Star Trek: First Contact (1996)

Directed by: Jonathan Frakes | 110 minutes | action, adventure, science fiction, thriller | Actors: Patrick Stewart, Jonathan Frakes, Brent Spiner, LeVar Burton, Michael Dorn, Gates McFadden, Marina Sirtis, Alfre Woodard, James Cromwell, Alice Krige, Michael Horton, Neal McDonough, Marnie McPhail, Robert Picardo, Dwight Schultz, Adam Scott, Eric Steinberg, Scott Strozier, Patti Yasutake, Ethan Phillips

Under the command of Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart), the Enterprise-E travels from the 24th century to the year April 4, 2063, the day before astronaut Zefram Cochrane makes his first rocket flight at a speed faster than light. These technical advancements will see Earth come into contact with friendly aliens, the Vulcans, for the first time. But there is an enemy who wants to prevent this first contact and wipe out humanity: the terrifying Borg collective.

Captain Jean-Luc Picard and his crew will have to face this half-organic, half-mechanical foe once again to prevent their own future from being wiped out by the Borg. The Borg Collective converts each nation they conquer into an additional group of drones. The technical knowledge of the conquered people is also assimilated, making the technique of the Borg extremely advanced.

The Borg are arguably the most fascinating enemy the ‘Star Trek’ series writing team has ever conceived. Each encounter with these eerie creatures delivers an exciting and ingenious story. Likewise in this movie. The highlight is the performance of the Borg Queen, excellently played by Alice Krige, who tries to get Android Data on her side. The time travel ensures that viewers who have never seen a television episode of ‘Star Trek’ will not be bored. They can identify with 21st century characters who have never even heard of starships and the Borg. Alfre Woodard, who played Betty Applewhite in ‘Desperate Housewives’, portrays the smart Lily well. Her first encounter with Borg drones, during which she regularly screams in terror, is especially convincing. James Cromwell, known for ‘LA Confidential’ and ‘Babe’, is great as the anti-hero Zefram Cochrane, who drinks too much and doesn’t know what to do with the admiring glances of the Enterprise crew. They treat him like an idol, because he will make the first contact with other aliens. This results in situations that are sometimes even funny, while humor is not the strongest side of the ‘Star Trek’ screenwriters.

All in all, this is a good ‘Star Trek’ movie. The regular Enterprise cast plays, especially in the scenes on Earth, with visible pleasure. For the fans there are nice references and guest appearances, including from the Emergency Medical Hologram. Still, the question remains whether the viewer who is unfamiliar with the entire ‘Star Trek’ universe can fully enjoy the film.