Mind Meld (2001)

 

Synopsis: Egotistical old ham shows up at former co-star’s home to ask him a bunch of personal questions. 

Blurb From imdb.com: “If you are a Star Trek fan I think you will find this documentary interesting. This is mainly 75 Shatner + Nimoy discussing various aspects of the original series and their private lives how they related to the show.” [Folks, this is a word-for-word transcription of what I found on the site] 

What Did I Learn?: 1) Apparently, Shatner and Nimoy are the “best of friends” according to the narrator of this film. 2) When Nimoy left the Army in the early 1950s, he was basically broke and had a family to feed, so he drove a cab, took odd jobs and deeply resented good-looking actors like Shatner who were given the plum acting roles. 

You Might Like This Movie If: You've always wanted to know what Nimoy really thought about his former co-star. 

Really?: See: “What Did I Learn?” #1. [Interestingly, Shatner believes the rift started when Nimoy didn’t want to take part in his film, The Captains] 

Rating: Mind Meld is the least polished of Shatner’s Trek-based documentaries - it consists of a long, outdoor interview - but it’s probably the best, because the audience is treated to an in-depth conversation about a deeply influential science fiction franchise, show business and acting, and their own personal biographies. My only complaints would be Shatner’s strange interviewing style, and a bit too much mutual ass-kissing. 7.5/10 stars. 

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0296753/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0

How William Shatner Changed the World (2005)

 

Synopsis: Egotistical old ham takes credit for four decades of technological innovation. 

Blurb From the imdb.com: “William Shatner presents a light-hearted look at how the ‘Star Trek’ TV series have influenced and inspired today’s technologies, including: cell phones, medical imaging, computers and software, SETI, MP3 players and iPods, virtual reality and spaceship propulsion.” 

What Did I Learn?: One of the world’s foremost experts on the history of computers likes to dress up like Shakespeare. 

You Might Like This Movie If: You want to learn more about how William Shatner inspired telecommunications, the search for alien life forms, and um....kerosene heaters?

Really?: I was a bit surprised when Shatner comments on the lower ratings of the later Star Trek series (Deep Space Nine, Voyager and Enterprise) compared with the Next Generation, and had a bit of trouble believing his proposed explanation for the popularity dip: viewers didn’t care for the less optimistic view of the future they presented. Gee…I wonder if it had anything to do with Paramount saturating the TV market with too many inferior Trek franchises populated with boring characters….

Rating: How William Shatner Changed the World is a cute, but mildly smug and cloying (at least to non-Trekkers) documentary that discusses Star Trek’s immense cultural influence on the outside world. I could have done without Shatner’s flat-footed comedic bits. 6/10 stars. 

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0814142/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0

The Captains (2011)

 

Please click the links to read my reviews of Free Enterprise and Star Trek: The Motion Picture 

Synopsis: Egotistical old ham interviews his successors and repeatedly cuts them off to talk about himself. 

Blurb From the DVD jacket: “The documentary Star Trek fans have been waiting for!” 

What Did I Learn?: Avery Brooks may very well be insane. 

You Might Like This Movie If: You're a die-hard Shatner fan. 

Really?: 1) See: “What Did I Learn?” Seriously, I’m surprised Brooks’ wife and family didn’t attempt to exercise their legal options for excluding his interview from the film. 2) Wow…Shatner certainly got a big kick out of meeting with the President of Bombardier, didn’t he? My girlfriend and I enjoyed a chuckle as he interrupted Patrick Stewart in order to share a five-minute-long self-indulgent anecdote. (See: “Synopsis”) 

Rating: The Captains is an odd Star Trek-themed documentary. Not only does it features a light jazz score (written and performed by Brooks) that’s quite enjoyable but not terribly Trekky, but we're also treated to the sight of Shatner conducting some bizarre interviews with the other Starfleet captains: Patrick Stewart looks quite uncomfortable; Kate Mulgrew admits (during a Q&A that nearly becomes a grilling) that the gruelling hours and workload of Star Trek Voyager nearly ruined her relationship with her kids; and Brooks reveals that he’s very different from Benjamin Sisko. 6.5/10 stars. 

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1946421/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0