Customer Reviews

The Captains - A Film By William Shatner

5 star:		(28)
4 star:		(19)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

[I watched this on EpixHD and will certainly buy it once available on DVD]

Shatner is a living spectacle of his own accord. He is controversy and entertainment wrapped into one. And unfortunately, his package deal sometimes comes off a bit pompous and egotistical. Few people really like someone who may revel in the enjoyment of his own voice. Shatner at times does this, and yet... if you can get past that veneer, underneath you will find a very fascinating and earnest man. He is someone who lucked into a legendary role that has made him supremely famous, something that for a long period he derided, yet eventually relented and embraced. He is flawed, he knows he is flawed, but he admits it openly with sincerity. I admire him now, more than I ever did.

"You either love him or you hate him," is how I've often heard Shatner described. And in various on-line forums that I've had the pleasure to read, you'll see a wide range of polarized opinions about him. Love him or hate him, he played a very important part in the world of Star Trek. He is essential.

NOTE: There's a review of this movie up on the New York Times website, worth a read. The author hit the nail on the head saying that Shatner's "genial, relaxed self-absorption is a large part of his charm."

So, "The Captains"... Shatner is typical Shatner in some respects, and yet he is also so much better than that. He usually behaves as alpha male, and yet he is ingratiating with his guests. He loves to talk about himself, and yet he is also genuinely interested in others. Making this film was a very humbling experience for Shatner and you can see it in the content. There are a few rather blatant ego stroking moments that were no doubt purposefully left in after editing, as Shatner not only wrote but directed this production.

It's true that not all of these interviews are created equal. Some of them are all too brief and miss some important aspects. Some questions are raised in common across the guests and yet not all of them are fully heard. But you know, this couldn't have been a perfect work. It required a certain amount of liberty from the guests, who were allowed to influence the flow. Of all the interviews, I found the one with Patrick Stewart the most touching. The one with Avery Brooks the most endearing. The one with Kate Mulgrew wonderfully surprising. And the one with Scott Bakula delightfully honest. There wasn't much to do with Chris Pine, because he's so young and doesn't have nearly enough experience to contribute on the same level. But what we got was reasonably good.

The whole package deal is simply wonderful. We get what appears to be very candid and revealing interviews with key actors from the Star Trek genre, hosted by a deeply colorful man. This is the best off-screen Star Trek related material I've ever watched. It touched me in many ways, despite having to overlook some of Shatner's self-fawning. I will own it and watch it again and again, no doubt about it. It's the perfect send-off for the "old school" Star Trek franchise.

I've got to give credit where credit is due! Actor William Shatner came up with an inspired idea in the documentary "The Captains" which adds a missing piece to the legacy of television's longest running space saga. Uniting the six actors that have been featured as Captains in the show's various interpretations, the movie would seem to have all of the elements necessary to make it essential viewing for Star Trek fans. I'm not sure, however, that Shatner (taking a writing and directing credit) hits his mark squarely. Expecting new insight into the franchise with marketing that promises an "exclusive behind-the-scenes look at a pop culture phenomenon," I actually thought the film had surprisingly little to say about Star Trek itself. If anything, the documentary's primary subject is acting as a craft and as a career with many of the face-to-face conversations seeming like a low-rent "Inside the Actor's Studio" but without the flair. Don't get me wrong--I would still recommend this to fans, it just fails to fulfill some of its promise.

At the heart of the film is Shatner himself. He is, at once, the film's most valuable asset and one of its primary weaknesses. He travels the globe (as far as England anyway) to sit down with Patrick Stewart, Avery Brooks, Kate Mulgrew, Scott Bakula, and Chris Pine. Shatner, as a persona, is as lively as ever. As an interviewer, however, he lacks a bit of focus constantly bringing any conversation back to what seems to be his favorite topic--himself. It is sometimes awkward, sometimes endearing. At the beginning of each interview, he seems to want to introduce some deep philosophical concept to make the casual get-togethers seem as if they are fraught with meaning. One of my favorite moments is when he is absolutely incredulous when Stewart says he was in an adult theater piece at the age of 12 (with bulging enthusiasm, "How did you get into a play with adults?" as if it were a strange concept for a budding thespian). Other odd moments include him singing along to Brooks' piano playing and the strangely sexist bend his interview with Mulgrew hits.

