OK, I'll give my thoughts on the films:
Motion Picture = Beautiful looking film with special effects that still look fantastic today, and I'd put it right up there with Star Wars and 2001. The music is also fantastic. Additionally, I give it credit for being the film that best recaptured the structure of the original show. The problem is that while Star Trek is, to me, always at its best when its people sitting around a room talking, the stuff they are talking about has to be interesting to carry the film and this film just doesn't have that at all, equating to a film that feels directionless and lifeless with a reveal at the end that does almost nothing for me. In the end, its a glossy and pretty looking box of nothing.
Wrath of Khan = My favorite Star Trek thing ever made. It was my first exposure to Star Trek, so I'm biased, but it is still one of my all time favorite films. What makes it work is not only Khan's entire presence as a villain and his Ahab like obsession with Kirk, but also the fact that instead of hiding the fact that the actors had aged, they showcased it and integrated it into the story. The emotional stakes are also much higher in this film, and the last few minutes still bring a tear to my eye whenever I watch it. Not just for that thing that everyone knows about, but for Kirk's last line as he gazes into the stars: "Young...I feel....young". Its beautiful.
Search for Spock = I hate this movie because it completely undoes the big events in Wrath of Khan, making it feel like a big reset button. Its got some fun moments, like Christopher Lloyd as a cornball villain, but the movie angers me on a conceptual level.
The Voyage Home = On paper, this should be the worst one, but its actually one of the best, probably my second favorite behind Wrath of Khan. What makes it work is the comedic approach to it, but it also feels like a large scale version of one of TOS' time travel stories, and it works wonderfully for me. Its the least Sci-Fi/Action-y of the films, but that actually works in its favor and helps it carve its own niche in the franchise.
The Final Frontier = Everyone says its bad and it is bad. What is a shame though is that there are some genuinely good moments and ideas in this. Its corny, but I kind of like Kirk, Spock, and McCoy bonding over a campfire. I love the idea of a Vulcan being the bad guy and brainwashing everyone to his side. And the whole search for God is an ideal Star Trek exploration story, is it not? But most of it is handled so poorly that it comes off as more of a farce than anything else. A shame really, but hey, that's what happens when you let William Shatner direct.
The Undiscovered Country = Probably the most under appreciated Trek film. The nicest thing I typically hear people say about it is that "Its one of the Evens, so its good" but its an overall really good movie. The end of the Cold War allegory is obvious, but handled well and gives us that nice bridge between TOS and what we see in TNG. Also, its a courtroom drama story, something that Star Trek typically excels at. Again, its kind of overlooked from time to time, but if you've never seen it, give it a look. It also serves as a nice farewell for the original cast.
Generations = Probably the biggest missed opportunity in the franchise. Kirk and Picard together? The first TNG film??? Whoa! Unfortunately what we get is a total mess that doesn't live up to its potential.
First Contact = Its the best of the TNG films, which isn't saying much. Unfortunately, now that I've seen DS9, this movie makes even less sense. Where was the Enterprise during the whole Dominion war? And the Borg felt like old hat by this point (they were barely a threat by the end of TNG), so bringing them back felt like a hollow attempt to live off of TNG's past. Also, I felt like Picard had already dealt with the trauma of his experiences, so him being a rage beast felt odd. But to the film's credit, there are genuinely good moments with the cast, and us getting to see big historic moments like the First Contact was all pretty cool. Flawed film, for sure, but best of the TNG films.
Insurrection = Honest to God, I can't remember anything about this film except for Data going rogue. It is such a thoroughly forgettable film and I'm sure I'll never watch it again, so....yeah.
Nemesis = Not a good farewell for the TNG cast or films. They crammed so much into this and so much of it is dumb, that its a messy and disjointed story that completely undoes any potential the concept might have. But hey, young Tom Hardy, so there is that, lol.
Star Trek (09) = Oh JJ Abrams....what to say about this. Here's the thing. If you ignore that its Star Trek, this is actually a fun space adventure film with fun moments. But there are so many moments that break from Star Trek knowledge (even for someone like me whose knowledge is not encyclopedic) that in order to enjoy the film, you kind of have to turn your brain off and enjoy the ride if you are going to get any enjoyment out of it. Also, I am still waiting for an explanation as to what the hell Nero was doing for all those years between his arrival and the events of the main story. I will say this, I did genuinely enjoy the cast who mostly slip into these roles mostly ok, especially Urban as McCoy who was uncanny.
Into Darkness = After the 09 film, I thought that Wrath of Khan was the only Trek thing that JJ ever watched. After this one, I became completely convinced of it. This was a dull and lifeless entry that tried super hard to use the past to keep the fans happy while they get away with a bunch of inane BS, but it didn't work. Of the Kelvin universe Trek films, this one was by far the worst.
Beyond = I'd say this one was the best of the Kelvin films. That's not saying much, but it had more of the feel of classic Trek (moreso than the other two did) and pretty much just let the cast have fun and bounce off of each other. If this had been the first Trek film of the revival, it probably would be better received, but by this point, the bloom was off the rose and I think people just kind of ignored it. But generally, I had fun with it and its the least offensive of the three.
