The first big screen outing of the Next Generation crew may be a little disappointing after the spectacular finale to the television series and the previous film (Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country), but one must be careful not to underrate it -- this is a fantastic adventure in the Trek universe that ranks with the best. The special effects are brought to a new plateau of excellence while not interfering with the more fundamental elements of the story. However, viewers new to the Next Generation cast may want to check out an episode or two of the series first, to become familiar with the characters.