Watched First Contact again...

[Distorted Humor]

I watched first contact for the first time in a while, decided to watch it on blue-Ray and I just wanted to say one thing.

it seemed awfully slow in parts. In fact I was tempted to fast forward though chunks of it. was just curious if I was the only one who thought it was slow on repeat viewing or was I just in a bad mood.

Right now If I was to rank the first 10 movies, I think I would drop First Contact down a notch or two.

 

[CommanderRaytas]

I still think it's one of the better films....right with The Voyage Home and STXI.

Maybe you are in a bad mood.

 

[Too Much Fun]

the only one who thought it was slow on repeat viewing or was I just in a bad mood.

I think the 'bad mood' option is more likely. If you're looking for my professional opinion as forum's counselor: you're nuts. By now, I'm used to people on this forum coming up with ridiculous reasons to put down this unbelievably perfect movie (plot holes, Borg Queen is a bad idea, Borg are too much like zombies, Zephram Cochrane character being so wacky is implausible and unfunny, blah blah blah, etc. etc. etc.), but this is one of the strangest.

Okay, I'm half-joking...I know how immature it sounds to call something 'perfect' (even though I truly feel that way about this movie), so I've tried to look at it objectively to understand why people may not like it (still seems insane to me for anyone to not love it, but different strokes for different folks, as they say). I never imagined 'too slow' to be a valid possible criticism. Those criticisms I listed above make more sense to me, actually.

Actually, to try to understand other peoples' objections, I once watched the movie deliberately straining to find something wrong with it, and I thought maybe one could say it's too fast. I mean, compare it to other Star Trek movies like "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan" where they devote a good long while in the first half to quiet scenes of the characters just comfortably spending time together, like McCoy visiting Kirk to talk with him about his birthday.

In comparison, "Star Trek: First Contact" hits the ground running, from Picard's creepy, fleeting dream, to getting news about the Borg, to jumping into a battle that's already in progress! There's the bit with Riker and Picard talking in his ready room, but it's not long after that before they're off to the races. I could see it being considered slow maybe it comparison to the manic "Star Trek" 2009 which is much, much faster-paced than any of the first ten movies, but in general, I think "Star Trek: First Contact" is one of the faster Star Trek movies.

So no, D.H., I don't get where you're coming from here, but I'll give you credit for this - you've certainly come up with a unique reason to criticize this movie, and I thought I'd heard them all. I would have preferred one of those threads where someone says, "I just watched "Star Trek: First Contact" again and realized it's even more awesome than I remembered!", though.

 

[BillJ]

I would have preferred one of those threads where someone says, "I just watched "Star Trek: First Contact" again and realized it's even more awesome than I remembered!", though.

Every time I see it I come away with a lower opinion of it than on the previous viewing... so I finally just quit watching it.

 

[RAMA]

I would have preferred one of those threads where someone says, "I just watched "Star Trek: First Contact" again and realized it's even more awesome than I remembered!", though.

Every time I see it I come away with a lower opinion of it than on the previous viewing... so I finally just quit watching it.

I feel like that with STVI. I can't even watch it anymore.

As for First Contact...it doesn't suprise me it seems slower to you the OP...movies are faster paced than even a decade ago, and we're all just used to it. I actually have a pretty good attention span so I don't think the movie seems that much slower to me.

RAMA

 

[USS Intrepid]

I feel like that with STVI. I can't even watch it anymore.

Likewise. On the other hand, I still love First Contact.

Tastes and preferences vary from person to person. Heck, my own tastes have changed over the years, so I can see where someone may find a movie less enjoyable than they used to. Or someone may find more value to a movie they once dismissed.

It's all subjective.

 

[Distorted Humor]

Ok, I did this as a semi-joke, as it is one of the least slow star trek films. (All but the 2009 version is slow by todays MTV twitch standards) and I was waiting on the commentary on how movies have changed.

However, the luster has rubbed off slightly, I always put it as a solid third place in the star trek films (after STII and ST:2009) but now I will have to rewatch TUC and First Contact in a battle for third place.

I don't mind the Borg Queen, and Zephram Cochrane still cracks me up. (Also, I may sound like a idiot, but I didn't know Dwight Schultz was "Mad Dog" on the A-team till I watched the commentary.)

But you are correct, I remember it as being a "fast paced action" movie but by todays twitch standards its a careful look at morality.

I just need to go watch "Berry Lyndon" and that will reset my "film speed calibration" (For those who have not seen it, it is very good historical movie that by todays standards is very slow.)




Still loads better then the most of the ST films. My main complaint is that it a little too close to the "Paint by the numbers". You know poor Hawk is going to be borgafied<sp> or die (Though they where somewhat creative) you know that Picard will put down someone being assimilated, Trek movies are better when the unexpected happens, Like spock dying in II, turning the series upside down in ST2009, or Spock being almost evil mind meld in TUC. you don't really have this with FC.

