Star Trek: First Contact (1996)

A lot more amusing than I thought it would be.

To all those who have watched it: I hope you enjoyed it as much as I do.

Funny, strange, confrontational and subversive, this is one of the most interesting experiences you'll have at the cinema this year.

It is a whirlwind of delight --- attractive actors, stunning couture, spectacular sets and outrageous parties. It's a feast for the eyes. But what really makes this dramedy work is the acting.

Movie Review: "Star Trek: First Contact" (1996)With "The Next Generation" at the cinematic peak of their powers with newly-crafted "Enterprise NCC-1701-E" after "Generations" (1994) crashes, comes this nearly-perfect 105-Minute-Editorial by film cutter James W. Wheeler, who makes idealistic use of darkly-"Borg"-infused camera footage by cinematographer Matthew F. Leonetti under directions of also-starring as Commander Riker, actor Jonathan Frakes directing far-out into pushing the character of Captain Jean-Luc Picard, strongly as in shape-of-a-life portraying actor Patrick Stewart, to confront his inflicting demons from a former complete "Borg" assimilation in the television-season-three finale furioso "The Best of Both Worlds" directed by Cliff Bole (1937-2014) stretching a "high-rise" cliffhanger scenario between June 16th 1990 to season-four-reopenings on September 22nd 1990 with "The Best of Both Worlds - Part II" towards further regards to never-seen-before Picard's mecha-alterego "Locutus", which convicted-actions thrills onboard of a Riker-commanded "Enterprise".Director Jonathan Frakes makes use of his years of experience in the universe of "Star Trek" initially-created by U.S. Texan Gene Roddenberry (1921-1991) for the legendary three seasons from 1966 to 1969 starring William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy (1931-2015), when this motion picture from Paramount Pictures marks the highlight of "The Next Generation", secretly inhabiting "Star Trek" wisdom in dialogue in the middle of action-packed war-zones from Planet Earth with encounters in favors of warp-speed-engine inventing character of Zefram Cochran, with pleasures for an-old-republic as an ocassional pub-brawl-included actor James Cromwell, when supporting character Lily, given face by Alfre Woodard, receives absolution on well-written, razor-edged "Star Trek" mission fulfilled with Picard sharing the far-future-concept of "Everyone Working Daily Within Their Abilities With No Further Wages Needed" in ultra-stark visions of 24th century clean-sighted starship metal-runs against escapology-themes of substance-infusions of a still-all-too-present abusive enjoyments of the late 20th to early 21st century, when "First Contact" becomes a superior science-fiction winner event movie - not only for the "Trekkie" in all of us.© 2018 Felix Alexander Dausend (Cinemajesty Entertainments LLC)

Although the "rebooted" movie series is not over (yet) this still remains my best-loved Star Trek Movie to date, but I also have to include the 2 part episode "Best of Both Worlds", as a runner-up from Star Trek:TNG TV series. What is so fascinating about the Borg? Certainly their "Frankensteinish" appearance and Borg Queen which has also appeared with "7 of 9" in "Voyager" as well. (Actress Alice Krige won the Best Supporting Actress Oscar as the Borg Queen in the movie.) She apparently likes mating with humans and Data as well. Capt. Picard still has a link with the Borg Queen as she almost turns Data into a real human being (like Pinocchio) and that's the 2 illogical things about this film. Borgs try to rewrite history so that Dr. Cochran never launches the first warp-drive prototype and meets The Vulcan spaceship, hence the title "First Contact" with aliens for Mankind. Lots of hand-to-hand combat on 21th Century Earth and 24th Century Enterprise. As always, it is almost self-destructed as in other films. Capt.Picard is compared to "Capt. Ahab pursuing Moby Dick" with the Borg as the prey, in this case. The film manages to cover all the details including Geordi's enhanced new eyes (from Borg technology) to the Holodeck "Speakeasy". Very few, if any, "errors" in the plot. Most of the computer generated ships and effects look quite real considering that this is from 1996. So well scanned that I waited years before buying a disc copy. A great space-walk on the hull of the ship and the usual great interiors. The "curse of the red shirts" continues as all of the assimilated humans are new "recruits". As I have mentioned before, why is there never a reference for the creation of The Borg, which happened when "Commander Decker "joined" with an electronic entity in "Star Trek:The Motion Picture"?