Through it all, though, Shatner is an enthusiastic guide. The interviews lack some insight, as I've mentioned. He is, after all, only sitting down with the individual participants for a couple of hours each. The footage from the Star Trek convention is fun enough and he tries to pepper the interviews with humor (arm wrestling, cardboard boxes). It's all light and pleasant enough without being particularly revelatory. Bonus points for adding Christopher Plummer to the roster (Why? Because he could). An entertaining film that misses out on its enormous potential, I'd still give it a look if it sounds at all interesting. Shatner so wanted to make a meaningful piece, but it really lacks any depth in actual relationship to the Star Trek franchise. And it certainly seems disingenuous when Shatner claims to have finally made peace with being James T. Kirk on the flight over to interview Stewart. Convenient timing! You truly have to be a Shatner fan to appreciate most of the movie--and if you are, enjoy! About 3 1/2 stars. KGHarris, 10/11.

This is one of the most oddly paced documentaries I've seen. The genius/madness/wackness of Shatner ground on me, initially, like nails on chalkboard, and his blatant interruptions of guests, not to mention somewhat horrendous "beat-poetry" with Avery, made me reach for my remote, finger hovering over the stop button.

But I came back to it, for what I would estimate as the last 3/4, and to say it redeemed itself would be an understatement. Like any eccentric character, you have to warm up to Shatners antics, and look for the sincerity amongst the ego. He'll interrupt Patrick Stewart, who is making a profound thought verbal, with some inconsequential question about the smallest of detail, yet tie it all together before its over with and give everyone enough latitude to truly make the interviews two-way. This is a unique but highly interactive interview technique, and as I saw more of it, I grew to like it.

There are some moments, as mentioned before with Avery, that leave you chuckling uncomfortably, but the majority of interactions between Shatner and his fellow captains are earnest, heartfelt, painful, uplifting, and humorous. Pine is the weakest link, but his time on this earth is a fraction of the others. Scott Bakula's catharsis with Shatner about divorce was poignant, and Stewart's earnestness about the love of his craft left me misty-eyed.

Speaking of misty-eyed, the shots from the convention really reminded me what I think most of us that love Star Trek are in it for: the celebration of the ideals and universe that Roddenberry imagined and many have developed into the mythos we have today. As quirky as Shatner is, he works the crowd with such expertise and mastery, you can see the mythical leader Kirk come out in what throughout most of the documentary appears a heavy-set, tired man. Add in the tangible love from the fans, the electricity in the air, and the cameo by Stewart, and you feel like you are in the crowd.

Shatner wraps it all up with an insight that seems so basic to the rest of us, but is brutally honest. The self-discovery portion of this film punctuates the ending to what started as an odd journey and ends with him saying out loud what we all know: if you are receptive to it, Star Trek can change your life.

The Captains is easily one of the most touching and thoughtful Star Trek documentaries that I ever have seen. I've seen many and none are this engaging

This is William Shatner's, now eighty years old, reflective and very personal look into the lives of the people that signed on to be these characters and pushing each one to basically unload the luggage and examine the cost on their personal lives because of their commitment to the show.

Eighteen hour days, day after day, year after year, while either being married -- or being a single mom, as Kate Mulgrew was with two very young children, Having families that never see you except on weekends, while you were wrecked and sleeping it all off just to recoup and go again ... this is the story that each one of them recounts back.

I think the first thought that most people who watch this will come away with, is that Avery Brooks has gone crazy ... but that's not really the whole story, and I doubt he is.

I've written before about Avery Brooks and Star Trek and how badly he was treated by the Producers in the franchise and by Paramount as a whole themselves. Avery basically talks to Bill Shatner through his piano, obliquely. Everything Avery says is evasive and a bit removed from the topic. He often shoots Shatner's question directly back to him.

While it is disconcerting, it is saddening to see that he's just not ready to talk about his experiences as Ben Sisko yet. It's too bad, too, as a lot of time has passed since Deep Space Nine, but obviously for Avery Brooks, not enough time. He is, very clearly, going through some of the same pains that Shatner did for many years regarding Star Trek, his role as Captain, his career after Star Trek and Paramounts handling of him.

Bill Shatner admits that he always felt a sense of `Derision' regarding his role and time on Star Trek, the fans, people saying `beam me up,' his legacy and leaving this world being known as `Captain Kirk.' It bothered him to no end, and when people on the street would tell him, year after year, that Captain Kirk and Star Trek changed their life, he inwardly never believed it and just thought that these people were hyped up and caught in the make-believe mystical nature of Hollywood and nothing else.