 

[jayrath]

by todays twitch standards

I've decided to absolutely love this thread, just for this single, perfect phrase. (I finally saw "Battle: Los Angeles" this weekend. "Twitch standards" describes it perfectly.)

 

[sonak]

Well, of all the criticisms of FC I've heard, this is a new one. What's funny is that this movie is probably the fastest-starting, most quickly-paced, pure action movie of the entire Trek series, including Star Trek XI. It's usually criticized FOR being just a fast-paced blockbuster action film.


If you find this movie slow-paced, I really don't see how you stand other Trek movies.

 

[Distorted Humor]

Well, of all the criticisms of FC I've heard, this is a new one. What's funny is that this movie is probably the fastest-starting, most quickly-paced, pure action movie of the entire Trek series, including Star Trek XI. It's usually criticized FOR being just a fast-paced blockbuster action film.


If you find this movie slow-paced, I really don't see how you stand other Trek movies.

Sonak - I was being sarcastic and let on the joke a few posts ago

 

[sonak]

Well, of all the criticisms of FC I've heard, this is a new one. What's funny is that this movie is probably the fastest-starting, most quickly-paced, pure action movie of the entire Trek series, including Star Trek XI. It's usually criticized FOR being just a fast-paced blockbuster action film.


If you find this movie slow-paced, I really don't see how you stand other Trek movies.

Sonak - I was being sarcastic and let on the joke a few posts ago

ah, so you did. For some reason while scrolling through the thread, I missed your second post.

 

[JarodRussell]

First time someone says First Contact is slow. It's the movie with the fastest pace.

 

[Distorted Humor]

First time someone says First Contact is slow. It's the movie with the fastest pace.

I also think....

1. ST:TMP was too faced paced
2. STII - Kahn sucked as a villain
3. STIII - David Marcus death had no impact
4. STIV - Whales, and star trek cast in modern times, not funny at all.
5. STV - This movie is awesome, God DOES need a starship.
6. STVI - The final battle between the Enterpise, Sulu's Ship, and the Klingon bird of prey makes me sleep each time.
7 ST: Generations - Glad they gave Kirk a heroic death.
8: ST: First Contact - very slow...
9: ST: Ins - Like the highbrow lines about breasts firming up and the fact that it was so exciting and not cheezy.
10: ST: Nemisis - Totally awesome movie, made total sense.
11: ST2009: This movie sucked, Slow, not exciting, and uncreative.

................

As i said a couple post ago, I was being Sarcastic.

(Note, this is done as with a smile and is not intended to be a flame, and I hope it not taken as such. )

 

[LOKAI of CHERON]

I like First Contact a lot - a fine movie, but on the whole, I do feel it is somewhat overrated.

 

[Timo]

Curious... Fast-forwarding isn't something I'd consider first when faced with a slow-paced movie. It's when the flick is action-packed and has shots 2.23 seconds long on the average that I tend to view it at 4x or 6x speed. There ain't much content there that I would miss in that type of film; it's subtitled anyway hereabouts so I won't miss any dialogue; and if it's meant to be fast, then even faster is even better!

Anything with Tom Cruise in it works best at 6x. STXI is pretty okay at 4x, although the Delta Vega chase benefits a lot from 10x.

Timo Saloniemi

 

[CommanderRaytas]

When I like a film after first viewing it, I'll just connect that feeling with that particular film no matter how many times I re-watch it. Unless I was drunk the first time.

How can you stop liking or disliking a particular film/song/book/whatever just because you watched/listened to/read it more than once?

This isn't criticism, I just don't get it.

 

[BillJ]

When I like a film after first viewing it, I'll just connect that feeling with that particular film no matter how many times I re-watch it. Unless I was drunk the first time.

How can you stop liking or disliking a particular film/song/book/whatever just because you watched/listened to/read it more than once?

This isn't criticism, I just don't get it.

Plot holes and inconsistencies become more apparent on multiple viewings.

 

[Distorted Humor]

You see plot holes more often on repeat viewings, and you have new life experiences that will color your view on a subject. For example my musical tastes have gone from Marylin Manson when I was 17 to Classical music (though I do dig Arcade Fire) now that I am 30. I loved independence day when I was younger, now that movie bores me.

 

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

I watched First Contact last night. I've seen it many times (for a long time it was my favorite movie) but hadn't seen it in about a year. I found I could quote most of it, it's a wonderful movie.

Maybe someone can answer this question for me.. as they are about to abandon the Enterprise Picard says to Worf something that sounds like, "See you on .... island". What's the actual quote?

Oh and the soundtrack which I didn't notice when I first started watching the film years ago now moves me to tears.

 

[RedShirt]

Maybe someone can answer this question for me.. as they are about to abandon the Enterprise Picard says to Worf something that sounds like, "See you on .... island". What's the actual quote?

Gravett Island