Movie Review: Star Trek: First Contact (1996)

Star Trek: First Contact (1996) directed by Jonathan Frakes

The United Federation of Planets is under attack by the Borg again. The Enterprise, under the command of Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart), is ordered to stay on Neutral Zone patrol. The UFP higher ups are concerned about Picard, who was once assimilated by the Borg, changing sides during the battle. The captain and his crew decide to disobey orders and fly off to Earth where a gigantic Borg cube is attacking. With Picard's insider knowledge of Borg tech and design, they are able to take out the mega-cube. In a last ditch effort at victory, the cube fires a sphere at Earth that slips through a time hole to Earth's past. The Enterprise is in pursuit and sees the Earth turn into a Borg planet after the sphere vanishes. The Enterprise races into the time hole before it collapses, taking them to Earth in the mid-21st century.

They destroy the Borg sphere but not before (1) the Borg fire on an Earth settlement and (2) the Enterprise is boarded by some of the Borg. The Borg start assimilating crew members and refitting many decks to suit their needs. Picard naturally does not want to give up his ship to the menace, so he works with Data (Brent Spiner) and Worf (Michael Dorn) to fight the enemy. Data is captured and taken to the Borg Queen (Alice Krige), who tries to seduce him into unlocking the ship's computer so they can take control. Part of her seduction is giving Data flesh, an unfamiliar experience that he has a hard time dealing with.

Meanwhile, on the planet, Riker (Jonathan Frakes), LaForge (LeVar Burton), and Troi (Marina Sirtis) are helping the encampment. They are by a missile silo where Zefram Cochran (James Cromwell) has built a ship that will be able to travel faster than light, thereby gaining the attention of nearby aliens and making first contact, bringing Earth into its interstellar age. The ship needs repairs. The Enterprise crew has a hard time helping Cochran and not geeking out, telling him about all the statues and schools named after him. Cochran is a hard-drinking guy who is doing this project for money, not fame or to help mankind step out into the greater universe. Cochran has a hard time dealing with the new-found pressure.

The story does a great job balancing adventure, drama, and comedy. Picard has a crisis about getting revenge for what the Borg did to him, giving him a more interesting story arc and some moments of very physical action and self-doubt. Data also has a crisis about how human he could really become with the Borg's assistance, questioning whether he should change alliances. Cochran's crisis about fame leads more to comedy but also some interesting character moments. The human drama is blended in nicely to the storyline, making a very satisfy film.

Recommended, highly for Star Trek fans. This is easily the best of the Next Generation movies.

This movie is also reviewed on A Good Story is Hard to Find Episode #357. Check it out!