I agree. It's hard to make a movie exceed the series finale. (I get teary when I catch the ending of it. )
Perhaps I can pull back and recommend that if the movie isn't on par with the best ST:TNG episodes, then don't bother. But it's okay to do a movie that merely equals the greatest.
I suggest having the next movie start with Picard waking to realize the previous movie was a bad dream. Data is back. Riker and Troi aren't married. Then have a full three-hour drama, with a killer script tied into the themes of the show and First Contact, and use it to fully conclude the show and characters.
Make it the ultimate sending off. We needs something at least as strong as ST VI (Undiscovered Country) to finish the series. Here, we can destroy the Enterprise one last time. Riker can eschew Troi to finally pursue his own ship; she will marry Worf in a surprise twist. Picard will die in his Father's vinyards, in the arms of Crusher who can't save him. Q will offer to save Picard, but will be turned down, remaining true to himself. I'm not sure about Geordi; perhaps he'll join Riker's crew. He needs something big, since the everyman needs some rewards.
And that's why I'm an engineer and not a writer
Perhaps I can pull back and recommend that if the movie isn't on par with the best ST:TNG episodes, then don't bother. But it's okay to do a movie that merely equals the greatest.
I suggest having the next movie start with Picard waking to realize the previous movie was a bad dream. Data is back. Riker and Troi aren't married. Then have a full three-hour drama, with a killer script tied into the themes of the show and First Contact, and use it to fully conclude the show and characters.
Make it the ultimate sending off. We needs something at least as strong as ST VI (Undiscovered Country) to finish the series. Here, we can destroy the Enterprise one last time. Riker can eschew Troi to finally pursue his own ship; she will marry Worf in a surprise twist. Picard will die in his Father's vinyards, in the arms of Crusher who can't save him. Q will offer to save Picard, but will be turned down, remaining true to himself. I'm not sure about Geordi; perhaps he'll join Riker's crew. He needs something big, since the everyman needs some rewards.
And that's why I'm an engineer and not a writer