'Star Trek: The Next Generation' may not be quite as influential or as ground-breaking as the original 'Star Trek' series (though it certainly has those elements), but quality-wise it is every bit as good with a few improvements.The first "Next Generation" 'Star Trek' film, 'Generations', was to me not that bad but was frustratingly uneven (namely the treatment of Kirk and the emotion chip subplot). The next film, 'First Contact', was a significant improvement and highly deserves its reputation as the best film based of 'The Next Generation' series and one of the best 'Star Trek' films overall. Giving some of the supporting characters, like Worf and Crusher, more to do rather than giving them little screen time and not having them do much, was pretty much the only thing that 'First Contact' could have improved on.'First Contact' is one of the best looking 'Star Trek' films, feeling more expansive and cinematic and benefiting from significant technology advances. The cinematography is intimate, colourful, brooding and immersive, while the sets rich in detail and the special effects are first rate with a real sense of awe. Bringing Jerry Goldsmith back was a good move, and he and his son Joel produce a score that's rousing, haunting, menacing, melancholic and sometimes even pastoral. Oh and the main theme tune is a classic.Writing-wise, 'First Contact' is one of the best written and balanced of the films. The humour is genuinely funny and sometimes affectionate with the in-jokes, the emotional moments have real poignancy and a grandiose sweep and there is a real tension at times too. The story is perhaps the best paced, with no wasted or extraneous scenes and the one that gets to the point the most. The action is simply thrilling, and while some characters are underused there is still some interesting character development and interaction, namely a more conflicted Picard (in a way that's reminiscent of Captain Ahab), the scene between him and Lily and Data and the Borg Queen.Patrick Stewart gives his most intense and moving performance of all the 'Next Generation' films, and still has the commanding presence and the dignified gravitas. Brent Spiner is strong too, and he is much more restrained here with Data significantly better written. Jonathan Frakes is compelling as Riker but does even better in the director's chair, he doesn't lose any of what makes the series so great in the first place or what makes it so influential while showing some freedom to show his own style and open things up.Alice Krige is on seductive and deliciously slimy villainous form, while the Borgs are genuinely fearsome even now. James Cromwell and Afre Woodard excel in atypical roles to the work they're best known for, Cromwell in particular.In conclusion, first rate and a high point of the 'Star Trek' franchise. 9/10 Bethany Cox

After chasing God in Star Trek V, reenacting the Cold War in IV, and being offered an ultimate "fantasy life" in Generations (all very philosophically-themed films), Star Trek: First Contact shifted its focus to action/adventure, and was better served for it. Plus, not only was the film a rousing adventure, but also contained the emotions to back it up.In this film, the Next Generation crew is reunited with the Borg (whom, perhaps with the exception of Klingons, are the most compelling villain race in the Star Trek cannon). This reunion touches an extremely raw nerve in Captain Jean-Luc Picard, who once was captured and tortured by the Borg, setting up the emotional drama of the film. The "Picard meltdown" scene is one of the best in the entire Star Trek series as far as emotional conflict is concerned. While trying to stop the Borg from changing the entire course of human space travel (the main plot of the film), Picard must balance his intense hatred of the one-eyed automatrons with the safety and well-being of himself, his crew, and the entire human race.Besides that strong emotion, though, the other aspect of the film that succeeds is its ability (much like the II-IV movies) to give all the Enterprise crew something important (and interesting) to do. Worf tries to secure the ship from the Borg, Data is heavily drawn into the Borg's plan (being a cybernetic being himself), while Riker, Geordi, and Troi must help Zefram Cochrane gain the confidence to lift off on the most important of all manned space flights. Each story is just as compelling as the other, with Worf providing the bulk of the action, Data adding more emotional conflict, and Riker/Geordi/Troi pushing the main plot forward as well as adding doses of humor.To conclude, Star Trek: First Contact is easily the best Star Trek film featuring the Next Generation cast, and I would argue rivals movies II and IV as the best in the entire series. With its combination of action, emotional drama, time-travel plot (those always keep you thinking!), and sly humor, this film combines all the positive aspects of the Star Trek cannon and tops things off with a great script and spot-on acting. If you have never seen a Star Trek movie and could care less about the "old guys" (The Original Series cast), this is the movie to start with. If you were introduced (albeit rather poorly) to the Next Generation crew in Star Trek: Generations, this movie will properly acquaint you to the show.