Finally all three parts are available of "Star Trek: Of Gods and Men," the extraordinarily ambitious pseudo-fan production. Divided into acts it seems more like a fat episode and less like a lean film, but in scope the production clearly opts for the latter. There's loads of material here and cramming it results in a top-heavy story with few pauses for reflection or subtlety. While it's true that the action never lets up, here that's not a good thing.

Not another Time Travel story! Not much of an original one either, Star Trek Phase II (nee New Voyages) handled this better in their similarly obese and overcomplicated "In Harm's Way." There are too many bits lifted from other films, like planet buster weapons and hordes of fighting starships, rendered incomprehensible due to sharing the same ship shapes. As such the visual effects become overpowering.

Book-ended by Uhura's thoughts, she offers what emotional focus the plot provides, while it otherwise borrows wholesale from "Where No Man Has Gone Before" and "Charlie X." Pilfering from two first season episodes leaves Chekov in a werry odd position so his name gets changed confusing things even more. Characters appear and leave abruptly with moods and intentions pivoting incredulously, and the plot struggles under too many obscure TOS connections. I'd been spoiled about Charlie playing a role but Gary Mitchell was too much by half, and their climactic mental energy fight was bland and unsatisfying. Frankly neither character added much (nor did the Guardian) though both actors deserve credit for doing their best with their roles.

Alan Ruck is excellent as Harriman. Tim Russ serves well as director but as Tuvok slows the momentum of the second act. Chase Masterton is luscious as Xela, OSG with a heart of gold. Kudos to the supporting cast of JG Hertztler, Garrett Wang, Crystal Allen, Jeff Quinn, and Herb Jefferson Jr?! Gary Graham is short shrifted as a shape-shifting script-solving device. James Cawley comes out of his Phase II Kirk to play his nephew (assigned to a museum 1701-M? Isn't J centuries ahead?).

The acting is easily the best part of this production. It's always a pleasure to see Nichelle Nichols, Walter Koenig, and Grace Lee Whitney, but fans also get the special treat of Arlene Martel, Celeste Yarnall, and Lawrence Montaigne (among others). Though clad in beautiful sentiment as a 40th anniversary gift, this is Star Trek without an Enterprise, Kirk, Spock, or McCoy. What that leaves behind is sweet but their absence is no less felt.