FIRST CONTACT IS THE WORST STAR TREK MOVIE

[Whoa Nellie]

Though I agree with much of what you wrote, it is my belief that this movie marked a change in direction for the series. Much like after Star Trek IV where humor was felt to be necessary in order for a good trek movie.

Again, I find your premises faulty. Star Trek First Contact was a piece in the Borg story arc that had started during the second season of the TNG series (Q Who?). Also, humor has always played a very important role in Star Trek starting way back with the TOS series (Shore Leave, Trouble with Tribbles, I Mudd , A Piece of the Action, just to name a few.)

Yeah, Picard could always throw down when the situation called for it. I mean, the Klingons respect him, for crying out loud. What more proof do you need? He kicked a lot of ass on the series. It didn't seem far-fetched to me that he was such a badass in FC. It was a very chilling moment, though, when he killed that ensign.

Agreed!

How can a movie that was such a huge success critically and at the box office drive a stake into the heart of Trek. For myself I think First Contact is not only the best TNG film but also the best of all the films.

As far as focusing on Picard and Data, Generations did that as well. TNG made a good use of its cast on the tv show where everyone had episodes that featured them. Remember though that each episode generally focused on one ore two characters not the whole cast. The two most popular and most used characters in the show overall were Picard and Data. It was an ensemble show but those were your two main characters and in a two hour movie you've got to focus on the main characters, you can't have 7 subplots going on.
I also think that although First Contact is an action flick it was heavily focused on Character. I thought The Borg queen's seduction of Data was fantastic and Picards ahab turn was also great.
You are free to have your own opinion but this movie was a huge success and not the start of the end for trek.

Agreed, very well put.

Warmest Wishes,
Whoa Nellie

 

[shakov]

It is my belief that the worst TOS film is still better than what is considered to be the greatest next gen film.
Vote now, vote often.

 

[BriGuy]

Comparing one of Trek's finest movie outings (First Contact) to one of its worst (The Final Frontier).

... ok...

 

[Peach Wookiee]

I'm not going to vote on this one, having liked both.

 

[RyuRoots]

I sometimes wonder if this forum should be retitled as "TOS Movie Worship/TNG Movie Bashing"

 

[Sci]

Here is the problem. Up to this point there was still an emphasis on character as well as plot in each of the trek outings. Even Generations, which has it's flaws, still felt like TNG.
First Contact ushered in the Action Picard and Data show. This was a formula that continued, and eventually led to the failure of the TNG movie series. To a lesser extent, these problems continued on Voyager and Enterprise.
Though somewhat entertaining, this movie is the one that drove the initial stake into the heart of trek.
Comments?

Star Trek: First Contact is a deeply character-driven work. Watch the confrontation between Picard and Lily and tell me with a straight face that it's not.

 

[Broccoli]

First Contact ushered in the Action Picard and Data show. This was a formula that continued, and eventually led to the failure of the TNG movie series. To a lesser extent, these problems continued on Voyager and Enterprise.

Voyager and Enterprise were Action Picard and Data shows? Hmm...seemed to miss those episodes...

 

[Similitude]

FC Worst Trek movie? Seriously? Whats next, Godfather is a bad movie?

 

[Falcor5]

More like "THIS THREAD IS THE WORST STAR TREK MOVIE THREAD". You can nitpick the characterizations and plot construction of "Star Trek: First Contact" all you want (as many people here seem to enjoy doing), but it's undeniably the only TNG movie that doesn't have major problems (that are obvious to anyone watching the movie, not just people being overanalytical and looking for things to put down) with the way it handles story and characters. People who put down this this movie almost always seem to do it because they get off on putting it down. It's usually because they have a grudge against TNG .

Great post. It seems in the past few years since Nemesis there has been a HUGE backlash against all TNG. Even the show gets bashed alot more unfairly. I mean there is a thread in the TNG forum right now about how much one of the best episodes in all of Trek BOBW sucks! While someone may not like First Contact I dont think you can say its the worst Star Trek movie without seeming like its a bias against TNG and the TNG movies. It was well made, action packed, and had a very gripping story. Even if its not your favorite movie surely you can see why many people like it.

 

[Peach Wookiee]

I'd argue it's a common thing in fandoms to say that something sucks. You see it in the Star Wars fandom; you see it in anime; heck, you see it in popular dramas. It's cool to bash stuff now. That's my observation.

 

[Brady]

Yeah, but wasn't that just a reaction to the portayal of Picard in Generations as a weakish crybaby? It wasn't a smart way to introduce Picard to the movie audience. The Captain should not be seen whimpering and blubbering, and getting his ass rolled down the hill by Soran. Making Picard stronger in FC was like, "Hey our Captain can kick ass if he wants to..."

Soran was pretty bad ass though. He knocked Geordi out cold with one backhanded punch earlier in the film.

 

[Jolantru]

I'm not a fan of the TNG movies, but I gotta go with FC on this one. I just opened a thread about Final Frontier, and while it has some redeeming stuff in it, the groan factor dominates the entire film.

I will say this, I do find Sybok a more compelling character than Dr. Cocaroach.