Patrick Stewart's deep devotion to Star Trek for the length of the show and not wanting the project to fail, cost him much in his own personal life which he had to turn his back on - giving him long-standing regrets. He had told himself that the job and the craft was more important than his own family - no joke. Patrick Stewart's interview woven through this film is touching, gratifying and explanatory on so many levels. Yes, you need to be a Star Trek fan to appreciate this, but as always, the message and the lesson here is much greater than Star Trek itself.

Patrick Stewart's conversation regarding his regrets is worth watching this for that alone, as I have often submitted to people that if you don't have any regrets, then you really haven't lived your life fully. Regrets are a natural condition of relationships and caring for people. I'm sure you can finish this thought by yourself. Watch it, and you'll probably never misunderstand that point again or have your own peace on it.

Kate Mulgrew's story about her life, her children and the impossibility of trying to work those long days, deliver the highly developed techno-speak embedded in the show, and be real - all while worrying about her two young children that she never got to see - and then having to emulate a constant, strong leader is incredible and creates a sad ironic absurdity that you just wouldn't expect.

Scott Bakula and Chris Pine are also interviewed and equally interesting. Both are honest and sincere and giving to Shatner's questioning, which is at times interruptive. But by the time you become heavily entangled in Patrick Stewart's narrative, it easily becomes the main theme.

This isn't about how Star Trek has changed our lives or technology, but something more inward - how Star Trek changed the lives of these people who would be Captain of the Enterprise and what it was that they lost from it and also what they gained.

I was riveted during the entirety of this and didn't expect to be. I've seen so many silly Star Trek documentaries that I thought I could just put this on in the background and get on with my day. No. I literally got nothing done in the last two hours except watch this from beginning to end and do a bit of soul searching myself regarding my own commitments.

You don't have to watch this for anything more than mild entertainment, but the material is there for deeper consideration if you're open to it.

Worth watching, and quite possibly more than once.

...

There are a few truisms in life: The government will always collect taxes, the sun sets in the west and we all grow old die. It's this last one that William Shatner seems to have trouble accepting. What we see in this documentary is a man reflecting upon a life that has been filled with both trials and tribblations (sorry. I couldn't resist).

This documentary has all you would expect from William Shatner; shameless self-promotion, the ego that has made him famous, and plenty of Star Trek fan love for him. There are entire shots of him just walking through the halls of convention centers as fans gawk and exclaim that they were "this close to him"

I love this. This ego is part of his charm. It's also makes him so lovable. As a captain it was this bravado in the face of everything that endears him to us and it's amazing to see this core characteristic come through in real life as he interacts with the other Captains that have helmed one of the televisions most beloved shows.

"Interact" is the best word to describe his encounters with Patrick Stewart, Avery Brooks, Scott Bakula, Kate Mulgrew and the newly Trek minted James T. Kirk; Chris Pine. It's not really interviews so much as it is Shatner asking questions and then interjecting as they speak when he deems it necessary to either correct their thinking or steer the conversation to something he is interested in. Truthfully Patrick Stewart gets the most uninterrupted time and rightfully so, as you will see.

What is most interesting to me is the personalities behind each of the captains. I grew up with Star Trek. I love Star Trek. I own every episode of Star Trek in all the franchises; even the animated series. These captains are often times larger than life and it's hard to imagine them without the thespian mask.

Patrick Stewart is by far the most introspective of them all. Without a doubt he has the best sense of himself. He speaks openly about regrets in his life, how he will be viewed after his death and how his perceptions have changed about hollywood, parenting, being most known for playing Picard as opposed to the brilliant career in the theatre and in other films. It was truly excellent to hear him speak not as an icon, but as a human.

Avery Brooks is another incredibly talented individual in both acting and singing. I won't give anything away but he is nothing like the emotionally conflicted yet confidant commander of DS9. Truthfully I get the the sense that if he had not found his passion for acting and music at such an early age he'd probably be the crazy guy you see at the local bus station. There is this jumbled fluidity to him that makes it appear as if he has his own personal rhythm in his head that only he can hear.

Kate Mulgrew was interesting as well. She spoke of parenting, time away from her children to film Voyager and her early years on stage and in film. I just wish Shatner let her speak more. Of all the captains I think she is most like Shatner in personality and style. It is obvious she has a bit of an ego as well, however it is what helps her project that confidence we've all come to expect to in a Star Trek captain.

