Star Trek: First Contact” (1996) </b>- The biggest hit for Picard and Co. pits them against their terrifying TV nemeses, the Borg. The time-traveling action is just OK, but an earthbound subplot in which Cmdr. Riker (Jonathan Frakes) partners with the inventor of warp speed (James Cromwell) is loose and funny. The final scene is a pivotal moment in “Star Trek” history.

<b>6. “Star Trek III: The Search for Spock” (1984) </b>- Spock's regenerating body is on the Genesis Planet, and Kirk (Shatner) and pals have to be on the wrong side of the law to reach it. Dr. McCoy (DeForest Kelley), Sulu (George Takei) and Uhura (Nichelle Nichols) get laughs before a battle with Klingon Capt. Kruge (Christopher Lloyd) gets serious. Shatner has a heartbreaking scene on the bridge and a heartwarming reunion soon after.

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Ricardo Montalban played the Enterprise's most formidable foe, Khan Noonien Singh, in "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan." Daily Herald file photo

5. “Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan” (1982) </b>- The film that's supposed to be at No. 1, if you ask most “Trek” fans - and Daily Herald film critic Dann Gire. The final 20 minutes are tough to beat: Spock makes the ultimate sacrifice to defeat Khan (Ricardo Montalban), who had been waiting since a 1967 TV episode to get his revenge on the Enterprise. Shatner gives his best performance when delivering his comrade's eulogy.

<b>4. “Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country” (1991) </b>- “Khan” director Nicholas Meyer returns and deftly juggles comedy, drama, thrills and Cold War allegory. Framed for murder, Kirk and McCoy are dragged before a Klingon court and grilled by the Shakespeare-quoting Gen. Chang (Christopher Plummer, relishing the role as few “Trek” actors have) in the most memorable scene in what would prove to be the final film featuring the entire original cast.

<b>3. “Star Trek: Generations” (1994) </b>- It's gimmicky, it ends with a fistfight between three old guys, it tries too hard to get laughs and it has a cheesy musical score. But the first big-screen adventure for the “Next Gen” crew, in which a bit of time-traveling nonsense allows Picard and Kirk to join forces, is the most underrated film of the franchise. An early scene in which Picard reveals to Troi that his family in France has perished is devastating - Stewart here gives the best dramatic performance in any “Trek” movie.

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Anton Yelchin, left, Chris Pine, Simon Pegg, Karl Urban, John Cho and Zoe Saldana were some of the new cast members brought aboard the Enterprise in 2009's "Star Trek," directed by J.J. Abrams. Associated Press

2. “Star Trek” (2009) </b>- I'll put the first 10 minutes of Abrams' franchise reboot up against any 10 minutes in any adventure movie you can find. Luckily the rest of the film is almost as exciting and emotional as its opening act, and perfectly cast. We see Kirk (Chris Pine) and Spock (Zachary Quinto) meet as rivals at Starfleet Academy before a vengeful Romulan (Eric Bana) sets events in motion that eventually put our two heroes in command of the Enterprise. Louder and faster than its predecessors, “Star Trek” more than makes up for its lack of philosophical ruminations with sheer entertainment.

<b>1. “Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home” (1986) </b>- The spirit of Gene Roddenberry's original TV show, exemplified. Nimoy directed and cowrote this most human entry that is both literally and figuratively a fish-out-of-water tale. The crew travels back in time (yes, again) and visits 1980s San Francisco to do what many tried to do that decade: save the whales. Humpback whales, to be exact, whose extinction in the 23rd century is alarming to an alien probe wreaking havoc on Earth's weather. Yes, it's silly. It's also hilarious and poignant, thanks to a cast in perfect harmony. “Star Trek IV” has no thrilling space battles, no angry villain, no spectacular visual effects. Instead, it relies on the relationships between its characters. Those indelible personalities are the main reason why this saga remains vibrant and essential after 50 years.

<i> Sean Stangland is a Daily Herald multiplatform editor. You can follow him on Twitter at @SeanStanglandDH.</i>

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