Solemplex To me, this movie is perfection.

Kailansorac Clever, believable, and super fun to watch. It totally has replay value.

Derrick Gibbons An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

Dana An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

ironhorse_iv Since the 1960's Star Trek has became one of the most beloved film and television franchises of all times. Each generation has it's own spin off series, with each series having a captain to command the ship to areas where no man has ever gone before. The original series captain, Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) goes off to find these actors that play the captains in this darting documentary. The documentary introducts these character actors from their beginnings, how they got to become captain, and how their series has impact the world and it's fans. The first of these captain after the original series, was Jean Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) who captain, the 'Next Generation' Series. The documentary shows how much a serious actor he was, and how he change for the better out of it, with great cost of his personal life. The next captain, William Shatner meets is Avery Brooks who played Benjamin Sisko on 'Deep Space Nine'. Avery, the actor seems a very deep and free thinker, who's mind is out there. Drama came ahead to ahead, with personal philosophy and morals between William Shatner and Kate Mulgrew of 'Star Trek Voyager' captain Katryn Janeaway fame. She nearly bump heads with Shatner over morality, and gender roles issues. It was a bit easier for Shatner to hang out with Scott Bakula, the captain of 'Enterprise' Jonathan Archer. There were a few laughs, and was less taken serious questions. The same goes with his short interview with Chris Pike who plays Captain Kirk in the modern day film 'Star Trek". The interview with both Bakula and Pike were a bit too short. Christoper Plummer guest stars in the documentary talking his part as Chang in the film 'Star Trek VI' was surprising. While his part was interesting, the time he spent on screen would better be serve to explaining more about Bakula and Pike, since the titled is called 'The Captains'. There are a bit weird interjects in the documentary where fans interrupt the filming. It doesn't serve anything to the story, it's better used as a DVD extra then leaving it in the film. There is a bit of a feeling of James Lipton's In the Actor Studio in the interview style. It can be direly, when some of the questions verve off that doesn't have anything to related to 'Star Trek' or their own careers. Last, William Shatner come into the reality about his past as Captain Kirk and overall opinion on himself and 'Star Trek' all together. It's a movie for the die hard Star Trek fans, it's not that interesting for the common fan due to seriousness of the philosophic questions the actors are forced to answer. In the end-- Scotty, have to beam me up to watch it again. It's just felt a one time viewing.

MashedA If you love Star Trek you will forgive the meandering route this documentary takes, if you are not a fan you will see this as an overindulgent preoccupation of Mr. Shatners one true love... Himself and his impending mortality!There are truly some heart felt conversations with Patrick Stewart and Scott Bakula regarding the long hours put in and the disintegration of their respective marriages. Scott Bakula seems like a really nice guy who is grounded, he understands the life he has chosen and is grateful for the opportunities given to him, although if I'm honest Enterprise comes second to his success in Quantum Leap.There is straight talking from Kate Mulgrew whom sees the world from a female perspective in a male dominated industry. I'm not sure Bill got the best out of Kate Mulgrew as I have seen her in other interviews and she was more upbeat and less preoccupied with gender related commentary! I suppose that could be down to the editing, context and questions posed by Mr. Shatner... The Chris Pine segments are purely incidental, you can't help feeling that William Shatner feels a little embittered at the fact he is in his twilight years and would gladly exchange his position with Pine for another throw of the dice.Poor old Avery Brooks, this poor chap seems to have lost his marbles! Either his interviews were edited to make him look completely unbalanced or this guy really has taken leave of his senses. Some parts of the interviews with Avery were a little uncomfortable as he just grins like a lunatic and plays the piano rather than respond to simple questions.Patrick Stewart always comes across in a quiet and considered manner. There were times you could clearly see he was emotional, however he never comes across as bitter or anything other than a dignified true professional.I have mixed emotions when It comes to William Shatner in this documentary, in parts he reveals emotional content about himself & you feel empathy, for instance the part where he says he fears death! In other parts you feel there is narcissistic tendencies which smother the other interviewee's What you can take away from this is that all the Captains worked extremely hard in their respective roles and there was a toll paid by each of them. William Shatner seems quite reflective in places and yet self focused in others (not completely unexpected). Of the five Captains interviewed you wouldn't hesitate to ask Patrick Stewart & Scott Bakula out to lunch, because from this disjointed venture you get the feeling they were the most articulate individuals who have the ability to talk about themselves and you would still like to listen.

Erikwk04 Being born in '88, the original Star Trek series starring William Shatner had long stopped running and the new series Next Generation starring Sir Patrick Stewart was in full swing. It wasn't until TNG hit the daily reruns on the BBC that I got my first taste of Star Trek, mind you I could not have been more than 8 years old at the time. As a young adult now I look back at the shows with a great sense of nostalgia and joy and have come to admire the original two Captains of the Enterprise for their influence on previous and current generations. I'm not a trekkie, as I have never been to a convention or felt the need to sport Spock ears, but I am for sure a fan.So let's be honest about this, would I have watched Shatner's The Captains if it weren't for so many fond childhood memories? No. Would I have enjoyed it if it weren't for said memories? No. Is it a quality documentary by its own right? No. Is William Shatner a talented or even competent interviewer? No, although the other reviewers would disagree with me on that one. From my point of view Shatner makes some basic and rookie mistakes in his technique as an interviewer, best shown during his interview with Avery. So is it all just a wash and 90 mins of my life wasted on a pursuit of childhood nostalgia? No, and here's why. What Shatner does in The Captains, is to give us a look into his own Star Trek experience. What it was like as the first captain, what it did to him at the time and in the years after. How it affected his personal life (failed marriage with three kids) and how he has struggled to give Kirk a place in his life. Shatner's journey of discovery is deeply personal as he, with the help of his fellow captains and Stewart in particular, comes to terms with the legacy he will eventually leave behind when Scotty beams him up one final time. This theme of mortality works brilliantly as a stark contrast to the immortality of the Star Trek franchise as it lives on to this day still. The Captains gives us fans a never before seen glimpse into Shatner's mind and heart. It is dirty and messy at times, but always honest and genuine.Watch this if you are a fan and interested in the man that made the captain that inspired millions to boldly go where no one has gone before…P.S. To Shatner and all the captains, much love and appreciation for your work.

valleyjohn I've never got Star Wars.I just cant see what all the fuss is about with those films. Star Trek , on the other hand , is my cup of tea. I'm not a Trekkie , i don't go to conventions , i don't dress up as a Klingon but have seen nearly every episode of all the franchises.This is a delightful documentary , written and directed by the original captain himself , William Shatner , where he interviews all the captains that have featured in the TV shows and the latest film.It goes into how these shows ate into all their personal lives ( nearly all got divorces) and what it meant to them to be a captain of a Star Trek vessel.Patrick Steward is exactly how you would expect him to be as is Scott Bakula. Chris Pine is an intelligent young man , Kate Mulgrew hasn't aged too well and seems to resent what Star Trek did to her personal life and Avery Brooks is just plain bonkers!That just leaves Shatner himself. He is old now and he discuses his mortality with a lot of feeling and you cant help but really like the man.The Captains is not a film for non Star Trek fans. You have to like the franchise to like this film and i liked it a lot.