Scott Bakula was also another interesting interview and perhaps pays the most homage to Shatner, which Shatner has little trouble accepting. He speaks briefly about his Quantum Leap days and how he found Star Trek in college. I enjoyed the short lived Enterprise franchise and it's obvious that Bakula is a scifi fan at heart. Again, I just wish Shatner would let him speak more without interrupting.

A slew of other actors from the various Trek franchises appear here an there in the documentary as well as footage of at least one convention.

From all of this William Shatner claims to have found peace and acceptance in being so closely associated with James T. Kirk. He is afraid of death, as he admits, but I get the sense that if he is telling the truth on the screen then he has reconciled that his epitaph will have to include Star Trek. There are few people who are so closely tied to Trek to be known posthumously for it; Roddenberry, Shatner, Nimoy, Stewart, Brookes and probably Jonathan Frakes and Brent Spiner as well. I'm sure there are a few more but those are the big ones.

In the end I enjoyed this. It somewhat centers around Star Trek but it's more about the personalities behind the characters... and William Shatner's shameless self promotion.

For any trekkie, or trekker, it's a must.

I've got to give credit where credit is due! Actor William Shatner came up with an inspired idea in the documentary "The Captains" which adds a missing piece to the legacy of television's longest running space saga. Uniting the six actors that have been featured as Captains in the show's various interpretations, the movie would seem to have all of the elements necessary to make it essential viewing for Star Trek fans. I'm not sure, however, that Shatner (taking a writing and directing credit) hits his mark squarely. Expecting new insight into the franchise with marketing that promises an "exclusive behind-the-scenes look at a pop culture phenomenon," I actually thought the film had surprisingly little to say about Star Trek itself. If anything, the documentary's primary subject is acting as a craft and as a career with many of the face-to-face conversations seeming like a low-rent "Inside the Actor's Studio" but without the flair. Don't get me wrong--I would still recommend this to fans, it just fails to fulfill some of its promise.

At the heart of the film is Shatner himself. He is, at once, the film's most valuable asset and one of its primary weaknesses. He travels the globe (as far as England anyway) to sit down with Patrick Stewart, Avery Brooks, Kate Mulgrew, Scott Bakula, and Chris Pine. Shatner, as a persona, is as lively as ever. As an interviewer, however, he lacks a bit of focus constantly bringing any conversation back to what seems to be his favorite topic--himself. It is sometimes awkward, sometimes endearing. At the beginning of each interview, he seems to want to introduce some deep philosophical concept to make the casual get-togethers seem as if they are fraught with meaning. One of my favorite moments is when he is absolutely incredulous when Stewart says he was in an adult theater piece at the age of 12 (with bulging enthusiasm, "How did you get into a play with adults?" as if it were a strange concept for a budding thespian). Other odd moments include him singing along to Brooks' piano playing and the strangely sexist bend his interview with Mulgrew hits.

Through it all, though, Shatner is an enthusiastic guide. The interviews lack some insight, as I've mentioned. He is, after all, only sitting down with the individual participants for a couple of hours each. The footage from the Star Trek convention is fun enough and he tries to pepper the interviews with humor (arm wrestling, cardboard boxes). It's all light and pleasant enough without being particularly revelatory. Bonus points for adding Christopher Plummer to the roster (Why? Because he could). An entertaining film that misses out on its enormous potential, I'd still give it a look if it sounds at all interesting. Shatner so wanted to make a meaningful piece, but it really lacks any depth in actual relationship to the Star Trek franchise. And it certainly seems disingenuous when Shatner claims to have finally made peace with being James T. Kirk on the flight over to interview Stewart. Convenient timing! You truly have to be a Shatner fan to appreciate most of the movie--and if you are, enjoy! About 3 1/2 stars. KGHarris, 10/11.

Like him or not, there's no denying the power of William Shatner. Busier than ever at age 80, the former Captain James T. Kirk periodically continues his philosopic exploration of the Star Trek phenomenon. Indeed, this is not the first video release in which Shatner delves deep into his most famous character (see also Mind Meld - Secrets Behind the Voyage of a Lifetime). But with "The Captains," he brings along 4 other iconic actors from the franchise and engages them some candid conversations.

As a longtime Star Trek fan, I always approach interview segments with the actors with a slight amount of trepidation. The fact is, some of them have a tendency to repeat the same stories over and over. Anyone who's ever sat through Nichelle Nichols' old chestnut of a story about how Martin Luther King Jr. talked her into not leaving the original series knows what I'm talking about. Happily, this is mostly not the case with this documentary. I only heard one story, from Patrick Stewart, that he used two years previously for the "Captain's Summit" Blu-ray disc. The interviews with Kate Mulgrew and Scott Bakula are especially enlightening, although Mulgrew comes across far more pessimistic than the always-affable "Enterprise" star. The film also puts Shatner face-to-face with the NEW Kirk, Chris Pine. Although their time together is limited, credit must be given to Pine for not engaging in anything resembling hero-worship, while Shatner shows some rare restraint by keeping his own ego in check.

