For those who are sick and confused about all the new Star Trek spin-offs trying to imitate what is considered one of the greatest shows in television history, the latest flick in the series, “Star Trek: Insurrection,” offers something a little different.

It brings back all of the favorite characters from “Star Trek: The Next Generation” and mixes them up with a confusing, yet interesting plot. The movie also adds more humor than expected from seven space travelers.

The Enterprise is called to a planet being studied by a team composed of the Starfleet Command, including Commander Data — the amazing android known for his thirst for human emotions in the long-running show — played by Brent Spiner.

The planet is located in an area of space called the Briar Patch, which is covered in all sorts of gas pockets and other space oddities that make it hard to communicate and travel through.

While on the planet, Captain Picard, played by Patrick Stewart, and his crew learn of a “fountain of youth” caused by a special chemical makeup in the planet’s rings. All the planet’s inhabitants don’t grow any older because they are in a constant state of regeneration.

The race that inhabits the planet, the Ba’ku, do not look a day over 30, and the children begin the regeneration process as soon as they reach maturity. But the Ba’ku are, in fact, over 400 years old.

The Enterprise crew discovers another race called the Son’a ,which has a plan to transport the Ba’ku off the planet and steal the regenerating particles from the rings for their personal use.

Picard finds out that a corrupt admiral from the federation is helping the Son’a. So the mission is set for the Enterprise: rescue the Ba’ku from the Son’a and travel through the Briar Patch to let the Federation know what is going on.

“Star Trek: Insurrection” has something for everyone.

The moral questions it addresses certainly provide something for those who like movies that stimulate deep thought.

At the same time, the movie incorporates exciting chases, explosions and phaser fire that appeal to the action buffs.

The surprising element of humor is also a highlight of the movie.

Parts that make this Trek film more amusing than others are ones that include Picard. He is more loose and relaxed, allowing him to make more jokes and have fun with his crew-mates.

Another funny aspect of the film is the fact that Commander Worf, the lovable Klingon played by Michael Dorn, is going through Klingon puberty and has Klingon pimples, mood-swings and rapid hair growth.

Of course, Commander Data is striving to be more like a human and he focuses on gathering information about what it is like to be a little child.

Director Jonathan Frakes, who also plays Commander Riker, does a decent job in this picture. A few too many boring scenes that involve contemplating life’s questions leave the audience’s eyes a little droopy, but they are shot back open with intense action scenes.

The special effects are wonderful; Star Trek’s amazing way of making the audience believe in the space atmosphere is definitely in full effect once again.

Like they have been so many years in the past, all the actors were very believable.

“Star Trek: Insurrection,” the most recent chapter in the Star Trek legacy has proven once again that the phenomena started by late creator Gene Roddenberry some 30 years ago, is still alive and can entertain people of all ages and personalities.

3 1/2 stars out of five

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Kyle Moss is a freshman in journalism and mass communication from Urbandale.