Recent First Contact Viewing

[Plomeek Broth]

Just watched FC for the first time in a long time last night.

Do you think the Borgs would be more menacing if they were always aggressive and not when they just perceived others as a threat? It takes away some of the fear of them when you can walk in circles around them and they don't do anything.

Was Alice Krige the Borg Queen in any series eps for TNG or VOY?

I find it curious that the ENT crew is in a different time period and don't seem too worried about getting back. I think this would be a major concern, but they seem almost tranquil about it. Not bashing, just curious.

I think I'm one of the only people who didn't like Alfre Woodard's militant character.

The scene outside the Enterprise where Worf, Picard, and the other guy are in anti-gravity boots may be my favorite part of the movie.

What are your likes and dislikes of this film which seems to be the consensus favorite TNG movie amongst fans?

 

[cardinal biggles]

Do you think the Borgs would be more menacing if they were always aggressive and not just perceived others as a threat? It takes away some of the fear of them when you can walk in circles around them and they don't do anything.

That's the way the Borg always were on the TV series. Unless you piss them off, they'll ignore you.

Was Alice Krige the Borg Queen in any series eps for TNG or VOY?

The Borg Queen was a new character created for First Contact, so we never saw her on TNG. (Locutus being aware of her presence is retroactive continuity.) The character made numerous appearances on Voyager, usually played by Susanna Thompson, though Alice Krige did reprise the role in the series finale "Endgame."

 

[WillsBabe]

What are your likes and dislikes of this film which seems to be the consensus favorite TNG movie amongst fans?

I'm not sure what the consensus is amongst fans. I think FC is pretty well liked. I know it's probably my favourite TNG movie, and one of my favoruite Trek movies over all. I like its dark tone. I think Frakes did a good job diecting it, and I like the interaction between Data and the Borg Queen. I think Alice Krige is excellent in the role. I'm less crazy about the Zephram Cochrane stuff. I don't like the line "some kind of star trek". It's rubbish, in my opinion, and a bit of deconstruction I can do without. I like the holodeck scenes. I think Patrick looks good in a tux and toting a machine gun, and while we're on the subject of men looking good, I think that Frakes looks handsome in his leather jacket. The scene with the jukebox and the tequila is excellent, genuinely amusing, and a nice bit of business between Riker and Troi. There are some powerful moments, too: "just blow up the damn ship, Jean-Luc" being one of them. Actually, the more I think about the movie, the more I remember about it that I really like. One of the things I do like is the ending: the crew all on the bridge, and before it, the Vulcans arriving on Earth and putting up with us Humans. It made me fond of the Vulcans again, the way I felt when I watched TOS, until Enterprise came along and spoiled it.

That's more than I thought I was going to say, and far less coherent than it would have been if I'd planned to say as much. Sorry. Overall: I love this film.

 

[Plomeek Broth]

As you can no doubt tell, I am by no means a Trek expert and never will be. I get lost in all of the technobabble frequently. I have seen all of DS9, most of TNG and VOY, some of ENT and TOS, and all of the movies.

When they were walking upside down on the bottom of the ship in FC, why were Picard and Co. not disoriented?

 

[Cyke101]

Just watched FC for the first time in a long time last night.

Do you think the Borgs would be more menacing if they were always aggressive and not when they just perceived others as a threat? It takes away some of the fear of them when you can walk in circles around them and they don't do anything.

I'm reminded of Shaun of the Dead, when the gang had to pretend they were zombies so that they could walk straight through the middle of a crowd of zombies to get to the bar. That scene in itself was very creepy and had me on the edge of my seat.

I bring that up because, if played properly, the same effect could be achieved with the Borg, in that they could be right next to you and won't do anything, but the slightest mistake could make them swarm you in an instant. To me, that's pretty damn menacing.

 

[jamestyler]

Do you think the Borgs would be more menacing if they were always aggressive and not when they just perceived others as a threat? It takes away some of the fear of them when you can walk in circles around them and they don't do anything.

Personally, I don't think so. There have always been aggressive aliens in Trek and other shows. The Borg in this, and before in TNG, always had a creepiness to their coldness. They weren't Klingons on a rampage, they were machines with a machine mind.

Sue you can walk around them, but if you get in their way or cause a threat you're as good as dead - as we saw with them taking over the ship with the last resort of destroying the ship being taken as they can't fight them any other way.

I find it curious that the ENT crew is in a different time period and don't seem too worried about getting back. I think this would be a major concern, but they seem almost tranquil about it. Not bashing, just curious.

That's a testimony to the crews thinking. Fixing history and getting rid of the Borg were a primary concern, anything else was meaningless compared to that. Going home wasn't as important as stopping the Borg, they'd deal with that problem later.