Ever the armchair psychologist, Shatner isn't afraid to ask the big questions. Bakula admits that Quantum Leap's strenuous schedule helped end his marriage; an almost-tearful Stewart confides that he always placed his career above family obligations, even at the expense of two wives. Mulgrew speaks of the pressures of being a single mother while working 12+ hour days on the set of "Star Trek Voyager."

And then there's Avery Brooks ("Deep Space Nine"'s Capt. Sisko). What to make of his extended odes to the rapturous wonders of jazz music (Brooks even non-answers several questions by tickling the ivories)? Although his show remains the franchise's dark horse, Brooks himself is probably Shatner's heir apparent by virtue of his bug-eyed metaphysical countenance. Seriously, there's nothing in Trekkies to rival the unbridled weirdness of Brooks' interview segments.

"The Captains," even with a few flaws, ultimately represents a true time capsule for anyone in the future who might wonder just what all the fuss was about those "Star Trek" shows and movies. As he did in "Mind Meld," William Shatner sees Death coming for him...sooner rather than later. And while this morbid tone may not sit easily with some viewers interested in light entertainment, I can't help but feel the whole experience was very therapeutic and even comforting to its maker. As he is quick to point out, William Shatner has been entertaining audiences for over 50 years. "When I die...if people say, 'He was Captain Kirk," I'm O.K. with that," Shatner tell Patrick Stewart. And if the end is truly drawing near, this labor of love is a fine tribute to a group of people and a Canadian actor to whom they owe no small measure of their success.

"So many people have come up and said my life has changed as a result of seeing you work." A series of interviews of all 5 actors who have played a captain in "Star Trek". This is going to be a different type of review. This is not so much a documentary as it is a series of "60 minute" type interviews with surprisingly deep questions asked by Shatner. Questions ranging from how did you get the role to what happens when you die. I was never a fan of the series and to that extent I did not enjoy this has much as a true fan would. On the other hand the conversation he had with Patrick Stewert toward the end when he talks about getting over the embarassment of playing Captain Kirk was one of the most interesting conversations I have ever seen. Overall, a true "Trekkie" will love this. If you are like me and were never a fan you will still find this very interesting. The fact that this is really only a series of interviews makes it hard to rate...so for this one I will not give a grade.

Would I watch again? - I don't think I will.

You may call it a vanity project, a self-promotional piece, but THE CAPTAINS still offers up savory stuff for them STAR TREK fans. Whether you're a Trekker or a Trekkie or even just a casual fan, THE CAPTAINS is must-see viewing. But, yes, writer, director, and interviewer William Shatner does have a way of deflecting the conversation back to himself. It's probably some kind of superpower.

What Shatner did was call up all the actors who'd ever anchored a STAR TREK television series as a Starfleet captain - or, in Chris Pine's case, a feature film - and rallied them into being interview fodder for this documentary. So, c'mon, all the Trek captains being interviewed by THE captain himself? As a selling point, this doesn't come more huge. I found this documentary to be absorbing and at times funny and, at one point, baffling (*coughAveryBrookscough*).

Shatner should be creepy instead of uber-popular, but he's got a way of spinning things so that you end up liking him more. He's so genial in his self-promotion. He has this ability to toe the line between sincerity and pomposity. If you were wondering when the huckster in Shatner comes out, it doesn't take long. Within the first few minutes of the documentary he's preening in self-satisfaction as the executive of the aerospace company of the plane flying him to England (for the Patrick Stewart bit) informs him that, as a kid, he was inspired by Captain Kirk. Crows Shatner: "He became an aeronautical engineer because of me!"

Some of the chit chat weigh more than others. Shatner and Chris Pine engaged in a wrestling match is fun to eyeball, but the meatiest moments are with the others who'd been behind the helm the longest. Obvious themes are addressed: STAR TREK's impact and enduring popularity, the toll the show took on the actors' personal lives, the resulting rocky marriages and relationships with their children. Avery Brooks, Kate Mulgrew, Scott Bakula, and Sir Patrick Stewart all succumb to a bit of soul searching and reminiscing.

