Star Trek: The Next Generation Collection

Science Fiction

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Star Trek: First Contact

Paramount Pictures

United States of America

English

Patrick Stewart

Jonathan Frakes

Brent Spiner

LeVar Burton

Michael Dorn

Gates McFadden

Marina Sirtis

James Cromwell

Alfre Woodard

Alice Krige

Neal McDonough

Dwight Schultz

Cameron Oppenheimer

Robert Picardo

Adam Scott

Ray Uhler

Eric Steinberg

Joey Anaya

Don Stark

Patti Yasutake

Jack Shearer

Michael Horton

Michael Zaslow

Ethan Phillips

Majel Barrett

Louis Ortiz

Michael Braveheart

Sylvester Foster

Tracee Cocco

Marty Hornstein

Peter Lauritson

Matthew F. Leonetti

Jerry Goldsmith

Herman F. Zimmerman

Junie Lowry-Johnson

Ron Surma

Anastasia Emmons

John W. Wheeler

Ron Wilkinson

Brannon Braga

Ronald D. Moore

Daryl Tucker

Deborah Everton

John M. Dwyer

Robert Blackman

Sarah Shawe

Rosine 'Ace' Hatem

Jerry Fleck

Rosemary C. Cremona

Debbie Lynn Ross

Ronnie Rondell Jr.

Brian J. Williams

Kenny Alexander

Janet Brady

Chic Daniel

William H. Burton Jr.

Eddy Donno

Tony Donno

Mark De Alessandro

Kenny Endoso

Andy Epper

Gary Epper

Steve DeRelian

Richard Epper

Andy Gill

Christian J. Fletcher

James M. Halty

Gary Guercio

Frankie 'G' Garbutt

Billy Hank Hooker

Thomas Robinson Harper

Maria R. Kelly

Buddy Joe Hooker

Wayne King

Bob McGovern

Kim Robert Koscki

Dustin Meier

John C. Meier

Joyce McNeal

Steve Picerni

Monte Rex Perlin

Manny Perry

John Nowak

Jimmy Romano

Tom Poster

Danny Rogers

Pat Romano

Craig Shugart

John Rottger

James Ryan

Zack Davis

Kerry Dean Williams

Bob Baron

Robert Morrisey

Roger Fearing

Joseph F. Brennan

John Agalsoff Jr.

Richard Corwin

Anne Couk

Ken Dufva

David Lee Fein

Robin Harlan

Sarah Monat

Scott Curtis

Ed Callahan

Tammy Fearing

Linda Di Franco

Randy K. Singer

Anthony Milch

Scott G.G. Haller

Doug Jackson

David F. Van Slyke

Jeff Clark

Thomas Causey

Steve Pederson

Tom Perry

Brad Sherman

Philip Rogers

Robert Ulrich

Mike Szakmeister

Pamela Bentkowski

Cameron Frankley

James Wolvington

John Deall

Terry D. Frazee

Thomas D. Bacho Jr.

Jason Bardis

_**Solid Next Generation Trek film with The Borg**_

Released in 1996 and directed by Jonathan Frakes, "Star Trek: First Contact" features The Next Generation characters taking on the Borg, a collection of species that have been turned into cybernetic organisms functioning as drones in a hive-mind called the Collective. In order to escape imminent destruction by the Federation, a Borg mini-ship flees back in time to 2063 to prevent the renowned Zefram Cochrane (James Cromwell) from accomplishing the initial warp drive and the subsequent first contact with an alien race, which later paved the way for the Federation of Planets. Alfre Woodard has a key role as a colleague of Cochrane.

The Borg are an excellent villain and one of the greatest contributions of The Next Generation TV series, along with all its elaboration on Klingon culture. Here the Borg are augmented by the introduction of a Queen (Alice Krige), which some feel detracted from the impersonal and eerie race while others think enhanced them. It makes no difference to me personally, but it fits the parallel of a queen bee in a honey bee colony. Besides, why wouldn’t there be a central intelligence?

There are some gems to mine from the proceedings, like Cochrane's revelation of his carnal motivations for developing warp drive and Picard's hell-bent desire to annihilate the Borg. Speaking of Picard, Patrick Stewart carries the film with his unique star power, which is very different from Shatner, but just as effective.

Interestingly, The Next Generation TV series never developed a prominent triumvirate like Kirk/Spock/McCoy, but rather a dyad, Picard and Data. Whereas this duo was core to the previous TNG film, "Generations" (1994) and the last one, "Nemesis" (2002), it's not as evident here until the last act when Picard attempts to rescue the charismatic android, but that's only because they get separated early on and Data ends up hanging out with the Borg Queen. By the way, Picard's self-sacrificial desire to save Data reveals a weakness in the script: After the Enterprise is set to self-destruct, Picard only has 15 MINUTES to rescue Data and escape the ship, but Picard is shown having a meaningful discussion with Lily (Woodard). _Why sure!_ 

Another gem of the film is the revelation of the alien race at the end, which prompts a "Wow" reaction to fans of Star Trek (although erudite Trekkers undoubtedly knew what was coming).

There are other flaws, like the jarring, contrived excuse for going back in time and the questionable fiery confrontation between Picard and Lily. I say "questionable" because something about the sequence renders it somewhat shaky; it may be the acting, the writing or some combination, but they needed to work out the kinks. Still, that scene has some good aspects, like Picard's line: "The line must be drawn HERE!" and the build-up to it.

While I favor 1994's "Generations" to "First Contact" because of the fascinating story elements, e.g. the Nexus, and the potent subtext (see my review), and even marginally prefer the underrated "Nemesis" (2002), this doesn't take away from the fact that "First Contact" is a quality installment in the series, which gets better with repeat viewings despite its weaknesses.

The movie runs almost 111 minutes and was shot in the studio with location shooting at Angeles National Forest and Green Valley, Arizona (substituting for Montana).

GRADE: B

Kamurai

Good watch, could watch again, and can recommend (at least for dedicated "Star Trek" fans).

My favorites aspects of all of "Star Trek" are The Borg, and the artificial entities like Data.  This movie potentially ruins both of them, depending on who you ask.  Also, time travel is the worst.

I would have been much happier if we hadn't bothered with time travel as that creates a lot of other questions about why The Borg haven't utilized it before if they had such technology.

The investigation of humanity in The Borg and Data are pretty interesting though, seeing Data find what it is to FEEL is a great, but seeing The Borg personified into a single entity to which one can converse is odd, at best.

Seeing the Enterprise defend against Borg assault was fun, but none of the "First Contact" stuff was compelling at all.

Really solid and suspense-filled Star Trek film. Seen this one once before and still holds up along with the visual effects which were decent for its time. This is also the first complete TNG feature and unlike Generations, did feel like a movie rather than two-part episode. 4.0/5

CinemaSerf

Interesting how this film divides opinion like no other from this franchise. It is my least favourite (except perhaps "The Final Frontier") as it does attempt to impose a morality that is well beyond the scope of the talent involved - both on screen and at the typewriter. The effects are certainly special, but even with the quirky contribution of James Cromwell I'm struggling to think of this as anything better than a longer episode of "Next Generation" with all of it's pseudo-intellectual idealism. Like so many films directed by and starring their stars; objectivity is sometimes first under the bus - I fear that is the case here.

Great movie! Funny, good story and plot twist. Enjoyed this all the way and the surprise actor guest appearances. The Borg have always been a favorite and this was a great expanding on the story of who they are.

Star Trek: First Contact (1996) Original Trailer [FHD]

Star Trek VIII: First Contact - Trailer

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Patrick Stewart

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