[Three of Seven]

First Contact
Released: November 22 1996
Series: The Next Generation

Introduction:
We take a look further into the Borg story arc with this film, where the crew of the Enterprise-E, making it's first appearance, but the story starts onboard, where Starfleets orders are for the Enterprise to patrol the Neutral Zone, due to Picards history with the Borg. This order is disobeyed, they all move into action and head towards Earth, blowing stuff up and rescuing crew from the Defiant, including Worf. The Borg open a temporal rift in time in an attempt to alter history, the Enterprise follows them in to stop the Borg. We also get to see the Borg queen (not me), who attempts to bribe Data by offering the humanity he has always wanted.

Discussion:
Star Trek: First Contact came out 20 years ago today and was one of the biggest film hits for the series, making $150mil in worldwide sales, while it pales in comparison to the reboots, does it still stand the test of time? What would you have done if you were in Datas position? What if the Borg did succeed? Or the timeline was irreparably altered?

Maybe even pose your own questions to everyone else!

[Yuki]

Is it really 20 years old? Wow... my favourite by far with brilliant Worf quotes such as "Little?" and "Assimilate this!". In my opinion, it is better than the reboots, which were made for a slightly different audience, but that is a discussion for another time. As for being in Data's position, I really hope that I would not be. I think that as a sack of meat and water I could not resist the Borg in the same dramatic way that Data did. If the Borg succeeded, then we have a paradox. Now that is a headache.

[Eaglesg]

Oh man, first time for the Big "E" !
I was 8 when I first saw the movie, and I immediately fell in love with it : new ship, new uniforms, the Queen... And it's still my favorite movie now !

I was fond of the new Borg design (costumes/makeup and the assimilated Enterprise), the story was great (even if they added the Queen when the Borg didn't had a face before, which was really scary for me) with Picard having to deal with the darkest part of his past, Data facing the possibility to achieve his dream (but at a high cost), the special effects, the sets... Yeah, I really liked it

I the Borg succeeded then we will know that resistance IS futile, and this discussion would be irrelevant...

does it still stand the test of time?

I recently watched it with a friend of mine who wasn't a Star Trek fan and he loved it, so I would say yes

Oh my... I still have the uniform my grandma made for me at the time, with handmade combadge x)

[Yuki]

I was 8 when I first saw the movie, and I immediately fell in love with it

I fist saw at at the age of 7, and all that I took away from it the first time was "Aghh, the Borg are scary!", almost stopped me getting into Star Trek at all. I did, however, eventually come to my senses, re-watch it and thoroughly enjoyed it.

[Supergrover]

Picard and Data story arcs are IMO some of the best in the series. 20 year ago, man I feel old now wife and I IIRC saw it in the theater.

[Bridger]

It also had one of the most impressive space battle in the history of Star Trek, and after 20 years is still amazing to watch.

[Ned'ya]

First Contact was the last film I saw with my Dad where he paid (I was thirteen)!

IMO FC is the best (prime universe) Trek movie, I can not remember how many times I have watched it, both on VHS and on DVD, aside from it being Trek it is a good film to boot ( I know this as my Wife can watch it and have no questions at the end!), the space battles set a new standard for future sci-fi films to match, it also broke the mould as far as discovery and peace element of franchise was concerned, and was not merely a big screen adaptation of TNG series and the Ent D (may she rest in piece ).

This film cemented TNG crew as my favourite breaking their 'fluffy' mould and showing that the human race had not lost any of its ruthless streak when it comes to self preservation and that of its allies! ( I was a TNG kid but my Dad loved TOS!).

To top it all it gave us some memorable quotes too!!


For the poll, where is the option for 'Its the best movie ever and all the fans love it'

[Chrome]

Does it still stand the test of time? Just watched last night - I'm going with a big YES!

What would you have done if you were in Datas position? Not have gotten taken in the first place - I mean really, they grabbed him by his feet. What happened to his nifty strength? lol

What if the Borg did succeed? Or the timeline was irreparably altered? ooh, think if they left it on a cliffhanger, how pissed would you be?

I actually would've liked to have seen some of the changes. They defeated the Borg, but gave knowledge to a handful of people about the future. Plus a lot were killed that weren't originally supposed to. This changes family lines and all sorts of stuff. Anyone watch that show Timeless? Go back, kill one person, boom - your sister is gone when you come back.

[Yuki]

I think leaving it on a cliffhanger would ruin the film, leaving the sour taste of 'now I have to pay again to find out how it finishes'. Two part films also tend to drag on really badly so I don't think I would be mad, just disappointed.

As for the time travel stuff, I like to think that the consequences of what you change are what you are familiar with in your present, so no sister, ever!

[Eaglesg]

I think leaving it on a cliffhanger would ruin the film, leaving the sour taste of 'now I have to pay again to find out how it finishes'. Two part films also tend to drag on really badly so I don't think I would be mad, just disappointed.

I think that Chrome made a reference to The Best of Both Worlds cliffhanger Pacmainia9

[Yuki]

Makes sense.

Doesn't mean that I would like the cliffhanger though.

[Sagison Brandt]

I think the movie absolutely stands the test of time, as both a narrative and in terms of production values.

As for the What if questions - a pen and paper RPG group I was in at the time played a series of sessions posited on the notion that some Borg made it down to Earth after the sphere went back in time. Enterprise E survived; Cochrane flew; and the Vulcans landed. The PCs, who were locals, essentially fought a Borg/Zombie apocalypse struggle in the Mojave desert. It made for an interesting and fun story arc. Just thought I'd share.

[Chrome]

I think that Chrome made a reference to The Best of Both Worlds cliffhanger Pacmainia9

Makes sense.

Doesn't mean that I would like the cliffhanger though.

I was just randomly tossing out a stupid idea - like some B-rated horror movie. Ya know, it pans over and you see Riker with a small implant that no one notices and it fades out

sorry, carry on!!

[Avenger]

As far as I see it it's the best forum of the entire lot including the reboots, Id still pay to see a film with TNG/VOY/DS9 if they came to do it!

[Danska101]

I love First Contact. It's an incredibly solid film that continues to make the Borg absolutely terrifying. Their redesign is not only fantastic, but has become THE look of the Borg to the point where it's incredibly strange watching them in TNG sometimes. Add in the amazing space battle, Zefram Cochrane and the superlative musical score - yup, it's wonderful. And it introduces us to the Enterprise E, which remains my favourite starship.

While I like how she was played and used, I dislike the entire concept of a Borg queen. It flies in the face of what we know about them and brings them closer to being "just another villain" with human foibles and motives, rather than the irresistible force of nature they were previously portrayed as. My personal headcanon is that they sometimes use avatars to communicate with species of particular interest - as they did with Locutus - and the 'queen' is the latest of these, to be used when dealing with humanity. In terms of the structure of the Borg, they'd keep on going just the same no matter how many times she was killed or destroyed.

Anyway, away from fan theories and back to First Contact. Probably my favourite Star Trek film, though Undiscovered Country gives it a run for its money.