Shatner unveils a different approach with each Captain. Naturally he was more flirty with Kate Mulgrew. He plays the "us regular guys" card with Pine and Bakula, and so effortlessly bonds with them. Bakula and Pine come across as very down-to-earth persons. Avery Brooks is one enigmatic and out there cat who spends much of the interview behind the piano, sometimes jazz riffing, mostly waxing existential. Every now and then Shatner would play along and improv a jazz song with him. You may laugh or roll your eyes at Shatner's efforts, but there's no doubting he was sincerely trying to sync with Brooks. But it was sometimes awkward.

The most emotional moments surface when Shatner sits with Patrick Stewart. The session with Sir Patrick would yield some truly poignant reveals from both gentlemen. As usual, Shatner turns the conversation back to himself as he expresses in length how he now feels about being perceived as Captain Kirk in this late stage of his career. For the most part, Stewart indulges him, although there seems to be this bemused, "deer in the headlights" expression on his face.

Shatner isn't hard to find. He saunters thru Star Trek conventions like the god he is, and the fans give him his just propers. There's a sequence here in which he approaches respective booths featuring Jeri Ryan, Sally Kellerman, and Grace Lee Whitney, three actresses who at one time or another had spent time on the franchise. Each time Shatner mugs for the camera and tells the world that each actress is the most beautiful girl in the history of STAR TREK. The thing is, I almost believe he means it each time.

The DVD's bonus stuff: The Making Of THE CAPTAINS featurette (00:11:00 minutes long) and the trailer for THE CAPTAINS.

And that's only because for some peculiar reason - time, likely - Chris Pine got all of maybe 15 minutes of the screen. Avery Brooks got a lot, and the majority of that was him singing and playing the piano, rather than the soul search we were promised. The only one who was worth the time was Sir Patrick Stewart, who told truly heartfelt tales that are sure to give you deeper insight into possibly the most memorable captain aside from Kirk himself. I especially was moved when he said that he was comfortable in his own company, that he'd made mistakes that led him to two divorces. You see them on the screen and you assume that they must be living the life - indeed, Stewart's estate is an amazing one - but they're just mortal like you and me, and the concept of this video...deeper knowledge into the people that touched our hearts...was a great one.

There are also some guest appearances by some of the secondary talent - Robert Picardo (The Doctor on Voyager), Jonathan Frakes (Will Riker on TNG), and Dominic Keating (Malcom Reed from Enterprise) most notably, who give their commentary on what it was like to work with each captain.

The breakdown:

Sir Patrick Stewart: Shatner meets up with Stewart at his England estate. Their discussion centers mostly around Stewart's extensive acting history, as well as what got him into it. They also go very deep with "what if" discussions of the future and how they both felt about doing Star Trek when they saw the scripts.

Avery Brooks: Shatner meets Brooks at his home in New Jersey, where he learns more about Brooks' musical background and interests. Brooks' part of the movie is really him communicating in song - whether you prefer that or not. You don't really learn about him like you'd expect to. It's difficult to follow him and Shatner.

Kate Mulgrew: Shatner meets Mulgrew in New York (I think), and they talk in a Broadway forum. Mulgrew's is likely the most uncomfortable, because the tension between the two begins to rise during their chat about her challenges being the first female captain in a mostly male-dominated environment. Both make equally good points, but you can cut the tension with a knife at times.

Scott Bakula: Shatner meets Bakula at his ranch in Canada (I think), and they talk about Bakula's attempt to recreate some of the chemistry found with Kirk, Spock and Bones...ultimately failing (his words which I agree with), but being proud to have been "the first captain".

Chris Pine: Shatner meets Pine at, of all places, a metal table out in front of Paramount, in Los Angeles. This one is the most bizarre. They arm wrestle. No, I'm serious. Pine doesn't get much time at all out of all of the captains, and there certainly is no soul searching. It's mostly talk about Pine's family being actors.

The movie is well worth the purchase and a worthy addition to any collection. My main complaint was Pine. He was the one I wanted to know more about since he was basically thrust into the role of a young Captain Kirk - large shoes to fill. Also, there were no commentary pieces from the likes of Zoe Saldana (Uhura), Zachary Quinto (Spock) or even the venerable Karl Urban (McCoy) from Enterprise. It was like an afterthought, or a brief spot where they felt compelled to fit them in somewhere. But I did enjoy learning more about Stewart, as in a lot of ways I modeled my personality around his, and I did take inspiration seeing him on the screen.