First Contact appreciation thread

[heavylids]

I'm sure there have been plenty of these in the past, but fuck it. I love this movie and I'm about to watch it after I finish this TOS episode.

I saw this movie in theaters, and I don't think I've ever been so captivated seeing a Trek movie before. I bought a vhs copy the day it come out and watched it three times in a row. The story was just amazing. The writing, acting, everything was top notch. Watching Picard kill a Borg with a tommy gun was just priceless(I'm very fond of gangster movies). Not to mention the Enterprise-E is beautiful. Such a great ship design.

This movie made a shit load for the studio. I think the opening weekend it grossed over 30 million. I like Insurrection, but First Contact was really when the TNG cast were at their best. Then it just kind of went downhill from there.

 

[Too Much Fun]

I started a thread just like this and it quickly turned into folks nitpicking the hell out of the movie. I don't know why people can't refrain from doing that even in a thread with an opposite purpose. PLEASE, people, I BEG YOU, let's show some restraint this time. Now with that out of the way...I will always champion this movie wherever I go.

When the movie first came out, I was too young to see it in theatres on my own (and none of my friends liked Star Trek) so I had to miss it. I hated that. I was dying to see it, especially after a kid in my bus saw it was blown away, especially by Worf's "Assimilate This!" one-liner (which some grumpy humorless cretins seem to dislike for some inexplicable reason ).

Of all the movies I own, this is definitely one of the ones I've watched the most times. No matter how many times I watch it, I am always filled with joy for the whole experience. Over the years I have come to appreciate the humour more. Some find the Cochrane stuff cheesy, but it makes me laugh my ass off.

I've also heard arguments that "All Good Things..." shouldn't have been followed up with anything, but to me, this is the perfect capper to the adventures of the "Star Trek: The Next Generation" crew. It has the novelty of seeing them in an adventure that just feels bigger because it's on the silver screen (to an extent so do the other TNG movies, but not as much since their stories suck), plus a story that works.

I think of it as the only TNG movie. It functions as a sequel to the best episode of the series, and combines so many things I love about Star Trek well. Great comedy, some really intense dramatic character moments, some nice quiet character moments, fun action sequences, and an optimistic, uplifting ending. Best of all worlds, I say! My favourite Star Trek movie and one of my top ten favourite movies in any genre.

 

[thumbtack]

It was the best of the TNG movies. Yes, I know that's not saying much.

 

[heavylids]

There seriously isn't one single aspect of this movie that I don't like. I love the score, especially the piece during the opening credits.

And it's good to know that in the Star Trek universe, rock n' roll is still listened to in the 2060's.

 

[heavylids]

I think of it as the only TNG movie. It functions as a sequel to the best episode of the series, and combines so many things I love about Star Trek well.

I completely agree with you. Generations and Insurrection could have just been two-part episodes. And Nemesis... well I won't get into that because of how much I hate it.

 

[WillsBabe]

I love this film from start to finish. There isn't a moment in it that I don't enjoy. It's like cigarettes to me, if I start watching it, I have to watch the whole thing!

 

[Botany Bay]

I ended up taking plenty of skeptical non-fans to see this movie, and all of them loved it. Some even saw it twice with me, and recommended it to other people enthusiastically - something I couldn't say about any of the other Next Gen films.

FC was hands down the best Berman-era script, and should have set the Next Gen crew up for a good run of sequels. Shame it didn't work out.

 

[sonak]

as others have pointed out, the best of the TNG movies. Great use of the Borg, great supporting characters(the combination of Alice Krige, James Cromwell, and Alfre Woodard is probably the best of the guest roles in any Trek movie), great music, etc.



it's a toss-up between FC or TWOK as my favorite Trek movie.

 

[BlobVanDam]

There seriously isn't one single aspect of this movie that I don't like. I love the score, especially the piece during the opening credits.

The score for this movie is one of my favourites, and really elevates the movie.
As average as Insurrection was, I think I slightly prefer that score to FC, but you can't go wrong with Goldsmith.

And FC is my favourite Trek movie. It has good pacing, and a good amount of comedy, action, Bob Picardo, and every character has a good moment.

 

[heavylids]

Yeah Jerry Goldsmith really was a genius. His pieces could be real beautiful and equally feel like existential dread.

I watch this movie at least 6-7 times a year. It will never get old.

 

[GalaxyX]

I started a thread just like this and it quickly turned into folks nitpicking the hell out of the movie. I don't know why people can't refrain from doing that even in a thread with an opposite purpose. PLEASE, people, I BEG YOU, let's show some restraint this time. Now with that out of the way...I will always champion this movie wherever I go.

Darn it!!!!

 

[spaceballone]

Best Trek film ever

 

[Robert D. Robot]

as others have pointed out, the best of the TNG movies. Great use of the Borg, great supporting characters(the combination of Alice Krige, James Cromwell, and Alfre Woodard is probably the best of the guest roles in any Trek movie), great music, etc.

it's a toss-up between FC or TWOK as my favorite Trek movie.

All these reasons describe why I, too, put FC at the top of my list for best Trek movie (tied with TWOK!).

 

[Vinkula]

It was a good movie and it is. But somehow, I prefer Generations and Insurrection more

I liked the pissed off Picard in the observation lounge with Lily.

 

[heavylids]

A lot of people don't like Generations and Insurrection, but I love both of those movies. I still think First Contact is the best. I watch it at least 3-5 times a year.

 

[GalaxyX]

First Contact was the best TNG movie, but would have been slow and lacking in serious story if it had been a TOS movie. Probably on the same lines as ST:III TSFS

 

[Captrek]

Far and away the best of the TNG films... and beyond that faint praise I think I have nothing more for this thread.

 

[Tallifer]

I loved watching the Borg queen (somehow that seems very wrong and icky!)

But the Borg were originally conceived as a collective with little sense of individuality: that was the whole point of the story about Hugh. So I have to rate this movie lower.

Also Zephram Cochrane the constantly drunken party animal does not seem like he would have the self-discipline and work ethic necessary to actually invent something as advanced and technological as the warp drive.

 

[lurok]

Watched this again just the other day, and while has many many faults (which this is not place for), will say this:

VAST improvement over GEN
Well-directed, paced and shot (actually, moves along at cracking pace...)
Nice character moments
New ships

 

[Subcommander R.]

Data and Borg Queen.

Rule 34, I bet you a hundred dollars.