I can't say there was much I disliked about the film. I didn't like Lilly on my first viewing, but she grew on me leaving my only annoyance being the deck confusion...

I loved the 'Captain Ahab' scene with Picard and Lilly which seems to be a universal thing and that Cochrane was just a regular guy out for some quick cash, that the achievements that led to the Federation weren't based on an optimistic view of the future... but something good came out of it all despte Cochrans selfishness.

I thought it was a bit off that Crusher wasn't the one who stopped Picard from going nuts, but it was a nicer touch having Lilly lead the fight to bring him down to reality.

The new uniforms and sets really improved things too, making it seem more realistic and military, much like the change to Khan. Plus it brought my favourite ship of recent years, the Akira class.

The only let down for me was that Insurrection followed it... it was a hard act to follow, the next installment didn't feel as if they tried as had as First Contact.

 

[SPCTRE]

When they were walking upside down on the bottom of the ship in FC, why were Picard and Co. not disoriented?

They were undoubtedly sticking to Picard's advice: Always look at your feet - not at the stars

 

[Plomeek Broth]

When they were walking upside down on the bottom of the ship in FC, why were Picard and Co. not disoriented?

They were undoubtedly sticking to Picard's advice: Always look at your feet - not at the stars

I just figured the blood would rush to their heads making them all dizzy and possibly sick. Worf did make a comment about not feeling good at all though. I am still surprised they could even function.

 

[casey]

When they were walking upside down on the bottom of the ship in FC, why were Picard and Co. not disoriented?

They were undoubtedly sticking to Picard's advice: Always look at your feet - not at the stars

I just figured the blood would rush to their heads making them all dizzy and possibly sick. Worf did make a comment about not feeling good at all though. I am still surprised they could even function.

Well in space upside down would be irrelevant. The camera angle happened to be upside down, but I don't know that the characters would be aware of it. The blood wouldn't really rush to your head because there is no pull of gravity at your head.

 

[DRMidnite]

I just figured the blood would rush to their heads making them all dizzy and possibly sick. Worf did make a comment about not feeling good at all though. I am still surprised they could even function.

Um...no gravity in space.

 

[Haytil]

The blood wouldn't really rush to your head because there is no pull of gravity at your head.

Right, no pull of gravity means the blood being pumped to your head isn't counterbalanced by a downward force - you'd feel more blood there than normal

 

[DGCatAniSiri]

I thought it was a bit off that Crusher wasn't the one who stopped Picard from going nuts, but it was a nicer touch having Lilly lead the fight to bring him down to reality.

I don't know, I didn't percieve it as off - those who are closest to us are also pretty willing to wear blinders and make excuses about unusual behavior, while the strangers can spot the fact that this person is making erratic decisions and call them on it.

 

[sbk1234]

The blood wouldn't really rush to your head because there is no pull of gravity at your head.

Right, no pull of gravity means the blood being pumped to your head isn't counterbalanced by a downward force - you'd feel more blood there than normal

All EVA suits are equiped with Heisenberg Blood-Rush Compensators.

 

[Search4]

... and it looked really good in HD, i might add.

 

[RoJoHen]

The blood wouldn't really rush to your head because there is no pull of gravity at your head.

Right, no pull of gravity means the blood being pumped to your head isn't counterbalanced by a downward force - you'd feel more blood there than normal

But wouldn't that be true of the blood in your entire body? Would probably make you feel all wobbly...

 

[Anticitizen]

That's the way the Borg always were on the TV series. Unless you piss them off, they'll ignore you.

Which I thought was silly. I mean, they are there to assimilate the crew, aren't they?

 

[cardinal biggles]

On the contrary, though, if there's nothing to be gained technologically by assimilating the crew, why should the Borg care? Technologically, the Federation is primitive, and they have nothing the Borg need. It's only because humanity won't (figuratively) bend over and spread 'em that the Borg finally start to be interested in us.

 

[arch101]

Great film, the best Trek film after TMP. Another great Goldsmith score (both Jerry and Joel). Great missed opportunity: A shame the Enterprise D didn't make it to this film. Seeing civilians and children borgified would have truly conveyed the horror of what the Borg do to civilizations. Other than that, and John Eaves' questionable design, the movie is perfect.

 

[Star Treks]

Great film, the best Trek film after TMP. Another great Goldsmith score (both Jerry and Joel). Great missed opportunity: A shame the Enterprise D didn't make it to this film. Seeing civilians and children borgified would have truly conveyed the horror of what the Borg do to civilizations. Other than that, and John Eaves' questionable design, the movie is perfect.

Just out of curiosity, what did John Eaves design and what is questionable about it?

 

[SPCTRE]

Just out of curiosity, what did John Eaves design [...]?

He designed the Sovereign class, I think that's what arch101 is referring to.